AN: I really dont know where to go with this TL. My drive seems to be lost, nevertheless, I will try to finish it at a fulfilling moment, even if I have to write on pure discipline
The fate of Morea
With the deaths of the Palaloigos brothers, the despotate of Morea fell without a ruler. The duke of Burgundy, sensing an opportunity, sent his son Charles from Salonika with a mixed Burgundian/Albanian force almost seven thousand strong to take control of these southern territories.
Charles, a capable young man, quickly marched south, gaining oath after oath from the villages and cities he passed. Future historians would claim that the seed of young Charles’ fascination with massive constructions and infrastructure was planted when he passed the wall of the Corinthian Istmus.
After gaining the allegiance of the Moreans, he raised additional forces amongst the volunteers from the local population, leaving part of his army behind as garrisons.
After having accomplished the mission his father gave him, Charles marched north with almost ten thousand men, leaving two thousand Burgundians behind in Morea. These knights would assimilate into the local population, but not without leaving their mark. Many historians claim these nobles as the rebirthers of the Morean Greek arts.
The Balkan vassals of the Ottomans.
Serbia and Wallachia, both Vassal states of the Ottomans, heard of the successes of the Burgundians and did something many vassals did in times of hardship for their overlords: revolt.
Any Turk found in both regions was brutally slaughtered in what was known as ”The First Removal” Even today, the mere mention of these events is enough to send any Romanian, Serb or Turk into a frenzy, anger at the Turkish side and a smug racism in the other.
These revolting states seemed content in keeping their forces at home, feeling squashed between the forces of Mehmed and an opportunistic Hungary.
The Turks
Mehmed, Sultan of the Turks, was feeling anxious. Yes, he had destroyed an army already, but if his informants were right, the entire crusader effort was now behind Phillipe, with no pretenders to speak of.
Even more, rumors of disloyalty in the Balkans had reached his ears, and if he did not watch out, he would be encircled by Crusaders and other enemies. With a veteran, well rested army of Burgundians to the west, the sea to his south and revolting vassals to his north, he would have to move east to secure his army.
Soon Mehmed called his commanders and ordered preparations of a retreat towards Edirne. His soldiers would get demoralized, but a demoralized force is better than no force.
Troop disposition
- The Burgundians:
- 28 000 westerners and 7 000 albanians at Saloniki
- 10 000 greeks/westerners/ Albanians marching north from Morea
- 2 000 Burgundians garrisoned in Morea
- The Turks: 40 000, preparing a retreat towards Edirne
- Serbia: calls for volunteers have gone out
- Wallachia: calls for volunteers have gone out
Map
- Red: Albania
- Orange: Burgundian ERE
- Green: Ottoman Turk
- Dark Blue: Serbia
- Brownish: Wallachia
- Purple crosses: location of the three major armies
(I hope the map is readable/understandable)