Siege of Trepča

Siege of Trepca
Date	1455
Location	Trepča, Serbian Despotate
Result	Ottoman victory
Belligerents
Ottoman Empire	Serbian Despotate
Commanders and leaders
Mehmed II	Stefan Branković
Strength
50,000	10,000-15,000

The siege of Trepča was a successful assault by Mehmet the Conqueror in the second Serbian campaign in 1455.

Background

While those in the West gave up the crusade, Sultan Mehmet started his second Serbian expedition, despite the peace treaty. Because of preparations in Hungary, he considered his promises and all related obligations invalid.^[1]

In addition, as soon as Mehmet returned to Edirne, Hungarians and Serbs took up arms and captured the environs of Niš and Kosovo. The Sultan went on a campaign with his army again.^[2]^{[page needed]}

Siege

The Serbian leader, as in 1454, did not offer open resistance. Cities and forts were equipped with troops and supplies. Villagers were advised to flee either to the castles or to the forests and mountains. The new capital of the state, Smederevo, was ready for a long siege. Georg took his wife and children and a few people from the palace and crossed the Danube to Hungary, where he had lands and castles in the south. He was sure that no danger awaited there, since he had made peace with John Hunyadi.^[3]

Mehmed directed his forces towards Southern Serbia in 1455. He captured the Trepça, Novo Brdo and silver mines.^[4]

References

^ ^a ^b Jorga 2018, p. 82.
^ Clot, André (2005). Mehmed II: Le conquérant de Byzance (in French). Le Grand livre du mois. ISBN 9782702817735.
^ Jorga 2018, p. 83.
^ İnalcık, Halil (2010). Kuruluş Dönemi Osmanlı Sultanları (1302-1481). İsam Yayınları. p. 194. ISBN 9789753898997.