Editing Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor (section)

==== Crusade of Nicopolis ====
[[File:Zsigmond Nikápolyban.jpg|thumb|King Sigismund of Hungary during the [[battle of Nicopolis]] in 1396. Painting by Ferenc Lohr (1896), main hall of the Castle of Vaja.]]
[[File:Flag of Sigismund of Hungary.svg|thumb|left|Royal Standard of Hungary under the rule of Sigismund (1387–1437).]]

In 1396, Sigismund led the combined armies of Christendom against the Turks, who had taken advantage of the temporary helplessness of Hungary to extend their dominion to the banks of the [[Danube]]. This crusade, preached by [[Pope Boniface IX]], was very popular in Hungary. The nobles flocked in their thousands to the royal standard and were reinforced by volunteers from nearly every part of Europe, the most important contingent being that of the [[Kingdom of France|French]] led by [[John the Fearless]], son of [[Philip II, Duke of Burgundy]]. Sigismund set out with 15,000 men and a flotilla of 70 galleys. After capturing [[Vidin]], he camped with his Hungarian armies before the fortress of [[Nicopolis, Bulgaria|Nicopolis]]. Sultan [[Bayezid I]] raised the [[Siege of Constantinople (1394–1402)|siege of Constantinople]] and, at the head of 10,000 men, completely defeated the [[Christianity|Christian]] forces in the [[Battle of Nicopolis]] fought between the 25 and 28 September 1396.<ref name="EB1911" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Nicolle |first=David |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/ocm60188063 |title=Nicopolis, 1396: the last crusade |date=2005 |publisher=Praeger |isbn=978-0-275-98837-1 |series=Praeger illustrated military history series |location=Westport, Conn |oclc=ocm60188063}}</ref> Sigismund returned by sea and through the realm of [[Principality of Zeta|Zeta]], where he ordained the local [[Montenegrins (ethnic group)|Montenegrin]] lord [[Đurađ II]] with the islands of [[Hvar]] and [[Korčula]] for resistance against the Turks; the islands were returned to Sigismund after Đurađ's death in April 1403.[[File:765572.jpg|thumb|Gold coin of Sigismund of Hungary with his coat of arms (right), and the image of the King Saint [[Ladislaus I of Hungary]] (left).]]The disaster at Nicopolis angered several Hungarian lords, leading to instability in the kingdom. Deprived of his authority in Hungary, Sigismund then turned his attention to securing the succession in [[Kingdom of Germany|Germany]] and [[Kingdom of Bohemia|Bohemia]], and was recognized by his childless half-brother [[Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia|Wenceslaus IV]] as Vicar-General of the whole empire. However, he was unable to support Wenceslaus when he was deposed in 1400, and [[Rupert of Germany]], Elector Palatine, was elected [[King of Germany|German king]] in his stead.<ref name=EB1911/>