23. The Siege of Vienna
Ottoman sappers tried to bring down Vienna’s walls by mining, but were foiled by effective counter-mining. Numerous attempts to storm the walls were beaten back by the defenders shooting down the attackers with arquebuses, and using long pikes to push back scaling ladders and those who made it to the top of the walls. Ottoman woes were worsened by more heavy rains in October, which fouled much of their gunpowder.
Suleiman ordered a final all out assault in late October, but it was beaten back. So the siege was lifted, and the sultan withdrew. The retreat turned into a disaster when winter snows arrived early and caught the Ottoman army out in the open. Many died, and all the remaining artillery had to be abandoned. An abortive attempt at seizing Vienna was made in 1532, but after it failed, Suleiman gave up on conquering Europe, and diverted Ottoman efforts to Asia and the Mediterranean.
