The Siege of Gyula Castle Comes to Life This Weekend

Hungary Today 2023.07.24.

More than two hundred traditionalists will recall the Siege of Gyula (southeastern Hungary), fought 457 years ago, between July 28-30 at the 11th Gyula Castle Days, reports Magyar Nemzet.

More than two hundred traditionalists from sixteen groups will re-enact the real events of the Siege of Gyula Castle in 1566 at the Gyula Castle Days. The clash is interesting because the fortress was besieged by an Ottoman army outnumbered fifteen to one, but the defenders held out for a very long time- about two months.

Tamás Csikány, a retired military historian and brigadier general, will comment live on the events of the time.

During the war games, pyrotechnic special effects, products that simulate gunshots, impacts, light effects, and whistling pipes will be used the same way as in films, to achieve a realistic effect.

To make the explosions more spectacular and lifelike, flour and potting soil are also used.

Gyula in 1566. Photo via Wikipedia

Fact

In the 16th century, the Gyula fortress was one of the three most important forts along with Eger (northern Hungary) and Szigetvár (southern Hungary). Captain of Gyula castle, László Kerecsényi, and his 2,000-2,500 defenders performed a heroic feat by holding Gyula Castle for 63 days, a period unparalleled in Hungarian military history, against a force of about 15 times the size of the fortress. For comparison, it is worth noting that István Dobó and his soldiers had to hold out for 38 days in Eger, while Miklós Zrínyi and his men broke out of Szigetvár after 34 days.

The siege was ended by an agreement between the castle captain Kerecsényi and Pertev Pasha, Suleiman’s brother-in-law: due to the depletion of supplies in the castle and the outbreak of dysentery, the Hungarian commander surrendered the castle in exchange for a free retreat. However, the Ottomans attacked the retreating army, killing or capturing most of them. Kerecsényi was chained and taken first to the Turkish camp, where he was tortured cruelly, and after several months of captivity and unsuccessful attempts to free him, was finally executed.

The inner courtyard of Gyula Castle. Photo via gyulavara.hu

Although today the castle seems to be located in an unlikely location in the middle of the Great Hungarian Plain, it is important to note that this area was situated on the floodplain of the River Fehér-Körös nearly 500 years ago. The river gave rise to small tributaries, forming islands in the area. The settlement of Gyula was built on one of these waterless islands, while the castle was built on the other. The real strength of the castle was the swampy terrain: it was very difficult to reach.

The Castle of Gyula is not only known for its famous battle, as the Castle Theater has been hosting summer theater performances for 60 years.

According to the organizers, the program will follow the same pattern as in previous years: the event will start on Friday evening with a parade of the participating traditional guards.

Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the life of the traditionalists,

visit the tents of the traditionalist associations, and see how people dressed, what they ate, and how they entertained themselves nearly 500 years ago.

Castle of Gyula. Photo via csodalatosmagyarorszag.hu

In the evenings, the Show&Bors Orchestra, the Antovszki Band, and Magdi Rúzsa will perform in the square in front of the castle, while on the other side of the castle, in the tented camp, the Szelindek Ensemble and the Raven Hungarica Early Music Ensemble will entertain spectators.

All events are free of charge, with the exception of those in the Castle and the Castle Baths.

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Via Magyar Nemzet, Featured image via Facebook/Gyulai Vár