544th Anniversary of Battle of Vaslui (1475), the culmination of Moldavian–Ottoman Wars (1473-1486)

**Aspirin** · 01-09-2019, 09:15 PM

The Battle of Vaslui was fought on 10 January 1475, between Stephen III of Moldavia and the Ottoman governor of Rumelia, Hadım Suleiman Pasha. The battle took place at Podul Înalt (the High Bridge), near the town of Vaslui, in Moldavia (now part of eastern Romania). The Ottoman troops numbered up to 120,000, facing about 40,000 Moldavian troops, plus smaller numbers of allied and mercenary troops.

Stephen inflicted a decisive defeat on the Ottomans, described as "the greatest ever secured by Christianity against Islam," with casualties, according to Venetian and Polish records, reaching beyond 40,000 on the Ottoman side. Mara Brankovic (Mara Hatun), the former younger wife of Murad II, told a Venetian envoy that the invasion had been worst ever defeat for the Ottomans. Stephen was later awarded the title "Athleta Christi" (Champion of Christ) by Pope Sixtus IV, who referred to him as "verus christianae fidei athleta" ("the true defender of the Christian faith").

According to the Polish chronicler Jan Długosz, Stephen did not celebrate his victory; instead, he fasted for forty days on bread and water and forbade anyone to attribute the victory to him, insisting that credit be given only to the Lord.

**Aspirin** · 01-09-2019, 10:07 PM

**Dick** · 01-09-2019, 10:14 PM

Great. I didn't know this.

**Aspirin** · 01-09-2019, 10:35 PM

**Aspirin** · 01-10-2019, 11:24 PM

Originally Posted by Dick

Great. I didn't know this.

I think this is because such person like Stephen the Great was eclipsed by the Vlad Impaler, and maybe because even if this battle was a big defeat for Ottomans, don't had a big impact in the region like for example the Siege of Belgrade two decades earlier, what stopped the offensive of Ottomans into Europe for 70 years.

**~~Zmey Gorynych~~** · 03-16-2019, 12:43 AM

Valea Alba was a slaughter house. If the moldavians would've had the same numbers they had at Vaslui they would've won. With only 10000-12000 people (the standing army) they still managed to inflict serious damage and at one point were actually winning the battle. Valea Alba is very much on Stephen who dispersed a part of his army before the confrontation. For an authoritarian ruler he sure went soft and cocked up with that decision.

The siege of Neamt doesn't get the recognition it deserves, it was the 3rd most important confrontation in this conflict. It was not as deadly but it was certainly very important because if the turks would've managed to take the fortress Moldavia might've fallen. The turks failed and had to eventually retreat.

On a side note the Kings and Generals channel is excellent. They have quality videos on so many battles. The videos on the Greco-Roman era are particularly good.

Now I noticed that in that video it says that Stehpen had 30000 at Valea Alba which is wrong, he didn't.

**Crimson Winds** · 03-16-2019, 01:12 AM

Stephan is underrated, winning against Matias Corvinus and almost defeating Mehmed II is not a simple job.

**~~Zmey Gorynych~~** · 03-16-2019, 01:22 AM

Originally Posted by Barbarian of the Age

Stephan is underrated, winning against Matias Corvinus and almost defeating Mehmed II is not a simple job.

Stephen was surely a very good military commander. He defeated each of his neighbours at least once, lost only twice in a military career of 48 battles if I'm not mistaken. Took land from the Polish Kingdom and retained it until his death, held a part of Crimeea albeit for a very short period of time. Destroyed the Golden Horde at the battle of Lipnic in 1470.

**Crimson Winds** · 03-16-2019, 01:24 AM

Originally Posted by Zmey Gorynych

Stephen was surely a very good military commander. He defeated all of his neighbours at least once, lost only twice in a military career of 48 battles if I'm not mistaken. Took land from the Polish Kingdom and retained until his death, held a part of Crimeea albeit for a very short period of time. Destroyed the Golden Horde at the battle of Lipnic in 1470.

I read in a Turkish history book that he wanted only 400 soldiers from Ottomans for facing Poland after he accepted the suzerinity of the Sultan. Pretty badass dude.

**~~Zmey Gorynych~~** · 03-16-2019, 01:31 AM

Originally Posted by Barbarian of the Age

I read in a Turkish history book that he wanted only 400 soldiers from Ottomans for facing Poland after he accepted the suzerinity of the Sultan. Pretty badass dude.

Accepting suzerainty of turks is hardly badass but that meant very little to him as he swore fielty today and broke it tomorrow. It was nothing more than means to an end. As for his battles he fought most of his wars without any assistance. He still could've done better if he would've been a little smarter.