Battle of Maritsa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Maritsa |
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| Part of the Ottoman wars in Europe and the Serbian-Ottoman Wars | |||||||
 Balkans in September of 1371 |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Serbian Empire |
 Ottoman Empire |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Vukašin Mrnjavčević † Uglješa Mrnjavčević † Alexander Komnenos Asen † |
Lala Shahin Pasha Evrenuz |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 50,000–70,000 | 800–4,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Heavy combat losses thousands drowned |
Unknown | ||||||
The Battle of Maritsa was an important fight that happened on September 26, 1371. It is also called the Battle of Chernomen. This battle took place near the Maritsa River in a village called Chernomen. Today, this place is known as Ormenio, in Greece.
The battle was fought between the Ottoman army and the Serbian army. The Ottoman forces were led by Lala Şahin Pasha and Evrenos. The Serbian forces were commanded by King Vukašin Mrnjavčević and his brother, Despot Jovan Uglješa.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
Ottoman Expansion in Europe
In 1354, the Ottomans took control of Gallipoli. This was an important port city. From there, they started to expand into a region called Thrace. In 1369, they captured Adrianople, a very important city. This brought them close to the lands ruled by Uglješa.
Serbian Leaders Try to Unite
Uglješa saw the Ottomans as a big threat. He tried to form a group of countries to fight against them. He wanted the Byzantines and the Bulgarians to join him. However, he could not get their support.
Most of the Serbian lords were busy fighting each other. The only Serbian leader who agreed with Uglješa was his brother, Vukašin.
Marching Towards Adrianople
In the summer of 1371, King Vukašin marched to Zeta. He went there to help his relative, Đurađ I Balšić, in a war. Vukašin's army was in Skadar, waiting for ships from the Republic of Ragusa.
Meanwhile, Uglješa heard some news. He learned that most of the Ottoman army had left Europe. They had gone to Anatolia (modern-day Turkey). Uglješa thought this was a good chance to attack. He asked Vukašin for help. Vukašin left Skadar with his army and joined Uglješa. Together, they marched towards Adrianople, the Ottoman capital in Europe.
The Battle of Maritsa
Armies Prepare for Combat
The Serbian army was very large. It had between 50,000 and 70,000 soldiers. Despot Uglješa wanted to surprise the Ottomans. He planned to attack their capital city, Edirne, while the Ottoman Sultan Murad I was away in Asia Minor.
The Ottoman army was much smaller. Some historical records say they had only 800 to 4,000 soldiers.
A Surprise Night Attack
The Ottoman commander, Şâhin Paşha, decided to make a bold move. He led a surprise night raid on the Serbian camp. The Serbian soldiers were caught off guard. Many of them were killed in their sleep.
King Vukašin and Despot Uglješa were both killed during this attack. Thousands of Serbian soldiers died. Many more drowned in the Maritsa River as they tried to escape.
What Happened After the Battle
Ottoman Control Expands
After the Battle of Maritsa, the southern part of Serbia came under Ottoman control. This battle was a big step for the Ottomans. It helped them conquer more lands in the Balkans.
Before this battle, the Ottomans had captured Sozopol in 1353. After Maritsa, they continued their expansion. In the 1380s, they captured cities like Drama, Kavala, and Serrai in what is now Greece.
A Step Towards Future Conflicts
The Battle of Maritsa was one of many battles in the Serbian–Turkish wars. It happened before the famous Battle of Kosovo in 1389. The Maritsa battle was a very important victory for the Ottomans. It helped them become a major power in the region.
See also
- List of military disasters
