Battle of Varna
Near Varna, on the Black Sea coast, Bulgaria
What happened
A crusading army led by the young King Władysław III of Poland and Hungary and the general John Hunyadi fought the Ottoman army of Sultan Murad II. After a truce with the Ottomans, the Peace of Szeged, was declared invalid by a papal envoy, a new crusade set out. Near Varna the crusaders were trapped between the Black Sea, a lake and steep hills. Władysław charged the Ottoman centre and fell, and the crusading army was defeated.
Why it matters
Why it matters: The crusading army was largely destroyed. Together with another Ottoman victory in 1448, it discouraged Europe from sending help when the Ottomans besieged Constantinople in 1453.
What came next
Hunyadi escaped and went on fighting the Ottomans. Nine years later, in 1453, Constantinople fell to the Ottomans.
Did you know?
Władysław was only about 20, and he is remembered as Władysław Warneńczyk, 'Ladislaus of Varna'; his body was never found.
Timeline
- 1442-1443Hunyadi campaigns against the Ottomans; a ten-year truce follows.
- 10 November 1444The Ottomans win at Varna; Władysław falls.
- 1448The Ottomans win the Second Battle of Kosovo.
- 1453Constantinople falls to the Ottomans.
- 1935A memorial park-museum to Władysław opens in Varna.