Expansion of the Ottoman Empire in the early 1500’s. Conquest of the Balkans and Mamluk-controlled Egypt, and rivalry with Shia Persia. Also, the story of the kingdom of Hungary in the same period, leading up to the Battle of Mohacs 1526. Pictured – the coat of arms of Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary 1458-1490
Category Archives: Hungary
Hussite Wars 1419-1434, Early Bohemia
Hussite Wars 1419-1434, Early Bohemia
Early history of Bohemia (approx modern day Czech Republic), the Golden Age of Prague under Emperor Charles IV, and execution of Jan Hus for alleged heresy, which triggered the Hussite Wars. Pictured: Charles Bridge in Prague
Battle of Nicopolis 1396
The Battle of Nicopolis 1396 is available to subscribers at Patreon.com- https://www.patreon.com/user?u=3521613
Part 1
Background to the Battle of Nicopolis 1396. The rise of the Ottomans in the 1300’s at the expense of the Byzantine Empire, and then their expansion into the Balkans. Brief description of the geography of the Balkans and (Blue) Danube, and histories of 14th century Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Romania – a golden age in the minds of some nationalists.
Part 2
In 1396 a large crusader army assembled, made up of numerous nationalities- French, German and Burgundian knights, together with soldiers from Hungary and Romania (Wallachia), plus a fleet from Venice, Genoa and Rhodes. The aim was to drive back the Ottomans, who had already conquered much of the Balkans and now threatened central Europe. The crusaders were confronted by an Ottoman army led by Sultan Bayezid at the strategic city of Nicopolis, on the lower Danube. Pictured: John Count of Nevers, King Sigismund of Hungary, Sultan Bayezid
Map of Balkans
