Battle of Samobor explained

The Battle of Samobor (Croatian: Bitka kod Samobora), (Slovenian: Celjsko-Ogrska Vojna) on March 1, 1441 was fought between the forces of Ulrich II of Celje and Stjepan Banić around Samobor, in what was then the Kingdom of Slavonia within the Kingdom of Hungary.

In a struggle for succession to the Crown of St. Stephen, Banić was allied to Vladislaus III of Varna while Ulrich II supported Ladislas the Posthumous's eventual right to the throne.

Conflict:Battle of Samobor
Place:Samobor, Duchy of Slavonia within Kingdom of Hungary (present day Croatia)
Result:Celje victory
Combatant1:Counts of Celje
Combatant2:Kingdom of Hungary
Commander1:Ulrich II of CeljeJan Vitovec
Commander2:Stjepan Banić

Ulrich II's forces were commanded by the Celian - Czech mercenary Jan Vitovec. They were ultimately victorious, taking Banić prisoner after the battle. However, the infant Ladislas' mother, Elisabeth of Bohemia (1409–1442), died the following year forcing Ulrich II to recognize Vladislaus III as king, as well as releasing all prisoners. Vladislaus III died soon after against the Ottoman Empire in the Battle of Varna of 1444.

On the 565th anniversary of the battle, March 1, 2006, the city of Samobor hosted a large re-creation of the event.

References