ONE REPORT ON THE HABSBURG CONQUEST OF UŽICE IN THE YEAR OF 1737

Abstract

The Russo-Austro-Turkish War of 1735/1737-1739 is one of the most significant events in European and Serbian history of the 18th century. In achieving the Habsburgs’ war aims, the conquest of Užice played a significant role (although secondary to the conquest of Niš). The Habsburg conquest of Užice and the breakthrough into Stari Vlach and Polimlje cut off the Ottoman forces in Bosnia from the main forces from Rumelia, and at the same time it prevented aid from being sent from that area to Niš, the main Habsburg objective during the war of 1737. Despite initial successes in the summer of 1737 and the conquest of Niš and Užice, to which Serbian units within the Habsburg army, as well as Serbian rebels from the Ottoman Empire, contributed greatly, the Habsburg forces soon found themselves in retreat. By the end of the war in 1739, none of the war aims set by Vienna had been achieved. Furthermore, Oltenia and the territories south of the Sava and Danube rivers were lost. Based on archival materials and relevant literature, this paper presents the Habsburg conquest of Užice as documented in Schmettau’s Journal de Campagne, and the comparison of the archival data.