Battle of Nicopolis, 1396 (ALL PARTS) ⚔️ Christians strike back against the Ottomans ⚔️ DOCUMENTARY

00:32:12
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw8m1WrQ0l0

Summary

TLDRAfter the Battle of Kosovo, the Ottoman Empire, under Bayezid I, secured dominance in the Balkans. Sultan Murad I's death left Bayezid to consolidate this hold, using diplomacy and military strength to make Serbia an Ottoman vassal, hastening his campaign in Anatolia and the Balkans. As European rulers formed a coalition to push back the Ottoman expansion, Bayezid faced them in the Battle of Nicopolis in 1396. The Ottomans achieved a decisive victory, which ended major Western interventions against them for centuries. By executing prisoners post-battle, the Ottomans kept tight control over the Balkans.

Takeaways

  • 🏹 The Ottoman victory at Kosovo paved the way for further expansion, despite Sultan Murad I's death.
  • ⚔️ Bayezid I took the reins, establishing administrative and military strength in the Ottoman Empire.
  • 💍 Through shrewd diplomacy with Serbia, Bayezid secured a stronger grasp on Balkan territories.
  • 🌍 European powers formed a vast, multi-national coalition against the Ottomans.
  • 🛡️ The Battle of Nicopolis became a central confrontation, ending in a decisive Ottoman victory.
  • 🗡️ Bayezid's execution of prisoners post-battle reinforced Ottoman power and intimidated enemies.
  • 🚢 Naval operations were critical, with the Crusader fleets aiming to block Ottoman supplies.
  • 👑 Stefan Lazarevic’s role as a vassal was instrumental to Ottoman victories in the region.
  • 🏰 Strengthening key fortresses like Nicopolis secured Ottoman supremacy along the Danube.
  • 🇷🇺 The defeat at Nicopolis hindered Western Europe's plans, delaying their response for decades.

Timeline

  • 00:00:00 - 00:05:00

    The Battle of Kosovo leaves a significant impact, resulting in the death of both Serbian Prince Lazar and Ottoman Sultan Murad I. This shifts the power dynamics in the region with Prince Lazar's death leading to the disintegration of the Christian coalition and Serbia becoming fragmented, while Murad's death creates a temporary uncertainty for the Ottoman Empire. The emergence of Bayezid I introduces a strong leadership that begins centralizing the state and strategically maneuvering in regional power vacuums, such as supporting Stefan Lazarevic in exchange for Serbian vassalage.

  • 00:05:00 - 00:10:00

    Bayezid I fortifies his position by swiftly moving to secure his western flank and engaging in the resettlement of Turkish tribes to boost resources. Although met with opposition, he manages to solidify his dominance through rapid military victories. However, challenges soon emerge as anti-Ottoman forces, particularly from Hungary and Wallachia, begin pushing back, culminating in temporary gains that threaten Ottoman influence in the Balkans. Bayezid strategically readjusts his focus from Anatolia back to the Balkans, highlighting the region's volatility.

  • 00:10:00 - 00:15:00

    The Ottoman response includes raids and operations aimed at destabilizing enemy advances, particularly focusing on operations in Wallachia. Bayezid's quick return to the Balkans allows him to regain control, preventing the formation of a cohesive Christian coalition. His moves reestablish Ottoman dominance in critical areas of the Balkans like Varna and Vidin, while his vassals' loyalty is reconfirmed. However, Byzantium under Emperor Manuel starts resisting Ottoman rule, thus setting the stage for another escalating conflict.

  • 00:15:00 - 00:20:00

    Dissatisfaction with Ottoman control and calls for a crusade by European powers grow. King Sigismund of Hungary unites various European forces forming a multinational crusade aimed at challenging Ottoman advances, largely financed by Duke Philip the Bold. The Crusader strategy focuses on leveraging naval superiority and aggressively pushing into Ottoman-held territories, demonstrating a significant continental effort to curb Ottoman expansion. However, the presence of internal conflicts and differing strategic approaches foreshadow challenges.

  • 00:20:00 - 00:25:00

    As the Crusaders march towards Nicopolis, they encounter logistical challenges and strategic disagreements, largely between the Hungarian King Sigismund and the French commanders. These disagreements disrupt coordination, and despite initial advancements, the Crusader forces are susceptible to Ottoman counter-strategies, which include the use of various tactical diversions. Bayezid strategically withdraws due to a blockade but manages to regroup and fortify his position at Nicopolis, preparing for an imminent large-scale battle.

  • 00:25:00 - 00:32:12

    The Battle of Nicopolis results in a significant victory for Bayezid I, with strategic deployment and use of his units, including Serbian heavy cavalry, playing crucial roles. Despite the valiant and aggressive French-led charge, internal divisions within the Crusader ranks and tactical missteps lead to a disastrous defeat. The triumph solidifies Ottoman influence in the Balkans and ensures their sustained expansion into Europe. This victory not only demoralizes European crusaders but also strengthens Ottoman territorial control, postponing European resistance for decades.

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Mind Map

Video Q&A

  • What was the outcome of the Battle of Kosovo for the Ottomans?

    The Ottomans secured a significant victory, although Sultan Murad I was killed. Bayezid I succeeded him, strengthening and centralizing Ottoman control.

  • Who succeeded Murad I after his death?

    Bayezid I succeeded Murad I and continued to consolidate Ottoman power and expand its territory.

  • How did Bayezid I secure his hold over Serbia?

    Bayezid I secured his hold over Serbia through diplomacy, making Moravian Serbia a vassal and marrying Prince Lazar's daughter.

  • What strategic moves did Bayezid I take in Anatolia and the Balkans?

    Bayezid I turned east to subjugate Anatolian principalities and faced a campaign threat in the Balkans but returned to stabilize the region, aligning with Stefan Lazarevic.

  • What was the combined effort of the European powers against the Ottomans?

    European powers formed a Crusader army combining forces from Hungary, Burgundy, Venice, Genoa, and other states to expel the Ottomans, culminating at the Battle of Nicopolis.

  • What was the result of the Battle of Nicopolis?

    The Crusaders were decisively defeated by Bayezid I, ending the immediate European threat to Ottoman expansion in the Balkans.

  • How did Bayezid I handle the aftermath of the Battle of Nicopolis?

    Bayezid executed 3,000 prisoners after the battle, maintaining his hold over the Balkans and strengthening Ottoman power.

  • What role did Stefan Lazarevic play in Bayezid's campaign?

    Stefan Lazarevic, as the Ottoman vassal of Serbia, played a crucial role in providing military support during Bayezid's campaigns.

  • How did the Ottoman victory affect Western European involvement?

    The defeat at Nicopolis discouraged further Western European military intervention against the Ottomans for a long time.

  • What were the strategic locations focused on by the Ottomans?

    Bayezid focused on key locations such as Nicopolis and the Danube to secure strategic dominance in the Balkans.

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  • 00:00:12
    The Ottoman Sultanate has just scored a hard won, but important victory in the Battle of Kosovo.
  • 00:00:20
    With Prince Lazar perishing in battle, the Serbian-led Christian coalition fell apart,
  • 00:00:25
    and the powerful local lords now seek to assert their rule over territorial remnants
  • 00:00:31
    of what was once, the Serbian Empire.
  • 00:00:35
    But…
  • 00:00:36
    Sultan Murad I, the man who transformed the Osmanli tribe into a sultanate
  • 00:00:41
    and engineered the early Ottoman expansion into Europe,
  • 00:00:45
    also fell on the fields of Kosovo.
  • 00:00:49
    For a brief time, the future remained uncertain…
  • 00:01:18
    As the two battered armies retreated from Kosovo,
  • 00:01:21
    news of Murad I's death reached the courts of Europe.
  • 00:01:26
    Without his capable leadership, it perhaps seemed that the early Ottoman conquest
  • 00:01:31
    would be just another onrushing horde, more interested in raiding and tributes,
  • 00:01:36
    than in ruling the conquered lands.
  • 00:01:39
    But… in Bayezid I, the Ottomans were blessed with a gifted leader.
  • 00:01:46
    The realm he inherited from his father was loosely held together,
  • 00:01:49
    still lacking the forms of government needed,
  • 00:01:52
    for the long term consolidation of Ottoman rule.
  • 00:01:57
    The new Sultan centralized the state based on Turkish and Muslim traditions,
  • 00:02:02
    founding the institutions and bureaucracy that could support an efficient rule,
  • 00:02:06
    over the growing dominion.
  • 00:02:10
    To strengthen his position in Europe, Bayezid interfered in the power vacuum in Serbia,
  • 00:02:15
    left in the wake of the Battle of Kosovo.
  • 00:02:18
    With Prince Lazar’s death, his wife Milica ruled until her son Stefan Lazarevic,
  • 00:02:24
    came of age, but her hold on power and territory,
  • 00:02:27
    was threatened by Hungary and other Serbian lords.
  • 00:02:33
    Taking advantage of this, the Sultan used a softer approach,
  • 00:02:37
    offering to back young Stefan’s succession to the throne,
  • 00:02:40
    in exchange for Moravian Serbia becoming an Ottoman vassal.
  • 00:02:46
    Seeing this as the only option for her family to stay in power,
  • 00:02:50
    Milica accepted, giving her daughter’s hand in marriage to Bayezid, to officialise the treaty.
  • 00:02:58
    With this shrewd bit of diplomacy, the Sultan gained a strong buffer against Hungary
  • 00:03:03
    and a vassal with an experience army that would become a vital component
  • 00:03:07
    in many Ottoman campaigns to come.
  • 00:03:11
    In addition, the treaty freed up Ottoman troops that were sent to subjugate
  • 00:03:15
    other Serbian principalities to the south.
  • 00:03:19
    With his western flank secured, Bayezid turned his army east into Anatolia,
  • 00:03:25
    recognizing that its' resources and manpower could fuel further Ottoman expansion.
  • 00:03:32
    Despite being met by a strong anti-Ottoman alliance, Bayezid scored a string of victories,
  • 00:03:38
    often catching enemy commanders off-guard with rapid movement and deployment of his
  • 00:03:43
    troops, relying heavily on the Byzantine, but especially Serbian shock heavy cavalry
  • 00:03:49
    throughout the campaign.
  • 00:03:52
    He began the resettlement of numerous Turkish tribes from the conquered areas
  • 00:03:57
    into the fertile plains of Thrace and Rumelia.
  • 00:04:01
    This influx of immigrants provided additional revenue and manpower
  • 00:04:06
    for future campaigns in the Balkans.
  • 00:04:09
    Peace was signed in early 1391, but Bayezid began making plans
  • 00:04:14
    for another campaign into eastern Anatolia.
  • 00:04:19
    Then… news came from Europe…
  • 00:04:24
    With most of Ottoman troops in Anatolia, Hungarian forces raided deep into Serbian territory,
  • 00:04:30
    which undermined Ottoman influence and sowed seeds of rebellion in some areas.
  • 00:04:38
    To the east, Voivode Mircea of Wallachia
  • 00:04:41
    pushed into the Bulgarian Principality of Karvuna
  • 00:04:44
    to get the vital access to the Black Sea,
  • 00:04:47
    while also supporting rebellions against the Turks further afield.
  • 00:04:53
    Bayezid ordered his limited forces in southern Bulgaria to gather and strike north,
  • 00:04:59
    meanwhile, abandoning his Anatolian campaign
  • 00:05:02
    in preparation to march back west, aware that if Bulgaria was lost,
  • 00:05:07
    Ottoman authority in the Balkans would disintegrate.
  • 00:05:12
    In Serbia, Turkish akinjis responded with raids of their own, spreading devastation
  • 00:05:17
    in Hungary’s southern regions, while Ottoman forces in Bulgaria took Nicopolis
  • 00:05:23
    and began conducting operations into Wallachia.
  • 00:05:28
    This forced Mircea to turn back west, but with his troops stretched thin,
  • 00:05:33
    he reluctantly sought support from King Sigismund.
  • 00:05:38
    The combined Hungarian-Wallachian offensive gradually pushed back across the Danube,
  • 00:05:44
    retaking Nicopolis by the end of the year.
  • 00:05:48
    This galvanized anti-Ottoman sentiment in Bulgaria,
  • 00:05:52
    and a new Christian coalition seemed to be forming.
  • 00:05:57
    But, by the following year Bayezid had returned…
  • 00:06:03
    Before any Christian coalition could take shape, the Sultan coordinated a series of
  • 00:06:08
    lightning campaigns, absorbing the Kingdom of Tarnovo and conquering most of Karvuna,
  • 00:06:14
    before moving west to stabilize the situation in Serbia and help his vassal Stefan
  • 00:06:19
    to consolidate and expand his rule.
  • 00:06:22
    The Despotate of Vidin was forced into the Ottoman sphere and the Danubian fortresses
  • 00:06:28
    of Silistria, Nicopolis and Vidin were strengthened.
  • 00:06:34
    Bayezid’s rapid campaign stunned the Christians but, sensing that this would provoke a response
  • 00:06:39
    from European rulers, he summoned his vassals at Serres, to reaffirm his overlordship
  • 00:06:46
    and secure the Ottoman position in the Balkans.
  • 00:06:51
    Directives and pledges were exchanged and the Sultan selected Stefan Lazarevic as his
  • 00:06:57
    most trusted vassal, with whom he carefully cultivated a friendship, recognizing the importance
  • 00:07:03
    of having the experienced Serbian knights and heavy cavalry on his side.
  • 00:07:09
    But not everyone at the meeting was pleased.
  • 00:07:14
    Emperor Manuel left the gathering firmly believing that Byzantium was doomed to be absorbed by
  • 00:07:19
    the Turks, and upon returning to Constantinople he threw off Ottoman suzerainty and prepared
  • 00:07:26
    the city for a long siege, one that would soon come, calling for help from the West.
  • 00:07:34
    King Sigismund echoed Manuel’s concerns, urging other Christian rulers to mobilize
  • 00:07:40
    and drive the Ottomans out of Europe!
  • 00:07:45
    The two Popes in Rome and Avignon also encouraged a crusade against the Turks, although the
  • 00:07:51
    Western Schism eroded any authority that the papacy had in calling for a crusade.
  • 00:07:58
    Hungarian envoys travelled to all major European powers and, most importantly,
  • 00:08:04
    confirmed treaties with England and France.
  • 00:08:08
    The temporary cessation of hostilities in the long Anglo-French war
  • 00:08:13
    freed up vast manpower and financial resources
  • 00:08:17
    and was crucial in enabling the West to form a multinational force.
  • 00:08:23
    Duke Philip the Bold of Burgundy was the principal financier of the endeavour
  • 00:08:28
    and his son, John of Nevers was given command of the Franco-Burgundian element.
  • 00:08:35
    Europe’s most advanced Mediterranean maritime power, the Republic of Venice, together with
  • 00:08:40
    the Republic of Genoa, combined their fleets and joined the enterprise soon after,
  • 00:08:45
    wanting to protect their lucrative trade routes and rich coastal outposts.
  • 00:08:53
    From the island of Rhodes, the Knights Hospitaller pledged their support,
  • 00:08:57
    having already been actively attacking Ottoman pirates and shipping in the Aegean,
  • 00:09:02
    including the conquest of Smyrna some 50 years earlier.
  • 00:09:08
    Wallachia and Bohemia joined too, as did the Teutonic Knights and various German princes,
  • 00:09:14
    and warriors also came from the Kingdom of Naples, Aragon, Castille, and Portugal,
  • 00:09:20
    as well as the Swiss Confederacy, the Duchy of Savoy, Poland, and Moldova.
  • 00:09:27
    Contingents from across Europe set out towards the rendezvous point
  • 00:09:31
    at the Hungarian city of Buda.
  • 00:09:42
    Bayezid responded with a full-scale invasion of Wallachia,
  • 00:09:46
    aiming to create another buffer state against the Christians,
  • 00:09:50
    and gain control over both banks of the Lower Danube,
  • 00:09:53
    a key strategic objective in the upcoming war.
  • 00:09:58
    However, Voivode Mircea inflicted heavy defeats
  • 00:10:01
    on the Ottomans in late 1394 and in the spring of 1395,
  • 00:10:07
    but having suffered heavy losses himself, he was forced to retreat to Hungary,
  • 00:10:11
    while Bayezid held on to most of his territorialgains,
  • 00:10:15
    placing Vlad the Usurper on the Wallachian throne,
  • 00:10:18
    and installing additional garrisons along the Danube,
  • 00:10:22
    before retreating back to Edirne.
  • 00:10:26
    By summer of 1396, the Franco-Burgundian and other Crusader contingents gathered near Buda.
  • 00:10:34
    At a War Council held in early July, the first order of business,
  • 00:10:38
    was to coordinate land and naval operations.
  • 00:10:43
    The overwhelming naval superiority of the Crusaders was to play a major role
  • 00:10:48
    during the Nicopolis campaign.
  • 00:10:51
    In the south, Venetian and Genoese fleets were to combine with the Knights Hospitaller
  • 00:10:56
    in the Aegean, and sail up into the Sea of Marmara.
  • 00:11:00
    A part of the fleet would remain there to raid the enemy coast and prevent
  • 00:11:04
    the transport of Ottoman supplies and troops from Anatolia,
  • 00:11:08
    using ports in Constantinople, Smyrna and Genoese possessions
  • 00:11:13
    to dock and repair their vessels.
  • 00:11:17
    From the Sea of Marmara, another part of the fleet would sail to the river Danube,
  • 00:11:22
    where the Genoese garrison at Kiliya would be strengthened to help protect the mouth of the river
  • 00:11:28
    from any possible Ottoman relief forces sailing upstream.
  • 00:11:33
    The remainder of the fleet were to then proceed up the Danube,
  • 00:11:37
    until they met up with the army at Nicopolis.
  • 00:11:41
    Meanwhile, another fleet of some 70 ships and barges sailed down the Danube,
  • 00:11:47
    in support of the army that marched out of Buda, led by the Hungarian vanguard
  • 00:11:52
    along the left bank of the river, followed by the Western Crusaders,
  • 00:11:56
    with Sigismund leading the Hungarian force in the rear.
  • 00:12:01
    The King of Hungary at first preferred a defensive strategy, wanting to let Bayezid wear down
  • 00:12:07
    his troops by marching into hostile Hungarian territory.
  • 00:12:12
    But with the summer ending and the enemy nowhere in sight, Sigismund knew that it would be
  • 00:12:17
    impossible to maintain a large army in one area for long, proposing instead a pre-emptive
  • 00:12:23
    strike and the re-establishment of Christian rule in Bulgaria, which would inevitably restrict
  • 00:12:28
    the Ottoman expansion into Europe.
  • 00:12:32
    The king also preferred to send a part of his army east through southern Transylvania
  • 00:12:37
    and then into Wallachia to reassert his overlordship and, once across the Carpathian mountains,
  • 00:12:44
    Hungarian troops were to help restore Mircea to the throne
  • 00:12:48
    and regain control over the left bank of the Lower Danube.
  • 00:12:53
    But the French and Burgundian commanders insisted on a decisive campaign that would expel the
  • 00:12:59
    Ottomans from the continent, by marching through Bulgaria to capture the capital Edirne
  • 00:13:05
    and relieving Constantinople, which was under blockade for the past two years.
  • 00:13:12
    By mid-to-late August, the main Crusader column stopped at Orshova, where the supply fleet
  • 00:13:17
    began ferrying the troops across the Danube for the next 8 days.
  • 00:13:23
    The news of the invading force reached Bayezid at Constantinople.
  • 00:13:28
    Unable to transport more troops from Anatolia due to the Christian blockade in the Sea of Marmara,
  • 00:13:34
    he withdrew with his best troops and headed towards Edirne, maintaining only
  • 00:13:39
    a loose blockade around the Byzantine capital.
  • 00:13:44
    Meanwhile in the west, vassal contingents, led by the Serbs under Stefan Lazarevic,
  • 00:13:51
    were to march via Sofia towards Plovdiv.
  • 00:13:55
    It was around this time that Ottoman spies intercepted a letter from Manuel to Sigismunud
  • 00:14:00
    that said: “The Turks are coming, prepare yourself!”
  • 00:14:05
    Bayezid ordered the troops to gather south of the Balkan mountains, wishing to stay out
  • 00:14:10
    of range of any Crusader scouting parties and keep the enemy guessing on his whereabouts
  • 00:14:16
    until his army was ready.
  • 00:14:19
    Knowing that the Christians crossed at Orshova,
  • 00:14:21
    the Sultan sensed that they will stay close to their support fleet on the Danube,
  • 00:14:26
    and that Nicopolis would be their main entry point into Bulgaria.
  • 00:14:31
    Standing on high ground, Nicopolis had a commanding view over the Danube.
  • 00:14:36
    It was a major port and ferry crossing, close to the river Olt, that is navigable far into
  • 00:14:42
    Wallachia towards Transylvania, and the river Osam, who’s valley leads deep into central Bulgaria.
  • 00:14:50
    During the past couple of years, Bayezid strengthened its’ fortifications and placed a well-supplied
  • 00:14:56
    garrison under the command of one of his highly experience officers, Dogan Beg,
  • 00:15:02
    knowing that the strategically important city had to be held.
  • 00:15:08
    To the north, part of the Hungarian army, together with Transylvanian and Wallachian troops,
  • 00:15:13
    managed to restore Mircea to the throne and establish contact with the Crusader fleet
  • 00:15:19
    anchored at the mouth of the Danube, telling them they can now move upstream.
  • 00:15:26
    Meanwhile the main Crusader army advanced along the right bank of the Danube
  • 00:15:30
    into the Despotate of Vidin.
  • 00:15:33
    Sratsimir of Bulgaria, having no desire to fight for the Turks,
  • 00:15:37
    surrendered the fortified city of Vidin without a fight.
  • 00:15:43
    Subsequent Crusader raids were conducted across his lands towards the south-west,
  • 00:15:48
    displeasing Sigismund, who perhaps sought to gain control over these lands after the war.
  • 00:15:54
    Priests and friars that were part of the expedition noted the indiscipline of the Frankish troops,
  • 00:16:00
    who frequently mistreated the Christian population.
  • 00:16:04
    At Rahovo, after a brief skirmish the population agreed to surrender to the King of Hungary
  • 00:16:10
    and, with assurance that their lives and property would be spared, they opened the gates.
  • 00:16:17
    But to Sigismund’s dismay, Franco-Burgindian troops broke the agreement and proceeded to
  • 00:16:23
    pillage and massacre the inhabitants, taking around 1000 Turkish and Christian hostages,
  • 00:16:29
    before setting the town ablaze.
  • 00:16:32
    Not far to the east, was Nicopolis…
  • 00:16:49
    By September 12th, groups of peasants trickled into Nicopolis,
  • 00:16:53
    fleeing from the several pillaged towns to the west, in the Despotate of Vidin.
  • 00:17:00
    Following close behind was the Crusader column.
  • 00:17:04
    The main camp was established just east of the city, close to the Danube riverbank,
  • 00:17:09
    with a separate camp for prisoners nearby.
  • 00:17:14
    Half of the supply fleet followed close-by, moving to blockade the port,
  • 00:17:19
    while the troops started deploying to encircle the city.
  • 00:17:24
    The inhabitants were gripped with fear, but the commander ordered
  • 00:17:29
    his well-drilled garrison to their stations on the walls.
  • 00:17:33
    The siege had begun…
  • 00:17:36
    The well-fortified city was largely impervious to direct assaults,
  • 00:17:41
    and the garrison determined that surrender was not an option.
  • 00:17:47
    Downstream, Venetian and Genoese ships appeared with additional men and supplies,
  • 00:17:53
    after sailing for 12 days from the mouth of the Danube,
  • 00:17:56
    moving into position to transfer the troops from the northern bank of the river.
  • 00:18:02
    Then, the sound of Hungarian riders, drew Sigismund’s attention.
  • 00:18:09
    The King had sent 500 horsemen on an extensive reconnaissance mission,
  • 00:18:13
    over 100km to the south.
  • 00:18:17
    And the scouts reported that the Turks have gathered.
  • 00:18:21
    Sigismund advised that a plan of action be discussed, but was forced to acquiesce to
  • 00:18:26
    the Franco-Burgundian commanders, who were unmoved by the reports.
  • 00:18:31
    Indeed, the Western knights were the elite and well-equipped grizzled veterans
  • 00:18:36
    of many battles, who firmly believed in their superior fighting abilities,
  • 00:18:41
    confident that they will fight and defeat the enemy, should he appear.
  • 00:18:47
    But, reports of the Turkish presence alarmed Voivode Mircea and Lord Coucy, a veteran French noble.
  • 00:18:55
    They assembled 500 knights and 500 mounted archers,
  • 00:18:59
    and rode out to sweep the southern outskirts of the city.
  • 00:19:04
    Their hunch proved correct…
  • 00:19:07
    An Ottoman messenger weaved his way across the land towards Nicopolis, sneaking past
  • 00:19:12
    the Christian siege lines, to deliver a message from Bayazid that said:
  • 00:19:17
    “Hold on bravely,I will not abandon you.”
  • 00:19:23
    The inhabitants of Nicopolis rejoiced, cheering and blowing horns throughout the day.
  • 00:19:30
    Soon… Mircea’s and Coucy’s scouting party
  • 00:19:34
    spotted the forward elements of the Ottoman army.
  • 00:19:39
    Seeing the smaller Wallachian mounted contingent, the Turks galloped forward.
  • 00:19:46
    With his horsemen Mircea feigned retreat, signalling to the French to disperse
  • 00:19:51
    and conceal themselves before they were seen.
  • 00:19:55
    As the Ottoman vanguard pursued the enemy they were funnelled through a narrow gap in
  • 00:20:00
    the forest, eager to chase down the Wallachian voivode.
  • 00:20:05
    But once they came in-between Coucy’s hidden contingent, the French Lord gave the signal!
  • 00:20:14
    In the ensuing melee, no quarter was given, with many in the Ottoman vanguard falling
  • 00:20:20
    within minutes, while the rest fled soon after.
  • 00:20:25
    Meanwhile, the ongoing celebrations in Nicopolis angered some of the prominent French Knights,
  • 00:20:31
    who believed this to be a ruse to force the Crusaders to loosen the siege and array for battle,
  • 00:20:36
    insisting that the Sultan would not dare attack such a large concentrated force
  • 00:20:42
    of Christian knights, superior in equipment, training, and experience.
  • 00:20:48
    Furthermore, French nobles threatened to cut off the ears of anyone who discussed rumours
  • 00:20:53
    of Bayazid’s approach, arguing that it could damage the morale of the crusaders.
  • 00:20:59
    But the returning scouting party dispelled all doubts…
  • 00:21:03
    Bayezid is coming.
  • 00:21:06
    In frustration, King Sigismund demanded a War Council.
  • 00:21:15
    The meeting was a loud and shouty affair.
  • 00:21:18
    But then, Sigismund stood up.
  • 00:21:22
    He suggested that the Wallachian infantry should form the first line.
  • 00:21:26
    Having experience in fighting the Turks, they would lead the attack and be tasked with dispersing,
  • 00:21:32
    or at least softening the first Ottoman line.
  • 00:21:36
    The elite French heavy cavalry would form the second line, waiting for the right time
  • 00:21:41
    to rush in and punch through Bayezid’s ranks.
  • 00:21:44
    Meanwhile, Hungarians and other allied contingents would support the attack
  • 00:21:49
    and protect the flanks from the sipahi cavalry attacks.
  • 00:21:54
    Knowing how the Turks fight, Mircea agreed that this was the right course of action.
  • 00:21:59
    But the plan faced stiff opposition…
  • 00:22:03
    Prominent representatives of the French contingent were outraged!
  • 00:22:08
    They were of the opinion that, by being asked to take up the rear dishonoured them greatly,
  • 00:22:13
    insisting they will lead the attack.
  • 00:22:16
    Accusations were laid against Sigismund and Mircea that they wanted to steal all of the glory.
  • 00:22:24
    John of Nevers, commander of the Franco-Burgundian element, stood up and gave his support
  • 00:22:29
    to the French nobles, convinced by their confidence.
  • 00:22:35
    The matter was settled.
  • 00:22:36
    And with the Ottoman army only hours away, it was time to array for battle…
  • 00:22:44
    As they deployed at daybreak, the Crusaders left a token force to continue the siege,
  • 00:22:50
    before summarily executing the thousand or so prisoners taken at Rahovo, fearing a possible
  • 00:22:55
    rescue attempt by the garrison in Nicopolis during the attack on Bayezid’s position.
  • 00:23:02
    Neither army enjoyed numerical superiority.
  • 00:23:06
    On the Christian side, the heavily armored French knights lined up in the front,
  • 00:23:11
    with the Hungarians in the rear, Wallachians on the left flank,
  • 00:23:15
    and Transylvanian troops on the right.
  • 00:23:18
    Bayezid, meanwhile, deployed a screen of akinji light cavalry in the front,
  • 00:23:23
    with regular infantry in the second line,
  • 00:23:26
    and a contingent of around 1000 elite Janissary infantry in the rear,
  • 00:23:31
    while the Rumelian and Anatolian sipahi cavalry were on the flanks.
  • 00:23:37
    Further back on the right and center were the elite Kapikulu Sipahis,
  • 00:23:41
    the Ottoman version of heavy cavalry, renowned for their discipline,
  • 00:23:45
    though less armored than the European knights of this period.
  • 00:23:49
    Further left the Serbian Knights, clad in advanced plate armor, were the only contingent
  • 00:23:55
    in Bayezid’s army that could face the French knights head-on.
  • 00:24:00
    Sigismund advised Nevers that his scouts will be returning soon with intelligence on the
  • 00:24:05
    numbers and positioning of enemy forces, asking that the attack be postponed for two hours.
  • 00:24:12
    Nevers summoned a hasty council, where the older, more experienced knights,
  • 00:24:17
    thought it wise to obey the wishes of the Hungarian king,
  • 00:24:21
    while the younger hawks presumed that Sigismund wants the battle honours for himself,
  • 00:24:26
    at the same time accusing the older French knights,
  • 00:24:29
    that their advice didn’t show wisdom, but fear…
  • 00:24:35
    From there, the discussion rapidly devolved into a shouting match.
  • 00:24:41
    Then, all of a sudden a battle cry pierced the air: “Forward, in the name of God!"
  • 00:24:50
    Sigismund, bewildered by the sudden decision to advance,
  • 00:24:54
    gave the signal to support the French charge.
  • 00:24:57
    Since most of his troops in the center were infantry and couldn’t keep pace,
  • 00:25:02
    the Hungarian king kept his cavalry from charging,
  • 00:25:05
    in order to maintain a solid line.
  • 00:25:09
    Up the field, thousands of knights and their horses, fully armored,
  • 00:25:13
    trotting forward in unison, must’ve been a terrifying sight.
  • 00:25:19
    On battlefields such as Nicopolis, where dense forest and sloped terrain didn’t allow room
  • 00:25:24
    for cavalry maneuvers beyond the flanks, their shock charge was at its’ deadliest.
  • 00:25:31
    Arrow volleys simply bounced off, and the akinjis were only able to string a few shots
  • 00:25:37
    before the violent armored charge swept them aside.
  • 00:25:43
    Those that faced the French charge directly suffered heavy casualties, but managed to
  • 00:25:48
    retreat back towards the infantry line, while the rest retreated towards the flanks.
  • 00:25:54
    Soon, however, the knights encountered a line of sharpened stakes, fixed into the ground
  • 00:25:59
    to drive into the breast of the charging horses.
  • 00:26:03
    This slowed down the Crusader advance, as some of the knights had to maneuver their
  • 00:26:08
    horses through the hedge of stakes, while others dismounted and continued the attack
  • 00:26:13
    on foot, uprooting the stakes as they went.
  • 00:26:17
    A continuous rain of arrows did little against the thick armor,
  • 00:26:21
    and the French soon reached the main enemy line!
  • 00:26:26
    Straight away Bayezid ordered the sipahis on the flanks to join the fighting, seeing
  • 00:26:31
    that his formation in the center began falling apart almost immediately upon impact.
  • 00:26:37
    In close combat, the regular Turkish infantry was getting slaughtered by the dismounted knights,
  • 00:26:43
    whose armor seemed impervious.
  • 00:26:46
    The elite Janissaries too could only fight on the back foot, overwhelmed by the number
  • 00:26:51
    of knights facing them, although they started inflicting losses on the Christians.
  • 00:26:57
    Nevertheless, the advance continued and even Bayezid was taken aback
  • 00:27:01
    by the ferocity of the Crusader assault.
  • 00:27:05
    Despite half of them being on foot, the armored knights drove off the sipahi cavalry,
  • 00:27:10
    mauling everything in front of them.
  • 00:27:14
    Bayezid ordered the remnants of his akinjis, infantry, and sipahi cavalry to reform the
  • 00:27:20
    line in order to slow down the incoming Hungarians,
  • 00:27:24
    who were approaching to reinforce the crusader vanguard.
  • 00:27:28
    At this point, some of the older French commanders wanted to stop the advance,
  • 00:27:33
    to consolidate the line and link up with Sigismund.
  • 00:27:36
    But the young knights urged the men on…
  • 00:27:39
    Convinced that the battle was almost won, they were eager to continue forward
  • 00:27:44
    in the hope of plundering the Ottoman camp.
  • 00:27:48
    The Sultan sent in the Kapikulu Sipahis, realizing that the battle had reached a critical point.
  • 00:27:56
    The elite Ottoman cavalry descended upon the Crusaders, gradually surrounding their position.
  • 00:28:03
    In the desperate fight that ensued,
  • 00:28:05
    John of Nevers, commander of the French contingent, was captured.
  • 00:28:10
    This was a blow to the morale but, nevertheless, the Crusaders fought on,
  • 00:28:15
    staving off charge after charge of the elite Kapikulu.
  • 00:28:21
    Seeing John’s banner falling, Sigismund ordered a full charge, in a desperate attempt
  • 00:28:26
    to establish contact with the knights in the vanguard.
  • 00:28:30
    However, Wallachian and Transylvanian troops withdrew, choosing to preserve their forces,
  • 00:28:36
    apprehensive that a disaster has befallen them.
  • 00:28:40
    But the battle was not over…
  • 00:28:44
    Upon dispersing the screen of akinjis, the Hungarians fell upon the reformed,
  • 00:28:49
    but much depleted Ottoman line.
  • 00:28:52
    The battered Turkish footmen could not withstand the fresh troops, and were broken soon after.
  • 00:28:59
    Sipahi cavalry pressed forward, desperate to stop Sigismund’s advance.
  • 00:29:05
    Akinjis launched another attack!
  • 00:29:10
    Undeterred, the Hungarian king pushed on.
  • 00:29:14
    Getting ever closer, it seemed that the tired Ottoman troops could not stop Sigismund.
  • 00:29:20
    If he could link up with the knights in the front, the battle would be won.
  • 00:29:25
    But then…
  • 00:29:26
    Bayezid played his trump card, sending the Serbian knights forward!
  • 00:29:34
    Seeing that the overwhelmed Ottoman line could break at any moment, Stefan spurred his horse on,
  • 00:29:40
    leading the charge towards the Hungarian flank.
  • 00:29:45
    The shock of the charge was devastating.
  • 00:29:49
    Serbian knights ploughed through the enemy, causing Sigismund’s right flank to collapse
  • 00:29:53
    within minutes, stopping the Hungarian attack dead in its’ tracks.
  • 00:29:59
    Soon, remnants of the line routed towards the safety of their fleet on the Danube.
  • 00:30:06
    King Sigismund reportedly said: “We lost the battle by the pride and vanity of those French!”
  • 00:30:16
    The now isolated French knights kept fighting, but their numbers slowly dwindled,
  • 00:30:21
    and it was only a matter of time before their strength gave out…
  • 00:30:26
    The bulk of the Crusader troops were destroyed or captured.
  • 00:30:30
    3000 prisoners were brought before the Sultan and executed on the spot, as revenge for the
  • 00:30:36
    massacre of 1000 Ottoman prisoners prior to the battle,
  • 00:30:40
    while the rest were ransomed or enslaved.
  • 00:30:44
    A small portion of the army, including Sigismund, escaped.
  • 00:30:49
    Ottomans losses were also high, particularly in infantry, several thousand of which perished.
  • 00:30:56
    But Bayezid’s victory was complete.
  • 00:31:00
    Memories of Nicopolis would discourage any Western European intervention against the
  • 00:31:05
    Ottomans for centuries to come, while the Hungarians and Wallachians continued the struggle,
  • 00:31:12
    along with remaining pockets of Greek resistance.
  • 00:31:16
    The utter defeat of the Crusaders at Nicopolis ended any chance of rolling back the Ottoman
  • 00:31:21
    tide in Europe, who maintained pressure on Constantinople, tightened their control over
  • 00:31:27
    the Balkans, and would go on to become a great threat to Central Europe…
Tags
  • Ottoman Empire
  • Battle of Kosovo
  • Bayezid I
  • Balkans
  • Nicopolis
  • Crusaders
  • Serbia
  • Battle of Nicopolis
  • Murad I
  • Expansion