Sabaton History - Winged Hussars

After discovering the amazing Swedish group Sabaton, I decided to do a series of posts about their songs. If you are not familiar with Sabaton, they compose songs about history, usually battles, wars, or famous individuals. I decided to do some research, starting with their song 'Winged Hussars'.

I suggest you listen to the song, even if Swedish metal isn't your style.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75zmIj_4LFQ

Winged Hussars is about the Siege of Vienna (also known as the Battle of Vienna), which started on July 14, 1683.

The Ottoman Empire had lain siege to Vienna with the intent to capture it. The Supreme Commander of the Turkish army, Grand Vizier Kara “Black” Mustafa, demanded that Vienna surrender. Count Ernst Rüdiger von Starhemberg, who commanded Vienna's garrison, refused and said “Let him come; I’ll fight to the last drop of blood.”

The siege lasted two months. Roman Emperor Leopold I fled from his capital to seek refuge in Passau, a German city. There he pleaded for help from the German and Polish nobility. His pleas were answered.

The Turkish army used explosives to blast open the walls of the city. Disease was rampant. Of the 11,500-strong garrison, barely a third of them were able to fight at the end. The rest were either wounded or dead.

Finally, on September 12, most of the unified army (minus the Polish force) of over 66,600 from the German area attacked. To the Turkish army, it seemed “as if an all consuming flood of black pitch was flowing down the hills” (source unknown).

The battle was still in the favour of the Turkish army, however, with their 70,000 men. The Polish forces were still behind, having gone through difficult terrain. The force already fighting was forced back, or killed.

Finally, after an arduous march through rough terrain, the Polish army arrived. Supported by friendly artillery, they advanced. After two unsuccessful charges of standard cavalry, they withdrew for a while. After discussion among the leaders, they decided to charge the Turkish lines with the entirety of the Polish line. The hussars, clad in steel both rider and horse, with their 'wings' attached to their back were a sight to behold. They crashed into the Turkish lines, the rest of the Polish army on their heels.

As the Turkish army was being pushed back Mustafa ordered his men to stop the bombardment of the city (15,000 troops had been left to continue the siege), destroy their equipment and kill their captives. Then, with his personal guard, he fought to prevent the capture of their Holy Banner. The entirety of his guard fell, but Mustafa managed to escape with the banner, ordering the retreat and thus ending the siege.

Source: http://warfarehistorynetwork.com/daily/military-history/the-1683-battle-of-vienna-islam-at-viennas-gates/
It goes into much more detail than what I've shown.

If this gets enough attention, I'll do more. Next post: The Lost Battalion.

TL;DR: THE WINGED HUSSARS ARRIVED