In the summer of 1683, the Ottoman Empire's army, led by Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa, marched towards Vienna with the intention of capturing the city. This was part of the Ottoman Empire's ambition to expand their territory and reach towards the heart of Europe.
However, Vienna was not an easy target. The city was well fortified and defended by the Holy Roman Empire's forces led by Duke Charles of Lorraine. Nonetheless, the Ottoman's powerful army began a siege, with the invaders setting up camps around the city's walls. After weeks of siege, the city's defenders were running low on supplies and morale was beginning to falter.
At this point, the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I sent for help from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, a formidable military power in Eastern Europe. King Jan III Sobieski responded to this call and led a coalition of Polish, Lithuanian, and Holy Roman Empire forces towards Vienna.
On September 11th, 1683, the two armies met in a decisive battle on the outskirts of Vienna. The Poles' cavalry, known for their elite skills in horseback riding and maneuvers, charged towards the Ottoman lines and broke their formation. The Holy Roman Empire's infantry then attacked from behind. Despite the Ottomans' best efforts, they were unable to repel the counterattack, and their army started to retreat.
The Polish cavalry pursued the Ottomans and eventually caught up with them, inflicting heavy blows and forcing the remaining troops to flee. The Battle of Vienna was seen as a turning point in European history, as it halted the Ottoman Empire's expansion westward and prevented their ambitions to conquer the continent.
The movie September Eleven 1683 portrays the events leading up to the battle and the dramatic encounter between the two armies. It's a story of heroism, courage, and sacrifice that highlights the pivotal role played by the Polish cavalry in saving Europe from an invasion that would have changed its destiny forever.