History of the Balkans in Maps

When the Turkish armies withdrew from Albania after the battle of 1385, the local authorities who had sworn alliagence to the Sultan, fell into their old ways -- constant local war. The Turks would intervene only should the princes fail to deliver on time their required tribute and assigned number of local boys to serve in the Turkish armies. Then, Turkish units would arrive, with rape and pillage in their wake.

Thus, when the Turks marched north into Serbia, a number of local groups from all over the Balkans joined in an improvised alliance to repulse them. The savage battle fought near Prishtina in Kosovo, June 1389, was a disastrous defeat. This is the legendary Battle of the Black Bird Field. The losses on both sides were collossal, with even both commanders-in-chief among the killed. But even more important than the loss of life was the catastrophic consequences. Henceforth, for nearly 300 years, no local prince would risk his lands and riches by attempting to take up arms against the Turks. The long night of Ottoman rule in the Balkans descended.