The Battle of Nicopolis took place on September 25, 1396, near the town of Nicopolis in present-day Bulgaria. It was a significant conflict between a coalition of European forces, including the Kingdom of Hungary and the Kingdom of France, and the Ottoman Empire, led by Sultan Bayezid I. The battle aimed to halt Ottoman expansion into Europe. The European forces, numbering around 20,000, were ultimately defeated by the Ottomans, who had a smaller but well-coordinated army. This defeat marked a turning point, as it solidified Ottoman control in the region and discouraged further European military campaigns against them for several years.