Germany, Hungary and the Crusade in the Reign of Emperor Sigismund, 1400-1437

The texts in this volume illustrate the struggle between the Christians and Ottomans on the Danube frontier and the broader political, military, and diplomatic debates provoked by the Turkish threat in the Balkans. Sigismund of Luxemburg, as King of Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor, was instrumental in crafting the response to the Ottomans in the first few decades of the fifteenth century, leading military campaigns and bringing the political elites of Europe together to discuss programmes to defend Christendom. The range of materials sheds light on the varied manners in which he sought to combat Ottoman expansion and places his efforts within the broader context of Christendoms response to the Turkish threat.

Format: Hardback
Length: 270 pages
Publication date: 01 January 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The struggle between the Christians and Ottomans on the Danube frontier is vividly depicted in this collection of over 100 texts, many of which are presented in English translation for the first time. Sigismund of Luxemburg, as King of Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor, played a pivotal role in shaping the Christian response to the Ottomans in the early 15th century. He personally led military campaigns on the Danube frontier and convened political assemblies to discuss strategies for defending Christendom. The texts included in this volume, including correspondence, financial accounts, orations, synodal documents, and military memoranda, provide valuable insights into Sigismund's efforts to combat Ottoman expansion. They also shed light on the diplomatic and political methods employed by other frontline Catholic powers, such as Hungary, Poland, and Austria, to confront the Turkish threat. These methods included the use of public ceremony, the manipulation of crusading propaganda and motifs, and the deployment of chivalric orders. Despite the Christian reversals in the Balkans and the fearsome presence of the Ottoman Empire, Sigismund and his contemporaries sought to defend Christendom through various means. This collection of texts offers a unique perspective on the early years of the Ottoman-Christian conflict and provides valuable insights into the strategies and tactics used by both sides in the struggle for control of the Danube frontier.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472469793