Habsburg Empire under Siege: Ottoman Expansion and Hungarian Revolt in the Age of Grand Vizier Ahmed Koeprulu (1661-76)

In the 17th century, Hungary's diverse population rose up against the Counter-Reformation, Habsburg military occupation, and war taxes. Georg Michels' book explores the grassroots revolts that threatened the Habsburgs' hold over the Hungarian borderlands, revealing a complex environment of Calvinist Hungarians, Lutheran Slovaks, Lutherans Germans, and Orthodox Ukrainians defending their religion against brutal Counter-Reformation campaigns.

Format: Hardback
Length: 608 pages
Publication date: 10 March 2021
Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press

In the 17th century, Hungary witnessed a remarkable uprising against the oppressive forces of the Counter-Reformation, the Habsburg military occupation, and the exorbitant war taxes imposed upon its diverse population of peasants, townsmen, soldiers, and county nobles. This uprising, often overlooked in historical accounts, was a testament to the resilience and determination of the Hungarian people in the face of immense adversity.

In his book "The Habsburg Empire under Siege," Georg Michels delves into the lesser-known grassroots revolts that posed a significant threat to the Habsburg's hold over the Hungarian borderlands. Through extensive research in Hungarian, Austrian, and Dutch archives, Michels challenges prevailing narratives and sheds light on the complex environment in which Calvinist Hungarians, Lutheran Slovaks, Lutheran Germans, and Orthodox Ukrainians collaborated to defend their religious beliefs against the brutal campaigns of the Habsburg Counter-Reformation.

This revisionist study offers a fresh perspective on European, Middle Eastern, and East European history, revealing a dramatic story of Reformation and Counter-Reformation violence. It encompasses proxy wars, guerrilla warfare, refugee flight, migration from Hungary into Ottoman territory, and largely unknown Christian-Muslim encounters. By offering a trans-imperial lens, Michels reassesses the intricate relationship between Hungarians, Habsburgs, and Ottomans, highlighting the resistance of ordinary men and women and their aspirations for liberation from Habsburg oppression.

Through his meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Michels restores the voices of the ordinary people who played a pivotal role in shaping the history of Hungary and the broader region. "The Habsburg Empire under Siege" portrays the resilience, courage, and unwavering spirit of the Hungarian people in their struggle for independence and self-determination, reclaiming their rightful place in the annals of history.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780228005759