The Ottomans are Victorious at Varna

Poles and Europeans are equally dejected at the very recent yet decisive victory of the Ottoman Empire in the Crusade of Varna as superior numbers resulted in the loss of both the Christian side and the young Polish king, Władysław the Third.

The Allied forces comprised of a variety of nations in the Catholic world - the Polish, Hungarian and Croatian Kingdoms, the Crown of Bohemia and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and many Holy Roman Empire and Papal State soldiers, but the combined 20,000 were unable to defeat the 60000 Turks standing in their way.

Although the campaign started very successfully and Ottoman fortresses in Europe were bypassed very quickly, John Hunyadi and Wladyslaw quickly saw themselves in a situation as they were being approached by a large number of Turkish forces from the west. A military council called by Wladyslaw suggested retreat, but Hunyadi and Wladyslaw chose not to obey their advice and instead approached the Ottoman soldiers.

The Allies were quickly overrun and the light cavalry swiftly demolished the Allied defence. Wladyslaw, in an attempt to salvage the situation, took five hundred Polish cavalrymen and attempted to overrun the Janissaries and assassinate Murad, but he was stabbed by the renowned mercenary Kodja Hazar.

Although it was a minor battle, this is a landmark victory for the despicable Ottoman Empire as it has shown that they have superior tactics, numbers and military. Allied political leaders have negotiated an armistice (perhaps a peace treaty) with the Ottomans, and this affair is definitely a point of shame for the entirety of the West.

#ottomans #poland #hungary #lithuania #papalstate #holyromanempire #bohemia