In The Ottoman Threat and Crusading on the Eastern Border of Christendom during the Fifteenth Century Liviu Pilat and Ovidiu Cristea focus on less-known aspects of the later crusades in Eastern Europe, examining the ideals of holy war and political pragmatism. They analyze the Ottoman threat and crusading as political themes through a unifying vision based in the political realities of the fifteenth century and the complex relationship between crusading, Ottoman expansion, and the political interests of the Christian states in the region. Approaching the relationship between the borders of Christendom and crusading as a highly complex phenomenon, Pilat and Cristea introduce new elements to the image of Latin Christendom's frontier from the perspective of Catholic-Orthodox relations, frontier ideology, and crusading rhetoric in political propaganda.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements List of Maps and Illustrations Introduction  The Sources  Ottoman Threat and Crusading  Frontier Societies and the Eastern Border of Christendom  Crusading, Information and Propaganda 1 Crusade and Commercial Hegemony in the Black Sea from the Fourth Crusade to the Ottoman Conquest  The Fourth Crusade and its Consequences in the Black Sea Area  The Genoese Hegemony in the Black Sea, the Venetian Reaction and the Crusade  The Hungarian—Venetian Rivalry and the Ottoman Threat  From the “War of Tenedos” to the Crusade of Nicopolis  Kilia as an Outpost in Hungary’s Crusading Projects 2 The Eastern Border and the Struggle for Supremacy in the Northern Black Sea  Ottoman Threat, Christian Solidarity and Political Rivalry  The Eastern Border in Sigismund of Luxembourg’s Plans  Ottoman Threat and Crusading in Jagiello’s Policy  Witold’s Ambition to Control North-Western Black Sea  A Failed Anti-Ottoman Campaign  The Eastern Border and the Teutonic Knights  Schismatics, Heretics and Crusaders 3 The Union of Florence, Crusade and Ottoman Hegemony in the Black Sea  The Fail of the Union in Eastern Europe  Crusade Plans and Political Contradictions  John Hunyadi, Kilia and the Fall of Constantinople  The Eastern Border of Christendom, Mehmed II and the Byzantine Legacy  Crusading Versus Economic Interests 4 Crusade and Political Propaganda in the Last Years of Mehmed II  The Crusade of Pope Sixtus IV  A Schismatic Crusader  Diplomatic Actions of Venice  A Great Christian Victory  Matthias Corvinus Propaganda  A Plan of the Annihilation of Mehmed II and the Fall of Caffa  Moldavia the “Gateway of Christendom”  The Campaign of Mehmed II in Moldavia  One Battle, More Victories  A New Crusade Plan: Reconquest of Caffa  The Crusade of Otranto and its Eastern Implications 5 The Eastern Border of Christendom and the Ottoman Conquest of Black Sea  The Ottoman Campaign of 1484 and Venetian Intelligence  Ottoman Threat Ascending  Ottoman Pressure and Crusading in Poland  A Failed Crusade Expedition  The Eastern Border and the Congress of Rome  Coalition against Jagiellons 6 The Crusade against Ottomans and the Political Backdrop in East-Central Europe at the End of the Fifteenth Century  The “Crusade” of Jan Olbracht  Crusade Rhetoric and Political Propaganda  Crusade Rumours in Venice and Ottoman Propaganda  New Plans of Crusade  Between Crusade and the Defence of the Greek-Orthodox Faith  Discussions on Crusade in Muscovy  The Peace Conclusion Bibliography Index