How Did Serbia Contribute To The Demise Of The Ottoman Empire?

Deemed one of the largest and most powerful empires, the Ottoman Empire spanned over six centuries; controlling most of Western Asia, North Africa, and Southeastern Europe at its height. On the contrary, the Serbian Empire was at a rapid decline. Serbia was reeling from the negligent rule of Emperor Stefan Uros IV Dusan’s successor; his son Stefan Uros V. Stefan Uros V’s lack of governing and resolution ultimately led to his demise in 1371. This at the time made Serbia’s vulnerability a considerable advantage to the rising and readily approaching Ottoman Turks. These two forces would soon collide and leave behind a path of mass destruction as a seventy year battle commenced on June 28, 1389, at the notable Field of Blackbirds. While seeming minute and overlooked in comparison to other tenacious battles fought during the Late Middle Ages, the Battle of Kosovo played a pivotal role in preserving Christianity in Europe.
Prior to combat, the Ottomans expanded quickly against the Byzantines, defeating them and capturing various Byzantine towns. Under their Sultan, Murat I, the Ottoman advance into Europe was swift and effective. The defeat of the Serbian despots of Macedonia, Vlkasin, and Uglesa, at the Battle of Cirmen on the Maritsa River in 1371 opened the way into the Balkans. The Ottomans took Philippopolis, Zagora, and, what was believed to be much of Bulgaria. The czardom of Turnovo, too, fell under Ottoman sovereignty, and Serbia and Bosnia subsequently came under Ottoman