Battle of Vízakna (Ocna Sibiului)(1849)
Approximate site. The pin marks a locally accepted site or a nearby anchor point, not a survey-grade position.
Ocna Sibiului, Sibiu County
Coordinate source: latitude.to 45.8833, 24.0500
Background
Puchner finally concentrated his scattered forces for a decisive engagement. The overwhelming numbers should have ended the campaign — but Austrian caution in pursuit was a recurring failure that allowed Bem to survive and fight another day.
Campaign: Bem's Transylvanian Campaign 1849
Forces Engaged
The Battle
Puchner's 7,000 troops overwhelmed Bem's smaller force. Army reduced to 1,500 with only 6 cannons remaining.
The Battle of Vízakna was a battle in the Hungarian war of Independence of 1848-1849 fought on 4 February 1849 between the Hungarian army led by the Polish General Józef Bem and the Austrian army of the Habsburg Commander-in-Chief of Transylvania, Lieutenant General Anton Puchner. The Hungarian national poet Sándor Petőfi participated in the battle in the Hungarian army, then wrote a poem entitled Négy nap dörgött az ágyú in which he described the battle. The Austrian forces, who had a significant numerical superiority, were victorious, almost entirely destroying the Hungarian army. Unfortunately after the battle many Hungarian soldiers who could not retreat with the troops, or remained wounded on the battlefield, were killed by the Austrians and their Romanian militia allies, as an act of war crime. With this defeat, all of Bem's previously gained achievements were put in jeopardy, but Bem's skillful operations in the following weeks turned the struggle for Transylvania back in his favour.
Casualties & Outcome
~500 killed, wounded, and dispersed (Hungarian); ~92 killed and wounded (Austrian)
Austrian Imperial Forces achieved victory over Hungarian Revolutionary Army.
Bem's army was shattered to a fraction of its strength. But Puchner — cautious by nature — failed to pursue aggressively. Within days Bem received reinforcements and was ready to fight again at Piski.
Historical Record
Significance & Legacy
Bem's most serious setback. But Puchner's failure to pursue allowed full recovery within days.
After the Hungarian armies were driven out of Transylvania in October–November 1848, an important turning point in the Hungarian War of Independence was the appointment of the Polish Józef Bem as a general of the Hungarian army of Transylvania, as he launched an unexpected attack against the Austrian and Romanian troops advancing towards the Hungarian Plain, trying to attack from the east Hungary, which was attacked at the same time by the Austrian main army of Field Marshal Alfred I, Prince of Windisch-Grätz from the West, Lieutenant General Franz Schlik from the North and the Serbian insurgents from the South in December 1848. Nicholas I of Russia, had already sent a corps to Moldova and Wallachia in 1848 under the command of General Alexander von Lüders to contain the revolutionary movements there, which, in view of the events in Transylvania and Hungary, was left in the said provinces for the duration of the Hungarian War of Independence.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When was the Battle of Vízakna (Ocna Sibiului)?
- The Battle of Vízakna (Ocna Sibiului) took place in 1849. February 4, 1849.
- What was the outcome of the Battle of Vízakna (Ocna Sibiului)?
- The Austrian Imperial Forces were victorious against the Hungarian Revolutionary Army.
- What was the significance of the Battle of Vízakna (Ocna Sibiului)?
- Bem's most serious setback. But Puchner's failure to pursue allowed full recovery within days.