The Ottoman armies are at first successful against a Hungarian-Serbian-Karaman alliance, but in 1441, Hunyadi, recently named governor (vajda) of Transylvania, leads an army of mainly Slavs and Magyars against advancing Turkish troops, winning the Battle of Semendria in 1441.

King Wladyslaw of Poland, who also rules Hungary and Bohemia as Ulászló I, to open a full-scale war against the Ottoman Empire.

The alliance having expanded to include German, Polish, and Albanian forces, Wladyslaw musters a large army, moves south across the Danube, and drives the Turks from Semendria.

Murad II wants revenge against Hunyadi, who had attacked the Ottomans in Serbia and gotten the better of Ishak Bey at the Battle of Smederevo, and gives the task to Mesid Bey in Transylvania.

Mesid Bey, whose army numbers seventeen thousand men, is joined by Shehabbedin Beylerbey of Rumelia.

His forces allegedly quadrupled Mesid's army, but may actually have just been equal to Mesid's forces.

Many are presumably not regular forces, but some are janissary and sipahi, or cavalry units.

Hunyadi's forces consist of Hungarian, Transylvanian and Saxon forces, with some Polish and Romanian soldiers.

The commander of the vanguard detachment is bishop György Lépes, who had been responsible for the outbreak of the Transylvanian peasant-revolt in 1437.

Hunyadi's forces number about ten thousand men.

Lépes' two thousand man force clash with Mesid near Sântimbru.

The Ottomans win by forces of numbers and Hunyadi is forced to retreat, but Mesid does not pursue him.

Lépes was taken prisoner and Mesid beheads the bishop.

Hunyadi's army regroups near Hermannstadt.

Simon Kamonyai, who has swapped his armor for Hunyadi's to deceive the Turks, is to execute a head-on attack, while Hunyadi goes around Mesid's army.

Kamonyai is killed in action, but Hunyadi charges Mesid with the Hungarian heavy cavalry and crushes the Turkish line.

Mesid is killed, while Shehabbedin escapes with the remaining Ottoman troops.

Hunyadi is able to ransom Lépes's head vy exchanging it for the heard of Mesid.

Pope Eugene IV issues an edict in 1442 prohibiting Jews from building synagogues, lending money for interest, holding public office, and testifying against Christians.

Following Hunyadi’s victory at Hermannstadt, Eugene had pledged the supporting crusade now joined by Wladyslaw.

Jewish leaders respond to the Pope’s edict by meeting in Tivoli and …

…Ravenna, but meet with no success; the edict causes Jews to move to other areas of Italy.

The Ottomans lose Nish (in present-day Serbia), and …

…Sofia to Hunyadi's forces.

Joining his forces to those of Ladislas, Hunyadi defeats the Ottoman army at the battle of Snaim (Kustinitza) in 1443.

Murad, his power in the Balkans broken by the European crusade led by Wladyslaw III of Hungary and Poland-Lithuania, is fearful of the potential for future losses.

Murad is believed to have had the greatest wish for peace.

Among other things, his sister has begged him to obtain the release of her husband Mahmud Bey, son-in-law of the Sultan and brother of the Grand Vizier Çandarlı Halil Pasha; his wife Mara, daughter of Serbian ruler Đurađ Branković, adds additional pressure.

On March 6, 1444, Mara had sent an envoy to Branković; their discussion had started the peace negotiations with the Ottoman Empire.

Władysław III of Poland sends a letter to Murad on April 24, 1444, stating that his ambassador, Stojka Gisdanić, is traveling to Edirne with full powers to negotiate on his behalf.

He asks that, once an agreement is reached, Murad send his own ambassadors with the treaty and his sworn oath to Hungary, at which point Wladyslaw could also swear.

This same day, Wladyslaw holds a Diet at Buda, where he swears before Cardinal Julian Cesarini to lead a new expedition against the Ottomans in the summer.

The strongest remaining supporter of Wladyslaw's claim for the throne also agrees to a truce, thus removing the danger of another civil war.

The increased influence of the Turkish notables at Murad's court lead the sultan to agree to the Peace of Edirne, by which Serbia is to regain its autonomy, Hungary is to keep Wallachia and Belgrade, and the Ottomans are to promise to end their raids north of the Danube.

Early negotiations result in the release of Mahmud Bey, who arrives in Edirne around early June 1444.

Wladyslaw's ambassador Stojka Gisdanić arrives soon after, along with, as required by a law signed by King Albert, the brilliant general John Hunyadi's representative Vitislav, and two representatives for Branković.

At the behest of Pope Eugene IV, the antiquarian Ciriaco Pizzicolli is also present to monitor the progress of crusade plans.

During the negotiations, the most contentious point is the possession of Danubian fortresses, especially Golubac and Smederevo, which the Ottomans wish to retain.

However, on June 12, 1444, after three days of discussion, the treaty is hastily completed because Ibrahim of Karaman has invaded Murad's lands in Anatolia.

The final terms state that Murad is to return twenty-four Serbian cities, including the large fortresses of Golubac and Smederevo, to the exiled Branković.

Murad is also obliged release Branković's two blinded sons, Grgur and Stefan.

The restored Serbian Despotate is vassalaged to the Ottomans, however, so has to pay taxes and offer military aid.

A ten-year truce is established with Hungary, and Vlad Dracul, Voivode of Wallachia, is no longer obliged to attend Murad's court, although he is still required to pay tribute.

Once Murad has sworn an oath to observe the treaty, it is sent to Hungary with Baltaoğlu Süleyman and a Greek, Vranas, for ratification by Wladyslaw, Hunyadi, and Branković.