Fall of the Tsardom of Vidin

In 1396, King Sigismund I of Hungary decided to organise a crusade against the Ottoman Turks. During this campaign, when his army reached Vidin, Ivan Sratsimir opened the fortress gates to the crusaders with King Sigismund's agreement. He handed the Ottoman garrison over to Sigismund and actively assisted the crusaders, hoping to free himself from Ottoman tutelage. Despite this gesture of support, the Christian army was routed by Sultan Bayezid I at the Battle of Nicopolis on 25 September of the same year. After this victory, Sultan Bayezid I marched towards Vidin to deal with Ivan Sratsimir.

Ivan Sratsimir appeared before the sultan, expressing his submission and relying on promises of a pardon. Instead, Bayezid I ordered him to be put in chains and taken to Bursa. Ivan Sratsimir's subsequent fate is unknown; suggestions range from strangulation to spending the rest of his life in a dungeon. It is accepted that, with the fall of the Tsardom of Vidin, Bulgaria finally fell under Ottoman rule.