The Siege of Vienna: The Last Great Trial Between Cross and Crescent

About this book

"John Stoye is the master of every aspect of his subject."-Daily Telegraph "A fine historical work. . . . Well worth reading."-Otto von Habsburg The Catholic Herald "Worthy of the pen of a Herodotus. . . . It is a measure of the fascination of Mr. Stoyes subject that one should think of comparing his treatment of it with the work of the greatest historians."-The Times Literary Supplement The siege of Vienna in 1683 was one of the turning points in European history. It was the last serious threat to Western Christendom and so great was its impact that countries normally jealous and hostile sank their differences to throw back the armies of Islam and their savage Tartar allies. The consequences of defeat were momentous: The Ottomans lost half of their European territories and began the long decline that led to the final collapse of their empire and the Habsburgs turned their attention from France and the Rhine frontier to the rich pickings of the Balkans. That hot September day in 1683 witnessed the last great trial of strength between cross and crescent-and opened an epoch in European history that lasted until the cataclysm of the First World War.