The Battle of Vaslui, fought in January 1475, was a significant engagement between the forces of Stephen III of Moldavia and the invading Ottoman Empire led by Grand Vizier Maraşal. At the time, Moldavia was situated at the crossroads of Eastern Europe, and Stephen III, known for his relentless resistance against Ottoman encroachments, was keen to maintain Moldavia's autonomy. The Ottomans aimed to subdue Moldavia as part of their broader campaign to expand their territory and influence in the region. Stephen employed innovative tactics to leverage his numerical disadvantage, as his forces were approximately 40,000 strong, compared to the significantly larger Ottoman army, which was reportedly over 100,000 troops strong.The battle unfolded over several skirmishes, where Stephen utilized the natural landscape to his advantage, ambushing Ottoman forces and creating confusion among their ranks. The Moldavian army’s morale, bolstered by their knowledge of the terrain and the fierce leadership of Stephen, played a crucial role in their success. Despite being outnumbered, the Moldavians exhibited extraordinary discipline and combat effectiveness. The turning point of the battle came when the Moldavian forces launched a surprise counter-attack, decisively breaking the Ottoman ranks. This victory not only demonstrated Stephen's military prowess but also significantly hindered Ottoman ambitions in the area at that time.