Anyone got details of the war of the Avars and Lombards versus the Gepids in 567? That was the beginning of the Avar Khaganate was it not? And also their main entry into the region.
Hi!
In few words:
In the 6. cent. arrived the langobards in the Charpatian basin. Their king, Wacho married the daughter of the gepid (and herul) king Elemund.
but later two other kings, Audoin and Thorisind made war since 547. In the late 550-s Alboin and Kunimund got the langobard and the gepid throne.
(the gepid main town was Sirmium)
Byzantium supported the gepids (after they promised to give Sirmium back to B.), so Alboin called the avars (who lived north of the Black see) under Bayan cagan for help. The avars attacked the transylwanian gepids, the langobard the others by the Tisza in 567. The greeks occupiad without blood Sirmium.
The gepids were defeated, but some of their groups "moved in peace" with the langobard in the next year to Italy, and some Groups lived in the C.b. in the time of the Hungarian conq. too.
Hi Raider, this is a very interesting topic. However, I am really interested in one not so known aspect of Sigismund's "imperialism": Do you (or any other poster) know anything more about Sigismund's campaigns against Bosnia, namely more about Battle of Dobor 1408 (I believe it was German chronicler Wiendeck/e who wrote about 60, 000 Hungarians and Poles and Sigismund personally led the army in September of that year, see Dobor Massacre) and especially the Battle of Doboj 1415 (under John de Gara, serb: Ivan Gorjanski and John de Morro, serb: Ivan Morovic) where Hungarians lost (Bosnians have had help of allegedly ~ 20,000 Turks under Isa-Bey). I believe this is rather not so widely known part of Sigismund reign, though it was very active (he waged a continuous series of "mini wars" annually against Bosnians since 1397/98 through 1415 until that larger defeat). Best regards and I am hoping for some more details !!!
Hi Raider, this is a very interesting topic. However, I am really interested in one not so known aspect of Sigismund's "imperialism": Do you (or any other poster) know anything more about Sigismund's campaigns against Bosnia, namely more about Battle of Dobor 1408 (I believe it was German chronicler Wiendeck/e who wrote about 60, 000 Hungarians and Poles and Sigismund personally led the army in September of that year, see Dobor Massacre) and especially the Battle of Doboj 1415 (under John de Gara, serb: Ivan Gorjanski and John de Morro, serb: Ivan Morovic) where Hungarians lost (Bosnians have had help of allegedly ~ 20,000 Turks under Isa-Bey). I believe this is rather not so widely known part of Sigismund reign, though it was very active (he waged a continuous series of "mini wars" annually against Bosnians since 1397/98 through 1415 until that larger defeat). Best regards and I am hoping for some more details !!!
In fact the medieval Bosnian-Hungarian relations are one of the least researched area in Hungarian historiography. I know only three relevant essays and these focus on special questions like the kingdom of Mikls jlaki. Hungarian historians are heavily rely on works of Yugoslavian historians.
Ooops, then I am left hangin' up there. I did read everything I could have found about these battles in the Yugoslav sources (Corovic in particular offers a lot of details). If you want to know more about these, I can add some of those events here when I have some down time? Regards!
Ooops, then I am left hangin' up there. I did read everything I could have found about these battles in the Yugoslav sources (Corovic in particular offers a lot of details). If you want to know more about these, I can add some of those events here when I have some down time? Regards!
One fundamental works from this area refered by Pl Engel is
Sima Ćirković: Istorija srednjovekovne Bosanske drzave. (I hope I have spelled it correctly.)
I am looking forward to your posts about htese battles.
In 1439 Ottoman armies conquered Serbia and the despot sought refuge in his Hungarian estates. Shortly after their return from long campaign arrangements were made for a new crusade, by which they hoped to crush Ottoman power once and for all. In April 24th 1444 king Uladislaus II made an oath in the Hungarian Diet to launch this new crusade.
The sultan, Murad II realised that his empire is not able to fougth a two front war and sent envoys to his father in-law, Đurađ Branković, the exiled despot. He promised Branković to release his captive sons and give back to his country if he manages to mediate peace with Hungary. The despot successfully found the weak point of the crusaders: John Hunyadi. Hunyadi had many virtue, but he also had flaws. He was known about his greed, his insatiable appetite for lands. Branković had huge possessions in Hungary and he promised most of them to Hunyadi if a peace would be made.
With the help of Hunyadi one of Brankovics men Stojka Gisdanic got a letter of commision by the royal chancellary. (April 25th 1444) Presumably It was written without the knowledge of the king. In 12th June a preliminary peace treaty was negotiated and signed by Brankovic in the name of Hunyadi and Uladislaus. Murad promised 10 years peace, the release of the captives, 100 thousand golden florins. He offered to restore Serbia (with 24 castles), and promised that he will help Hungary with 25 000 soldiers if needed. The treaty was agreed to come in effect 8 days after the Hungarian king confirms it with an oath. In 3rd July Brankovic had the donation documents made.
Meanwhile the preparations continued. In 22th June a Papal-Venetian-Burgundian fleet departed for the Dardanelles commanded by the Venetian Alvisio Loredano.The king gathered his army to Oradea (Hung. Vrad) by 15th July.
Trusting in the promises Murad II went to Asia Minor to deal with Karamania in 12 July. At the same time Hunyadi informed the king about the Ottoman offer and asked him to come Szeged to meet the Ottoman envoys. In 25th July the king left Buda and went to Szeged to where he arrived at 1st August.
Cardinal Cesarini the main supporter of the crusade strongly opposed the peace. He wanted to crush the Ottomans, he wanted to unite Orthodoxy with the Latin Church. Hunyadi supported the peace, he was convinced by Brankovic. Hunyadis reputation was so high that there couldnt be a crusade without him. Finally the wily cardinal found a way which ensured Hunyadi that he could keep the Brankovic estates and also ensured the crusade.
To win Hunyadis support he was promised the throne of the restored Bulgaria. Cesarini convinced king Uladislaus to make a final oath. In this oath he promised that he will launch a crusade and promised that this oath is stronger than any future treaty, even if this treaty was made by oath. Cardinal Cesarini was an expert jurist and he knew that after this oath the future treaty with the Ottomans will be automaticly invalid. After these dishonest act the treaty was confirmed. Hunyadi take the oath in the name of the king in Oradea (Hung. Vrad) in 15th August. After the ratification of the peace Hunyadi entered into the former Brankovic possessions.
[NOTE: Older books might be name this peace the peace of Szeged because of the improper reconstruction of events.]
Murad II -as he promised- gave back Smederevo to Brankovic in 22nd August. Then left for Asia to deal with Karamania. After he solved the Karaman question, abdicted in favor of his son Mehmed II.
B) The crusade
The plan
According to the plan the allied fleet sails to the Sea of Marmara and with the help of the Byzantine army withholds any Ottoman attempt to cross an army from Asia Minor to Europe. So Uladislaus army has to deal only with the Rumelian forces. The strategic aim of the campaign was the capture of Adrianople (modern Edirne) from which they hoped the collapse of European Ottoman power.
The crusader army
This time the crusader army was smaller than during the Winter Campaign. Shortly after a civil war, when the opposing party still rule territories in the country Uladislaus had to leave behind significant forces to secure his back. Cardinal Cesarini gathered 1000 crusader insurgents, but these were rag-tag forces and did not worthed much.
There were also much less Polish troops. The peace was favourable and the Polish magnates did not support the war. They did not want to risk lifes and spend money to such an undertaking.
Swiftness was key element in the plan so the crusaders minimalized the number of infantry. The soldiers were horsemen with the exception of the war wagons crew. The army also lacked appropriate siege artillery because of the same intentions. The whole army consisted cca. 15 000 men.
Uladislaus and Hunyadi hoped that their Albanian, Walachian allies and the Serbs of Brankovic would also join to them. But the deluded despot remained home and forbid the Albanians to cross his land.
The campaign
In 22nd September the crusader army crossed the Danube and the invasion began. Their advance completely surprised the Ottomans and the young Mehmed II was unable to control the situation which was worsened by internal rivalry.
In 29th September the crusader army captured Vidin. They killed the garrison, but spared the civilian population.
Two weeks later the crusaders stand at the outskirts of Nicopolis (today Nikopol) where 4000 Wallachian light horsemen joined them. At Nicopolis a messenger arrived and reported that the allied fleet secured the Bosporus and the Dardanelles.
Though these pieces of information were outdated. Murad II returned to power and reached the Dardanelles with the Anatolian troops. News about the peace treaty caused confusion the Italian allies and they armed only 21 ships and only 15 of them guarded the Dardanelles. The Byzantine emperor released the pretender, Orhan to cause confusion, but did not send troops to guard the shore. The Ottoman cannonfire from both sides of the straits was enough to keep the allied ships away while the Genoese ships transported them to the other side. One soldier for one gold coin.
Soon after Murad reached Adrianople and joined his forces with the Rumelian army. Now his army numbered cca 40 000 men. Uladislaus and Hunyadi still beleived that he is in Asia and he managed to manoeuvre his army to the back of the crusaders and cut their supply lines and way of retreat.
The battle of Varna
Now the crusaders faced a dilemma. They were unable to carry on their march to Adrianople with the Ottoman army behind them. Cardinal Cesarini suggested that they should withdraw to a wagenburg and defend there. This idea was rejected. Most of the crusaders were mounted and they have not enought cannons to defend there. Finally war council chose to fight an open field battle with Murads forces.
The crusaders stood in an arc between the Varna Lake and the Black Sea. The left wing consisted five banderia of the Hungarian lords, besides them Hunyadis Transylvanian and Temes troops. The left wing was commanded by Mihly Szilgyi, Hunyadis brother-in-law. In the first row of the centre stood the Hungarian and Polish royal household cavalry. In the second row the king with the royal bodyguard and cardinal Cesarini with the crusaders. The royal standard was carried by Istvn Btori the judge of the royal court (iudex curiae regis). In the right wing stood the Rafael Herceg the bishop of Bosnia with his banderium, Frank Tallci the ban of Slavonia with Croatian-Slavonian troops,the Polish troops and the banderia of the bishops of Eger (Simon Rozgonyi) and Vrad (Jnos De Dominis). Behind the right wing the crusaders set up a wagenburg guarded by the infantry. Hunyadi formed a reserve force from the Wallachians and his elite heavy cavalry.
In the Ottoman center stood the janissaries in a position fortified by stakes and bund ditch, behind them the Sultan with sipahis of the Porte (household troops). The Rumelian sipahi (medium cavarly) formed the Ottoman right. They were led by Dawud pasha. The Anatolian sipahi corps formed the left wing led by Karadzha pasha. Akincis (light cavalry) and asabs (light infantry) were attached to the left wing.
The battle was started by the Ottomans. The asabs and the akincis began to shoot arrows to the Hungarian right. Tallci commanded his troops to stay in formation, but the hot-headed bishops of Eger and Vrad lost their temper by the continuous harassment and charged them. The lightly armoured troops cannot stand against the heavy cavalry of the banderia, they lured the bishops to the sipahis. The chasing loosened up the formation of the knights and when Anatolian corps charged their side they were crushed. Since the bishops banderia destroyed Tallci was unable to resist the Ottoman presure and retreated to the wagenburg. By this time Hunyadi realised the threat and sideattacked the Anatolian sipahis with the reserve force and managed crush them. Karadzha pasha died his troops scattered. The Wallachians encircle the unguarded Ottoman center and attacked and looted the Ottoman camp. Hunyadi with his forces returned to the centre.
Meanwhile Szilgyi and the left wing charged the Rumelian. The sipahis had little room to manoeuvre and they couldnt stand against the charge of the heavy cavalry. Though Szilgyi failed to broke them and they orderly withdraw. Szilgyis forces chasing Dawud pasha was lured away from the battlefield.
When Hunyadi returned to the king the situation was promising. The Ottoman left was crushed, the right was driven away. The centre was relativly tranquil. King Uladislaus and cardinal Cesarini suggested a final, full-scale charge against the janissaries. They beleived that they could broke them and could finish the battle gloriously. Hunyadi and some other lords opposed the frontal charge and tried to dissuade the king. Finally the cardinal threatened them with excommunication if they would disobey the royal order. The charge began and it was only partially successful. Then the horse of the king was killed and Uladislaus fell to the ground and was beheaded. His head was pinned up to a spear. Cardinal Cesarini and the royal standard bearer was also killed. After the failed charge and the death of the king the crusaders began to flee. Hunyadi tried to stop them and organized a second charge, but in this momment Dawud pasha returned to the battlefield with the Rumelian corps. Hunyadis attempt failed and crusader army fled leaving behind the infantry. Murad II won the battle and on the following day the Ottomans charged and killed the infantry of the wagenburg.
This defeat was a catastrophe. Although the Ottomans also had heavy losses and not pursued them the crusader army lost 7-8000 men. Replacing heavy cavalry was extremely difficult. Moreover the fragile peace of Hungary was shattered. The child Ladislaus Posthumus in Vienna remained the sole king of Hungary, while the country was admnistered by the supporters of the late Uladislaus. Danger of a new civil was near at hand.
Hunyadi managed to escape from the battle, but on route to Hungary he was captured by the Wallachian voivod. He was only released by the direct threat of the count palatine.
NOTE
Due to technical difficulties I can't post pictures. So I inserted links to the pictures.
I have a short script about the treaty between Bayan and the greeks by Singidunuum somewhere, and some byzantine stories about the captured soldiers of an avarian army (avar horsemen and slawic infantries), but descriptions of the battles...no. But I 'll try to find something about this.
It is very flattering for hungarians to call avars "early early hungarian"-s, but it is not 100 % prooven that we were part of the avar tribes. Certenly, the survivors of the avars lived in the Hungarian kingdom, but not 100% vice versa.
OK, I will finally post about the two battles I mentioned above (and
asked for additional info, but to no avail :( ). Basically, Sigismund
considered Bosnian kingdom to be a Hungarian domain, and on top of
that, a heretical one (google "Bosnian Church" to find more). Perhaps
it is important to make a point here that medieval Bosnia was
inhabitated by Serbs and Croats sine the earliest times and that
Bosnian domain was rather like a Burgundy in 15th century France, that
is, independent and distinct political body, but belonging to Frenchpeoplenevertheless.
Thus Battle of Dobor 1408 was organized as a sort of
punishing expedition and it was led by Emperor Sigismund himself.
According to German and Sigismund's chronicler Wiendeck, Hungarian army
was about 60,000 men strong (some other sources like Dlugosz mention
50,000-more likely number) and it included contigents of Polish (under
Zawish Charny), Czech and Lithanuian knights as well. Once the the
whole army gathered, it crossed the river Sava (natural northern border
between Bosnia and Croatia) in early September 1408 and had couple of
smaller engagements with Bosnians (some 15,000-20,000 men under
dukes Hrvoje Vukcic, Sandalj Hranic, Pavao Radinovic and King Ostoja)
in the province/bannate/dukedom of Usora (traditionally a border zone
between Bosnia and Hungary throughout the Middle Ages). Many castles in
Usora were razed and taken by Hungarians (Soko, Kovac, Doboj,
Srebrenik?), but it appears that the main battle occured somewhere
around the city and castle of Doboj in Usora and Bosnians were
defeated. Sigismund took many noble prisoners and organized his camp in
the castle of Dobor (some 40 km north from Doboj), close to the river
Sava and his kingdom.
The night after the main battle has occured, Sigismund organized the
banquet for his nobility to celebrate the his victory and successes
thus so far. Sometimes in the middle of the night (and perhaps related
to the effects of alcohol), Sigismund himself started throwing some of
the Bosnian nobles from high Dobor's cliffs into the river Bosna below.
His most loyal nobles joined in the orgy, and in the end some 127
Bosnian nobles (according to Wiendeck) met their end on the rocks and
in the river Bosna. It is interesting, though, that those highest
Bosnian nobles/dukes lived (probably because of the nice ransom money).
However, this unchivalrious act enraged the Bosnians in the time to
come, but also produced deep rivalries and animosities among the top
two generals: Great Duke Hrvoje Vukcic (supreme commander of the
Bosnian army and owner of most of Western and Northwestern Bosnia as
well as some Dalmatian islands) and his nephew-in-law, Duke Sandalj
Hranic-Kosaca (owner and overlord of the South and Southeastern Bosnia
and part of today's Montenegro). These animosities only got deeper as
Great Duke Hrvoje Vukcic (in the years following the Dobor massacre he
tried hard to find a truce with Sigismund as he became aware of
Sigismund's seemingly unlimited power) became one of the most important
knights of the Order of the Dragon and even became godfather to
Sigismund's daughter in 1412.
This did not feel right to the majority of Bosnian nobility and he was
seen as an outcast in Croatian and Bosnian annals of the time (he was
called "the most hated and despicable Pharaoh"by people of Split, "the
one who plots with dirty Saracens (i.e. Turks) to bring the disaster
upon Christian people in these godly lands"). To make matter worse,
Sigismund started believing his own Hungarian nobles who became too
jealous of Hrvoje's recent and high position in Sigismund's eyes, so in
the end Sigismund started treating his elderly (Hrvoje was in his mid
fifties around this time-1414) vassal rudely and asked for many of his
lands and cities to be given to him (to Sigismund). Even though he sent
few (almost pathetic) letters to Sigismund, Hrvoje realized that
Sigismund has turned against him again and asked the Turks for help. In
his letter to Dubrovnik in 1414, Hrvoje brags that Turkish sultan
promised to send him 30,000 soldiers if he ever needs them for fight
against Hungarians and it seems that he was really becoming to think
about an agressive action against Hungary.
Battle of Doboj 1415
Finally, Hungarian pressure on the rest of Bosnian lands
(Hungarians kept royal town of Bobovac ever since 1405/6 when they took
it under Pipo of Ozzora, and it is very likely that they kept Dukedom
of Usora since the successes in 1408) caused the rest of the nobility
to support Hrvoje once again and it seemed that Turkish help will
indeed come. In May 1415, Sigismund already planned to attack Bosnia
once more and he asked all the royal Hungarian towns to pay certain
money for the campaign and started gathering banderias for an attack
across river Sava sometimes in the summer of that year. In the late
June 1415, Hungarian main army camp was located on the wide field under
the castle of Doboj in Usora. Johannes Gara (Ivan Gorjanski in Serbian,
what is the original/Hungarian name?) was located here with his army
and Johannes Morro (Serb: Ivan Morovic) arrived with his army probably
sometime in late July.
Whether they knew it or not at the time, Bosnian army was gathering in
the central Bosnia (around today's city of Zenica) where they met with
strong Turkish army under Isa-Bey (some contemporary Turkish sources
tell about 20,000 men, it is also very likely that Bosnians could've
mustered just about the same number of fighters, so in total this army
could not have been larger than 40,000 men. Still, even this number
seems little too high, I personally believe that there was just about
30,000 + men in the Bosnian/Turkish coalition altogether).
Either way, after two armies joined they started heading north, toward
Usora, the old battlefield ground between Hungarians and Bosnians. In
the early August (around Aug. 10th) there happened a large battle
between the opposing forces around the city and castle of Doboj
(Makljenovac and around the area where river Usora conjoins the river
Bosna).
Hungarian sources claim that at first, Hungarian heavy cavalry
charges pushed deep into the Bosnian lines and that it seemed that
victory is just a matter of minutes. It is at this moment, that some of
the Bosnians started frantically cheering from the surrounding hills
(this area is very flat , but it does have some woody hills at the
southern edge of the battlefield-where the Bosnian camp was located) as
if they were winning, and supposedly, this created the confusion in
Hungarian lines which Bosnians and Turks used to their benefit,
starting to cut down and chase the fleeing Hungarians. On the other
side, Bosnian sources (V. Corovic) claim that this was just the excuse
by Hungarians in order to excuse themselves for the major defeat and in
front of Sigismund who was not there during the battle. What is known
for sure, is that, Hungarians indeed suffered a major defeat in the
battle that lasted the whole day, that certain smaller units were
chased through the Usora for days after the battle, and that many of
the nobles were taken prisoner (Johannes Gara, Johannes Morro, Pavel
Czupor). It is also very likely that Hungarian army was some 20%
smaller than Bosnian/Turkish coalition army as not all of major
Hungarian magnates were present at the battlefield (actually, it is
documented that they were surprised to see that all of the
traditionally antagonized Bosnian nobles faced them together with their
armies this time, including the king Ostoja of Kotromanic dynasty)
There is also a well-known legend in the area that Great Duke Hrvoje
spared lives of all Hungarian nobles who were caught, but for Pavel
Czupor (I hope this rings the bell, in Serbian he's known as Pavao
Cupor) who mocked him once at Sigismund's court by imitating a bull's
voice while Hrvoje was speaking (Hrvoje was widely known as being of a
larger frame, and to have a harsh/raspy voice). So, as an act of
revenge, Hrvoje ordered that Cupor is to be put in an ox's rawhide/skin
and sewed in it. Once that was done, he ordered that Cupor is to be
thrown into river Bosna alive with words "thou mocked a human with the
bull's voice; alas, the only bull here is thee". For long time, this
was considered to be the fact, until one of the historians did not find
the document (from 1417) which explicitly mentions Cupor as being in
charge of one of his towns/castles. That's all for now, sorry about the
long post, I hope this helps reveal some not so known detail of our
mutual history.
It is very interesting. Could you write us something about the arms used by XIV-XV. century Bosnians (in the battle of Doboj for exapmle). Were they mostly infantry or mounted warriors? What about heavy cavalry? etc.
Some remarks:
1. 50-60 000 men Hungarian armies. It seems me an exageration. Hungarian armies of this age was smaller. (15-30 000)
2. Johannes Gara = Garay Jnos (or in later texts Garai Jnos)
3. I think the murder of the Bosnian nobles shows us an important aspect of the personality of the emperor-king. He could be very cold-hearted and cruel if this was his political interest.
It is very interesting. Could you write us something about the
arms used by XIV-XV. century Bosnians (in the battle of Doboj for
exapmle). Were they mostly infantry or mounted warriors? What about
heavy cavalry? etc.
Some remarks:
1. 50-60 000 men Hungarian armies. It seems me an exageration. Hungarian armies of this age was smaller. (15-30 000)
2. Johannes Gara = Garay Jnos (or in later texts Garai Jnos)
3. I think the murder of the Bosnian nobles shows us an important
aspect of the personality of the emperor-king. He could be very
cold-hearted and cruel if this was his political interest.
Hi everyone, I will send a larger post later on today or tomorrow, but for now, just the quick reply: Yes, I wrote the text myself, but I was mainly using the information published in "Historija Bosne " (History of Bosnia) by Vladimir Corovic, respected pre-WWII Yugoslav historian (much more trustworthy and well-rounded historian as compared to S.Cirkovic who did not know that much about medieval Bosnia). Also, I agree with Raider, those numbers do seem like exaggerations to me, 50,000 men indeed is a large army for that time. As for the Bosnian-style knight, I will write more about this, but for now, they were typical central-European type of knights (with the obvious influences from Serbia, Hungary or Croatia). Most of the higher nobility had their own mounted cavalry units, Hungarian sources from 1388 particularly talk about "participation of well-armed Serbian and Bosnian heavy cavalry" (V.Corovic, History of Bosnia, p.322) in the battles/smaller clashes with the Hungarians under Nicholas Gara and Stephen Corrogy (Serb: Stjepan Korodj) who were sent by Sigismund to suppress the Croatian rebellion against Sigismund at this time. Also, Zemaljski Muzej in Sarajevo has some nice pieces of medieval Bosnian armour and weaponry (lances, swords, helmets, cannonballs). Also, in Battle of Kosovo, Bosnian king Tvrtko I had sent his Great Duke Vlatko Vukovic (some sources claim he was an uncle to the future Great Duke Hrvoje Vukcic) with about 5,000 heavily mounted knights to Prince Lazar's coalition. Also, this same duke Vlatko Vukovic has defeated a samller Turkish army at Bileca (Eastern Herzegovina) on August 27, 1388, just a year prior to the Battle of Kosovo. According to Corovic, Turks were overran by the heavy cavalry and only their leader Shain and small group of his clique had survived the battle by running away (more of this in S.Nodilo: "Li annali della nobilissima republica di Ragusa", Zagrabiae 1883). I will write more about the units and the weaponry, but also about some intersting details about Bosnian-Hungarian relationship (for instance, Bosnian "parliament" in the mediaeval time was named "Rusag Bosanski", a deviation of Hungarian "Urszag" :-) Best regards to all !!!
Hi again, I think it is rather interesting to note that Sigismund "had
a thing" for throwing the nobles down from high places (he did the same
thing to a major Croatian political figure and a rebel to
Sigismund's regime at the meeting in Krizevci in 1414-he threw him down
from the window-kinda like "The Braveheart" scene, I guess :-). It is a
pity I can't recall gentleman's name right now, though) . Anyhow, those
two battles that I wrote about are just some of the major clashes
between Bosnia and Hungary (there were some other larger
battles-Srebrenik and the Usora valley again in 1363; here the royal
Hungarian seal was lost and the Castle of Srebrenik was not even taken
in the end by the Hungarians, the castle is located on the imposing
cliff, though, just google "Srebrenik castle" and you will know what I
meant by this. Also, there were many, many more battles: Battle
of Dubica and Vrbaski Grad in 1398, First Battle of Dobor in
1394-Sigismund had Croatian rebels, brothers Horvat, captured and had
one of the brother, I believe it was Ivanis Horvat, quartered with
horses on the streets of Pecuh; Hungarian army also razed and burnt
castle of Dobor at this time as well). There are many more interesting
details about Hungarian "crusades" against Bosnians, Croats and
Serbians and I will write more later. Cheers, Okrojsha.
ZRINYI MIKLOS(NIKOLA SUBIC ZRINSKI) - THE GREAT HERO OF SZIGETVAR
This, however was not the end of the resistance. Booty-hungry Janissaries invaded the fortress searching for the alleged treasures of Mikls Zrnyi. Thousands jammed the yard and the tower when the last holdout, a young woman hiding in the underground ammunition chamber, threw a flaming torch into the gunpowder stored in the cellar. The terrible detonation which followed buried not only those in the tower but practically everyone in the yard.
The story about Nikola ubić Zrinski and his heroic deeds is the main theme of the opera with the same name,
written and composed by the Croatian composer Ivan Zajc in 1876 ;
the finale and the highest point of the opera is the song U boj, u boj composed in 1866.
However, the reality was (at least slightly) different.
For example, there is a logical contradiction in the quoted text above,
and many other things ...
who, and how, could have seen the young lady being alone in the cellar,
if the explosion killed everyone around ?
Interestingly, some time after Nikola's death, his second wife Eva Rosenberg, a reach Bohemian heiress remaried;
their son Jan Zrinski might have been, together with his uncle Vok von Rosenberg of the House of Romberk the organizer of the famous Tycho Brahe banquet in Prague in 1601.
Maybe, some of our Ceh friends could elaborate on that banquet ?
arguably, subic's action could have been anything of bravery > stupidity > madness
ottoman empire was near its very peak of power, the land of opportunity
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