Hungarian participation in the First Battle of Kosovo 1389

• Author: Muhamet Mala
• Position: University of Pristina ? Kosovo
• Pages: 219-224

European Journal of Economics, Law and Social Sciences

IIPCCL Publishing, Graz-Austria

Vol. 1 No. 1

January 2017

ISSN 2519-1284

Acces online at www.iipccl.org

219

Hungarian participation in the First Ba le of Kosovo 1389

Assoc. Prof. Muhamet Mala

University of Pristina – Kosovo

Abstract

The threat of O oman penetration in Europe urged Balkan feudal lords already disrupted

and dissented among themselves to temporarily leave confl icts aside and form a wide anti-

o oman coalition. In this coalition, as opposed to dynastic succession problems, Hungary

was an active participant also due to the fact that it was directly threatened by the O oman

invasion. Based on sources of the time, an active participation in this ba le of Hungarians was

observed which ended up with the defeat of the Balkan coalition.

The e ects of the Ba le of Kosovo, in addition to the fact that they were directly refl ected

in the political position of Kosovo itself, were expressed even in Hungarian areas, since the

O omans opened their way towards middle Danube and Sava valley, a route they would use

in upcoming years in case of a acks on Hungary and Central Europe.

Keywords: O oman Empire, Balkan, Kosovo, Hungary, Albanians, Serbs.

Introduction

The Hungarian Kingdom, precisely on the verge of the fi rst Ba le of Kosovo, that took

place on 15 June 1389 was shocked by internal political ferment which was triggered

by the death of King Ludwig I. King Ludwig I did not leave a male heir, so that fi ghting

to inherit the throne destroyed the strong system of central power until then. Domestic

fi ghting to the throne enabled the neighboring countries of Hungary, namely Bosnia

and Serbia to intervene in internal a airs. The arrival in power of Sigismund changed

the situation and Hungary partially politically stabilised, achieved to dispatch troops

in the anti-o oman coalition in the First Ba le of Kosovo, but it lost the primacy of

anti-o oman war, which was conveyed to the Balkan princes.

Hungary had followed an active policy in the case of Bosnia, Croatia and even Serbia,

thereby giving these countries the opportunity to get involved in fi ghting for the

throne. Thus, the King Tvrtko of Bosnia was engaged in conquering territories in

Croatia and Dalmatia that were under Hungarian sovereignty. A turning point in

such an activity of neighboring countries interfering in wars for the Hungarian throne

was the capture in 1386 of the heir to the Hungary throne, Mary by Horvat brothers

near Gjakovo in Slavonia (Šišić, 1962, 216) who enjoyed Bosnian support. But,

supporters of Queen Mary crowned Sigismund as the king (future Mary’s husband)

with the help of Venice and upon this event, the situation changed in favor of the

central power. Sigismund allowed the release of Mary and achieved success in the

struggle against opponent contenders, respectively Anjou of the Naples party

represented by Horvat brothers and Ivan Palizhna. They were forced as losers to take

shelter at King Tvrtko of Bosnia and with his help, they wanted to restore their

positions lost in Hungary. Polarization between noblemen went on, so that Tvrtko