July 29, 1456 (Ilok)
As news of the events of Belgrade spread, Juan Carvajal’s duties shifted from coordinating the defense of Belgrade (see documents 3.4, 3.6, 3.7, and 3.8) to finding the best way to capitalize on the surprising victory. To that end, he wrote this letter to Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan. Born the illegitimate son of a farmer, Francesco soon built a reputation as a bold fighter and came to be called Sforza, “the strong one.” After his marriage to the daughter of Filippo Maria Visconti, Duke of Milan, he inherited the title of duke in 1450. As the head of one of the largest and most wealthy dominions in Italy, he was easily among the most important figures to help organize any effort to continue the fight after Belgrade. Carvajal sent the letter from Ilok (in modern Croatia), where an ailing John of Capistrano would soon arrive to spend his last days. The letter succinctly captures a crucial strategic moment – and one as fleeting as it was important – in late July and early August.
Source: Trans. J. Mixson, from L. Thallóczy and A. Antal, eds., Codex diplomaticus partium regno Hungariae adnexarum, Monumenta Hungariae Historica 33 (Budapest: Magyar Tudományos Akadémia, 1907), 2: 210–11.
To the most serene prince and magnificent lord, Lord F[rancesco] Sforza, Duke of Milan, etc., our most distinguished father and friend:
Most serene prince and magnificent lord, on the day of Saint Mary Magdalene the Turk fought to gain the fortress of Belgrade through the many breaches in the wall that he had made with his cannons. He was driven back beyond the ramparts that protected the cannons, which were captured by the Catholics, and he was forced to withdraw his camp farther back from the place. And on this same night he burned certain instruments designed to carry and move the cannons as well as the ships which he had deployed on the Danube. He retreated so that in the morning not a Turk could be seen in the camps, only the bodies of the dead. This is all the work of the hand of God. The governor [Hunyadi] was there, about whose excellence and prudence not enough can be said. But he only had a few of his people with him, [and] the crusaders who fought [with him] were poor [commoners]. Brother John of Capistrano was there, who called to Jesus, and was heard. If the Turk had waited until the tenth of August, given the multitude of people that came before and after me, even if he had had double the army he would not have escaped! But the lord governor could not pursue him because he did not have horses, and the crusaders were all on foot. The knightly and noble crusaders have not yet arrived, though they have been called. On Sunday I will discuss further with the lord governor and other barons about how best to proceed in this matter, and what is decided there I will pass along to Your Most Illustrious Lordship, whom God may see fit to preserve.
From Ilok near the Danube, July 29 in the year, etc. ’56.