Diaconescu, Marius (szerk.): Mediaevalia Transilvanica 1998 (2. évfolyam, 2. szám)
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The Relations of Vassalage 259 loyalty of his subjects, proved in the above mentioned circumstances71. The dimensions of the battle, which took place in late August,72 did not exceed those of an ambush organized in a favourable mountainous region. In the autumn of the same year, the Turks crossed back the Danube and, after reconquering Turnu, advanced into the country and chased Mircea away73. Turkish troops undertook plundering incursions in the regions of Braşov (situated south of Transylvania74) and of Timişoara75 in order to intimidate and punish. It seems that this time they left behind a more numerous contingent to protect voivode Vlad because Sigismund, even if on guard and close to the borders, did not intervene immediately76. The king's counterattack was delayed because of strategic reasons and the arrival of the winter. This time, he appraised realistically the military potential of the Ottoman and pro-Ottoman troops in the region; furthermore, he became aware that, in order to safeguard the Hungarian southern borders, the maintenance of a vassal in Wallachia was not enough and the Ottomans had to be driven away from the Danube line. The preparations for a Crusade meant to drive away the Turks from Europe were intensified. In that period Mircea withdrew to his possessions in the south of Transylvania, i.e. the Land of Făgăraş. On the threshold of the crusade, Sigismund did not hesitate to sacrifice his vassal and tried to draw Vlad, installed by the Turks77, in the anti-Ottoman project. Vlad responded to Sigismund's diplomatical pressures by rendering homage to the king and queen of Poland. The Polish king, who had claimed the Hungarian crown after Queen Mary's death, recognized Vlad as Voivode of Wallachia and promised to give him the territories situated in the south of Transylvania the moment he regained the Hungarian crown. Vlad acknowledged Hedviga, Queen of Poland, as Louis I's sole heiress who, together with Wladislaw Jagelló, were the rightful inheritors of the Hungarian kingdom. He pledged assistance against any enemy. Nevertheless, it seems that his homage was paid not to the sovereigns of Poland but to virtual monarchs of Hungary78. This was not an alliance similar to that concluded by Mircea and Wladislaw Jagelló in 1389-1391; the agent of this homage was 71 DRH, D., I, pp. 155, 159, 182. In the document dating from 1408, the king claims that the Romanians who attacked him were led by Mircea. But it was Vlad who led them. Cf. Viorica Pervain, Din relaţiile Ţării Româneşti cu Ungaria (see note 20), pp. 110-112, and notes. 72 On August 24lh the king was present in the camp near Severin: P. Engel, Királyitineráriumok (see note 36), p. 61. 73 DRH, D, I,p. 172-173. 74 G. G. Giindisch, Die Türkeneinfälle in Siebenbürgen bis zur Mitte des 15. Jahrhunderts, in Jahrbücher für Geschichte Osteuropas, BreslauAVroclaw, II, 1937, pp. 393-394; idem, Siebenbürgen in der Türkenabwehr, 1395-1526, in RRH, 1974, pp. 416-418. 75 L. Thallóczy, op. cit. (see note 69), pp. 86, 110. Viorica Pervain, Din relaţiile Ţării Româneşti cu Ungaria (see note 20), pp. 112-113. 76 Between September 13th and 21st he was in Sibiu: J.K. Hoensch (ed.), Itinerar (see note 369, p. 61. P. Engel, Királyitineráriumok (see. note 36), p. 61. 77 In March 1396, an emissary was sent by Sigismund to Vlad: DRH, D, I, p. 153. 78 Hurmuzaki, Documente (see note 40), 1/2, pp. 374-375.
