The Battle on the Marchfeld (Morava Field) at Dürnkrut and Jedenspeigen took place on August 26, 1278 and was a decisive event for the history of Central Europe for the following centuries.
The opponents were King Ottokar II of Bohemia and an Imperial Army led by Rudolf I of Habsburg. The Marchfeld (named after the Morava river) northeast of Vienna became the battlefield, as the armies consisting of knights could easily engage in battle on the flat terrain with hardly any forest. It is estimated that almost 80,000 men (about 40,000 on each side) were involved. Thus, it was likely the largest battle fought among knights during the middle ages.
In the late afternoon, Rudolf's forces finally could decide the battle in their favor. Ottokar did not die in battle, but was murdered during the retreat. It is suspected that he was the victim of a Austria, Styria, Carinthia and Carniola for the centuries to come (until 1918), while the Premyslid dynasty remained confined to the Bohemian lands.
August 26 - Kings Rudolph I of Germany and Ladislaus IV of Hungary defeat King Otakar II of Bohemia in the Battle of Marchfield, a match of over 80,000 men and the largest battle of knights in the middle ages.
The battle ends a power struggle between Rudolph and Otakar over the fate of central Europe, and Rudolph's Habsburg family will continue to rule Austria and other captured territories until the end of World War I in 1918.
The independence, boundaries, and political structure of Andorra are agreed to by the Spanish Bishop of Urgell and the French Count of Foix.
The Battle on the Marchfeld (Morava Field) at Dürnkrut and Jedenspeigen took place on August 26, 1278 and was a decisive event for the history of Central Europe for the following centuries.
The opponents were Czech army led by king Ottokar II of Bohemia and an imperial Army led by Rudolf I of Habsburg in alliance with the Hungarian King Ladislaus IV of Hungary.
Thus, it was likely the largest battle fought among knights during the Middle Ages.
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