Despite receiving military aid from Croato-Hungarian king Louis the Angevin, Zadar was unable to resist the siege and was finally defeated.

The siege resulted from the long-term complex political relations between the City of Zadar and the Republic of Venice as well as from the change of policy of the Croato-Hungarian ruler after the young Louis of Angevin ascended the throne in 1342.

The king wished to maintain full control over the territory of the Kingdom of Croatia, including cities and towns of Dalmatia, most of which were in the hands of the Venetians.

In late springtime the King's forces attacked the Venetian fortress (bastida) built near Zadar at the beginning of the siege, but without success.

He was about to be defeated by his opponent for the crown, Sigismund the Luxemburgian, and took the opportunity to sell his "regal rights" over Dalmatia for the sum of 100,000 ducats.