In 1440 John Hunyadi became the trusted adviser and most highly regarded soldier of king Władysław III of Poland.

The first engagement was a battle against a small garrison in Nish and the Crusaders captured, pillaged, and burned the town.

[13] Ottoman forces were led by Kasım Pasha, the beglerbeg of Rumelia, Turahan Beg and Ishak-Beg.

[14] After the Ottoman defeat, the retreating forces of Kasım Pasha and Turahan Beg burned all of the villages between Nish and Sofia.

[16] According to Chalcocondyles, "Weary after Hunyadi forced the Ottomans to retreat in the Balkans in 1443, the old lords hurried on all sides to regain possession of their fathers' fields".