Until the Battle of Zlatica, crusaders had not meet a major Ottoman army, only town garrisons along their route toward Adrianople. Only at Zlatica they met strong and well-positioned defence forces of the Ottoman army. The severe winter cold weather favored the position of the Ottoman defenders. The Ottoman forces were commanded by Kasim Pasha. The crusaders intended to continue their advance toward Adrianople through the forests of Sredna Gora. When they reached Zlatica, they were unable to continue their advance because the pass was blocked by the very strong Ottoman army, the weather was bitterly cold, it was very hard for them to obtain regular supplies of their forces and Ottoman forces of Kasim Pasha repeatedly attacked them.