The Modern Siege of Vienna

History Tells Us How to Fight the War on Terror


Vienna, on the outskirts of Metropolitan Washington, DC.

In 1529 and again in 1683, the Ottoman Empire invaded Hungary, working their way to the outskirts of the Habsburg Capital of Vienna. Central Europe was threatened and in 1529 the onset of Winter drove the Turkish invaders back to Istanbul. The second siege in 1683 was ended by Polish troops under Jan Sobieski who showed up to relieve the defenders of Vienna.

As Bruce S. Thornton points out in This Piece in City Journal, the Ottoman Empire was a dangerous place for the non-islamic inhabitants. What would have happened if the Turks had prevailed at Vienna? Europe would have likely become a very different place.

It took a decisive victory, that of Setember 11, 1683, to turn the tide and secure Europe from the Ottoman threat. Likewise the young Republic dealt with the Barbary Pirates. These North African pirates looted ships and captured crew members from the 16th Century to the beginning of the Nineteenth. In 1801 the First Barbary War was fought by the United States against Tripoli to secure the safety of the seas. In 1815 the Second Barbary War was fought.

As the smoke from the Pentagon could be seen over the Washington suburb of Vienna on September 11, 2001 the forces of Islam took up the struggle where they had left off at the gates of the Habsburg Capital.

The Gates of Vienna Blog is an excellent resource for learning about the historical perspective of the modern war on terror. Visit them Here.