Full story of the Hussars involves intense faith and prayer as well as courage:

The Battle of Vienna

In 1571 the Muslim Holy War to destroy Christianity and conquer Europe was stopped at the Battle of Lepanto, due primarily to lots and lots of ordinary people praying the Rosary. I’ll share that story with you on Oct 7, on the Feast of Lady of Victory.

With that failed sea invasion, the Muslims sought to conquer Europe and Christianity by land. By 1683, the Islamic forces had reached the heart of Europe and laid siege to Vienna.

The Emperor fled Vienna and King Louis XIV of France ignored their cries for help.

Less than 15,000 defenders were trapped within the city walls of Vienna, while the Muslim army swelled to more than 150,000. If Vienna fell, nothing would stop the Muslims from sweeping through the rest of Europe.

The small number of fighters left in the city were abandoned by their leaders and surrounded by a much larger force bent on their destruction.

It certainly looked like there was no hope.

But God and Our Lady never abandon their children.

King Jan Sobieski and Mary

Blessed Marco d’Aviano, a Franciscan monk and chaplin to the Christian army in Vienna encouraged everyone trapped in the city under siege to resist by praying the Rosary every day.

Rejected by the King of France, Pope Innocent XI then appealed to King Jan Sobieski of Poland to come to the aid of Vienna and all European Christianity. Sobieski led the most feared cavalry in Europe, called the Winged Hussars because they had sown eagle’s feathers to back of their armor and looked like eagles flying as they rode into battle.

More importantly, Sobieski was ardently devoted to Mary and the Rosary. When he received word from the Pope, he summoned his cavalry and army, and went straight to Czestochowa, where the miraculous Icon of the Black Madonna is kept. There they consecrated themselves to Mary, then marched more than 400 miles, to Vienna.

Sobieski ordered his army to pray the Rosary as they journeyed.

Sobieski and his forces arrived outside of Vienna on the evening of September 11, 1683

This was supposed to be the day Islam launched its final blow to Christianity, but they did not account for Sobieski and the Mother of God.

At 4:00 am, on the morning of September 12, King Jan Sobieski and his forces celebrated Mass and reconsecrated themselves to Mary. Without hesitation they threw themselves into the assault. Sobieski’s soldiers ran with abandon down the hill toward the Muslim army, shouting as they ran, “Jesus and Mary, save us!”

While the famed cavalry, the Winged Hussars charged with 18,000 strong, the largest cavalry charge every.

And Jesus and Mary did save them, as well as the city of Vienna.

By the end of the day, the massive Muslim Army was completely destroyed and those who survived fled in disarray, leaving everything behind in their camps.

After the battle, King Jan Sobieski related the events of the victory to Pope Innocent XI, describing to the pontiff exactly what had happened that day. He said, “I came, I saw, and God conquered!”

Upon his return to Poland, Jan Sobieski went immediately to the shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa on a pilgrimage of thanksgiving and laying the captured Muslim flag before the miraculous icon of Mary.

Once again, the victory came through Mary, the Rosary and the countless faithful who responded to her call. In gratitude the Pope declared September 12, the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary.

By Dr. Mike Scherschligt https://www.schooloffaith.com/rosary-archive/holy-name-of-mary