Battle of Kosovo

This page is about the Battle of Kosovo of 1389; for other battles, see Battle of Kosovo (disambiguation).


Battle of Kosovo
Part of

Battle on Kosovo, by Adam Stefanović, oil, 1870
Date: June 18, 1389
Location: Kosovo Field
Result: indecisive Ottoman victory, both main commanders killed
Casus belli: {{{casus}}}
Territory changes: {{{territory}}}
Combatants
Ottoman Empire Serbia, Bosnia
Commanders
Murad I with his sons Bayazid I and Yakub Lazar Hrebeljanović, Vuk Branković, Vlatko Vuković
Strength
~80,000-120,000 ~70,000
Casualties
Murad I Lazar
{{{notes}}}

The Battle of Kosovo Polje (Косовски бој or Бој на Косову) was fought on St. Vitus' Day of 1389 (June 18 in Julian calendar) between Balkan Alliance and the Ottoman Empire.

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

The Ruling Knez (Prince) of Serbia, Lazar Hrebeljanović, marshalled a Christian coalition force, made mainly of Serbs, but also troops from Bosnia, Hungary, Albania, and even a contingent of Saxon mercenaries. Ottoman Sultan Murad I also gathered a coalition of soldiers and volunteers from neighboring countries in Anatolia and Rumelia. Exact numbers are difficult to come by, but most reliable historical accounts suggest that the Christian army was heavily outnumbered by the Ottomans.

The Serbs marched out to meet the Ottomans at Kosovo Polje. The battle started with Serbian noblemen and Lazar's son-in-law, General Vuk Branković, on one wing, Lazar in the centre, and Bosnian Duke Vlatko Vuković commanding the third wing of the Serbian army. The Serbs initially gained advantage after the first charge of the heavy cavalry, which completely destroyed Turkish wing commanded by Jakub Celebi. In the center, the Serbs managed to push Ottoman forces back with only Bayazid's wing holding off Serbian forces from Bosnia commanded by Vlatko Vukovic. In the center some Serbian forces managed to penetrate Turkish lines and even attack the Sultan's tent. During this attack Milos Obilic slew Murad, but was himself captured and decapitated. It is still debated as to whether this was a swift assassination, or whether Milos Obilic gained access to the sultan through deception. What is not contested is that it did happen, and Murad I was killed.

The Ottomans were able to use their numbers to their advantage, which was their normal strategy during battle, and in a counter attack Serbian forces were pushed back, and Serbian leader Prince Lazar was captured and killed. By late afternoon both armies were exhausted, with neither of them being able to gain significant strategic advantage. Soon due to heavy casualties Turks retreated without conquering Serbia which in a sense presents Serbian victory. However Serbian losses were such that Serbia was never again able to effectively fight the Turks. Hence, the Ottomans were victorious.

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Results of the war

Kosovo maiden
Kosovo maiden

The new sultan, Bayezid I, reconciled with the Serbians by taking the Serbian princess Olivera Despina, daughter of Prince Lazar, as his wife. Thereafter, Serbs were obligated to serve in the Ottoman army and pay taxes to the Turks. After the siege of Smederevo, the Ottomans annexed Serbia in 1459. Interestingly, when Bayezid I attacked the forces of Timur at the Battle of Ankara, the Ottoman army consisted mainly of Serbians, since most of the Turks chose Timur's side.

The Battle of Kosovo is the battle of all battles in the annals of Serbian mythology. Most of Serbia's knights--more than 150--died in the battle. Although the battlefield result was essentially a draw, and there were two more battles fought before the Ottomans subdued all Serb ruled lands, the Battle of Kosovo has a certain place in the psyche of Serbian people.

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External links


Not to be confused with the second Battle of Kosovo, 1448