Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Samuel Oppenheimer, a Jewish banker, provided much of the money required for the war preparations of the Imperial Austrian Army. The Catholic Bishop Kollonitsch, a notorious antisemite, tried very hard to prevent Oppenheimer from getting this business. Why did Oppenheimer get the job?
2. In March 1683 King Sobieski of Poland signed an anti-Turkish defensive treaty of alliance with Emperor Leopold I, in spite of the pro-French opposition in the Sejm (parliament), led by the Grand Treasurer Andrej Morsztyn, a talented poet, polemicist and senator. What did King Sobieski do to disarm this formidable opponent?
3. Before 1683, the Catholic authorities pursuing counter-reformation persecuted mercilessly the Hungarian Protestants living in the part of Hungary left under Habsburg rule after the Turkish conquest. The Catholics closed Protestant churches, confiscated the properties belonging to Protestants, sent Protestant pastors to the galleys. Emperor Leopold I condoned this. Imre Thököly was the leader of the Hungarian Protestants. He was instrumental in facilitating the invasion of Austria by the Turks and the Tatars, which earned him the wrath of the Austrians and Hungarians loyal to Austrians. How is Imre Thököly seen in today's Hungary?
4. On January 21, 1683 the horse tails of Sultan Mehmed IV 'The Hunter' were placed at the Gate of Felicity in the Topkapi Palace. What was the meaning of that?
5. Pope Innocent XI was actively trying to build a Christian alliance expected to stop the advance of Muslim Turks into Europe. He wrote even to King Louis XIV, exhorting him to unite with Leopold against the common Muslim Turkish and Tatar enemy instead of fighting Leopold's troops. In his letter, the Pope reminded the French King something. What was that?
6. The amount of money in the Imperial Treasury of Leopold was far short of meeting the requirements of the war preparations. Fortunately, important sums were donated by various governments and private individuals. Which was the most generous donor?
7. Duke Charles of Lorraine, Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Austrian Army, realized fully only on a certain date that the target of the invaders was Vienna. What was that date?
8. The Imperial Austrian Army did not have the means to protect the towns that were in the way of the invading Turks and Tatars. Many Austrians fled to walled towns that were defended by local citizens. One such walled town was Hainburg an der Donau, still in existence. The Turks eventually stormed it and killed a large number of people who sought refuge inside it. How many people did the Ottoman Turks kill in Hainburg an der Donau on July 11, 1683?
9. As the Ottomans were surrounding Vienna on July 14, a fire broke out at the Scottish Monastery. Only 50-60 steps separated the flames from the Arsenal. The explosion of the latter could have made a breach in the curtain wall. The Viennese were able to contain the fire, but in the panic caused by it, a mob lynched a boy who was caught near the fire dressed in female clothing. The mob thought that the boy was a saboteur working for the Turks. What was the name of this boy?
10. On July 15, 1683, a Turkish cannon located on the Spittelberg Hill fired the first cannonball at the Vienna Fortress. Then other Turkish cannons opened fire. As a result of the Turkish cannonade, something very alarming happened that day. What was it?
11. The Master of Ceremonies, the sycophant Turkish chronicler who described day by day the deeds of the Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa, the progression of the war and even some of the atrocities committed by the invaders, repeatedly praised the heroism of Kara Mustafa and how he did not hesitate to walk in the range of the Austrian cannons. Yet, the magnificent tent of Kara Mustafa was set up at a safe distance from the fortress. Were was it?
12. General Starhemberg and the members of the committee left in Vienna by Emperor Leopold discovered with dismay they did not have money to pay the troops expected to defend the fortress. Bishop Kollonitsch told them he was sure there was a treasure inside the city. He asked the committee for permission to look for this treasure with the help of some soldiers. A few days later, Kollonitsch found the treasure. The authorities melted it, minted coins and paid the soldiers. To whom belonged the hidden treasure?
13. On July 20, 1683, the mining war began. The special troops of Kara Mehmed Pasha began digging tunnels with the goal of reaching the palisade and blow it up. For these works the miners needed timber. Who felled the timber in a grove near Schoenbrun and carried it to the trench using carts drawn by oxen?
14. On August 2, Lt.-Col. Georg Rimpler, Chief Military Architect of the Vienna Defence, died. Why did he die?
15. On August 8, a young Frenchman arrived in Passau, where Emperor Leopold had found refuge from the invasion. The Frenchman offered his services to Leopold, after he explained the Emperor that he had tried in vain five times to convince Louis XIV to admit him into the French Army. Who was this young man?
16. On August 10, a patrol from the Scherffenberg Regiment arrested a 15 year old boy near the Burg Bastion because of his suspicious behavior. The soldiers took him to Count Scherffenberg, the regiment commander, who interrogated the boy. The boy revealed that his master, a Viennese distiller, had kicked him out of the house and not knowing where to go, he went into the Turkish camp. A Turkish officer convinced him to count the cannons inside the bastion and report the number to the Grand Vizier. So the feeble minded boy came back into the fortress, dead serious about the assignment given him by the Turks. What happened to the boy?
17. The defenders of Vienna fired rockets at night to communicate with the Imperial troops located on the other side of Danube. Where did they fire them from?
18. On September 3, the defenders were able to procure some more provisions. What did they do?
19. In early September, the Turkish trenches were dangerously close to the Lowel baston which was also badly damaged. The Viennese cannons could fire now directly at them but the sacks of dirt and the logs the Turks used to protect themselves and their work limited the effects of the Austrian cannon balls. Concerned about this situation, Starhemberg made an important decision. What was this decision?
20. On September 5, the servant of a certain Dr. Schahin came into the Turkish camp with a letter from the doctor, who was actually a Turkish spy. The Grand Vizier was delighted by the contents of the letter. What was in it that made Kara Mustafa so happy?
21. On September 8 near Tulln, on the day of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Father Marco d'Aviano held a service in the allied camp. The Protestant soldiers from Saxony were moved by what they saw, although they very likely did not participate in the mass itself. King Sobieski acted as altar boy. What was the tearful Father d'Aviano saying as he was walking between the rows made by the many thousands of soldiers present?
22. On September 12, the blows given to the Turks by the Austrians and Germans and the final attack of the Polish cavalry caused the disintegration of the Turkish resistance. Which Turkish units were the first to flee the battle field?
23. The first troops of the relief army to enter the city were the Imperial Dragoons and Cuirassiers of Ludwig von Baden. They walked through the Schottentor (Scottish Gate) and together with the defenders watched the capture of circa 600 Turkish miners and diggers left in the trenches in the hope that they were going to blow up the wall. What did the victors do with these prisoners?
24. The end of the siege on September 12 was nerve wracking. The Turkish miners were intent on blowing up the curtain wall. The Janissaries were waiting to storm through the breach made by the explosion. The Turkish miners did set up a mine, but it did not explode. Do you know why?
25. On September 13, 1683 a mass was held in the Loretto Chapel of Vienna's Augustinian Church. A plaque commemorating this event can be seen on the wall of this church by anybody who walks on Augustinerstrasse, just a few meters from where Dorotheergasse ends in Augustinerstrasse. King Sobieski intoned the Te Deum and his officers joined in. Then they wanted to quench their thirst and the fathers immediately brought wine, which the victors drank right there in the chapel. Then the Electors of Bavaria and Saxony (this one was a Protestant) arrived and they all visited the church. Finally, Sobieski gave permission to those present to kiss his hand! Who kissed the hand of the Polish King?
Source: Author
drx3dan
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bloomsby before going online.
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