The Military Operations of Autumn 1546 in Saxony and the Battle of Adorf in the Light of Contemporary Accounts

Abstract

The military operations of autumn 1546 in Saxony were key events in the Schmalkaldic War. The occupation of Vogtland of the Electorate of Saxony resulted in a strategic victory for the imperial coalition as the incursion into Saxony divided the forces of the Schmalkaldic League and thus paved the way for the imperial triumph at Mühlberg in 1547. This phase of the war saw the first involvement of Hungarian hussars, who – according to contemporary accounts – became decisive participants in the fighting until the end of the conflict. The core of the study is a comparison of reports on the Battle of Adorf, written by the parties involved, each presenting a different point of view. Despite their differences, the sources analysed offer converging narratives that provide a fascinating insight into this important episode in the history of 16th century Hungarian hussars.