Serbia, Bulgaria, and the Roman Empire are the main forces in the Balkans in the 1345.

Constantinople, though powerful, is in a state of decline, with an ongoing civil war between emperors John V Palaiologos and John VI Kantakouzenos, although in 1345, the tide begins to turn toward the latter.

The Zealot commune in Thessalonica enters a more radical phase.

Stefan Uroš IV Dušan of Serbia proclaims himself Tsar of the new Serbian Empire and continues his efforts at expansion, quickly conquering Albania and other surrounding areas within the year.

Turks clash with Greeks, Serbs, and Cypriots at sea and in the islands of Chios and Imbros.

The Empire's precarious situation at this time is evidenced by the fact that they do not have enough soldiers to protect their own borders, but hire mercenaries from the Serbs and the Ottoman Turks.