It is often said that the worst enemy for someone is themselves. This was certainly true for the Austrians on September 21, 1788, in Caransebeș (Karánsebes), Romania.

This incident occurred during the Austro-Turkish War (1787-1791), a period of intense conflict between the Habsburg Monarchy and the Ottoman Empire¹. The Habsburgs sought to exploit Ottoman weaknesses but were often hampered by internal issues and logistical challenges. However, the army was usually made up of a mosaic that included Austrian, Czech, German, French, Serbian, Croatian, Italian, and Polish soldiers and commanders. It was a communications nightmare, and disaster was simply a matter of time.

The vanguard of the army, a squadron of hussars, crossed the Timiș River to scout for the presence of the Ottoman army. There was no sign of the Ottoman forces, but they encountered a group of Gypsies who offered to sell schnapps (an alcoholic drink) to the soldiers. The cavalrymen began drinking when, a little later, an infantry force crossed the river and also demanded the alcohol for themselves. The hussars refused and, being drunk, hastily built fortifications around the barrels. A heated argument followed, and a soldier fired a shot.

Immediately, a battle broke out. During the clash, someone began shouting, “Turci! Turci!” (Turks! Turks!). Panic ensued. The hussars and the infantry scattered, believing that an Ottoman attack was imminent. Austrians, Serbs, Croats, and Italians shouted in their languages, creating a chaotic scene. The situation worsened when some German officers, in an attempt to restore order, shouted, “Halt” (Stop), which the soldiers interpreted as “Allah! Allah!”.

The cavalrymen running through the camps were mistaken for Ottoman cavalry by the artillery commander, Colloredo, who ordered fire. Meanwhile, throughout the camp, panicked soldiers fled or shot at each other. The entire army retreated from the imaginary enemy, and Emperor Joseph II, who was personally present during the campaign, fell off his horse into a stream in the panic. Emperor Joseph II. From a letter he wrote to his brother Leopold, Grand Duke of Tuscany, in which he discusses general difficulties faced during the campaign:

“The diversity of our troops, though a strength in numbers, has proven to be a formidable challenge in command. The men, unable to understand one another, fall into disarray at the slightest provocation. Discipline is difficult to maintain, and I fear this may lead to greater troubles in our engagements with the Turks.” This incident likely contributed to his declining health and eventual death in 1790.

Two days later, the Ottoman army arrived, bewildered to see around 200-2,000 dead and wounded (according to each source), and easily captured Caransebeș.

The event highlights how fear and confusion can quickly turn a small misunderstanding into a large-scale disaster. The psychological state of the soldiers, primed to expect an Ottoman attack, played a crucial role in the ensuing chaos. In addition to, the cultural and linguistic differences among the troops were not just logistical issues but also sources of mistrust and rivalry. These underlying tensions could have exacerbated the rapid escalation of violence during the incident.

However, some historians question the veracity and scale of the incident due to the limited and sometimes contradictory contemporary sources. Although the battle itself was a debacle, it had broader implications for the Austro-Turkish War. The loss at Caransebeș, and similar setbacks, weakened the Habsburg position, influencing the eventual outcomes of the conflict and subsequent peace negotiations.

1. More information about the important Janissary and Tatar units that made up the Ottoman army: Janissaries and Tatars. ↩︎