Hungarian–Ottoman War (1389–1396)

The Hungarian–Ottoman War (1389–1396) was a significant early phase in the long struggle between the Kingdom of Hungary and the expanding Ottoman Empire. This period of conflict was largely characterized by Hungarian attempts to contain Ottoman incursions into the Balkans and protect its southern borders.

The war began in the aftermath of the Battle of Kosovo in 1389, a decisive Ottoman victory that decimated Serbian power and opened the door for further Ottoman advances. King Sigismund of Hungary recognized the threat posed by the Ottomans and sought to build a coalition of Balkan states to resist their expansion.

Hungarian involvement primarily consisted of leading crusades and supporting Balkan rulers against the Ottomans. Sigismund personally led several campaigns, focusing on fortifying strategic locations along the Danube River and in the territories of Wallachia and Bulgaria, which served as buffer zones. Notable battles and campaigns included actions in Wallachia, where Hungarian forces intervened to support anti-Ottoman rulers, and attempts to prevent Ottoman control of key fortresses.

The culmination of this phase of the war was the Battle of Nicopolis in 1396. A large Crusader army, composed of Hungarian, French, and other European forces, was decisively defeated by the Ottoman army led by Sultan Bayezid I. This crushing defeat effectively ended large-scale Western crusades against the Ottomans for some time and cemented Ottoman dominance in the Balkans.

Although the Battle of Nicopolis was a major setback, Hungary continued to resist Ottoman expansion throughout the 15th century. This initial phase of the Hungarian–Ottoman War (1389–1396), however, marked a pivotal moment, highlighting the growing power of the Ottoman Empire and the challenges faced by Hungary in containing its advance. It exposed the limitations of Western crusades and the internal divisions among the Balkan states, factors that would continue to shape the course of Ottoman expansion in the region.