Count Andrew of Turjak

Who is Count Andrew of Turjak?

Count Andrew of Turjak was a Carniolan noble and leader of the defending forces at the Battle of Sisak in 1593. Sisak was a fortress in present day Croatia. It was located where the Sava and Kupa rivers meet. It was the last fortress the Turks needed to conquer in order to expand northward into central Europe virtually unopposed. The Turkish Army attacking the fortress had 38,000 men, commanded by Hassan Pasha. The Carniolan army defending the fort only had about 4,000 to 5,000 men. They were reinforced by 1,240 Croatian horsemen and 500 Silesian mounted riflemen. The battle occurred on St. Achatius' Day, June 22, 1593. Hassan attacked with his main force but was repelled by the heavy fire of the defending army. The Turks then retreated to the bridge they had just crossed, but Andrew of Turjak sent the Arquebusars to capture the bridge. The Turks were then forced to swim to the other side of the river. About 8,000 Turks died during the retreat, Hassan Pasha included. The remaining Turks set their gunpowder on fire and fled. Thus, Count Andrew of Turjak won the Battle of Sisak and saved central Europe from imminent Turkish invasion.