As King Matthias Corvinus, the ruler of Hungary and Croatia, hurried back to the Danube with his battle-ready forces, the aged Roman Emperor Antonius I Ritsios was already positioned, awaiting his arrival. The Roman forces had established a strategic encampment around the city of Vidin, with their artillery units strategically placed on the higher grounds overlooking the banks of the Danube. Meanwhile, King Stephen Tomašević of Bosnia and Serbia, present without an army, had been ushered into the castle for negotiations, leaving the Hungarians in the dark about the discussions taking place.