5. Siege Of Vienna (1529)
The 1683 battle is more famous, but, due to the weakness of the Ottomans at the time, it's unlikely a win would have led to any lasting success. In 1529 the Ottomans were at their strongest, under the leadership of Suleiman the Magnificent sounds more like a magician than an emperor. The Ottomans had taken Constantinople in 1453 and a large portion of Hungary after their victory at Mohacs in 1526. The next target for Suleiman was Vienna. With a force consisting of more than 100,000 men, Suleiman launched a campaign against Austria's Archduke Ferdinand I. The campaign started poorly when wet weather led to the spreading of disease amongst his army and his artillery having to be abandoned after getting stuck in mud. On top of this, heavy rains had dampened much of the gun powder. The Austrians repulsed repeated attempts to climb the walls, and, after a final charge failed and with winter coming, Suleiman ordered his troops to turn home. The failure to take Vienna halted Ottoman expansion for the first time in centuries. It also stopped Suleiman's efforts to head into Europe. If the Ottomans had taken Vienna, perhaps with better weather conditions, they would have controlled Hungary and Austria, leaving them with two options: Germany or Italy. It would also be a huge blow to the Habsburgs, who played a huge part in European history. On the other hand, the Ottomans could use it as a bargaining chip, to solidify their hold on Hungary. Either way, it would have a huge impact on eastern Europe.