Battle of Kosovo (1448)

Part of the Ottoman wars in Europe and Ottoman-Hungarian Wars

For other combat operations in the Kosovo region, see Battle of Kosovo (disambiguation).

Second Battle of Kosovo

Part of the Ottoman wars in Europe and Hungarian–Ottoman Wars and Ottoman–Wallachian wars

An akinji defeating a Hungarian knight with a lasso.
| Date| 17–20 October 1448 (O.S.)
(3 days)

|

Location|

Kosovo Field, Serbian Despotate

Result|  Ottoman victory
Belligerents
Ottoman Empire
Karamanids[1]|  Kingdom of Hungary
Holy Roman Empire
Kingdom of Bohemia
Moldavia
Grand Duchy of Lithuania[2]
Wallachia[a]
Commanders and leaders
Murad II
Prince Mehmed|  John Hunyadi
Franko Talovac †
Michael Szilágyi
Strength
50,000–60,000[8][9]|  31,000–47,000 (7,000 cavalry , 24,000–40,000 infantry)[9]
Casualties and losses
4,000–34,000[10][11][b]
up to 35,000[5]|  6,000–17,000[10][11][b] 17,000 (9,000 Hungarians, 2,000 Mercenaries, 6,000 Wallachians)[5]

* v
* t
* e

Hungarian–Ottoman Wars

Hungarian–Ottoman War (1366–1367)
Hungarian–Ottoman War (1375–1377)
Hungarian–Ottoman War (1389–1396)

* Nicopolis (1396)

Hungarian–Ottoman War (1415–1419)
War of the South Danube (1420–1432)

* Golubac (1428)

Hungarian–Ottoman War (1437–1442)

* Smederevo (1437)
* Belgrade (1440)
* Smederevo (1441)
* Marosszentimre and Iron Gate (1442)
* Ialomița River (1442)

Long campaign and Crusade of Varna (1443–1444)

* Nish (1443)
* Zlatitsa (1443)
* Kunovica (1443)
* Varna (1444)

Hungarian–Ottoman War (1445–1448)

* Kosovo (1448)

Hungarian–Ottoman War (1449–1456)

* Kruševac (1454)
* Belgrade (1456)

Hungarian–Ottoman War (1458–1490)

* Užice (1458)
* Smederevo (1459)
* Baziaș (1460)
* Jajce (1464)
* Zvornik (1464)
* Vaslui (1475)
* Serbia Expedition (1477)
* Breadfield (1479)
* Otranto (1480–1481)
* Krbava Field (1493)

Hungarian–Ottoman War (1521–1526)

* Belgrade (1521)
* Šabac (1521)
* Mohács (1526)

Ottoman–Habsburg wars

The Second Battle of Kosovo (Hungarian: második rigómezei csata, Turkish: İkinci Kosova Muharebesi) was a land battle between a Hungarian-led Crusader army and the Ottoman Empire at Kosovo field that took place from 17-20 October 1448. It was the culmination of a Hungarian offensive to avenge the defeat at the Battle of Varna four years earlier. In the three-day battle the Ottoman army under the command of Sultan Murad II defeated the Crusader army of regent John Hunyadi.

After the battle, the path was clear for the Turks to conquer Serbia and the other Balkan States; it also ended any hopes of saving Constantinople. The Hungarian kingdom no longer had the military and financial resources to mount an offensive against the Ottomans. With the end of the half-century-long Crusader threat to their European frontier, Murad's son Mehmed II was free to lay siege to Constantinople in 1453.

## Background

[edit]

In 1444, the Hungarian king, Władysław III of Poland, in breach of a ten-year truce that existed with the Ottoman Empire following the Peace of Szeged, launched a new crusade.[12] Meeting the Ottoman forces at the Battle of Varna, the crusading army was destroyed and the king was killed.[12] Two years later in 1446, Sultan Murad II returned to the Balkans seeking revenge for the treaty breaking that preceded the battle. That year his army breached the Hexamilion wall and ravaged the Peloponnese after which, following the proclamation of a new crusade by Pope Nicholas V, Murad invaded Albania, conquering the fortress of Svetigrad.[13] Meanwhile, four years after his defeat at Varna, John Hunyadi, the richest landowner in Hungary, had joined forces with Albania's war leader Skanderbeg in an alliance that also included Serbia and Bosnia.[14][15] Resolved to defeat the Ottoman army, Hunyadi raised an army of 24,000 men, including 8,000 Wallachians,[13] his Hungarian cavalry supplemented by German and Bohemian infantry mercenaries.[16][17] Hunyadi's strategy was based on an expected revolt of the Balkan peoples, a surprise attack, and the destruction of the main force of the Ottomans in a single battle after linking up with his allies.[13]

In September 1448, Hunyadi led his forces across the Danube and camped them in Serbia next to Kovin, just outside the Serbian capital of Smederevo. For a full month the Hungarians stayed encamped awaiting their German, Wallachian, Bohemian and Albanian allies.[18] The news of the crusader threat forced Murad to abandon his campaign against Albania.[19] Believing the strength of his army to be inadequate to face the crusaders, Murad retreated back to Sofia to stockpile resources necessary for the campaign and receive reinforcements.[20] While gathering the necessary provisions in Sofia, news reached the army that a Wallachian force had crossed the Danube and attacked Ottoman positions in Nicopolis. A unit of Akinjis was dispatched to respond to the attack, which succeeded in ambushing and dispersing the Wallachians, taking many prisoners in the process.[20] The POWs captured during the ambush were sent to Sofia, where the news of the victory had increased morale among the Ottoman troops before their march towards the crusader army.[20] Meanwhile, the Albanian army under Skanderbeg was delayed as it was prevented from linking up with Hunyadi's army by the Ottomans and their allies.[18][21] It is believed that the Albanian army was delayed by Serbian despot Đurađ Branković, whose army occupied the mountain passes on the Serbian-Albanian border, and by a Venetian attack on northern Albania.[17] The Serbs had declined joining Hunyadi's forces due to an earlier truce with the Turks.[22] Branković's exact role is disputed.[23][24][25] As a result, Skanderbeg ravaged and pillaged Branković's domains as punishment for deserting the Christian cause,[21][26] whereas Hunyadi decided not to wait for Skanderbeg and his reinforcements to open the battle.[3]

## Battle

[edit]

Hungarian wagon fort, middle of 15th century

The Crusaders, numbering 22,000–30,000[27][17][28][29] arrived at Kosovo Field (the site of the first Battle of Kosovo in 1389, between Serbs and Ottomans) facing an Ottoman army of 40,000–60,000 men.[30][17] Sultan Murad personally commanded a large section of cannoneers and janissaries, while his son and would-be successor, 16-year-old Mehmed, who faced battle for the first time, led the Anatolian troops at the right wing. Hunyadi commanded the center of his army in the battle, while the crusader right wing was made up of Wallachians. The Hungarians had a long barrage cannons. Calculating that he would need more than 40,000 men to defeat the Ottomans, the Hungarian regent sought to join up with anti-Ottoman Albanian forces, possibly led by Skanderbeg. The Ottomans in their base at Sofia received word of the Crusader army's march route and subsequently began readying their men.[citation needed]

Having failed to locate the main Ottoman army, whom he believed to still be at their capital in Edirne, Hunyadi was caught by surprise on the 17th of October when the Ottoman army appeared in front of his men at Kosovo Field. He constructed a tabor wagon fort at Plementina hill from which to fight the Ottomans, who built their own stockade in response. The battle opened when Hunyadi attacked the Ottoman flanks with mixed cavalry (light and heavy). The Turkish flanks, consisting of soldiers from Rumelia and Anatolia, were losing until the Turkish light cavalry arrived to reinforce them. Cavalry skirmishing on the flanks of the stockades during the first two days and a Crusader night-time attack using their wagons and guns against the Sultan's central position on the night of 18/19 October produced much bloodshed but no conclusive results. The Christian flanks were subsequently routed and the survivors retreated back to Hunyadi's main force. On 19 October Murad II used his sipahi cavalry from Thessaly to envelop the cavalry on the Crusader left flank, along with a general assault all along the line to distract Hunyadi from the primary effort. The manoeuvre worked and the Wallachian, Moldavian, and Hungarian cavalry were cut down by the sipahis, who took no prisoners.[citation needed]

When Hunyadi saw the defeat of his flanks, he attacked with his main force, composed of knights and light infantry. The janissary corps were not successful at stopping the attack; the cavalry made progress through the Turkish centre, but were eventually stopped at the Turkish camp. When the main attack was halted, the Turkish infantry regrouped and successfully drove the Hungarian knights back. The light cavalry, who now lacked the knights' support, were also overcome. Much of the crusader army then retreated to their camp. On the 20th of October, the Wallachians deserted to the Ottoman side after being offered terms from Murad, leaving Hunyadi mostly defenceless.[3]

With Murad II personally observing the struggle, the Janissaries attacked and killed everyone left in the stockade. Hunyadi fled, but was later captured by the Serbs. During the night, Turkish infantry fired missiles at the Hungarians, who replied with cannon fire. On the next day, a final assault destroyed the remaining troops of the Hungarian army.[citation needed]

## Aftermath

[edit]

The Christian Balkan states were unable to resist the Ottomans after this defeat, eventually falling one after the other under the control of the Ottoman Empire. Hunyadi was captured by Branković in retaliation for the damage perpetrated by the Hungarian army in Serbia. Hunyadi's release was negotiated against a ransom of 100,000 florins, the return of the domains that Hunyadi had revocated from Branković, and the engagement of Hunyadi's heir to Branković's daughter,[31] other sources cite the restitution of the despot's estates in Hungary while leaving Hunyadi's elder son László at Smederevo as a hostage.[32] For the remainder of his reign Hunyadi successfully defended the Kingdom of Hungary against Ottoman campaigns. As punishment for lending its support to Hunyadi, Murad attacked and submitted Wallachia in 1449, followed by Albania in 1450 where Skanderbeg continued to resist, breaking Murad's siege of the Castle of Krujë in 1451.[15] That year Murad died replaced by his 19-year-old son Mehmed II who, after securing Constantinople in 1453, launched a new military campaign against Serbia in 1454.[33]

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Switched to the Ottoman side on day 3 of the battle[3][4][5][6][7]
2. ^ a b The losses suffered by the two sides differ in the contemporary accounts.[34] According to Laonikos Chalkokondyles 4,000 Turks dead against 17,000 enemies.[10] According to Franz Babinger of the Hungarians around 17,000 died against 34,000 Turks.[11] Antonio Bonfini offers the figure of 8,000 crusaders killed against 30,000 Turks.[10] According to the anonymous of Constantinople the losses of the crusading army, including prisoners, were around 6,000–7,000 men.[35]

## References

[edit]

### Citations

[edit]

1. ^ Koçu, Reşad Ekrem (2024). Fatih Sultan Mehmed. p. 39\. ISBN 9786050926569.
2. ^ Lütfullah Müneccimbaşı, Ahmed B. (2014). Osmanlı Devleti'nin Kuruluş Tarihi (1299-1481). AKDEM YAYINLARI. ISBN 9786054535293.
3. ^ a b c Bury, p. 1814.
4. ^ Treadgold 1997, p. 797.
5. ^ a b c Bánlaky, József. "A rigómezei csata 1448 október 17-től 19-ig" [The Battle of Kosovo at 17–19 October in 1448]. A magyar nemzet hadtörténelme [The Military History of the Hungarian Nation] (in Hungarian). Budapest.
6. ^ Mesut Uyar Ph.D., Edward J. Erickson (2009). A Military History of the Ottomans: From Osman to Ataturk (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-02-27. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
7. ^ Chalkokondyles, Laonikos (1464). The Histories of Laonikos Chalkokondyldes, Volume I (Translated by Anthony Kaldellis, 2014).
8. ^ Mufassal Osmanlı Tarihi 1.cilt Mustafa Cezar
9. ^ a b Babinger, Franz (2021). Fatih Sultan Mehmed ve Zamanı. Alfa Yayınevi. pp. 96–98\. ISBN 9786254493607.
10. ^ a b c d Antoche 2017, p. 273.
11. ^ a b c Babinger, Manheim & Hickman 1978, p. 55.
12. ^ a b Mikaberidze 2011, p. 373.
13. ^ a b c Turnbull 2012, p. 34.
14. ^ Turnbull 2012, p. 35.
15. ^ a b Phillips & Axelrod 2005, p. 20.
16. ^ Bradford 2004, p. 733.
17. ^ a b c d Sedlar 2013, p. 393.
18. ^ a b Rogers, Caferro & Reid 2010, p. 1-PA471.
19. ^ von Hammer-Purgstall, Joseph (1827). Geschichte des Osmanischen Reiches [History of the Ottoman Empire] (in German). p. 477.
20. ^ a b c Kabasakal, Hüseyin (1986). Varna (1444), İkinci Kosova (1448) Meydan Muharebeleri ve II. Murat [Field Battles of Varna (1444) & Second Kosovo (1448) and Murad II] (in Turkish). Genelkurmay Basımevi. pp. 75–76\. "II. Murat, ordusunun yürüyüş hedefini Sofya olarak değiştirdi ve Sırbistan'a istihbarat elemanları gönderildi. Büyük bir sefer süresince ordunun ihtiyaç duyacağı yiyecek ve giyecek ile silah, araç, gereç ve öteki donatım malzemesinin Sofya'da toplanması için emirler verilmiş ve gerekli önlemlere başvurulmuştu. Bu süre içinde Anadolu ve Rumeli kuvvetleri de burada toplanmış olacaktı... Ordunun Sofya'da toplanması sırasında Eflak ordusunun Niğbolu'ya saldırdığı haberi alınmış, gönderilen bir akıncı kuvveti, baskın yaparak Eflaklıları perişan etmişti. Baskın sırasında alınan esirler Sofya'ya gönderilmişti. Bu başarı, orduda büyük sevinç yaratmış ve morali pekiştirmiştir... Sofya'da yığınağını ve hazırlıklarını tamamlayan Türk ordusu, II. Murat tarafından denetlendikten ve gerekli emirler verildikten sonra, Sofya-Köstendil-Palanga-Komanova-Üsküp-Kaçanik-Piriştine istikametinde yürüyüşe geçmiştir. Yürüyüş sırasında keşif birimlerinden alınan raporlardan, Haçlı ordunun Kosova Ovası'nda tahkimatla uğraştığı öğrenilmiştir. Kosova'ya yürüyüş, güvenlik önlemleri alınmış olarak, çok düzenli biçimde sürdürülmüştür."
21. ^ a b Frashëri 2002, pp. 160–161
22. ^ Sedlar 2013, p. 248.
23. ^ Vaughan, Dorothy Margaret (1954). Europe and the Turk: a pattern of alliances, 1350–1700. AMS Press. p. 62\. ISBN 9780404563325. Archived from the original on 2023-04-09. Retrieved 12 September 2012. `{{cite book}}`: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
24. ^ Sedlar, Jean W. (1994). East Central Europe in the Middle Ages, 1000–1500. University of Washington Press. p. 393\. ISBN 9780295972909. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
25. ^ Babinger, Manheim & Hickman 1978, p. 40.
26. ^ Kenneth, Setton (1997) [1978]. The papacy and the Levant, 1204–1571: The thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Vol. II. Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society. p. 100\. ISBN 978-0-87169-127-9. Archived from the original on April 9, 2023. Retrieved December 8, 2010. "Scanderbeg intended to go "peronalmente" with an army to assist Hunyadi, but was prevented from doing so by Branković, whose lands he ravaged as punishment for the Serbian desertion of the Christian cause."
27. ^ Antoche 2017, p. 253.
28. ^ Turnbull 2012, p. 36.
29. ^ Connolly, Gillingham & Lazenby 2016, p. 182.
30. ^ Connolly, Gillingham & Lazenby 2016, p. 182: "Hunyadi led 24,000–30,000 men including 10,000 Wallachians, but should have waited to join Scanderbeg's troops before confronting Murad's force of 40,000.".
31. ^ Molnár, Miklós & Magyar 2001, p. 65.
32. ^ Pálosfalvi 2018, p. 362.
33. ^ Àgoston & Masters 2010, p. 518.
34. ^ Housley 2017, p. 264.
35. ^ (PDF) Hunyadi's campaign of 1448.

### Bibliography

[edit]

* Àgoston, G.A.; Masters, B.A. (2010). Encyclopedia of the Ottoman Empire. Facts on File Library of World History. Facts On File, Incorporated. ISBN 978-1-4381-1025-7.
* Phillips, C.; Axelrod, A. (2005). Encyclopedia of Wars: G–R. Facts On File. ISBN 978-0-8160-2853-5. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
* Antoche, E.C. (2017). "Hunyadi's Campaign of 1448 and the Second Battle of Kosovo Polje (October 17–20)". In Housley, Norman (ed.). Reconfiguring the Fifteenth-Century Crusade. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 245–285\. ISBN 978-1-137-46280-0.
* Babinger, F.; Manheim, R.; Hickman, W.C. (1978). Mehmed the Conqueror and His Time. Bollingen Series (General) Series. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-01078-6.
* Bury, J.B. The Cambridge Medieval History volumes 1-5. Plantagenet Publishing.
* Bradford, J.C. (2004). International Encyclopedia of Military History. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-135-95034-7.
* Connolly, P.; Gillingham, J.; Lazenby, J. (2016). The Hutchinson Dictionary of Ancient and Medieval Warfare. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-135-93681-5.
* Frashëri, Kristo (2002), Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu: jeta dhe vepra, 1405–1468 (in Albanian), Botimet Toena, ISBN 99927-1-627-4
* Housley, N. (2017). Reconfiguring the Fifteenth-Century Crusade. Palgrave Macmillan UK. ISBN 978-1-137-46281-7.
* Mikaberidze, A. (2011). Conflict and Conquest in the Islamic World: A Historical Encyclopedia [2 volumes]: A Historical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-59884-337-8.
* Molnár, M.; Miklós, M.; Magyar, A. (2001). A Concise History of Hungary. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-66736-4.
* Pálosfalvi, T. (2018). From Nicopolis to Mohács: A History of Ottoman-Hungarian Warfare, 1389–1526. The Ottoman Empire and its Heritage. Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-37565-9.
* Rogers, C.J.; Caferro, W.; Reid, S. (2010). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-533403-6.
* Sedlar, J.W. (2013). East Central Europe in the Middle Ages, 1000-1500. A History of East Central Europe (HECE). University of Washington Press. ISBN 978-0-295-80064-6.
* Treadgold, W.T. (1997). A History of the Byzantine State and Society. History e-book project. Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0-8047-2630-6.
* Turnbull, S. (2012). The Ottoman Empire 1326–1699. Essential Histories. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78200-422-6.

## External links

[edit]

* Second Battle of Kosovo – The Encyclopædia Britannica
* Antoche, Emanuel Constantin (January 2017). "(FULL PDF) Hunyadi's campaign of 1448 and the second battle of Kosovo polje (17–20 october) – Emanuel Constantin Antoche". Reconfiguring the Fifteenth-Century Crusade (Ed. By Norman Housley), Palgrave Macmillan. doi:10.1057/978-1-137-46281-7_8.

* v
* t
* e

Battles involving the Ottoman Empire by era

Rise
(1299-1453)|

| Land battles|

* Kulaca Hisar
* Bapheus
* Dimbos
* Nicaea
* Pelekanon
* Demotika
* Gallipoli
* Ihtiman
* Adrianople
* Sırpsındığı
* Samokov
* Maritsa
* Philadelphia
* Dubravnica
* Savra
* Pločnik
* Bileća
* Kosovo
* Kırkdilim
* Karanovasa
* Rovine
* Ohrid
* Nicopolis
* Ankara
* Çamurlu
* Thessalonica
* Golubac
* Novo Brdo
* Hermannstadt
* 1st Niš
* Zlatitsa
* Kunovica
* Torvioll
* Varna
* 1st Mokra
* Otonetë
* 1st Oranik
* 2nd Kosovo
* Polog
* Constantinople

|

Naval battles|

* Gallipoli

Classical Age
(1453-1550)|

| Land battles|

* Leskovac
* Krusevac
* 2nd Oranik
* 1st Belgrade
* Albulena
* Târgoviște
* 2nd Mokra
* Ohrid
* Vaikal
* Meçad
* Otlukbeli
* Vaslui
* Valea Albă
* Shkodra
* Breadfield
* Una
* Adana
* Cătlăbuga
* Vrpile
* Krbava
* Dubica
* Çaldıran
* Turnadag
* Algiers
* Koçhisar
* Mercidabık
* Han Yunus
* Ridanieh
* Jajce
* Tlemcen
* Beirut
* 1st Mohács
* Peñón of Algiers
* Leobersdorf
* Gorjani
* Baghdad
* Algiers
* Pest
* Esztergom
* Karagak
* Sokhoista

|

Naval battles|

* Zonchio
* Modon
* Balearic
* Diu
* 1st Jeddah
* Formentera
* Tunis
* Preveza
* Girolata
* Alborán
* Ponza
* Strait of Hormuz
* Gulf of Oman
* Djerba

Transformation
(1550-1700)|

| Land battles|

* Tlemcen
* Temesvár
* Palast
* Fez
* Tadla
* Tlemcen
* Mostaganem
* Krupa
* Szigeth
* Fez
* Gvozdansko
* Çıldır
* Torches
* Alcácer Quibir
* 1st Brest
* Bihać
* Sisak
* Banat
* Călugăreni
* Giurgiu
* 2nd Brest
* Keresztes
* Nagykanizsa
* Sufiyan
* Tashiskari
* Cecora
* 1st Khotyn
* Candia
* Köbölkút
* Jurjeve Stijene
* 1st Zrínyiújvár
* 2nd Zrínyiújvár
* Novi Zrin
* Jijel
* Saint Gotthard
* Ładyżyn
* Krasnobród
* Niemirów
* Komarno
* 2nd Khotyn
* Lwów
* Trembowla
* 2nd Vienna
* Párkány
* Buda
* Vác
* Eperjes
* Kassa
* Vrtijeljka
* 2nd Mohács
* Crimea
* Negroponte
* Batočina
* 2nd Niš
* Zernest
* Egri Palanka
* Slankamen
* Hodów
* Ustechko
* Moulouya
* Lugos
* Ulaş
* Azov
* Zenta

|

Naval battles|

* Cyprus
* Lepanto
* Tunis
* Cape Corvo
* Cape Celidonia
* Focchies
* 1st Dardanelles
* 2nd Dardanelles
* 3rd Dardanelles
* 4th Dardanelles
* Algiers
* Algiers
* Algiers
* Mytilene
* Oinousses
* Andros
* Samothrace

Old Regime
(1700-1789)|

| Land battles|

* Chelif
* Oran
* Pruth
* Petrovaradin
* 2nd Belgrade
* Kurijan
* Samarra
* Kirkuk
* Yeghevārd
* Ganja
* Banja Luka
* Grocka
* Perekop
* 1st Ochakov
* Stavunchany
* 1st Kars
* Khresili
* Aspindza
* Larga
* Kagul
* Kozludzha
* Kinburn
* 2nd Ochakov
* Mehadia
* Karánsebes

|

Naval battles|

* Imbros
* Matapan
* Çeşme
* Patras
* 1st Kerch Strait
* 2nd Ochakov
* Fidonisi

Modernization
(1789-1908)|

| Land battles|

* Focșani
* Rymnik
* Giurgiu
* Izmail
* Măcin
* Shubra Khit
* Pyramids
* 1st Acre
* Mount Tabor
* Abukir
* Heliopolis
* Derna
* Arpachai
* Batin
* Slobozia
* Al-Safra
* Jeddah
* Čegar
* Alamana
* Gravia
* Tupraq Qaleh
* Valtetsi
* Doliana
* Lalas
* Drăgășani
* Sculeni
* Vasilika
* Peta
* Dervenakia
* Karpenisi
* Arachova
* Kamatero
* Phaleron
* Petra
* 2nd Kars
* Varna
* Akhaltsikhe
* Kulevicha
* Algiers
* 2nd Acre
* Hims
* Konya
* Nezib
* Akhaltsikhe
* Başgedikler
* Kurekdere
* Oltenița
* Eupatoria
* Chernaya
* 3rd Kars
* Al-Hasa
* Kızıl Tepe
* Shipka Pass
* Plevna
* Aladzha
* 4th Kars
* Philippopolis
* Taşkesen
* Novšiće
* Ulcinj
* Mouzaki
* Al Wajbah
* Velestino
* Domokos

|

Naval battles|

* Andros
* 2nd Kerch Strait
* Tendra
* Kaliakra
* 5th Dardanelles
* 6th Dardanelles
* Athos
* Algiers
* Nauplia
* Samos
* Gerontas
* Navarino
* Sinop

* For 20th-century battles before 1914 see List of Ottoman battles in the 20th century
* For the battles during World War I see List of Ottoman battles in World War I

Ottoman victories are in italics.

* v
* t
* e

Wars and battles involving Serbs

Medieval|

| Serbian–Bulgarian|

* Bulgar–Serb War (839–842)
* Bulgar–Serb War (853)
* Bulgarian–Serbian wars of 917–924
* Bulgarian–Serbian border revolt
* Bulgarian-Serb War (998)
* Bulgarian-Serbian War (1202)
* Bulgarian-Serbian War (1203)
* Bulgarian-Serbian War (1290)
* Bulgarian-Serbian War (1291)
* Bulgarian-Serbian War (1330)
* Battle of Velbazhd

|

Serbian–Ottoman|

* Early skirmishes
* Battle of Gallipoli
* Battle of Stephaniana
* Battle of Demotika in 1352
* Battle of Sırp Sındığı in 1364
* Fall of the Serbian Empire
* Battle of Maritsa in 1371
* Battle of Dubravnica in 1381
* Battle of Savra in 1385
* Battle of Pločnik in 1386
* Battle of Kosovo in 1389
* Serbian Despotate
* Battle of Karanovasa
* Battle of Tripolje in 1402
* Siege of Novo Brdo in 1412
* Battle of Vitosha Pass in 1413
* Battle of Carmorlu
* First Scutari War
* Second Scutari War
* Ottoman invasion of Serbia in 1425
* Ottoman invasion of Serbia in 1427
* Ottoman invasion of Serbia in 1437
* Battle of Trnava (1430)
* Ottoman invasion of Serbia in 1438
* Ottoman invasion of Serbia (1439–1444)
* Crusade of Varna
* Battle of Nish (1443)
* Battle of Zlatitsa in 1443
* Battle of Kunovica in 1444
* Ottoman invasion of Serbia (1454–1455)
* Battle of Kruševac in 1454
* Battle of Leskovac in 1454
* Ottoman invasion of Serbia in 1456
* Siege of Belgrade
* Siege of Smederevo
* Ottoman invasion and conquest of Serbia in 1459
* Battle of Breadfield in 1479
* Ottoman conquest of Zeta in 1499

Serbian–Byzantine|

* Serb Uprising of 1038–1042
* Battle of Bar
* Slav Uprising in Pomoravlje
* Battle of Zvečan (1094)
* Battle of Haram
* Siege of Ras (1127)
* Battle of Tara (1150)
* Byzantine–Hungarian War (1149–1155)
* Siege of Braničevo (1154)
* Battle of Pantina
* Byzantine–Hungarian War (1127–1129)
* Byzantine civil war of 1321–1328
* Serbian invasion of Macedonia led by Syrgiannes Palaiologos (1334)
* Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347

Other|

* Hungarian invasions of Europe
* Magyar–Serb conflict
* Byzantine–Hungarian War (1127–1129)
* Battle of Sirmium
* Battle of Gacko
* Serbian conflict with the Nogai Horde
* Mongol invasion of Bulgaria and Serbia
* Mačva War
* Hungarian–Serbian War (1321-1324)
* War of Hum (1326–1329)
* Serbian civil war of 1331
* Serbian nobility conflict (1369)
* Battle of Rovine
* Battle of Nicopolis
* Battle of Ankara
* Battle of Kosmidion
* Battle of Çamurlu
* Battle of Despotovac
* Siege of Belgrade (1440)
* Battle of Kosovo (1448)
* Fall of Constantinople

Foreign rule|

| Habsburgs|

* Jovan Nenad's uprising
* Hungarian campaign of 1527–1528
* Battle of Gorjani
* Battle of Szőlős
* Battle of Sződfalva
* Battle of Keresztes
* Great Turkish War
* Siege of Belgrade (1688)
* Battle of Batočina
* Battle of Niš (1689)
* Siege of Belgrade (1690)
* Battle of Lugos
* Rákóczi's War of Independence
* Battle of Saint Gotthard (1705)
* Austro-Turkish War (1716–1718)
* Siege of Belgrade (1717)
* Russo-Turkish War (1735–1739)
* Battle of Zsibó
* Battle of Trenčín
* Battle of Petrovaradin
* Battle of Banja Luka
* Austro-Turkish War (1788–1791)

|

Ottomans|

* Long War (Ottoman wars) (1593–1606)
* Banat Uprising (1594)
* Serb Uprising of 1596–1597
* Battle of Mohács (1687)
* Uprising in Vučitrn
* Serb uprising of 1737–1739
* Kočina Krajina Serb rebellion
* Battle of Martinići (1796)
* Battle of Krusi
* Battle of Lopate

Venice|

* Morean War
* Cretan War (1645–1669)
* Great Turkish War
* Battle on Vrtijeljka
* Battle of Slankamen
* Battle of Senta

Russia|

* Serbian Hussar Regiment
* Pruth River Campaign
* War of the Polish Succession
* Russo-Swedish War (1741–1743)
* Seven Years' War

19th century|

| Serbian Revolution|

* First Serbian Uprising
* Vračar
* Rudnik
* Svileuva
* Batočina and Jagodina
* Kragujevac
* Drlupa
* Čokešina
* Šabac
* Požarevac
* Karanovac
* Adakale
* Ivankovac
* Rudnik
* Vrbica
* Mišar
* Deligrad
* Belgrade (1806)
* Liberation of Belgrade
* Loznica
* Malajnica and Štubik
* Čegar
* Jasika
* Prahovo
* Suvodol
* Drina
* Varvarin
* Loznica
* Mačva
* Ravnje
* Hadži Prodan's Revolt
* Second Serbian Uprising
* Ljubić
* Čačak
* Palež
* Požarevac
* Rudnik
* Družetić
* Kragujevac
* Jagodina
* Karanovac
* Batočina
* Užice
* Valjevo
* Batočina

|

Ottoman|

* Montenegrin–Ottoman War (1852–1853)
* Battle of Grahovac
* Battle of Kolašin
* Montenegrin–Ottoman War (1861–1862)
* Montenegrin–Ottoman War (1876–1878)
* Battle of Vučji Do
* Battle of Fundina
* Battles for Plav and Gusinje
* Velika attacks
* Battle of Novšiće
* Battle of Murino

Other|

* Kumanovo uprising
* Adriatic campaign of 1807–1814
* Jančić's rebellion
* Priest Jovica's Rebellion
* Several battles of Hungarian Revolution of 1848
* Battle of Vršac (1849)
* Serbian-Turkish Wars (1876–1878)
* Battle of Vranje
* Siege of Cattaro
* Herzegovina uprising (1852–1862)
* Krivošije uprising (1869)
* Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)
* AU-BiH War
* Battle of Jajce (1878)
* Battle of Vitez (1878)
* Battle of Sarajevo (1878)
* Serbo-Bulgarian War
* Battle of Pirot
* Battle of Slivnitsa

20th century|

| Macedonian Struggle|

* Fight on Šuplji Kamen
* Fight on Čelopek
* Fight in Tabanovce
* Fight in Velika Hoča
* Fight on Čelopek (1906)
* Battle of Pirot (1913)

|

Balkan Wars|

* First Balkan War
* Battle of Kumanovo
* Battle of Prilep
* Battle of Monastir
* Siege of Scutari
* Siege of Adrianople
* Siege of Odrin (1912–1913)
* Second Balkan War
* Battle of Bregalnica
* Battle of Kalimanci
* Battle of Knjaževac
* Siege of Vidin (1913)
* Ohrid–Debar uprising

World War I|

* Montenegrin campaign
* Battle of Mojkovac
* Battle of Lovćen
* Serbian campaign
* Battle of Cer
* Battle of the Crna Bend (1916)
* Battle of Bazargic
* Battle of Dobro Pole
* Battle of the Drina
* Battle of Florina
* Battle of Kaymakchalan
* Battle of Kolubara
* Kosovo offensive (1915)
* Liberation of Serbia, Albania and Montenegro (1918)
* Battle of Malka Nidzhe
* Macedonian front
* Monastir offensive
* Morava Offensive
* Ovče Pole Offensive
* Vardar offensive
* Srem Offensive
* Toplica Uprising

Interwar|

* Carinthia War
* Uprising in Drenica
* Christmas Uprising
* Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War
* Albanian-Yugoslav Border War (1921)
* Drenica-Junik Uprising

World War II|

* Invasion of Yugoslavia
* Uprising in Serbia (1941)
* Uprising in Montenegro (1941)
* June 1941 uprising in eastern Herzegovina
* Battle of Novi Pazar
* Battle of Pljevlja
* Battle of Kozara
* Battle of Loznica (1941)
* Battle of Livno
* Battle of Neretva
* Battle of the Sutjeska
* Raid on Drvar
* Battle of Knin
* Battle of Mostar
* Battle of Lijevče Field
* 1942 Montenegro offensive
* Bihać Operation
* Battle of Batina
* Belgrade Offensive
* Capture of Banja Koviljača
* Case Black
* Case White
* Operation Draufgänger
* Kozara Offensive
* Battle of Kupres (1942)
* Battle of Višegrad
* Mostar operation
* Nagykanizsa–Körmend Offensive
* Niš operation
* Battle of Odžak
* Capture of Olovo (1941)
* Operation Alfa
* Operation Delphin
* Operation Kopaonik
* Operation Kugelblitz
* Operation Mihailovic
* Operation Southeast Croatia
* Operation Trio
* Operation Uzice
* Battle of Poljana
* Operation Prijedor
* Siege of Rogatica (1941)
* Operation Rösselsprung (1944)
* Kosovo Operation (1944)
* Operation Spring Awakening
* Srb uprising
* Stratsin-Kumanovo operation
* Syrmian Front
* Battle of Zvornik
* Battle of Sarajevo (1945)
* Battle of Zelengora

Croatian War|

* Pakrac clash
* Plitvice Lakes incident
* Battle of Borovo Selo
* Operation Stinger
* 1991 Yugoslav campaign in Croatia
* Battle of Osijek
* Battle of Vukovar
* Battle of Gospić
* Battle of Šibenik
* Battle of Zadar
* Battle of Kusonje
* Battle of the Barracks
* Siege of Varaždin Barracks
* Siege of Bjelovar Barracks
* Battle of the Dalmatian Channels
* Siege of Dubrovnik
* Operation Otkos 10
* Operation Orkan 91
* Operation Whirlwind
* Operation Baranja
* Operation Jackal
* Battle of the Miljevci Plateau
* Operation Tiger
* Operation Maslenica
* Operation Medak Pocket
* Operation Winter '94
* Operation Flash
* Operation Summer '95
* Operation Storm

Bosnian War|

* Battle of Bosanski Brod
* Battle of Kupres
* Siege of Sarajevo
* Siege of Srebrenica
* Siege of Goražde
* Siege of Doboj
* Operation Jackal
* Siege of Bihać (1992–95)
* Operation Vrbas '92
* Operation Corridor 92
* Operation Bura
* Kravica attack
* Siege of Mostar
* Operation Irma
* Operation Bøllebank
* Operation Tiger
* Battle of Kupres
* Operation Amanda
* Operation Spider
* Operation Winter '94
* Battle of Vlašić
* Operation Leap 1
* Battle of Orašje
* Operation Leap 2
* Operation Summer '95
* Battle of Vrbanja Bridge
* Battle of Vozuća
* Operation Miracle
* Operation Mistral 2
* Operation Sana
* Operation Una
* Operation Southern Move
* NATO intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina
* 1995 Pale air strikes
* Operation Deny Flight
* Operation Deliberate Force
* Operation Maritime Monitor

Kosovo War|

* Insurgency in Kosovo
* Albanian–Yugoslav border incident (December 1998)
* Albania–Yugoslav border incident (April 1999)
* April 23, 1998, Albanian–Yugoslav border ambush
* Attack on Orahovac
* Attack on Prekaz
* Battle of Lođa
* Battle of Oraovica
* Battle of Belaćevac Mine
* Battle of Podujevo
* December 14, 1998, Albanian–Yugoslav border ambush
* Battle of Glođane
* July 18, 1998, Albanian–Yugoslav border clashes
* Battle of Junik
* Battle of Košare
* Insurgency in the Preševo Valley
* Prizren incident (1999)
* NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
* Dubrava Prison bombings and executions
* 1999 F-117A shootdown

21st century|

| Peacekeeping|

* Central African Republic
* Cyprus
* DR Congo
* Ivory Coast
* Lebanon
* Liberia
* Mali
* Somalia

|

Authority control databases: National |

* United States
* Israel

|

42°38′N 21°07′E﻿ / ﻿42.63°N 21.12°E﻿ / 42.63; 21.12
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