battle battle referred fought january stephen iii ottoman governor battle took place high bridge near town eastern romania ottoman troops numbered facing troops plus smaller numbers allied mercenary troops stephen inflicted decisive defeat ottomans described greatest secured cross islam casualties according venetian polish records reaching ottoman younger wife told venetian envoy invasion worst defeat ottomans stephen later awarded title champion christ pope referred true defender christian faith according polish chronicler stephen celebrate victory instead days bread water forbade attribute victory insisting credit given lord background conflict stephen ottoman sultan worsened laid claims historical region known region belonged later succumbed influence possibly annexed late 14th century roman integral successfully defended ottoman attempt capture castle ports romanian essential commerce old trade route passed poland ukraine poland hungary previously attempts control region failed ottomans control ports economic political necessity better grip serve valuable strategic point naval attacks launched confirmed german chronicle explains wanted turn kind fortress launch attacks poland hungary ottomans feared strategic position days reach constantinople awarded governor effect gave hungary control strategic area danube access black_sea assassination brother country fell civil war fought throne son stephen fled cousin sought protection court court hungary peace turks wanted transform barrier protect kingdom ottoman expansion fall ottoman capture constantinople received ultimatum start paying tribute years later october sent tribute payment conducting pro ottoman policy plan install prince began shape april july support hungarian troops prince slain took possession throne shared hungarian possession april supported stephen horsemen invade occupy throne ending civil war fled poland new prince continued sending tribute uncle agreed way avoided premature confrontation enemy priority strengthen country retrieve lost territory resided poland stephen incursions southern poland hostilities ended april new treaty countries accepted poland returned assumed obligation support interest poland area belonging increase commerce region march renewed treaty countries agreed territory remain foreign territory foreign territory regained later year believed stephen asked return demand likely refused june fighting stephen allied sultan turkish assistance launched attack fortress defended tall stone walls cannons middle 15th century strongest fortification located danube area rushed scene men hungarian garrison battled turks days managed defend town wounding stephen foot imprisoned hungary stephen advanced large force siege weapons instead besieging fortress showed garrison favoured polish king letter king required surrender fortress stephen entered fortress found captains wedding furious news claimed vassal demanded stephen refused recruited army forcing ready wage war accept situation time prince realizing future war avoided tried gain time increasing tribute percent sent envoy constantinople gifts sultan hungary launched expedition order punish stephen region invasion ended disaster hungarians suffered bitter defeat battle wounded arrows carried battlefield avoid falling hands enemy order secure southern frontier ottoman threats stephen wanted liberate hostile handsome ruled ottoman dominion invaded country burned town stephen confronted defeated genoa possessed colonies began worry stephen growing influence region ordered colonies needed revenge past allegedly suffered colonies turn pursued attack later year invaded country north causing great damage land stephen replied invading territory polish assistance invaded ottoman_empire east causing great crisis empire defeated following year unexpected event explained contemporary source encouraged venice hungary renew war ottomans free ottoman influence stephen stopped paying annual tribute reaction italian letter dated secretary reveals left constantinople april planning invade land sea stephen hoped peace asked polish king work peace attempts failed conflict intensified leaders challenging throne supported seemingly loyal supported stephen gain support stephen betrayal series absurd clashes followed starting confrontation stephen november suffered second defeat hands prince days later november ottomans intervened army consisting ottomans incurred heavy losses fled danube capturing castle stephen throne december new ottoman army set camp river laying waste countryside intimidating new prince abandoning throne fleeing spring took throne second time june decision protégé submitting stephen invested support new candidate named little spear reign shorter lasted weeks defeated battle october weeks later stephen returned forced flee tired gave stephen ultimatum abolish aggressive policy come constantinople delayed homage prince refused november wrote pope warn ottoman expansion ask support preparations war ottomans ordered general end siege venetian controlled albania assemble troops advance additional troops exhausted ottoman troops besieged city august transit month journey bad weather difficult terrain according ordered inflicting defeat stephen advance poland set camp winter invade hungary spring unite forces army sultan ottoman army consisted heavy infantry supported heavy cavalry light cavalry scout ahead cavalry troops vassal states thousand bulgarian peasants included army main tasks clear way rest army building bridges waters removing snow roads drive supply wagons total ottoman cavalry numbered september ottoman army gathered marched crossing frozen danube foot stop entered army rested weeks later met contingent changed sides join ottomans stephen hoping gain support west specifically pope help received modest numbers hungarian kingdom sent hungarians poland sent horsemen stephen recruited soldiers army consisted cannon light cavalry elite heavy cavalry named professional foot soldiers army reached strength comprised standing army remainder consisted peasants armed bows home weapons recruited able bodied free men age battle invading army entered december order fatigue ottomans stephen instituted policy earth poisoned waters troops specialised setting harassed advancing ottomans population livestock evacuated north country mountains ottoman scouts reported untouched villages near ottomans headed region winter difficult set camp forced ottomans quickly head capital order reach army main camp needed cross bridge wood suitable heavy transportation troops stephen chose area battle location father defeated poles age fought area ideal defenders valley semi oval surrounded sides hills covered forest inside valley terrain restricted troop movement confidence troops efforts scout area january dark tuesday morning battle began weather dense fog limited vision ottoman troops exhausted look like chickens stephen fortified bridge setting aiming cannons structure peasants hidden forest prince cavalry sending musicians middle valley sound drums think entire army awaited instead centre valley held forces professional army ordered slow retreat encountered enemy ordered troops advance progress artillery started fire followed firing different directions enemy fog instead follow noise footsteps light cavalry helped lure ottoman troops valley making hit run attacks ottoman cavalry tried cross wooden bridge causing collapse ottoman soldiers managed survive attacks artillery caught marshes confront army soldiers valley soldiers successful ottoman slow retreat instructed stephen later routed ottoman remaining ottoman infantry attacked flanks tried reinforce offensive knowing happened valley stephen support ordered major attack troops peasants heavy cavalry attacked sides simultaneously concealed ottoman lines started sound great confusion ottoman units changed direction face sound army hit lost control army desperately tried regain control later forced signal retreat battle lasted days days seeing fleeing ottoman army pursued light cavalry strong polish cavalry reached town fled field joining battle turned sword turks hoped safe passage january exited castle confronted turks land took flags sent hungarian friend proof bravery ottoman casualties counted including killed standards taken jan writes eminent turkish prisoners corpses burned spared son ottoman general family father fought old polish chronicler reported spot battle rested huge piles bones crosses aftermath battle stephen sent captured turkish commanders thirty standards splendid booty king poland provide troops money support struggle ottomans sent letters prisoners turkish standards pope asking support response arrogant writes pope emperor kings princes telling defeated large turkish army forces pope reply stephen denied help awarded pleaded poverty money men men accused advised change behaviour hand rule chronicler jan hailed stephen victory battle tried create new coalition european powers arguing best troops lost hearing devastating defeat refused days audience plans expansion rest planned revenge stephen following year invaded country army joined called holy war attacked cavalry north started country took chase routed killed fleeing weapons clothes jump wrote wage war stephen lost son brothers returned horse july killing ottomans stephen defeated battle ottomans unsuccessful siege citadel fortress forced retreat gave chase army stephen assembled army invaded north invaded west fled november installed throne received loyal knights stephen serve loyal army remained small returned went battle killed near december occupied throne urged stephen return fifth time established ruler country ottomans managed conquer incorporate empire leaving years come september stephen built monastery commemorate victory exterior walls including representation judgment west wall painted background vivid blue vibrant art historians refer blue way red extended work building monastery baptist monasteries served cultural centres today stephen victory considered greatest victories ottomans played role universal history securing culture civilization christian west onslaught islam
Battle of Vaslui