Source: https://old.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/1i81kv0/the_balkans_and_anatolia_in_the_year_1444/
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My new map of the Balkans and Anatolia in the year 1444 in the size of 13,981x9,752. 🗺️✨
More info on my social media! https://heylink.me/stefan74
In 1444, the Balkans were a region of significant conflict and transformation. The Ottoman Empire, under Sultan Murad II, was expanding its influence, while Christian kingdoms, including Hungary and Poland, sought to resist Ottoman encroachment. This period culminated in the Battle of Varna on November 10, 1444, where Ottoman forces achieved a decisive victory over the Christian army, leading to the further consolidation of Ottoman power in the Balkans. ⚔️🏰 Encyclopedia Britannica
During this time, many parts of the Balkans were under the rule of Venetian, Hungarian, or Orthodox powers. Strategic cities like Belgrade, Skopje, and Sofia emerged as key centers of influence, marking the crossroads of East and West in this turbulent era. 🌍💥 EGO | Europäische Geschichte Online
In Anatolia, the Ottoman Empire had firmly established its control, unifying the region and strengthening its central authority. Sultan Murad II’s reign marked a period of significant consolidation, laying the foundation for future Ottoman expansion into the Balkans and beyond. The empire’s dominance over Anatolia provided the stability and resources needed for its military campaigns, including incursions into Southeast Europe that would dramatically reshape the political landscape of the region. 🏛️💪
The Ottoman control over Anatolia in 1444 was pivotal in enabling the empire to project its influence and power, setting the stage for its future expansion across the Mediterranean and into the heart of Europe. 🌍🚀
if i am not mistaken, the genoese colonies in the black sea were a mix of conquest and purchase following the fourth crusade and the consequent fall of eastern roman power in the region, with the purpose of dominating trade, going from the black sea to the aegean islands (such as mytilene, on the map) onwards to liguria
as for theodoro, it was a monarchical city state that popped up from the break up of the golden horde trying to put it in a simple manner, after the fourth crusade, theodoro exchanged hands a couple of times, but every time the hold over it was weaker and weaker, which led to the city mantaining eastern roman law and practices and, eventually, independence, kind of making it an eastern roman rump state theodoro was also notable for its large gothic population, which survived as a distinct ethnicity up until roughly the 18th century
pretty sure tana is not modern azov city, as google maps shows the ruins of the former several kilometers north of azov