The siege of Retz was a conflict between the

Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire was a political entity in Western, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its dissolution in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars. From the accession of Otto I in 962 ...

and the

Kingdom of Hungary The Kingdom of Hungary was a monarchy in Central Europe that existed for nearly a millennium, from the Middle Ages into the 20th century. The Principality of Hungary emerged as a Christian kingdom upon the coronation of the first king Stephe ...

in 1486. It was part of the Austro-Hungarian War. The Hungarian capture of the town eventually led to the prosperity of its wine industry.

The siege

After the fall of Laa the Hungarian King

Matthias Corvinus Matthias Corvinus, also called Matthias I ( hu, Hunyadi Mátyás, ro, Matia/Matei Corvin, hr, Matija/Matijaš Korvin, sk, Matej Korvín, cz, Matyáš Korvín; ), was King of Hungary and Croatia from 1458 to 1490. After conducting several mi ...

turned to

Retz Retz is a town with a population of 4,168 in the Hollabrunn District in Lower Austria, Austria. Geography Retz is located in the north western Weinviertel in Lower Austria. The municipality's area covers 45,01 km². 11.83 percent of this ...

. He was accompanied by his son

John Corvinus John Corvinus ( Hungarian: ''Corvin János'', Croatian: ''Ivaniš Korvin'', Romanian: ''Ioan Corvin''; 2 April 1473 – 12 October 1504) was the illegitimate son of Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary, and his mistress, Barbara Edelpöck. Biogr ...

. He divided his army into three branches, one composed of mainly Bohemians, the second of Hungarians, and the third of the light cavalry of the Raci. He besieged the town with them on 4 October. The town was heavily fortified and required the engagement of siege weaponry. The garrison accomplished several break-outs, targeting the supply transports for the besiegers' encampment. These skirmishes caused minor casualties but were disturbing enough to make the kingng decide to draw the encirclement closer to the walls and to order their cannon bombardment. His army also undermined the towers of the town fort. The citizens of Retz realized it was time to surrender. The citizens were granted a royal pardon and Matthias entered the city on 10 October 1486.

Aftermath

After the capture of the city he appointed Nikolaus Bethlen the captain of the city who started to build the castle later known as Gatterburg. Matthias Corvinus reissued the town's privileges, which is regarded as the origin of the construction of the multi-storeyed central wine cellars, and on 11 November, he ordered ten suburban villages to submit fermented wine to the town. In the same year he also allowed the citizens of Retz to export their wines to Northern Europe and even to the court of the

Grand Duke of Moscow This is a list of all reigning monarchs in the history of Russia. It includes the princes of medieval Rus′ state (both centralised, known as Kievan Rus′ and feudal, when the political center moved northeast to Vladimir and finally to Mos ...

Ivan III of Russia Ivan III Vasilyevich (russian: Иван III Васильевич; 22 January 1440 – 27 October 1505), also known as Ivan the Great, was a Grand Prince of Moscow and Grand Prince of all Rus'. Ivan served as the co-ruler and regent for his bli ...

. The architecture in the main square of Retz reflects the accumulated wealth from that time due to the greater growth of Retz's wine industry from Matthias's decision. Matthias stayed in the town several times, receiving envoys from France as well as the historian

Antonio Bonfini Antonio Bonfini (Latin variant: ''Antonius Bonfinius'') (1427‒1502) was an Italian humanist and poet who spent the last years of his career as a court historian in Hungary with King Matthias Corvinus Matthias Corvinus, also called Matthias ...

, whom – after this visit – he hired as his personal historian.

Footnotes

* The earliest known recording is a letter from Matthias written from the encampment around Retz on 4 October, in which he orders the ''king's court judges'' to suspend the ruling over the dispute on Töttös de Báthmonostor-heritage between Auxiliary bishop Matthias Várday, Aladar Várday, Michael Várady and Jannus Várday until his arrival from Austria, whereas the King would judge the case in person.

References

{{coord missing, Austria 1486 in Europe

Conflicts in 1486 Austrian–Hungarian War (1477–1488)