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obsolete the high stone walls of medieval fortresses, which
proved too brittle to resist the smashing effects of cannonballs.
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to feature extremely thick, but relatively low earthen
embankments that could absorb a cannonball’s impact.o Also, the straight walls of medieval castles had been replaced
with star-shaped fortresses whose sides were studded with
projecting triangular bastions. They also commonly featured
detached triangular outworks, called ravelins, situated beyond
the main walls. All these were built on along carefully
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cannons and muskets mounted on the projecting bastions and
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in one section able to blast away any attackers threatening a
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ideal. Some stretches of the wall were soundly designed, but
others constituted weak spots certain to draw the attention of
a knowledgeable attacker. Unfortunately for the defenders of
Vienna, the Turks were experienced at siege warfare.The Siege
x Arriving at Vienna on July 14, Kara Mustafa erected his tent
opposite the most vulnerable point. The defense of this section
depended on two bastions projecting from the walls and an outwork
just in front of them. The defenders knew that this was their weak
spot, and roughly half the garrison was assigned to defend it.
x Kara Mustafa sent an envoy to the defenders bearing a demand for
surrender. It was rejected, and the siege began. About 20,000 of the
Turks were directly engaged in the siege, while the other 70,000
cut off the city from outside aid and ravaged the countryside.
Meanwhile, the Tatar light cavalry engaged in long-range raids,
traveling hundreds of miles into enemy territory.