Stephen Crushes Ottomans at Vaslui: Moldavia Saved
Stephen III of Moldavia was outnumbered roughly three to one when the Ottoman army crossed into his territory in January 1475. He chose the battlefield carefully: a narrow valley near Vaslui where the Ottomans' numerical advantage meant nothing. Dense fog covered the marshland as Stephen's troops attacked from multiple directions, creating panic in the Ottoman ranks. The rout was so complete that the Ottoman commander barely escaped with his life. Stephen reportedly killed or captured over 40,000 enemy soldiers, a staggering figure for medieval warfare. Pope Sixtus IV called him 'Athleta Christi' and urged Western Europe to support him, though that support never materialized. Stephen would fight the Ottomans repeatedly over his 47-year reign, winning most battles while receiving almost no help from the Christian powers that praised him.
January 10, 1475
551 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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