The large Ottoman Army, attempted to capture the Habsburg capital of Vienna in 1683, but suffered a crushing defeat, which also ended with the formation of an anti-Ottoman alliance, The Holy League, and the beginning of the Great Turkish War.

As a preparatory measure, local military commanders also intentionally spread false rumors about their main armies heading to Hungary, instead of actually launching their own offensives in Slavonia.

Nonetheless, the first few days of the siege proved unfruitful, due to the solid land barricades and other fortifications, which provided cover from the Croatian cannon fire.

The town defenders also covered the raining projectiles with wet clothes in order to mitigate their destructiveness, while also repelling charges directed at the city.

[4][3] The capture of Virovitica became early major success for the Habsburg monarchy, which paved the way for launching new offensives towards Požega and even Osijek, Which was - at the time, a vital traffic and supply hub for the Ottoman-controlled Slavonia and Hungary.