Dürnkrut
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For the town in Lower Austria, see Dürnkrut, Austria.
The Battle of Dürnkrut, also known as the Battle of Marchfield took place on August 26, 1278. This medieval battle was a major success for the Hapsburg monarchy. It expanded the empire through the annexation of the duchies of Austria, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola, and Friuli, territories that remained under Habsburg control until 1918. In this significant battle, Otakar II, the King of Bohemia, fought against the allied forces of Rudolf I of the Habsburg monarchy.
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[edit] Rudolf I takes the German throne
Otakar II, angered that Rudolf I was a rival candidate for the German throne, did not partake in Rudolf’s royal election to the throne in 1273. The German princes did not consider Otakar because they feared that he would not let them rule their principalities as they saw fit. In addition Otakar, also known as the "Lion of Bohemia" did not favor the Church, and thus did not receive papal support. In contrast, Rudolf did receive the unconditional support of the Pope in 1274. Otakar II had positioned himself to be the successor to the Babenbergs through marriage to his much older wife Margaret (at the time of their marriage, Margaret was forty four while Otakar was twenty two). Otakar was set to acquire Austria, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola, and Friuli. However, Rudolf’s election to the German throne made him eligible to take these provinces as well. In order to settle this dispute, Rudolf summoned Otakar II before the Diet. Otakar failed to show, not wanting to acknowledge the election of the "poor count of Habsburg" (this phrase coined by Otakar).
[edit] Preparations for battle
By not appearing before the Diet, Otakar set events in motion for his imminent demise. Rudolf, meanwhile, was gathering allies and preparing for battle. He achieved two of these alliances through the classic Habsburgian style—marriage. First, he married his son Albert to Elizabeth, the daughter of the count of the Tyrol, Meinhard II. In return, Meinhard II received Carinthia as a fief. Second, he established an alliance with the duke of Bavaria, Henry, by offering him his daughter in addition to the region of present-day Upper Austria as a pledge for her dowry. He also achieved an alliance with the King of Hungary, Ladislaus IV of Hungary.
[edit] The battle
The battle took place on the 26th of August in 1278, at Dürnkrut in the Marchfeld where the Morava River opens into the Danubian plain. Rudolf I had reorganized the imperial army, recruiting 3,000 knights from the Rhineland, Swabia, Franconia, Austria and Styria. King Otakur of Bohemia employed the services of Saxon and Bavarian knights in his army. The battle was short and brutal. Otakar II was slain during the retreat. Berthold von Emerberg, his cupbearer, killed the king in order to settle a personal vendetta. Years earlier, the king of Bohemia had ordered the execution of his parents.
[edit] Consequences of the Habsburg victory
Rudolf I, heartened by his victory, promptly continued the offensive in the direction of Moravia and Bohemia. “He endeavoured to act with moderation; he granted the kingdom of Bohemia as a fief to Václav II Přemysl, his son-in-law and Orakar II’s legitimate heir, and set aside the case of Moravia.” (Bérenger 51) There were several other repercussions. The dream of creating a great Slav kingdom could no longer become reality. In addition, the Czech nation would remain occupied for centuries to come.
