The Battle of Karánsebes: The Army That Fought Itself
Date: September 17-18, 1788
Key Characters: Austrian soldiers (various regiments, including Habsburg, Hungarian, Italian contingents).
Summary: During the Austro-Turkish War, a large, multi-ethnic Habsburg army camped near Karánsebes (modern-day Romania). A scouting party encountered some local Gypsies selling schnapps. Drunken soldiers celebrating fired shots. Other units, hearing the commotion and shouts in different languages in the dark, mistook it for a Turkish attack. Panic spread, units fired on each other, and a full-blown chaotic battle erupted within their own camp. Thousands were killed or wounded by friendly fire before order was restored, significantly weakening the army before facing the actual Ottomans.
Historical Reference: Austrian military dispatches, later historical analysis of the campaign, accounts by officers present.
Reviewed by Sagar B
on
June 15, 2025
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