Siege of Belgrade 1456, Battles of Targoviste 1462 & Otlukbeli 1473 DOCUMENTARY

Kings and Generals
15 Apr 201816:06

Summary

TLDRThis video, sponsored by Audible, explores the Ottoman Empire's conquests under Sultan Mehmed II following the fall of Constantinople. It covers pivotal battles such as the siege of Belgrade and confrontations with John Hunyadi and Vlad III the Impaler. The video also delves into Mehmed's conflicts with Turkic powers like the Ak Koyunlu, culminating in the decisive Battle of Otlukbeli in 1473. These events cemented Ottoman dominance in Anatolia and set the stage for future European campaigns. The video concludes with a promotion for Audible's audiobook on Ottoman history.

Takeaways

  • 🏰 The Ottomans finally captured Constantinople in 1453, marking a significant conquest, but their ambition for expansion continued.
  • ⚔️ Mehmed II faced multiple enemies, including Christian and Muslim rivals, leading to conflicts across several fronts, particularly with Serbia and Hungary.
  • 👑 The Siege of Belgrade in 1456 was a major conflict, where Hunyadi's forces, including peasants, repelled the Ottomans, causing them to suffer significant losses.
  • 💥 Despite breaching Belgrade's walls, the Ottomans were unable to secure the city, and a surprise attack by Hungarian peasants and Hunyadi's forces forced them to retreat.
  • 🛡️ After this defeat, the Ottoman advance into Europe slowed, though they continued to consolidate power in the Balkans and Greece.
  • 🔥 Vlad III the Impaler led a resistance against Mehmed in Wallachia in 1462, using guerrilla tactics, but was eventually overwhelmed by Ottoman forces.
  • 🕌 The Ottomans strengthened their hold over the Balkans, defeating Bosnia and vassalizing the Despotate of Serbia and Morea.
  • 🌍 Mehmed faced threats in Anatolia from the Ak Koyunlu under Uzun Hassan, who allied with Venice against the Ottomans.
  • 🛡️ The Ottomans secured a decisive victory at the Battle of Otlukbeli in 1473, cementing their dominance in Anatolia and weakening regional rivals.
  • 📚 The video is sponsored by Audible, offering audiobooks on Ottoman history and other historical topics to enrich viewers' knowledge.

Q & A

  • What event marked the beginning of the Ottoman expansion after the conquest of Constantinople in 1453?

    -The beginning of the Ottoman expansion after the conquest of Constantinople was marked by Sultan Mehmed II's punitive campaign against Đurađ Branković, the ruler of Serbia, in 1454, after Branković failed to pay tribute and assist in the Siege of Constantinople.

  • Why was Belgrade considered strategically important during the Ottoman campaigns in Europe?

    -Belgrade was strategically important because it was located where the Danube and Sava rivers merged, defending the southern borders of Hungary. It was one of the best-defended fortresses in Europe, with two sets of walls and a castle.

  • What was the significance of the naval encounter between Hunyadi’s forces and the Ottoman navy during the siege of Belgrade?

    -The naval encounter was significant because Hunyadi’s forces successfully broke the Ottoman naval blockade, sinking several galleys and capturing smaller vessels. This victory weakened the Ottoman navy, making it a non-factor in the siege.

  • How did the siege of Belgrade end for the Ottomans in 1456?

    -The siege of Belgrade ended in an Ottoman defeat when Hungarian peasants launched an impromptu attack on the Ottoman camp. Mehmed's Sipahi cavalry failed to repel them, and more of Hunyadi’s forces joined in. Eventually, the Ottoman army panicked and retreated, with Mehmed himself wounded and carried away.

  • What impact did the failure to take Belgrade have on the Ottoman Empire?

    -The failure to take Belgrade slowed down the Ottoman advance into Europe for several decades. Despite this setback, the Ottomans were still able to consolidate power in the Balkans by conquering Serbia, Bosnia, and Greece in the years that followed.

  • Who was Vlad III the Impaler, and how did he challenge the Ottoman Empire?

    -Vlad III the Impaler was the ruler of Wallachia who refused to pay tribute to the Ottoman Empire. He launched raids into Ottoman territories, killing over 20,000 Turks. In response, Mehmed II led a campaign against him in 1462, which resulted in a series of skirmishes and ambushes rather than pitched battles.

  • What were the consequences of the Ottoman campaign against Wallachia under Vlad III the Impaler?

    -Although Vlad III inflicted heavy losses on the Ottomans, his forces were eventually overwhelmed, and the Ottomans razed the town of Brăila. Vlad asked for Hungarian assistance but was imprisoned by King Matthias, and the Ottomans continued to assert dominance in the region.

  • How did Uzun Hassan, the Sultan of the Ak Koyunlu, challenge the Ottoman Empire in the late 1460s?

    -Uzun Hassan challenged the Ottoman Empire by attempting to control the Karamanid territory, allying with Venice, and demanding lands from Mehmed II. He attacked Ottoman forces in 1472 but was eventually defeated due to the Ottomans' superior gunpowder-based weapons and artillery.

  • What was the outcome of the Battle of Otlukbeli in 1473 between the Ottomans and the Ak Koyunlu?

    -The Battle of Otlukbeli ended in a decisive Ottoman victory. Mehmed II’s artillery and Janissaries overpowered Uzun Hassan’s predominantly light cavalry force. The Ottomans lost a few thousand men, while the Ak Koyunlu suffered around 25,000 casualties, cementing Ottoman control over Anatolia.

  • How did the defeat of the Ak Koyunlu at Otlukbeli impact the Ottoman Empire's future expansion?

    -The defeat of the Ak Koyunlu at Otlukbeli eliminated any major challenges to Ottoman rule in Anatolia for the next four decades. This victory also allowed the Ottomans to focus on expanding their influence into Europe without significant threats from the East.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 Ottoman Campaigns and the Fall of Constantinople

The video opens by highlighting the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453 under Sultan Mehmed II. Despite this victory, the Ottomans faced numerous enemies in both the Christian and Muslim worlds. Mehmed II moved quickly to consolidate power, attacking Serbia when its ruler failed to pay tribute. However, a counterattack led by John Hunyadi forced the Ottomans to retreat from their siege of Smederevo. The Ottomans returned to Constantinople to gather more troops, eventually leading to a new campaign targeting Belgrade in 1456. Despite their initial success, the Ottomans faced a coalition of Christian forces, led by Hunyadi, that culminated in a major battle near Kruševac, ending in a Hungarian victory.

05:06

⚔️ Siege of Belgrade and Ottoman Defeat

The siege of Belgrade in 1456 became a crucial moment for the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans, with up to 100,000 troops and 300 cannons, launched an assault on the well-defended city, which had a 7,000-strong garrison. After breaching parts of the walls, the Ottomans faced unexpected resistance from a fire in the lower city, trapping many Janissaries. Meanwhile, Hunyadi's forces, including Hungarian peasants, launched a surprise attack on the Ottoman camp, leading to widespread chaos and the eventual retreat of Mehmed II. The Ottomans suffered a major loss, with over 20,000 casualties, and Hunyadi himself died shortly after from an epidemic, marking a significant setback for Ottoman expansion in Europe.

10:13

👑 Vlad the Impaler’s Resistance and Mehmed's Eastern Campaigns

In 1462, Vlad III the Impaler of Wallachia refused to pay tribute to the Ottomans, launching raids into Bulgaria and killing tens of thousands of Turks. In retaliation, Sultan Mehmed led a 100,000-strong army against Vlad. Despite Vlad’s guerrilla tactics and attempts to assassinate the Sultan, the Ottomans managed to devastate Wallachian lands. The campaign ended with both sides suffering heavy losses, though Mehmed was unable to fully capitalize on Vlad's temporary imprisonment by the Hungarian king. Around the same time, Mehmed also dealt with rebellions in Bosnia, eventually annexing the kingdom in 1463.

15:13

🛡️ Ottoman Conflicts in Anatolia and the Ak Koyunlu Threat

The video then shifts focus to the Ottoman's eastern campaigns, particularly their conflicts with the Ak Koyunlu, a Turkic dynasty gaining power in Anatolia. Mehmed faced growing unrest as Uzun Hassan, the Ak Koyunlu leader, sought alliances with Venice and aimed to challenge Ottoman control over key territories. Despite several battles and attempts by both sides to install loyal leaders in the Karamanid Beylik, the Ottomans maintained their dominance in the region, thanks to their superior artillery and strategy.

⚔️ Battle of Otlukbeli and Ottoman Victory in the East

In 1473, the Ottomans faced the Ak Koyunlu forces at the Battle of Otlukbeli. Despite initial success by Uzun Hassan’s forces in defeating an Ottoman vanguard, the tide turned when the main Ottoman army arrived. The use of artillery and gunpowder weapons proved decisive, shattering the Ak Koyunlu cavalry and leading to a significant Ottoman victory. This battle cemented Ottoman control over Anatolia, with no serious challenges from the east for the next 40 years.

🎧 Audible Sponsorship and Historical Resources

The video concludes with a sponsorship message from Audible, encouraging viewers to explore audiobooks on Ottoman history, among other topics. The host promotes Audible's vast library and seamless listening experience, offering a free audiobook trial to new users. Additionally, the channel expresses gratitude to its Patreon supporters and invites viewers to engage further with their content through YouTube sponsorships and merchandise.

📺 Channel Support and Future Content

The final paragraph addresses the viewers directly, thanking them for their support of the Kings and Generals channel. The host announces that the video series on the Mongols has concluded, and new episodes focused on Ottoman history will be released more regularly. The channel also provides details on how viewers can support their content through YouTube memberships and merchandise sales, with a promise of more historical content to come.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Mehmed II the Conqueror

Mehmed II, also known as 'the Conqueror,' was the Ottoman Sultan responsible for capturing Constantinople in 1453. His ambition for expansion did not end with the fall of the Byzantine capital; he continued to lead military campaigns in both Europe and Asia. In the video, he is depicted as a central figure who faced numerous enemies and challenges from various factions, including Hungarians, Wallachians, and rival Turkic dynasties.

💡Constantinople

Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine Empire and a strategic city that Mehmed II captured in 1453, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire and solidifying Ottoman power. The city's fall is the backdrop for much of the video's narrative about Mehmed's subsequent military campaigns. Its significance lies in its location and its role as the symbolic center of Orthodox Christianity.

💡John Hunyadi

John Hunyadi was a Hungarian military leader and Voivode of Transylvania, known for his resistance against Ottoman advances into Europe. In the video, he plays a crucial role by defeating Ottoman forces near Kruševac and leading a successful defense of Belgrade, which temporarily halted Ottoman expansion. His leadership and military acumen are portrayed as pivotal in the struggle against Mehmed's ambitions.

💡Belgrade

Belgrade was a strategically important fortress on the Danube River, defending the southern borders of Hungary. The video explains its importance during the siege by Mehmed II in 1456, where its defense was critical to stopping Ottoman expansion into Europe. The city’s well-fortified position and its defense by John Hunyadi’s forces exemplify the resistance against Ottoman incursions.

💡Janissaries

Janissaries were elite Ottoman infantry units, often involved in the front lines of Ottoman campaigns. In the video, they are depicted participating in key battles, including the siege of Belgrade, where they nearly breached the second wall but were ultimately repelled and suffered heavy losses. Their presence underscores the military strength and organization of the Ottoman Empire.

💡Vlad III the Impaler

Vlad III, also known as Vlad the Impaler, was the ruler of Wallachia and is famous for his brutal tactics in warfare. In the video, he is shown resisting Mehmed II’s Ottoman forces by using guerrilla warfare and scorched earth tactics during the 1462 campaign. His refusal to pay tribute to the Ottomans led to a prolonged conflict, demonstrating his fierce opposition to Ottoman rule.

💡Otlukbeli

The Battle of Otlukbeli, fought in 1473, was a decisive conflict between the Ottomans under Mehmed II and the Ak Koyunlu under Uzun Hassan. The video highlights this battle as crucial in securing Ottoman dominance over Anatolia. Mehmed’s victory, due to the superiority of Ottoman artillery and gunpowder weapons, is portrayed as a turning point in consolidating Ottoman control in the region.

💡Ak Koyunlu

The Ak Koyunlu were a Turkic dynasty that posed a significant threat to the Ottoman Empire during the reign of Mehmed II. Led by Uzun Hassan, they engaged in several conflicts with the Ottomans, as described in the video. Their alliance with Venice and their attempts to control Anatolian territory are key to understanding the regional power struggles during this period.

💡Uzun Hassan

Uzun Hassan was the ruler of the Ak Koyunlu dynasty and a major opponent of Mehmed II. In the video, he is shown as an ambitious leader who sought to expand his territory and formed alliances with Venice to challenge Ottoman power. His eventual defeat at the Battle of Otlukbeli cemented Ottoman dominance in Anatolia and weakened his influence.

💡Siege of Belgrade

The Siege of Belgrade in 1456 was a critical event where Mehmed II’s forces attempted to capture the fortress but were ultimately repelled by John Hunyadi’s forces. The siege is detailed in the video as one of the pivotal moments that slowed down Ottoman expansion into Europe, highlighting the tactical challenges faced by both the Ottomans and the defenders.

Highlights

The Ottomans took Constantinople in 1453, yet their conquests did not stop there, as Sultan Mehmed II faced multiple rivals in both the Christian and Muslim worlds.

After the Fall of Constantinople, Sultan Mehmed II launched a punitive campaign against Serbia for not assisting in the siege, besieging its capital Smederevo.

In 1456, Mehmed II attempted to take Belgrade, a crucial fortress defending the southern border of Hungary, but failed due to the efforts of John Hunyadi and his army.

Hunyadi’s navy surprised the Ottomans by sinking heavy galleys, effectively breaking the naval blockade of Belgrade and aiding in its defense.

Despite breaching Belgrade's walls, the Ottomans were stopped by a fire and the strong resistance of the defenders, leading to a failed siege.

A group of Hungarian peasants led an improvised attack on the Ottoman camp, triggering widespread panic among Mehmed’s troops and ultimately forcing their retreat.

Mehmed II was wounded during the retreat, losing over 20,000 soldiers in the siege, marking a significant setback for Ottoman expansion into Europe.

The death of John Hunyadi soon after the battle from an epidemic curtailed further pursuit of the Ottomans, but their failure at Belgrade slowed their advance for decades.

In 1460, the Ottomans ended the Despotate of Morea, taking control of Greece, and later in 1461, they conquered the Empire of Trebizond, marking the fall of the Roman Empire.

Sultan Mehmed II faced Vlad III the Impaler in 1462 after Vlad refused to pay tribute, sparking a series of skirmishes and ambushes.

Vlad III attempted to assassinate Mehmed II during a night raid but was ultimately unsuccessful, leading to heavy Wallachian losses.

The Ottomans struggled to consolidate power in Anatolia due to internal rebellions and the rise of the Ak Koyunlu dynasty led by Uzun Hassan.

Uzun Hassan allied with Venice to resist Ottoman expansion, but their plans were foiled when the Ottoman navy intercepted a shipment of gunpowder weapons.

The Ottoman forces, equipped with artillery and gunpowder, decisively defeated Uzun Hassan's Turkoman army in the Battle of Otlukbeli in 1473.

The victory at Otlukbeli secured Ottoman dominance over Anatolia and ensured their unchallenged control in the East for the next four decades.

Transcripts

play00:06

Today's video is brought to you by Audible.

play00:09

Go to audible.com/kingsandgenerals today to start your free trial.

play00:17

After multiple failed attempts, the Ottomans finally took Constantinople in 1453

play00:23

but still their appetite for conquest was not sated.

play00:27

Meanwhile, more enemies both in the Christian and the Muslim worlds

play00:31

were eager to either stop them or test their mettle in the battle for supremacy,

play00:37

so the Sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror had to face rivals on multiple fronts.

play00:47

Almost immediately after the Fall of Constantinople

play00:50

Sultan Mehmed II moved his capital there.

play00:53

As the ruler of Serbia, Đurađ Branković, failed to pay tribute and assist in the Siege of Constantinople,

play01:00

Mehmed started a punitive campaign against him in 1454.

play01:07

He had a 30,000-strong army and met no resistance in Serbia.

play01:12

Soon the capital Smederevo was besieged.

play01:17

However, the old nemesis of the Ottomans, the Voidode of Transylvania and the leader of the Hungarian armies

play01:24

John Hunyadi, was nearby with 30,000 troops and forced the Sultan to lift the siege.

play01:31

Mehmed left his army in the area with orders to avoid battle

play01:34

and returned to Constantinople to gather more troops.

play01:38

Hunyadi united his forces with Đurađ and in October managed to coerce the Ottoman forces into battle

play01:45

near Kruševac, where he earned a decisive victory.

play01:49

As no enemy troops opposed him now, Hunyadi moved into the Ottoman lands and sacked Vidin.

play01:56

He then returned to his base of operations in Belgrade.

play02:03

Mehmed knew that he had to take Belgrade to consolidate his hold over the southern side of the Danube River.

play02:10

A new campaign was planned for the summer of 1456.

play02:14

It seems that this was known in Hungary as a crusade was called against the Ottomans,

play02:20

but internal strife prevented the Hungarians from starting their campaign.

play02:24

The forces of the Ottoman Sultan approached Belgrade in June.

play02:31

Belgrade was of crucial strategic importance

play02:34

as it was built at the location where the Danube and its tributary the Sava merged.

play02:40

It defended the southern borders of Hungary and was one of the best defended fortresses in Europe

play02:45

with two sets of walls and a castle behind them.

play02:49

Belgrade had a 7,000-strong Serbo-Hungarian garrison commanded by Hunyadi's son Laszlo

play02:56

and his brother-in-law Michael.

play02:59

Meanwhile, the Ottomans had anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 troops.

play03:05

Mehmed placed his Anatolian troops on the left and his European forces on the right

play03:10

while his guard was in the center.

play03:13

The majority of his 300 cannons were on the right flank

play03:16

and his 200 ships moved to the north of the city to block off the Danube.

play03:24

The Ottomans started bombarding the walls on the 29th of June and although they did some damage,

play03:30

the siege was just starting.

play03:33

Hunyadi was recruiting new troops when he learned that Mehmed had besieged Belgrade.

play03:39

He was leading some 50,000 men but only 10,000 to 15,000 of those were professional

play03:45

with the rest being peasants joining the crusade.

play03:48

The Hungarians also had a navy with 200 ships, and this fleet reached the area on July 14th.

play03:59

The Ottomans were either unaware of this threat

play04:02

or their boats were defending a large area as they were caught unprepared.

play04:09

Hunyadi's navy sunk a number of heavy galleys and captured up to 30 smaller vessels.

play04:15

The blockade was raised and the Ottoman Navy would become a non-factor in this siege.

play04:25

Hunyadi moved into the city with some of his troops and brought some food and supplies.

play04:33

The Ottomans continued the siege.

play04:36

The artillery bombardment became more intense after the naval loss

play04:40

and on the 21st of July, parts of the walls were breached.

play04:47

The Sultan sent his Janissaries into the lower city.

play04:51

The defenders were pushed back from the gate.

play04:54

However, a fire that started in the area prevented more Ottoman troops from entering.

play04:59

The Janissaries numbering 5,000 were basically trapped and had no other choice but to win.

play05:06

They almost managed to take a tower on the second layer of city walls

play05:10

but the Serbian contingent defending this site repelled the attackers.

play05:14

Most of the Janissaries in the city were then killed.

play05:20

The siege took an unexpected turn on the next day.

play05:24

A group of poor Hungarian peasants decided to loot the Ottoman camp despite receiving no such order.

play05:32

Mehmed sent his light Sipahi cavalry to repel this group

play05:36

but as they were now within the camp, the cavalry had no room to move and failed to push the peasants back.

play05:43

Seeing this, more and more of Hunyadi's troops joined this improvised attack.

play05:48

The Papal emissary, John of Capistrano,

play05:51

used the ships to move a few thousand warriors across the Sava River and attacked the left flank of the Ottoman army.

play05:58

The Sultan's troops were either demoralized or unprepared and started fleeing in panic.

play06:04

Even Mehmed himself with the remainder of his Janissaries failed to stabilize the situation.

play06:10

The Sultan was wounded and carried away,

play06:12

and the Ottomans eventually lost more than 20,000 men in this siege.

play06:18

Hunyadi was eager to pursue the foe but soon an epidemic broke out in his camp.

play06:24

Thousands died among them Hunyadi himself.

play06:28

Still, this defeat and the failure to take Belgrade slowed down the Ottoman advance into Europe for decades.

play06:38

Although the Ottomans were somewhat weakened, they still managed to destroy the Despotate of Serbia

play06:44

and forced the King of Bosnia to pay tribute.

play06:49

In 1460, they ended the Despotate of Morea and took direct control over most of Greece.

play06:57

The Empire of Trebizond was next in line.

play07:03

Emperor David surrendered almost immediately after Trebizond was besieged

play07:09

and thus the Roman Empire ceased to exist in 1461.

play07:16

Back in Europe, the ruler of Wallachia Vlad III the Impaler refused to pay tribute,

play07:22

invaded Bulgaria and killed more than 20,000 Turks.

play07:27

Enraged, Sultan Mehmed led a 100,000-strong army against Vlad in 1462.

play07:35

The Wallachians had around 30,000 troops and couldn't fight a pitched battle against the Ottomans,

play07:41

so the campaign ended up being a series of skirmishes and ambushes.

play07:48

In the beginning, Vlad did his best to prevent the Ottomans from landing at Vidin

play07:54

and his archers killed many foes.

play07:56

Forced to retreat, he then used scorched earth tactics.

play08:01

Eventually, the Ottomans camped near his capital Târgovişte.

play08:06

Vlad entered the Sultan's camp in disguise to find Mehmed's tent.

play08:11

Late at night, half of his army attacks the camp from one side to draw the enemy's attention

play08:17

while he led the rest in a second attack.

play08:21

After killing a small group of defenders, Vlad attempted to assassinate the Sultan,

play08:26

but the Janissaries were able to stop the Wallachians.

play08:30

Vlad lost 5,000 men in this battle.

play08:35

While the Ottoman losses were around 20,000, the odds were still against Vlad

play08:40

and he wasn't able to do anything to prevent the razing of Brăila.

play08:44

Tthe Ottomans then retreated.

play08:49

Vlad asked the son of John Hunyadi, Matthias, who was now the king of Hungary for help but was imprisoned.

play08:57

Mehmed failed to use that to his advantage as at this time the king of Bosnia Stephen II decided to stop paying his tribute.

play09:05

In 1463, Bosnia was occupied by the Ottomans and lost its independence.

play09:14

At this point, the situation in Anatolia was getting volatile.

play09:19

The Ottomans controlled most of the Anatolian Peninsula via their Turkic vassals.

play09:25

But another Turkic dynasty, the Ak Koyunlu, were gaining strength to the east of the Ottomans

play09:30

and their mere existence made many Turkic Beyliks rebellious.

play09:35

The Ak Koyunlu Sultan, Uzun Hassan, was ambitious

play09:39

and married the daughter of the Emperor of Trebizond to gain an ally.

play09:43

He failed to help Trebizond in 1461 as he was fighting against the Timurids.

play09:49

But the fall of the empire was one more reason for animosity against Mehmed.

play09:55

Uzun Hassan needed a port that would allow him to trade with Europe.

play09:59

His best option was the territory of the Karamanids.

play10:03

In the late 1460s, both he and Mehmed attempted to place their candidates on the throne of this Beylik and in 1471

play10:13

Mehmed sent his forces to take control over the Beylik.

play10:17

Uzun Hassan entered an alliance with Venice.

play10:20

The Italian republic promised him gunpowder-based weapons and support against the Ottomans.

play10:27

In 1472, the Venetian Navy attacked Izmir

play10:32

while 20,000 Ak Koyunlu troops attacked and raided the Karamanid territory.

play10:38

The leader of the Ak Koyunlu sent a letter to the Ottoman Court demanding Trebizond and the Karamanid lands

play10:45

but was refused.

play10:49

Meanwhile, the Venetian shipment of gunpowder weapons never reached Uzun Hassan's troops

play10:55

as it was captured by the Ottoman Navy.

play11:00

This was crucial.

play11:02

Both sides were able to raise anywhere from 100,000 to 150,000 soldiers,

play11:07

but the Ottomans had guns and artillery, while their enemies were a traditional

play11:13

Turkoman force not too different from the Seljuk army that fought in the area four centuries before.

play11:22

Mehmed's 20,000-strong vanguard finally came into contact with the Ak Koyunlu army on the 1st of August, 1473.

play11:32

The two sides were divided by the Euphrates.

play11:36

Uzun Hassan moved across the river and attacked the enemy.

play11:40

After a short skirmish, the Ak Koyunlu retreated and the Ottoman cavalry followed them over the bridge.

play11:48

As soon as all the enemy cavalry was on the right side of the river, a small Ak Koyunlu unit destroyed the bridge

play11:55

and attacked the Ottomans from the rear.

play12:00

At the same moment, the rest of Uzun Hassan's warriors turned and charged.

play12:05

The Ottoman cavalry was shattered and they lost 5,000 troops.

play12:11

Uzun Hassan chased the Ottoman vanguard, but failed to annihilate it.

play12:21

Ten days later, Mehmed arrived with the rest of his army.

play12:25

Both sides now had around 100,000 troops, who prepared for battle in a place called Otlukbeli.

play12:33

The Ottomans had their cavalry on the flanks with the Janissaries in the center

play12:38

while the Ak Koyunlu army consisted predominantly of light cavalry.

play12:43

It was divided into four big groups and one small one.

play12:50

This small group was sent to the west to prevent a possible Ottoman retreat.

play12:57

The battle started with the Ottomans attacking with their right flank.

play13:03

Uzun Hassan's forces stopped the enemy cavalry here while his own right attacks the Ottoman left.

play13:09

The battle was in balance until the Ak Koyunlu Sultan sent his reserves against the Ottoman left.

play13:16

The Sipahi in this area buckled under the pressure,

play13:19

but soon Mehmed reinforced his left by sending part of his Janissaries from the centre.

play13:25

Uzun Hassan decided to use the fact that the Ottoman center was now weakened and sent his entire central group forward.

play13:33

However, his cavalry were decimated by Ottoman artillery and gunpowder units.

play13:38

The sources differ on what happened next.

play13:42

Some claim that Uzun Hassan retreated in panic.

play13:45

Others assert that a horse was killed under him and his banner was lost, which caused a mass rout.

play13:53

But in any case, after the Ak Koyunlu center was destroyed, the Ottoman center helped the flanks in their defense.

play14:01

The Ottomans won a clear victory and lost a few thousand men while the casualties for their foes were around 25,000.

play14:10

The victory at Otlukbeli cemented Ottoman rule over Anatolia,

play14:15

and no power would challenge them in the East for the next four decades.

play14:19

Nothing was stopping the Ottoman Sultans from attacking Europe yet again.

play14:27

The sponsor of this video, Audible, has an unmatched library of audiobooks that will help create a more knowledgeable you.

play14:36

There series called the Lords of the Horizons describes Ottoman history in detail,

play14:41

starting with its rise up until its very end.

play14:45

Audible allows you to listen to more books by letting you switch seamlessly between devices,

play14:50

picking up exactly where you left off.

play14:53

You can get through tons of books, hands and eyes free while doing almost anything.

play14:58

Didn't like your audiobook? You can exchange it. Plus the books are yours to keep even if you cancel your membership.

play15:06

Audible is offering our viewers a free audio book with a 30-day trial membership.

play15:13

To support our channel and to learn more about the history of the Ottomans, Mongols, Diadochi

play15:18

Vikings and others go to audible.com/kingsandgenerals

play15:23

or text Kings and Generals to 500500, download a title for free and start listening. It's that easy.

play15:32

Thank you for watching one more video in our series on the Ottoman conquest.

play15:37

Now that the series on the Mongols is over, we will start releasing the Ottoman videos more regularly.

play15:42

We would like to express our gratitude to our Patreon supporters who make the creation of our videos possible.

play15:49

Now you can also support us directly via YouTube by pressing the sponsorship button below the video.

play15:55

Or buy our merchandise via the link in the description.

play15:59

This is the Kings and Generals channel, and we will catch you on the next one.

Rate This

5.0 / 5 (0 votes)

الوسوم ذات الصلة
Ottoman EmpireHistorical BattlesConstantinopleMehmed IIBelgrade SiegeVlad the ImpalerMedieval Warfare1450s EuropeTurkish HistoryMilitary Strategy
هل تحتاج إلى تلخيص باللغة الإنجليزية؟