Battle of Karánsebes ( LOL )

**Nizam** · April 17, 2010, 01:47 PM

The Battle of Karánsebes (Romanian: Caransebeş,Turkish: Şebeş Savaşı) was an early episode in the Austro-Turkish War of 1787-1791. Different portions of an Austrian army, which was scouting for forces of the Ottoman Empire, fired on each other by mistake, in a self-inflicted disaster. The battle took place on the evening of 17 September 1788. Ottomans were victorious and captured the city.The army of Austria, approximately 100,000 strong, was setting up camp around the town of Karánsebes (now Caransebeş, in modern Romania). The army's vanguard, a contingent of hussars, crossed the Timiş River nearby to scout for the presence of the Ottoman Turks. There was no sign of the Ottoman army, but the hussars did run into a group of Gypsies, who offered to sell schnapps to the war-weary soldiers. The cavalrymen bought the schnapps and started to drink.

continue for full story http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Karansebes

**0N3** · April 17, 2010, 01:58 PM

lurk moar

I have seen this 5 times here now

**Slaytaninc** · April 17, 2010, 01:59 PM

My favorite story of misadventure in the Balkans.

**motiv-8** · April 17, 2010, 02:53 PM

YES! Thank you! I've been trying to think of this battle for forever. Always useful in discussion of most embarrassing military moments.

**Legu** · April 17, 2010, 03:11 PM

It's a nice fabrication.
See here and here

**jo the greek** · April 17, 2010, 03:47 PM

I know that story good to brought that .

**Nizam** · April 23, 2010, 11:47 AM

och

**Trax** · April 23, 2010, 12:03 PM

I must confess, that it was probably me who first introduced this curious story to TWC, many winters ago, after reading this book.
However that book seems to be pretty much the only source mentioning that "battle".
In the best case the whole story is grossly exaggerated and in the worst case complete bullcrap.

Simply one of those stories that are too good to be true.

**Slaytaninc** · April 23, 2010, 12:19 PM

It's still my favorite story of military misadventure in the Balkans , truth or not.

**Marie Louise von Preussen** · April 23, 2010, 12:22 PM

Trax is right, the sources are scanty at best.

**Odovacar** · April 23, 2010, 02:22 PM

It has been debated and posted several times. Its one of those things (along with debates about how cool romans were) which makes twc infintely boring...

**iudas** · April 23, 2010, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by Odovacar

It has been debated and posted several times. Its one of those things (along with debates about how cool romans were) which makes twc infintely boring...

Not to mention Romania vs Hungary.

(I would've posted some elaborate witticism but it's really not needed)

**Hakkapeliitta** · April 23, 2010, 05:28 PM

The factuality of this battle is in serious dispute, it's makes for a good story, but one shouldn't pass it off as a fact.

**Gromovnik** · April 25, 2010, 03:21 AM

lol, if I had a penny for every time I saw a thread about this on strategy gaming forums...

**Odovacar** · April 25, 2010, 04:18 AM

Originally Posted by Pannonius

lol, if I had a penny for every time I saw a thread about this on strategy gaming forums...

You would drink cocktail on Hawaii with two callgirls

**Lonck** · April 25, 2010, 03:57 AM

the noob OP stumbled on this and thought we haven't heard of it before or something? This is one of those rare cases where you shouldn't trust Wikipedia.