battle battle november november fought small army led formed cavalry foot local peasants managed ambush defeat strong hungarian army mountainous region near border battle resulted major victory disaster turning point politics hungary abandon hopes extending kingdom black_sea victory meant increase morale evolution independent state background historians claim aided battle vassal hungary robert referred war started encouragement certain later bore title ban robert captured long disputed citadel handed sent envoys asked hostilities cease return offered pay marks silver submit fortress robert send son hostage according contemporary account robert said shepherd sheep mountains dragging beard account writes robert said drag cottage driver shepherd sheep king accept offer reply refused led strong army deeper proper supplies adequate reconnaissance unable stand battle open field large army poor state troops decided retreat alps main city state realised fled mountains decided chase battle location battle debated historians theory gives location battle mountain valley romanian historian denies states location battle border army led probably numbered men consisted cavalry infantry locally recruited peasants robert saw best knights killed able fight escape routes blocked cavalry gave royal robes insignia captains dies hail arrows stones loyal subjects difficult escape clad dirty civilian clothes robert later recounted detail charter december nicholas son saved life defending swords warriors giving time escape hungarian army included nobles destroyed casualties priest accompanied king aftermath victory represented survival state beginning period tense relations lasted sent son order establish relationship states large financial power quickly rebuilt army found conflict hungarian king maintained diplomatic disputes resolved
Battle of Posada