The Winged Hussars and the Saving of Vienna (1683) In September 1683, the city of Vienna stood on the brink of collapse. For more than two months, the Ottoman Empire—one of the most powerful forces in the world—had surrounded the city with over 100,000 men. Starvation, disease, and constant bombardment pushed Vienna to its final breath. If the city fell, Central Europe would open to Ottoman expansion, and the balance of power on the continent would shift forever. With time running out, a coaliti