The Battle of Chermen: Where 800 Ottoman Soldiers Defeated a 70,000-Strong Serbian Army
The Battle of Chermen, 1371
The Battle of Chermen was one of the battles fought between the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Serbia. This battle took place on September 26, 1371. During the battle, the army was commanded by Lala Şahin Pasha, as Sultan 1st Murad was in Anatolia. Sensing an opportunity due to Sultan Murad's absence in Edirne, the Serbian King Jovan Uglješa gathered an army of 70,000 men, aiming to catch the Ottoman army unprepared. The objective of the Battle of Chermen was to avenge the Battle of Sırpsındığı. The Serbian army included soldiers from Macedonia. The Ottoman army, on the other hand, consisted of only a vanguard of 800 men. However, the army's greatest advantage was its tactical strength and mobility. Lala Şahin Pasha devised a plan and allowed the Serbian army to advance. Thus, the armies retreated to the Chermen location. On September 26, 1371, the Ottoman army launched a surprise night raid, catching the Serbian army off guard. The 70,000-strong army, stunned by what was happening, was thrown into disarray. With the Ottoman cavalry also killing the Serbian and Macedonian commanders, the Ottoman victory was confirmed. Serbian soldiers attempting to escape the camp also drowned in the Maritsa River. It is known that the Maritsa River turned red that night due to the flowing blood.
Results of the Battle of Chermen, 1371
With this success, Lala Şahin Pasha conquered places such as Serres, Drama, and Kavala. Additionally, some regions in Greece came under Ottoman rule. As a result of this victory, the Byzantine Empire, Serbia, and the Kingdom of Bulgaria recognized Ottoman dominion in the Balkans. Furthermore, the path for a campaign into Macedonia was opened for the Ottomans. On the other hand, as another testament to the victory, Serbia was forced to submit to the Ottoman Empire.
