"The castle is ... a beautiful wall solidly in the form of a square and is located on the Black Sea coast." in 1656 Evliya Çelebi the Turkish traveler, poet and historian
Crusade of Varna
The Battle of Varna 1444
The Kingdom of Hungary fell in crisis after the death of Sigismund in 1437.The threat for Christendom was at the door - Ottomans. They conquered eastern Balkans,Thracia, Greece and western Anatolia rapidly and the land-link between Constantinople and Europe was broken. Somehow Pope and entire Europe was willing to end this Muslim marching.
The Hungary called Wladyslaw III of Poland then crowned him to defend the kingdom against the Ottomans.The Ottoman attacks was intensified and Sultan Murad II. succeeded to enter Serbia, Transylvania. Then expected siege of Belgrad in 1440. The siege was failed and there was a surprise from Hungary to Ottomans. Beylik of Karamanids who were dealed with Hungary, was preparing to sudden-attack to Ottomans. The Sultan took back his troops to stop the attack in Anatolia.
Meanwhile the new King Wladyslaw was on his first trials against to Balkans with the supports of Janos Hunyadi and Nicholas Ujlaki. Janos Hunyadi defeated the Ottoman Bey Mezid who had captured Erdel and Sibiu in 1441. Sultan Murad II. was eager to take his revenge then the next year in September, Anatolian-Rumelian forces were sent to Vazag under Şihabeddin Pasha the governor of Rumelia. The Ottoman swords were met with Janos Hunyadi and his army. Once more, the Ottomans were defeated painfully. Many good generals and akinci beys(warriors) were lost in the battlefield.Now there was growing hope in the Vatican and Constantinople to call Crusades against to Ottomans.On 1st January 1443, Pope Eugene IV published the Crusade call, the dream of "expelling Turks from Europe" was on progress. It was still required that similtaneously attacks of both Hungarians and Karamanids. On the other hand, Sultan and his son Alaaddin Çelebi succeeded to supressed the Karamanids in the spring of 1443 before Hungarian armies were ready. In the Autumn the Hungarian armies led by Wladyslaw, Janos and Brankovic the Despot of Serbia towards Danube. They captured Nis and Sofia from Kasim Pasha, Turhan Bey who fled to inform the Sultan and Hungarians on the way through the gate of Trajan in the eastern Balkans. Just before the Christmas two enemies met in Zlatitsa Pass in the snow.Hungarians were defeated but they didn't want to go back home penniless and ambushed in Dragoman Pass. They defeated an Ottoman army where they also took as prisoners Mahmud Bey the Sultan's son-in-law and Grand Vizier Çandarli Halil Pasha. Actually it was an Ottoman victory and a disaster for Christians, however Christians went back with the words of victories. Murad II. was furious about the news and meanwhile He got death of his son Alaaddin Çelebi.
The peace proposal were sent by both sides. And Treaty of Szeged was fulfilled with 10 years truce in August 15, 1444. Then Sultan Murad II. left throne to his younger son Mehmet II. who was a teenager. The new inexperienced Ottoman Sultan was seemed as an opportunity for Europe and they spoiled the truce. Immediately Pope Eugene IV contacted with Venice to organize a new army to be Crusade. The young Sultan was worried about the up-coming event and sent a letter to his father "If you are the Sultan, come and lead your armies. If I am the Sultan I hereby order you to come and lead my armies."After a short retirement, Murad II. was again leading his armies to Varna. The Crusade was ready with its supreme power - Czhecs, Papal armies(Polish-Bohemian-Wallachian-Moldavia), Bosnians, Croatians, Teutonic Knights, Lithuanians, Ruthenians and Bulgarians led by Wladyslaw III and Janos Hunyadi. The Ottoman Armies landed from the west of Varna, and surrounded the Crusades from Sea and Lake Varna within a night. Wladyslaw and Janos rejected to defend theirselves until the arrival of Papal fleet to Varna and Janos stated these words "To escape is impossible, to surrender is unthinkable. Let us fight with bravery and honor our arms." At the begining the Crusades were dominant but a Jannissary soldier killed Wladyslaw and cut off his head, then the Crusade lost its spirits, dispersed. By the way Janos Hunyadi fled to Transylvania with an small army. It was a devastating Christian and a Muslim loss with a Muslim victory. Afterwards there was absolute Ottoman authority in Balkans.
For the sake of this great war ; Park Museum " Vlasdislav Varnenchick" awaits for your visit.
Compiled and Written by Kigarian
Copyright © 2013-Varna1444 All Rights Reserved
The Hungary called Wladyslaw III of Poland then crowned him to defend the kingdom against the Ottomans.The Ottoman attacks was intensified and Sultan Murad II. succeeded to enter Serbia, Transylvania. Then expected siege of Belgrad in 1440. The siege was failed and there was a surprise from Hungary to Ottomans. Beylik of Karamanids who were dealed with Hungary, was preparing to sudden-attack to Ottomans. The Sultan took back his troops to stop the attack in Anatolia.
Meanwhile the new King Wladyslaw was on his first trials against to Balkans with the supports of Janos Hunyadi and Nicholas Ujlaki. Janos Hunyadi defeated the Ottoman Bey Mezid who had captured Erdel and Sibiu in 1441. Sultan Murad II. was eager to take his revenge then the next year in September, Anatolian-Rumelian forces were sent to Vazag under Şihabeddin Pasha the governor of Rumelia. The Ottoman swords were met with Janos Hunyadi and his army. Once more, the Ottomans were defeated painfully. Many good generals and akinci beys(warriors) were lost in the battlefield.Now there was growing hope in the Vatican and Constantinople to call Crusades against to Ottomans.On 1st January 1443, Pope Eugene IV published the Crusade call, the dream of "expelling Turks from Europe" was on progress. It was still required that similtaneously attacks of both Hungarians and Karamanids. On the other hand, Sultan and his son Alaaddin Çelebi succeeded to supressed the Karamanids in the spring of 1443 before Hungarian armies were ready. In the Autumn the Hungarian armies led by Wladyslaw, Janos and Brankovic the Despot of Serbia towards Danube. They captured Nis and Sofia from Kasim Pasha, Turhan Bey who fled to inform the Sultan and Hungarians on the way through the gate of Trajan in the eastern Balkans. Just before the Christmas two enemies met in Zlatitsa Pass in the snow.Hungarians were defeated but they didn't want to go back home penniless and ambushed in Dragoman Pass. They defeated an Ottoman army where they also took as prisoners Mahmud Bey the Sultan's son-in-law and Grand Vizier Çandarli Halil Pasha. Actually it was an Ottoman victory and a disaster for Christians, however Christians went back with the words of victories. Murad II. was furious about the news and meanwhile He got death of his son Alaaddin Çelebi.
The peace proposal were sent by both sides. And Treaty of Szeged was fulfilled with 10 years truce in August 15, 1444. Then Sultan Murad II. left throne to his younger son Mehmet II. who was a teenager. The new inexperienced Ottoman Sultan was seemed as an opportunity for Europe and they spoiled the truce. Immediately Pope Eugene IV contacted with Venice to organize a new army to be Crusade. The young Sultan was worried about the up-coming event and sent a letter to his father "If you are the Sultan, come and lead your armies. If I am the Sultan I hereby order you to come and lead my armies."After a short retirement, Murad II. was again leading his armies to Varna. The Crusade was ready with its supreme power - Czhecs, Papal armies(Polish-Bohemian-Wallachian-Moldavia), Bosnians, Croatians, Teutonic Knights, Lithuanians, Ruthenians and Bulgarians led by Wladyslaw III and Janos Hunyadi. The Ottoman Armies landed from the west of Varna, and surrounded the Crusades from Sea and Lake Varna within a night. Wladyslaw and Janos rejected to defend theirselves until the arrival of Papal fleet to Varna and Janos stated these words "To escape is impossible, to surrender is unthinkable. Let us fight with bravery and honor our arms." At the begining the Crusades were dominant but a Jannissary soldier killed Wladyslaw and cut off his head, then the Crusade lost its spirits, dispersed. By the way Janos Hunyadi fled to Transylvania with an small army. It was a devastating Christian and a Muslim loss with a Muslim victory. Afterwards there was absolute Ottoman authority in Balkans.
For the sake of this great war ; Park Museum " Vlasdislav Varnenchick" awaits for your visit.
Compiled and Written by Kigarian
Copyright © 2013-Varna1444 All Rights Reserved
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