Battle of Gvozd Mountain

Battle of Gvozd Mountain
Part of the War of the Croatian Succession

Death of the Last Croatian King from House of Trpimirović, by Oton Iveković
Date1097
LocationGvozd Mountain, traditionally identified as modern-day Petrova Gora ("Peter's Mountain") in central Croatia; more recently identified as modern-day Kapela mountain range in south-central Croatia[1][2]
Result Decisive Hungarian victory; death of Petar Svačić
Belligerents
Kingdom of Croatia (allies of king Petar Svačić)

Kingdom of Hungary

  • Allies among Croatian nobles
Commanders and leaders
Petar Svačić † Coloman of Hungary
Strength
unknown unknown
Casualties and losses
Heavy unknown
Death of Petar Svačić in the Battle of Gvozd Mountain, by Josip Horvat Međimurec

The Battle of Gvozd Mountain took place in the year 1097 and was fought between the army of Croatian king Petar Svačić and King Coloman I of Hungary. It was a decisive Hungarian victory and resulted in the death of Petar Svačić.

Battle

In an attempt to win the crown of the Kingdom of Croatia, the Hungarian army crossed the river Drava and invaded the Croatian territory, trying to reach the Adriatic coast. King Peter II of Croatia then moved from his residency at Knin castle in an attempt to defend his kingdom from the Hungarians. King Peter and his army moved north to meet advancing Hungarians, and the two armies met each other in the vicinity of Gvozd Mountain. After a fierce battle, King Peter was killed.

Location

The traditional Croatian historiography identified Gvozd Mountain, the location of the battle according to Gesta Hungarorum, as Petrova Gora (formerly Gvozd Gora).[1][3] In the second half of the 20th century, an alternative interpretation emerged, by which the battle took place in the Kapela mountain region of south-central Croatia.[1][2]

Aftermath

The outcome of the battle was disastrous for Petar Svačić's army and country because it marked the end of the dynasty of Croatian national kings. The winner of the battle, King Coloman of Hungary created a personal union between the kingdoms of Croatia and Hungary. He was then crowned as King of Croatia in the Croatian capital Biograd on the Adriatic coast in 1102. Until the end of the World War I in 1918, the two crowns were united in personal union.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Gvozd". Croatian Encyclopedia (in Croatian). Miroslav Krleža Institute of Lexicography. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  2. 1 2 Jelaska Marijan, Zdravka (2002). "Dolazak ugarskoga kralja". Hrvatska revija (in Croatian) (Matica Hrvatska) (4). Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "Petrova gora". Croatian Encyclopedia (in Croatian). Miroslav Krleža Institute of Lexicography. Retrieved 22 February 2015.

External links

Media related to Battle of Gvozd Mountain at Wikimedia Commons

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