Vienna has rejected longstanding calls to erect a monument to Jan III Sobieski, the Polish king celebrated as the “Liberator of Vienna” for halting Ottoman forces from invading the city in the 17th century.
The city announced that the proposed monument, set for Kahlenberg hill in the 19th district (Döbling), where the historic battle took place, would “could be instrumentalised for xenophobic agitation or to stoke anti-Islamic and anti-Turkish sentiments,” according to Cultural Councillor Veronica Kaup-Hasler of the Social Democrats (SPÖ) in a statement on Friday. She cited “scientific findings” as the foundation for her decision.
Sobieski, as King of Poland, commanded troops from across Europe in the 1683 Battle of Vienna, stopping the Ottoman siege of the city.
Commemorations are held on Kahlenberg each year on the anniversary, attracting many Polish visitors. However, the occasion has also attracted demonstrations by right-wing extremists. Notably, the far-right terrorists behind the Christchurch and Oslo attacks referenced the battle in their manifestos.
Kaup-Hasler’s decision overrides a motion by Döbling’s district council, which had passed the proposal in September with support from the People’s Party (ÖVP), the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), and parts of the liberal NEOS party.
Poland has recently reiterated its desire for “dignified commemoration” of Sobieski.
“Vienna already has a dignified memorial,” Kaup-Hasler said, referring to a pedestal installed in 2013 for the planned statue, later adorned in 2018 with an inscription promoting international understanding. At that time, Vienna had declined to place an equestrian statue of Sobieski made in Poland. Instead, an Austrian-Polish commission of historians had suggested a “peace and alliance memorial” to honour Sobieski’s legacy and the solidarity he had inspired. The 2018 inscription describes the battle as a “climactic and turning point in the struggle between two empires” and honours the more than 50,000 lives lost. “May this event remain a reminder for peaceful coexistence among people in Europe!”
Bogusław Dybaś, the Polish representative on the historian commission, expressed understanding for the rejection of the contentious statue but remains hopeful for fitting recognition of Sobieski. “Given the nature of the monument and its limited artistic value, I believe the decision by the City of Vienna is actually justified. However, I regret the lengthy process and hope this decision will pave the way to honour the Polish king Jan III, a historical figure of Vienna, in a way that resonates with residents of Vienna, Polish citizens, and those of Polish heritage living in Vienna and Austria,” Dybaś said.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from the FPÖ and ÖVP. “For years, the red city government has repeatedly promised that the monument would be built, only to provide new, nonsensical excuses for the delays. The SPÖ is simply breaking its word by no longer following through on its commitment,” said FPÖ culture spokesperson Stefan Berger. ÖVP councillors Caroline Hungerländer and Laura Sachslehner described it as a “decision that directly opposes dignified remembrance of Jan Sobieski. This approach marks a low point in a years-long farce.”
