Today in history, on September 25, 1396, a major military encounter with Islam that demonstrated just how disunited Christendom had become took place. In 1394, the Ottoman Turks "were doing great injury to Hungary," causing its young king, Sigismund, to appeal "to Christendom for assistance." That appeal came at an opportune time. The hitherto quarreling English and French had made peace in 1389, and a "crusade against the Turks furnished a desirable outlet for the noble instincts of the Western chivalry." Matters were further settled once "men of all kinds" — pilgrims, laymen, and clerics returning from the Holy Land...