Kingmaker

by Peter Darman Book 6 in the Alpine Warrior series.

First published 2024

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4.5(909)

In 1456 Leon Muller is at the height of his military power in Wallachia, but his position is increasingly dangerous. His relationship with Prince Vlad Dracula has deteriorated, rival rulers distrust the independence of his army, and the Ottoman advance under Mehmed II threatens Hungary itself.

The crisis draws Leon into the defence of Belgrade alongside John Hunyadi. With western support limited and the Ottoman army vastly stronger on paper, the defenders must hold the fortress and then exploit any opportunity to break the siege. Victory would secure Hungary's southern approaches, but it cannot solve the political problem created by Leon's own success. The novel makes the Siege of Belgrade the decisive test of a commander who has learned that every battlefield triumph gives princes another reason to fear him.