Timeline Planning Discussion

[Nikephoros]

Since I'm currently stuck in the planning phases of my Writing, I'd like to add ANOTHER project to my list.

Hunyadi's Long Campaign.

During the 1440s, as the Ottomans were busy consolidating power, Janos Hunyadi, regent of Hungary and (Voivod?) of Transylvania, conducted a campaign deep in the Balkans. In collusion with Albania and Serbia, Hunyadi inflicted defeat after defeat upon the Ottomans. This campaign ended with the Peace of Szeged. Hungary uses this peace to build up her forces

At one point, it was so bad that the Ottoman army retreated to Anatolia. A combined fleet of various Christian powers did heavy damage to the Ottoman fleet, making it harder for them to return. However, with help from Genoa, the Ottoman army returned to Rumelia.

All that he gained was lost at the crusade of Varna. At Varna, despite being poorly equipped, and with a polygot force, Hunyadi was able to force Murad II from the field. However, Wladyslaw, King of Poland and Hungary, ignored Hunyadi's advice and resumed the battle. This lead to the defeat of the combined army, and ruined any chance of further hurting Ottoman power.

What can we do to increase the success of Hunyadi?

[wormyguy]

OTL the Karamanid sultan was supposed to attack in conjunction with the Hungarians, but attacked several months too early, so that he was crushed by the Ottomans, who could then devote their undivided attention to Europe.

Here's a map of the battle of Varna - the outnumbered Hungarians might have done better if they had chosen the shorter front line between Lake Varna and Varna Bay (although that would also pin them against a river).

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Battle_of_Varna.png/619px-Battle_of_Varna.png

[Nikephoros]

Well, I'm not sure what I want to do.

Avoiding the Crusade of Varna might be a better option. I'm just trying to find a way to limit the Ottomans, not kill them off.

Unfortunately, until I decide what I want to do, I'm not going to pick up some Ottoman books to do formal research, so I'm relying upon Wikipedia.

According to Wiki, the battle was surprisingly being won by the Hungarians, until they decided to capitalize on their victory. Apparently Murad was on the run, and the young Polish king thought he could capture Murad.

[wormyguy]

I'm somewhat dubious about the Wiki account of the battle - the brave Christians were almost beating the cowardly Muslims, who were all running away, due to the heroic efforts of the Polish cavalry, but then a stupid non-Pole caused the battle to be lost, even though they were winning before.

I'd find another source.

[Nikephoros]

I'm looking into it right now. I'll edit this post with new information.

Darn it. Thought I edited this post. Ugh.

[Pascal]

Thing is, didnt the defeat at Varna create a major overhaus of European strategies and tactics? If thats true, and the Europeans win at Varna, then this would mean they only set the scene for a delayed defeat.

[Nikephoros]

Attention/Achtung:(I'm doing that off of memory :P)

I'm scraping this idea.

Soliciting new ones.