Belgrade

1694. The great historical, geographical and poetical dictionary by Louis Moreri.

Belgrade, or Alba Graeca, and Alba Bulgarica, a City of Hungary in the Countrey called Rascia: It is a little below the Confluence of the Save and Danube, considerable for its greatness, and by its situation upon a Hill, which renders it extraordinary strong. Some do take it for the old Taurinum; but that was too far from the Confluent of the Save and Danube to be the same with Belgrade: There is more likelihood that the latter being encreased by the ruine of the other, it's neighbourhood made it to be taken for the same City. * Amurath the II. lost a Victorious Army before it in 1439. and Mahomet the II. his Son, lost another Army of 250000 Men before it in 1456. which the brave Huniades ruin'd by this Stratagem, He suffer'd a party of the Turks to enter the Town, and whilst they were Plundering, Sallied out, and took their Cannon, turn'd 'em against themselves, kill'd 40000 of 'em, and forc'd the rest to an inglorious slight, leaving all their Bagage and Ammunition behind. In 1521. Soliman the Magnificent took it after two Months Siege, Lewis K. of Hungary being then but 15 years of Age, and the other Christian Princes being engaged in a mutual War. It was for many years after neglected by the Turks; but in 1686. they begun to refortify it after the loss of Buda. In 1688. the Emperor sent the D. of Bavaria against it with a potent Army, he forced his way over the Save, Aug. 8. and defeated 6000 of the best of the Turkish Troops; on the 10th he March'd toward Belgrade, whereupon the Turks set fire to the Lower Town, and abandoned it, tho' they had 20000 Men incamp'd, and a strong work which reach'd from the Town to the Save. An old Bassa was left to Command the Upper Town and Castle. On the 12th, the Christians begun their approaches, the Turks making a vigorous defence; but breaches being made, the Christians storm'd it thrice successively on the 6th of September, and at the third Assault entred the place, putting all to the Sword at first, so that there were about 7000 kill'd and thrown into the Save; but the Bassa, and about 3000 more, obtain'd Quarter, having Chain'd 200 Christian Slaves, whom they set betwixt them and the Imperialists, to put a stop to the fury of the Soldiers. There were 70 pieces of Cannon, with a vast deal of Plunder, tho' the Inhabitants had been removing their Effects a long time, and 1000 Boats went down the River the day before the Lower Town was burnt: The Christians had about 4000 killed and wounded in this Siege. In 1690 the Emperor being attack'd by the French K. on the other side. The prime Visier sat down before Belgrade, Oct. 3. with 60000 Men; the Garison consisted of 6000 Men well provided, who made a Gallant defence, and killed abundance of Turks; but on the 8th a Bomb falling into the Magazine, blew it up, with 1700 Germans going to Mount the Guard, and set fire to the other Magazines, blew up part of the Walls, and sill'd the Ditches; so that the Enemy entred by whole Squadrons, putting all to the Sword. The fire destroyed the Town and Castle; and only the Governor with 300 of the Garison escaped: He was afterwards brought to his Trial for not having done his part, but acquitted. Since that time the Turks have refortified it. Its Long. is 47. 00. Lat. 46. 50.