Battle of Banja Luka
An Austrian army under Prince Joseph Hildberghausen was defeated, as it attempted to besiege the town, when it ran into a large Ottoman relief force led by Bosnian Vizier Hekimoğlu Ali Pasha.At the end of the Vienna War, Slavonia, Lika, Krbava and Dalmatia belonged to Austro-Hungary; the Bosnian eyalet practically lost all territory west of the Danube – with the exception of Banat.Commander was Joseph Hildburghausen, who on 15 July invited Catholic and Orthodox subjects in the Bosnian Eyalet to join his army.He also sent a message to congregants of the Muslim faith that in the event of a change of religion, he would retain his property: On 10 July, Austrian troops embarked on a march; after two days they reached Gradiška.Heavy rains fell and there was some minor resistance from the local Bosnian Muslim population, causing the Austrians difficulties in crossing the Sava.Two formations of the Austrian army – one under the command of Field Marshal Goldy and the other under Hildburghausen – joined in front of Banja Luka on 27 July.The defense of Banja Luka was commanded by Mehmed-beg Ćatić; in the early days, the defenders gave strong resistance to the Austrian army.Hildburghausen sends a letter to Captain Ćatić demanding that he surrenders: To Pasha, who showed great effort in safeguarding the fortress of Banja Luka, to the officers who along with him find themselves obsessed with the fort and the brave fighters, greetings with good wishes.In addition, to a large and powerful army of emperors the commander is Prince of Lorraine, who is tasked with occupying the Ottoman lands in Rumelia.Our blessed fortress, which under its the umbrella protects our children, the homeland left over from our grandfathers, we do not give by our hands to the enemy.We have a solid heart decision for this way, to sacrifice souls and lives for Islam and while there is anyone alive among us, we will not give up the fight.After the Austrians received news that Hekimoğlu Ali Pasha had set off with 15,000 troops to help the Banja Luka people, the city was even more heavily targeted.On 3 August, Hildburghausen's scouts informed him that unknown soldiers were spotted in the surrounding woods, but he made the fatal decision not to follow it further.During the battle, the Austrian officers deviated from the plan set by Hildburghausen, thereby unknowingly assisting the defenders; a big mistake was made by Baranyay for not deploying his infantry.When the defenders managed to occupy the pontoon bridge, the Austrian troops on the left bank of the Vrbas began to retreat.