Battle of Maritsa

Part of the Ottoman wars in Europe
Serbian-Ottoman Wars

The Ottoman advance after the battle of Chernomen.

Date	September 27, 1371
Location	Maritsa River (near Chernomen (today Ormenio) in Greece)
Result	Decisive Ottoman victory

Belligerents

Serbian Empire

Ottoman Empire

Commanders and leaders

Vukašin Mrnjavčević †
Uglješa Mrnjavčević †

Lala Şâhin Paşa
Gazi Evrenos

Strength

20,000-70,000 men

800 men

Casualties and losses

heavy combat losses
thousands drowned

unknown

The Battle of Maritsa, or Battle of Chernomen (Serbian: Маричка битка, бој код Черномена, Bulgarian: Битката при Марица, битката при Черномен, Turkish: Çirmen Muharebesi, İkinci Meriç Muharebesi in tr. Second Battle of Maritsa) took place at the Maritsa River near the village of Chernomen (today Ormenio in Greece) on September 27, 1371 between the forces of Ottoman commanders Lala Şâhin Paşa and Gazi Evrenos and Serbian commanders King Vukašin Mrnjavčević and his brother Despot Jovan Uglješa who also wanted to get revenge after the First Battle of Maritsa.

Before the Battle of Maritsa, Vukašin had the intention to recapture Skadar (now Shkodër) for the Serbian Empire. The army led by King Vukašin and his son Prince Marko came under Skadar in June 1371, but when they were informed about a large Ottoman army advancing from the east they headed east to prepare for the Battle of Maritsa.

The Serbian army numbered 20,000–70,000 men. Most sources agree on the higher number. Despot Uglješa wanted to make a surprise attack on the Ottomans in their capital city, Edirne, while Murad I was in Asia Minor. The Ottoman army was much smallerByzantine Greek scholar Laonikos Chalkokondyles and other sources give the number of 800 men, but due to superior tactics, by conducting a night raid on the Serbian camp, Şâhin Paşa was able to defeat the Serbian army and kill King Vukašin and despot Uglješa. Thousands of Serbs were killed, and thousands drowned in the Maritsa river when they tried to flee. After the battle, the Maritsa ran scarlet with blood.

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Wikipedia