Professor Kekez Delivers Public Lecture on the Siege of Szigetvár in 1566 in Hrvatska Kostajnica

As part of the celebration of Statehood Day of the Republic of Croatia, Professor Hrvoje Kekez, PhD, delivered a lecture on the Ottoman siege of Szigetvár in 1566. The lecture was organized by the Matice hrvatska Branch in Hrvatska Kostajnica and was titled "Reconstruction of the Siege of Szigetvár in 1566 through the Prism of Written Sources."

The lecture provided a clear overview of the political relations between the Ottoman Empire and the Habsburg Monarchy, emphasizing the constant conflicts and shifts in these relations. Ottoman war plans and the preparations for the campaign preceding the siege were explained with particular detail, as were the strategic goals of Sultan Suleiman I the Magnificent. Significant attention was paid to the fortifications of the city of Szigetvár, highlighting the importance of the defensive system and the ability of the defenders to resist a superior enemy.

The course of the siege was presented dynamically and in detail, with an emphasis on the bravery of the defenders led by Nikola Šubić Zrinski. Finally, it was noted that the Battle of Szigetvár held great significance for the further development of Ottoman-Habsburg relations, as it slowed the Ottoman advance toward Central Europe and became a symbol of resistance against the Ottomans.

The lecture was held as part of the scientific research project "The Battle of Krbava Field 1493 – Context, Course, Consequences, and Perception," which is being conducted at the Catholic University of Croatia.