This famous conquest spread joy throughout the empire; but scarcely had
Leopold taken possession of Belgrade than it was torn from him again.
The grand vizier, Mustapha Coprogli, presented himself before that
city with an army, which its valour, its zeal, and its exploits had
rendered formidable: he commenced by blockading it. Learning that the
Imperialists were coming to its aid, he opened the trenches with half
of his army, and destined the other to dispute the passage of the Save
with the Germans: this strategic position was very critical. The grand
vizier, uncertain of success, awaited some event capable of forwarding
his plans. For eight days the artillery had thundered against the
place, without any considerable effect, when a bomb fell upon a tower
which served as a powder-magazine, and blew it up, together with all
the neighbouring houses, and part of the walls. The Turks immediately
exclaimed that God had declared himself by this miracle; and no longer
doubting of his assistance, they flew to the breach before the garrison
had had time to repair the damage. Although surprised, they resisted a
long time with great valour; but overwhelmed by numbers, having killed
many Turks, the garrison retired on the 8th of October, by the Danube,
to the amount of seven or eight hundred men, commanded by General
D’Ospremont and the duke de Croi. Six thousand soldiers, who could not
make their escape, were massacred by the Turks; most of the inhabitants
shared the same fate, and the barbarians did not discontinue their
cruelty till wearied with slaughter.
This disgrace astonished the court of Vienna, without depriving it of
hope; the duke de Croi appeared suddenly, in 1694, under the walls of
Belgrade, from which place the Turkish army was absent. His batteries
were placed in a short time; his artillery and mines were so vigorously
worked, that in eight days he had reduced all the advanced works to
ashes, when the grand vizier made his appearance with a powerful army;
the siege was raised perforce, and the conquest was reserved for Prince
Eugene.