On This Day in 1456 Hungary Saved Europe (At Least for a While) - or - Why Do Church Bells Toll Every Day at Noon?

Sándor Wágner - The Self-Sacrifice of Titusz Dugovics

Today marks the anniversary of the Seige of Nándorfehérvár (also known as the Seige of Belgrade.) In 1453, the Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople and ushered in the end of the Byzantine Empire. After sacking Constantinople, the Turks turned their eyes toward conquering Europe. They initiated a campaign up the Balkans and sought to crush the Kingdom of Hungary before continuing their jihad against the rest of Christian Europe. Luckily for Europe, the Magyars decided to put up a fight. 

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