1512

Back at Belgrade, it was now July. Zapolya and Hadim Pasha exchanged blows as cavalry engagements between the Danube and the Sava became the dominant form of communication. Hadim Pasha had ordered the first assaults of the fortress in July, hoping to end the siege while the Sava was gentle and his supplies healthy. These summer assaults were to no avail, the Hungarian defenders repulsing the mass of invaders along its moat and in the breaches of its walls. The season turned to autumn before Hadim Pasha could declare success and a beachhead into the castle had been secured. The defenders of Belgrade had held out for a long time, but it had become apparent weeks before that the Hungarian army was, for one reason or another, not coming to relieve the siege. Out of supplies themselves and morale low, the coming cold turned into the surrender of the fort. The Ottoman siege camp had suffered under the strain of its logistics through Rumelia, and the chain of Belgrade had blocked them from accessing anything beyond along the Danube and Sava. Now, however, Hadim Pasha could now claim the fortress and chain for himself. It had come at the cost of nearly one third of his army, but Korkut was quick to give him his reinforcements with news of the success at Belgrade. He had also sent thousands of akinji, well provisioned and armed raiders, into the hinterlands of Croatia. The akinji were violent but effective, burning down swathes of Croatia but finding a notable lack of wealth to bring back to the Ottoman camp.

Radu and Bogdan had returned home as well, resting on their beds of gold, while the wily Moldavian secured peace with Buda once more. Zapolya watched carefully from behind the Danube, begging King Vladislaus for assistance while keeping the Ottoman at bay.

—————-

TL;DR

• Ottomans attack Belgrade, force Hungarian invasion of Moldavia to end

• Moldavians and Wallachians plunder Transylvania in response, defeating significant Hungarian garrisons

• Hungarian defenses hold the Ottomans at Belgrade, which eventually succumbs to pressure and surrenders

• Ottoman attrition during the siege was severe, and raiding parties also devastate deep into Croatia