Battle of Kosovo

History — Military history — List of battles — History of Serbia

The historical reality of this battle is a matter of conjecture, with little evidence for any of the details. Most historians believe that tellings that have survived do refer to a clash between Ottoman invaders and Slavic peoples already in the area.

The Battle of Kosovo Polje was fought on St. Vitus' Day of 1389 (June 15 in Julian calendar) between Serbs and Balkan Allies and the Ottoman Empire.

The Ruling Knez (Prince) of Serbia, Lazar Hrebeljanovic, was given a powerful ultimatum. He was given the choice to surrender and step down or fight and die by the invading Ottomans under Sultan Murad I. Lazar Hrebeljanovic chose to fight and raised an army amounting to about one half of the total Turkish force, which gathered not just a Serb army but a real Balkan coalition. He received help from his neighbouring countries, most notably from Bosnia, and even had a contingent of mercenaries made up mostly of Saxons (Germans).

The army marched out to meet the Ottomans at the so-called "Field of Blackbirds" or Kosovo Polje. The battle started with Serbian noble and Lazar's sons-in-law General Vuk Brankovic on one wing, Lazar in the center, and Captain Milosh Obilich (a.k.a. Kobilic, Kopilic, Kopili) and Lord Ivan Kosanchich commanding the third wing of the Christian army.

Opposite the Christians, Sultan Murad I led his Turkish army of over twice the Balkan army's size. The two armies clashed and the Turks immediately gained the upper hand because of their numbers. But, as the day progressed, it seemed the Christians were gaining a tactical advantage. The two wings pushed forward and each side made their way into the Turkish camp. But, the center army under Tsar Lazar was being stopped. This army was being beaten so badly that Lazar was caught in the melee and killed in battle. Tvrtko who had made a previous deal with the Turks betrayed the Serbs at this point and retreated. The other two armies fought on. Eventually the two sides had beat each other into the ground.

During the battle Captain Milosh Obilich went into the tent of Sultan Murad I, posing as a traitor and offering his knights and his loyalty. As he pledged allegiance, he stood up and stabbed the Sultan with a poisoned dagger. Murad died and Milosh Obilich was killed trying to escape the camp. This marked the Turkish army's probable victory but it is still unclear why Turkish empire waited for many years until they occupied Serbia and Balkans. Because of the assassination of his father, the new sultan, Beyazid I, had all the Serbian prisoners executed.

1448

In the second Battle of Kosovo Polje in October John Hunyadi was defeated by the Ottoman Turkish army. George Kastriota missed the battle. The hope of containing the Ottoman Turkish advance was lost, the Balkans remained under sure control of the Turks.

External link

• Bitlisi Chronicle and Bayezit's Firman - turkish texts about the battle from 16th and 14th century (in English)