siege siege battle croatian turkish siege siege fortress lasted decades final battle near fought ottoman wars defending croatian forces leadership croatian feudal lord attacking ottoman army leadership ottoman general decisive ottoman victory battle field especially continued defending ottoman attacks ottoman conquest early years 16th century prompted formation led croatian captain called prince defensive system base important defensive position fought ottomans decades defended fortress ottoman attacks final battle resulted ottoman victory death defenders lacking water supplies finally surrendered ottomans exchange freedom march citizens fled town retreated city continued fighting ottoman army administrative centre bosnia remain century background fall ottoman hands southern central parts remained unprotected defense left croatian gentry kept smaller troops fortified border areas expense decisive ottoman victory battle field shook croatia dissuade making decisive persistent attempts defending attacks larger enemy new wave ottoman conquest began good portion croatia conquered august battle christian forces led king defeated ottoman forces led magnificent louis killed battle resulted end independent died heir kingdoms hungary croatia disputed territories claims ottoman ferdinand austria member brother holy roman emperor future holy roman emperor married sister elected king nobles hungary croatia owing location important defensive position ottoman conquest balkans fortress stands route ottomans penetrate mountain barrier separating coastal split ottoman held bosnia feudal lord gathered garrison composed refugees base hold ottomans bay engage piracy coastal shipping nominally accepting sovereignty obtained croatian crown law unto siege failed attempts commanding officers ottomans attempted conquer occasions major attempt ottomans captured village fortress bearing garrison fortress held promoted captain ban second major attempt year later attempt additional infantry horsemen siege equipment unsuccessful attempt later year attempt siege men failed attack sultan army attempts later ottomans laid months long siege constant concentrated fortress ferdinand urged pope send ships relieve ottoman siege ottomans eventually lifted siege ferdinand displeased pope provided assistance defense fortress ottomans tried seize fortress failed occasions year ottomans started new siege final fall fortress large ottoman force threatened fortress appealed ferdinand help emperor attention diverted ottoman attack led defense soldiers fought ottomans repeatedly armies fortress troops hungarian king arrived slaughtered ottomans battle sending help pope willing provide men money final battle pope claimed rights september talk strengthening defenses fortress pope notified ferdinand willing share costs maintaining proper garrison ferdinand send aid apparently hopeful holding fortress ottomans laid siege ferdinand recruited men lands pope sent soldiers infantry reinforcements relief force commanded papal commissioner march disembarked near place called fourteen pieces artillery death sent men command croatian born lay siege fortress fight initial encounter christian relief force ottomans march overwhelmed arrival great number ottomans attempts relieve citadel ended badly reinforcements sent fled fear ottomans attempts board boats bay caused vessels sink papal commissioner managed escape left fortress contact reinforcements captured executed sight head stick overwhelmed remaining defenders willing fortress return safe passage north death lack water supplies defenders finally surrendered ottomans exchange freedom march citizens fled town retreated city continued fighting ottoman army aftermath ottoman wars europe administrative centre bosnia remain century built notable mosque inside year ottoman forces took fell months fall ottoman venetian war started war ottoman venetian war ottomans took near april split organized liberation assisted elements ottoman garrison succeeded responded bringing soldiers fortress general leading came relief defenders battle men retreated wounded battle fortress lost ottomans temporary relief europe local population fought decades finally managed war enjoyed support local population particularly venetian commander seized forts retook temporarily captured managed garrison surrender
Siege of Klis