Battle of Călugăreni

The Battle of Călugăreni took place during the history of early modern Romania on 23 August [O.S. 13 August] 1595 between the Wallachian army led by Michael the Brave and the Ottoman army led by Koca Sinan Pasha. It was part of the Long Turkish War, fought between Christian and Ottoman forces at the end of the 16th – beginning of the 17th centuries.

The whole Ottoman force was estimated at 100,000 men, but not all of their troops were on the battlefield at Călugăreni. It seems that only about 30,000-40,000 Ottoman soldiers were involved in the battle.

Michael the Brave had in total about 15,000 men and about 12 large field cannons, with Transylvanian (Székely) detachments. Michael the Brave strategically positioned his forces south of the village of Călugăreni, where the Câlniştea river flows into the Neajlov river. The terrain there was a muddy marsh, surrounded by forests that would negate the Ottoman's military superiority. The battle had three different phases. A narrow bridge over the Neajlov river was used by Michael as a mandatory pass point where he successfully held a large Ottoman attack, although a second Ottoman assault supported by flanking cavalry forced the Wallachians to retreat. However a Wallachian counterattack on the pursuing Ottomans forced them back over the river, ending the battle as Michael would retreat during the night. The Ottomans suffered much heavier casualties.