Background
Fort at Valpovo
The fort (castle) with suburbs near Valpovo (Hungarian: Valpó, German: Walpach, Turkish: Valpo) is located on a large plain near the Karašica River, about 80 km northeast of Požega and about 27 km northwest of Osijek. It is a small wasserburg (water castle) protected by ramparts and towers, but the defences are outdated and is able to resist only a small assault. The small garrison is under the command of Mihály Árky (also known as Mihály Vas and Michael Archius), a very military man, and a veteran of many campaigns, who provided the city with food and a strong garrison able to repel the attackers for a long time. Valpovo was owned by Imre Perényi, whose son Péter Perényi [hu] was one of the greatest Hungarian aristocrats and the last lord of Valpovo.
Military situation
In response to King Ferdinand's provocations in Hungary, especially his siege of Pest (Sep. 26–Oct. 9, 1542)[hu], and worry that Buda could be lost, Sultân Süleymân decided to lead a campaign into Hungary in 1543, to expand the Eyalet of Buda and thus strengthen the defence of Buda. He spent the winter in Edirne, almost 250 km northwest of İstanbul, where he planned the coming campaign. Shortly before spring arrived, Süleymân sent an order to Ulama Beğ[tr], the sançakbeğ of Bosnia since 1541, to secure lands between the Danube and Drava rivers before his arrival. Kasım Beğ, the sançakbeğ of Mohács, was ordered to join Ulama Beğ and raid towards Vienna and Buda to assess the status of the Christian armies.
By April 16, Murad Beğ and Ulama Beğ took Voćin, Stupčanica, Bijela Stijena, Dobra Kuća, Bijela and Sirač. During the spring, Ulama Beğ's army crossed the Drava and broke into Muraköz (Međimurje), raided, and attacked Kanizsa, owned by Tamás Nádasdy, but it was well defended by Nikola IV Zrinski, the Ban of Croatia, who sallied out and attacked Ulama Beğ’s camp, forcing the Ottomans to flee.
Early in the spring, Sultân Suleymân sends an order to Murâd Beğ Tardić, the sanjakbeğ of Požega, commanding: “You, who are my servant, Murâd Beğ, and the emir of the sanjak of Pojega! As soon as my highest command reaches you, ask in a friendly manner the gâvurs of the castle named Valpovo to surrender, grant mercy to the infidels with vile morals in it and see to it that everything is done according to their wishes. If those wicked accept your highest mercy and offer the castle, immediately take possession of it, and until my arrival see to its custody and protection, as necessary. However, if they oppose and do not give up: then, without delaying an hour or a minute, go, attack the castle and cannonade it until I arrive there."
Siege of Valpovo
In early May, Murâd Beğ, following the Ottoman Sultan Suleyman's orders, rode to Valpovo and, under a flag of parley, asked for the castellan, and gave the garrison an opportunity to surrender on generous terms. Mihály Árky replied: “Hey, Murâd Beğ! Know that I will not surrender the castle to you, do not tire your tongue with vain speech, nor strive after your unattainable desire, but go home and be at ease; then when the Pâdişâh arrives here, I will give it up to him.”
Murâd Beğ angrily responds: “Hey damned one! Such speech is not a satisfactory answer to me, and I have not received such an order from the Pâdişâh. Either surrender the castle or face the consequences. It is time to be ready!” Murâd Beğ recorded the response given by Árky, and sent a report to the Sultân's court in Constantinople.
Murâd Beğ calls Hızır (Khizr) Beğ of Kyustendil, Mesih Beğ of Valona, and Ahmed Beğ Yahyapaşaoğlu of Lepanto, to join him in the siege Valpovo. On May 6, Küçük Bali Paşa, the Beğlerbeğ of Buda, dies and the Sultan learns of the death on May 14, while near Sofia. Two days later, Yahyapaşazade Mehmed Paşa, who took Požega in 1537, is appointed Beğlerbeğ of Buda. On May 10, Murâd Beğ’s army arrives at Valpovo and begins to build entrenchments and firing positions for cannons brought from Osijek. The cannons begin to fire slowly, as much as is possible with the weapons and munitions available. The Valpovo garrison sallies out to attack Murâd's soldiers.