Johann Katzianer
Encyclopedia
Johann Katzianer or Hans Katzianer, Freiherr zu Katzenstein und Fledingen (1491, Begunje
– October 27, 1539, Hrvatska Kostajnica
) was a Carniolan aristocrat and an Imperial Army
commander.
He is first mentioned in 1527 when Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
gathered an army to support his claims on the throne of Hungary, which had become vacant after King Louis II of Hungary was killed in the Battle of Mohács
against the Turks.
Katzianer took part in Ferdinand's Hungarian campaign of 1527–1528 against the voivode of Transylvania John Zápolya, who had also been proclaimed King, supported by a large faction of the nobility in the Hungarian kingdom.
Katzianer distinguished himself in the Battle of Tarcal
in September 1527 and especially in the Battle of Szina
in March 1528, but alienated himself from the population by the violence and misbehaviour of his troops.
In 1529 he participated in the defense of Vienna
against Suleiman the Great. At the head of the light cavalry he harassed the retreating Turks and liberated many Christian prisoners.
After the death of Nicholas, Count of Salm
, he was named commander in chief (Obristfeldhauptmann) of the troops in Hungary, where he held off under difficult circumstances new attacks from John Zápolya and Suleiman the Great. He gained a great victory in the Battle of Leobersdorf
where he destroyed a Turkish army led by Kasim Bey.
In 1537 he was commander of an army of 24.000 men to besiege Osijek.
The campaign was a complete disaster and Katzianer was blamed for fleeing and abandoning his army to be annihilated in the Battle of Đakovo
. He was arrested and sent to Vienna to be tried, but escaped before the verdict on January 31, 1538 to Zrinski Castle
in Croatia.
Here he contacted enemies of the Habsburgs to plot against Ferdinand, but he was murdered by the young Count Nikola Šubić Zrinski
, who stabbed him during dinner.
Begunje
Begunje is a village in the Radovljica municipality in the Upper Carniola region of Slovenia. It is the location of the headquarters of the Elan Line company. The 12th century Kamen castle lies just outside the village and the 15th century Katzenstein mansion, rebuilt in the late 17th century, at...
– October 27, 1539, Hrvatska Kostajnica
Hrvatska Kostajnica
Hrvatska Kostajnica, often just Kostajnica, is a small town in central Croatia. It is located on the Una river in the Sisak-Moslavina county, south of Petrinja and Sisak and across the river from Bosanska Kostajnica in Bosnia and Herzegovina.-History:...
) was a Carniolan aristocrat and an Imperial Army
Imperial Army of the Holy Roman Empire
The Imperial Army of the Holy Roman Empire was the army of the Holy Roman Empire...
commander.
He is first mentioned in 1527 when Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand I was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558 and king of Bohemia and Hungary from 1526 until his death. Before his accession, he ruled the Austrian hereditary lands of the Habsburgs in the name of his elder brother, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.The key events during his reign were the contest...
gathered an army to support his claims on the throne of Hungary, which had become vacant after King Louis II of Hungary was killed in the Battle of Mohács
Battle of Mohács
The Battle of Mohács was fought on August 29, 1526 near Mohács, Hungary. In the battle, forces of the Kingdom of Hungary led by King Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia were defeated by forces of the Ottoman Empire led by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent....
against the Turks.
Katzianer took part in Ferdinand's Hungarian campaign of 1527–1528 against the voivode of Transylvania John Zápolya, who had also been proclaimed King, supported by a large faction of the nobility in the Hungarian kingdom.
Katzianer distinguished himself in the Battle of Tarcal
Battle of Tarcal
The Battle of Tarcal or Battle of Tokaj was a battle fought on 27 September 1527 between the Habsburg-German-Hungarian forces of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor and an opposing Hungarian army under the command of János Szapolyai...
in September 1527 and especially in the Battle of Szina
Battle of Szina
The Battle of Szina took place near Seňa in present-day Slovakia. The battle was fought on March 20, 1528, between King János Szapolyai of Hungary, and Austrian forces under command of Bálint Török and Johann Katzianer, a Styrian mercenary commander of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor...
in March 1528, but alienated himself from the population by the violence and misbehaviour of his troops.
In 1529 he participated in the defense of Vienna
Siege of Vienna
The Siege of Vienna in 1529 was the first attempt by the Ottoman Empire, led by Suleiman the Magnificent, to capture the city of Vienna, Austria. The siege signalled the pinnacle of the Ottoman Empire's power, the maximum extent of Ottoman expansion in central Europe, and was the result of a...
against Suleiman the Great. At the head of the light cavalry he harassed the retreating Turks and liberated many Christian prisoners.
After the death of Nicholas, Count of Salm
Nicholas, Count of Salm
Nicholas, Count of Salm was a Holy Roman Empire Imperial senior military commander ....
, he was named commander in chief (Obristfeldhauptmann) of the troops in Hungary, where he held off under difficult circumstances new attacks from John Zápolya and Suleiman the Great. He gained a great victory in the Battle of Leobersdorf
Battle of Leobersdorf
The Battle of Leobersdorf was a battle fought near Leobersdorf on September 19, 1532, as part of the Austro-Turkish War .-The battle:...
where he destroyed a Turkish army led by Kasim Bey.
In 1537 he was commander of an army of 24.000 men to besiege Osijek.
The campaign was a complete disaster and Katzianer was blamed for fleeing and abandoning his army to be annihilated in the Battle of Đakovo
Battle of Đakovo
The Battle of Đakovo was a battle fought on October 9, 1537, as part of the Austro-Turkish War .-Battle:After 7 years of war and the failed Siege of Vienna in 1529, the Treaty of Constantinople was signed, in which John Szapolyai was recognized by the Austrians as King of Hungary as an Ottoman...
. He was arrested and sent to Vienna to be tried, but escaped before the verdict on January 31, 1538 to Zrinski Castle
Fortress Kastel
Fortress Kastel is a castle in Hrvatska Kostajnica, a town in central Croatia, near the border to Bosnia and Herzegovina.The fortress was built most probably in the 14th century and owned by the members of the noble families Frankopan, Lipovečki, Tot, Benvenjud and finally Zrinski, so it is today...
in Croatia.
Here he contacted enemies of the Habsburgs to plot against Ferdinand, but he was murdered by the young Count Nikola Šubić Zrinski
Nikola Šubic Zrinski
Nikola Šubić Zrinski , was a Croatian nobleman and general in service of Habsburg Monarchy, ban of Croatia from 1542 to 1556, and member of the Zrinski noble family...
, who stabbed him during dinner.