Atlas of Battles

battle, landmark, medieval

Battle of Kosovo

Battle of Kosovo was a battle fought on 28 June 1389 at Kosovo Field, in what is now Kosovo. It was part of the Ottoman Wars in Europe, which ran from 1354 to 1683. The recorded result: Inconclusive. Recorded strength: 27,000–30,000; higher estimates up to 40,000 against 12,000–20,000; higher estimates up to 25,000.

See it on the globe Read the article

Painting of the Battle of Kosovo, dated 1870, by Adam Stefanović. Prince Lazar is seen dying with his horse.
Painting of the Battle of Kosovo, dated 1870, by Adam Stefanović. Prince Lazar is seen dying with his horse.. Adam Stefanović, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought28 June 1389
WhereKosovo Field, Kosovo42.630N, 21.120E
OutcomeInconclusive
BelligerentsOttoman Empire; Beylik of IsfendiyaragainstMoravian Serbia; District of Branković; Kingdom of Bosnia; Principality of Muzaka; Jonima Family
Part ofOttoman Wars in Europe1354 to 1683

Where it sits in the Ottoman Wars in Europe

Battle of Sırp Sındığı, 1364Battle of Pločnik, 1385Battle of Savra, 1385Battle of Kosovo, 1389Siege of Ohrid, 1395Battle of Tripolje, 1402Siege of Novo Brdo, 1440Battle of Hermannstadt, 1442Battle of Pollog, 1453Battle of Kruševac, 1454Siege of Berat, 1455Battle of Albulena, 1457Battle of Ohrid, 1464Battle of Meçad, 1465Battle of Vaikal, 1465Siege of Krujë, 1467Siege of Krujë, 1467Siege of Rhodes, 1480Battle of Krbava Field, 1493Battle of Dubica, 1513Siege of Knin, 1522Siege of Rhodes, 15221552 Siege of Eger, 1552Siege of Temesvár, 1552Siege of Szigetvár, 1566Léva castle's duel, 1581Battle of Slunj, 1584Siege of Bihać, 1592Battle of Brest, 1592Battle of Vezekény, 1652Battle of Petrovaradin, 1716Battle of Tendra, 1790Battle of Lopate, 1796Battle of Kolašin, 1858Battle of Tashkessen, 187713641877Battle of Kosovo, 1389
35 placed engagements of the Ottoman Wars in Europe in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date28 June 1389
PlaceKosovo Field, Kosovo
42.630N, 21.120E
KindBattle, medieval
Strength27,000–30,000; higher estimates up to 40,00012,000–20,000; higher estimates up to 25,000
Casualties and lossesVery heavy
Commanders
  • Lazar of Serbia
  • Vuk Branković
  • Vlatko Vuković
Battle of KosovoBattle of KosovoBattle of KosovoBattle of TripoljeSiege of Novo BrdoSiege of Novo BrdoBattle of PantinaBattle of KosovoBattle of PantinaSofiaSkopjePodgoricaNišShkodërPecKyustendilPrizren100 km42.630N, 21.120E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

The ground today

Relief of the ground around the site of Battle of Kosovo
Relief within about 10.0 km of the site, contours every 25 m. Copernicus DEM GLO-30, ESA.
Satellite view of the site of Battle of Kosovo today
The same ground from Sentinel-2 on 2025-08-10. Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025.

The recorded site stands at about 552 m; within 10.0 km the ground runs from 503 to 730 m, 227 m of relief, hilly country and today it is 51% cropland, 34% built-up, 11% grassland.

cropland: 51%built-up: 34%grassland: 11%tree cover: 2%cropland 51%built-up 34%grassland 11%tree cover 2%
west to east, 10.0 km532 to 659 mnorth to south, 10.0 km551 to 599 m
Elevation from the Copernicus DEM GLO-30 (ESA, Airbus); land cover from ESA WorldCover 2021 (CC BY 4.0), within about 5 km of the recorded site. Computed, not recorded.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1389

Battle of Kosovo is one of 566 engagements of the 14th century in the atlas and one of 7 in present-day Kosovo.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q179288, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Kosovo, revision 1382317670, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.