John III Sobieski Saved Vienna

On September 12, 1683, Polish king John III Sobieski led what historians describe as the largest known cavalry charge in history during the Battle of Vienna. At around 6:00 p.m., he ordered 18,000 Polish and Holy Roman Empire horsemen to charge down the hills in four contingents, personally leading 3,000 Polish Winged Hussars. The assault shattered the exhausted and demoralized Ottoman lines and drove the cavalry directly toward their camp and commander Kara Mustafa Pasha's headquarters. Less than three hours later, the allied forces had won the battle and saved Vienna.

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