1444

Crusade of Varna; to rescue Byzantines; 1443, Poe IV issued a crusde encyclical calling of the faithful to take up the cross and hurry up to the defense of Byzantium. the crusade was taken up by those states in eastern Europe for whom the Tukish threat was most dire: Poland, Wallachia, and Hungary. crusade of Varna was led by: John Hunyadi, the ruler of Transyvania, and King Ladislas of Hungary. force of about 20,000 men. 1444, Crusaders entered Serbia and captured Nish. In an attempt to neutralize the crusade, Murad opened negotiations with with King Ladislas, offfering Hungay a 10 year truce. Ladislas seized the opportunity and returned home, but was rebuked. the latter absolved him from his oath of truce and the crusade continued laying seige on Varna in Bulgaria; the sultan was angered by Ladislas' bad faith and crushed the crusade in Varna. the papal legate and king of hungary were killed in battle.