Dregelypalank Nograd Hungary

...some heroic, if Pyrrhic, victories, that enter folklore—most notably the fall of Drégely (a small fort defended to the last man by just one hundred and forty-six men), and ...

...the Siege of Eger.

The latter is an important stronghold and key to the defense of the remainder of Hungarian soil.

North of Eger lies the poorly reinforced city of Kassa (present day Košice), the center of an important region of mines and associated mints, which provide the Hungarian Kingdom with large amounts of quality silver and gold coinage.

The fall of Eger, besides allowing a takeover of that revenue source, would also enable the Ottoman Empire to secure an alternative logistic and troop route for further westward military expansion, possibly allowing the Turks to lay sieges on Vienna more frequently.

When the Turks turn their attention to Eger, few expect the defenders to put up much resistance.

The Castle of Eger is a major végvár with more than two thousand men, but in poor shape and without outside help.

The defenders face two large Ottoman armies, commanded by the Turkish lords Pasha Ali and Pasha Ahmed, which had crushed all opposition previously.

The defenders are outnumbered about one to fifty in hand-to-hand combat, but many of the Ottoman troops are worn out and tired because of their long journey on foot, which had started in the Balkans in the spring of 1552.

The Turks had expected an easy victory, but the bravery of the castle's defenders, as well as commander István Dobó's inspired leadership, resist and repulse repeated Turkish assaults.

Even after the storage tower, containing twenty-four metric tons of black gunpowder, explodes and causes extensive structural damage, the invaders still cannot find a way into the castle compound.

After thirty-nine days of bloody, brutal and intense fighting, the Ottoman Army withdraws, beaten and humiliated.

The defenders' losses amount to about one third of their ranks, including those killed and permanently maimed in combat.

Dobó loses both of his squires.

According to modern historical research, several external factors had contributed the defenders' success:

• There was significant infighting between the two Ottoman leaders.

• Ahmed was the senior and contributed twice as many troops to the united army, but Ali showed more strategic talent and proved his skill in artillery, heavily damaging the castle walls with his battery of just four large siege guns.

• During the siege, the Ottoman army ran out of gunpowder and cannonballs (which were carved out of marble) at least twice, limiting Ahmed's use of heavy artillery for a week or more.

• The end of autumn had arrived earlier than usual with heavy rain and freezing nighttime temperatures.

• Reduced rice rations and allegations of corruption among the officers had caused discontent among the Ottoman troops.

Dobó and his officers resign after the Ottoman withdrawal in order to protest King Ferdinand's refusal to contribute any material help to the defense.

Gergely Bornemissza, appointed to take over command of the fortress, is subsequently ambushed, captured and hanged by the Ottomans.