the suffering christ 772 valiant king of Poland and Hungary whose example is appropriate to illustrate the deed of [our] Lord. As it was, Vladislaus broke the peace treaty with the Turks, on account both of the advice and the authority of the Roman Pontiff, obedience to whom he considered to be his most holy duty. He caused and made war against those who were pillaging Europe anew. He recovered much [from them], and also regained entire kingdoms. He succeeded in the battle line several times. Finally, the sultan gathered the strength of the entire Orient and crossed the sea on the ships of Christian merchants (what a shame! let’s not name this stingy nation that provided him with the ships). The sultan stopped Vladislaus who was on his way to Asia with a most victorious army, in the Caucasus mountains. There, the fighting was the fiercest: The enemies were cut down, and all the horses were flung into the most disorderly flight. Only the foot soldiers protected the sultan (there was, at that time, the glory of the Turkish military, which we call the Janissaries, grown full of power). For Vladislaus, intent upon completely destroying them, attacked with the most chivalrous spirit. John Hunyadi, the leader of the Hungarian army, seeing the most evident danger threatening the king, besought him many times to return to camp. However, disregarding death for the defense of the Christian people, he [Vladislaus] said boldly: “It is a shameful thing to draw back from the advancing war; I sacrifice my life and blood willingly and with pleasure for the defense of the most holy Faith and the protection of my kingdoms.”18 He said this and then fought with great bravery; he was among the first to be killed. This king’s piety is great and worthy of the catalogue of the saints, and his great love of Hungary deserves perpetual recognition. But this is only a shadow in comparison to the eternal Sun [meaning Christ]. For He raised His enemies crushed to the ground; He gave them a chance to arrest Him. He did not let Peter force into flight His captors who were binding His holy hands. By a severe rebuke, He restrained Peter who was attacking 18 Cf. Halecki, Oskar, Storia della Polonia, Roma 1996, pp. 122-124.
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