Crusade of Varna

Timeline

1. 1444Rome · ItalyPope Eugene IV called for a crusade under the Ottoman threat; Hungary and the Ottomans had just concluded a ten-year truce at Szeged, but Władysław III and Hunyadi resolved to break the treaty and campaign, assembling Polish, Hungarian, Wallachian, and Western European volunteer forces.
2. 1444Serbia and Bulgaria · BalkansThe crusaders marched south from the Hungarian frontier, entering Serbia and Bulgaria via the Niš line, repelling Ottoman local garrisons along the way, recovering several towns, and advancing in high morale toward Varna on the Black Sea coast.
3. 1444Varna · BulgaryThe expedition reached the vicinity of the Black Sea port of Varna; Sultan Murad II returned with his main force from Anatolia. Despite disadvantages in numbers and terrain the coalition resolved to give battle; Władysław III personally led a cavalry charge, and the battle ended with the king's death and the crusaders' rout, ending the campaign.