- Stefan Branković
-
Stefan III Branković
Стефан III БранковићSerbian Despot
Stefan Branković from the Esphigmenou charter (1429)Reign January 19, 1458 - March 21, 1459 Serbian Стефан Бранковић Born c. 1417 Birthplace Belgrade Died October 9, 1476 Place of death Belgrade Castle near Udine Buried Kupinovo Predecessor Lazar Branković Successor Stephen Tomašević Consort Anđelina Komnena Offspring Đorđe Branković
Jovan BrankovićRoyal House House of Branković Father Đurađ Branković Mother Eirene Kantakouzene Religious beliefs Serbian Orthodox Stefan III Branković (Serbian Cyrillic: Стефан Бранковић; c. 1417 – 9 October 1476) was briefly the despot (ruler) of the Serbian Despotate between 1458 and 1459, member of the House of Branković. He is venerated as a saint by the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Contents
Family
Stefan and his relations are named in "Dell'Imperadori Constantinopolitani", a manuscript held in the Vatican Library. The document is also known as the "Massarelli manuscript" because it was found in the papers of Angelo Massarelli (1510–1566).[1] Masarelli is better known as the general secretary of the Council of Trent, who recorded the daily occurrings of the council.[2] The Massarelli manuscript names him as a son of Đurađ Branković and Eirene Kantakouzene. "The Byzantine Lady: Ten Portraits 1250-1500" (1994) by D. M. Nicol questioned his maternity, suggesting Đurađ had a prior marriage to a daughter of John IV of Trebizond. However his theory presented no sources and failed to take into account that John IV was born between 1395 and 1417. He would be unlikely to be a grandparent by the 1410s.[3]
On 11 September 1429, Đurađ made a donation to Esphigmenou Monastery at Mount Athos. The charter for the document names his wife Irene and five children. The Masarelli manuscript also names the same five children of Đurađ and Eirene. Other genealogies mention a sixth child, Todor Branković. He could be a child who died young and thus not listed with his siblings.[3] The oldest sibling listed in the Massarelli document was Grgur Branković. The 1429 document mentions him with the title of Despot. Grgur was appointed governor of territories of southern Serbia associated to the House of Branković[4]. He was reportedly appointed by Murad II of the Ottoman Empire in 1439. In April 1441, Grgur was accused of plotting against Murad and his governorship terminated. He was imprisoned in Amasya and blinded on 8 May 1441.</ref name=Fine> Grgur and his brothers co-signed a charter by which Đurađ confirmed the privileges to the Republic of Ragusa[5]. The charter was dated to 17 September 1445.[5] Grgur retired to a monastery under the monastic name "German".[6] According to Fine, Grgur resurfaced in 1458, claiming the succession of the vacant throne of Rascia for himself or his son.[7] The Massarelli manuscript mentioned Grgur as unwed. Later genealogies name his wife as "Jelisaveta". Vuk Grgurević, a son of Grgur, was later a titular Serbian despot (1471–1485). He was possibly an illegitimate.[3]
The Massarelli next names an older sister of Stefan, Mara Branković. She was one of the wives of Murad II.[8] Stefan himself is listed third. His younger sister is listed as Cantacuzina, the Latinized version of their mother's last name. Later genealogies give her name as Katarina. She married Ulrich II of Celje. The last and youngest sibling listed was Lazar Branković, successor to their father.[3]
Reign
According to Nicol, Stefan had become a citizen of the Republic of Venice. He was blinded alongside his brother Grgur in 1441.[3] Both blind brothers seem to have been omitted from considerations as possible heirs to their father. They could only claim the throne in 1458, since the death of Lazar left them the only male representatives of the Branković.
According to Fine, Stefan secured the throne by co-operating with his sister-in-law Helena Palaiologina, widow of Lazar. She was a daughter of Thomas Palaiologos, Ruler of Morea, and Catherine Zaccaria of the Principality of Achaea. Helena however arranged the marriage of one of her daughters to Stjepan Tomašević, prince of Bosnia. She thus managed to secure the throne for her new son-in-law.[9] Matthias Corvinus of Hungary and Stjepan Tomaš Kotromanić, King of Bosnia and father of Tomašević, dethroned Stefan on April 8, 1459. They crowned Stjepan Tomašević as his replacement.
When Serbia had been lost to Ottomans, Stefan's son Jovan led Serbian refugees in southern Hungary. There Jovan was finally recognized as Serbian Despot, with a principality called Raitzen.
Marriage and children
In 1461, Stefan married Angjelina Arianit Komneni, daughter of Albanian voivode of Shkodër and Durrës, Gjergj Arianit Komneni.[10] They had four or five children:[9]
- Jovan (d. 10 December 1502). Mentioned first in the Massarelli manuscript. Titular despot of the area of Raitzen, Kingdom of Hungary. Married Jelena Jaksić. She is mentioned as “Helena, Serbiæ despotissa” in a charted dated to 1502.
- Đorđe (d. 18 January 1516). Mentioned second in the Massarelli manuscript. Titular despot of the area of Raitzen, Kingdom of Hungary. Married Isabella del Balzo, daughter of Agilberto, Duke of Nardò. Later retired as a monk under the monastic name "Maxim". Resurfaced as Metropolitan of Ungro-Wallachia from 1508 to 1521. He also held the title of Archbishop of Belgrade.
- Irene. Mentioned third in the Massarelli manuscript. Considered to have died young.
- Marija (died 27 August 1495). Mentioned fourth and last in the Massarelli manuscript. Married Boniface III, Marquess of Montferrat (1424–1494, reign 1483–1494).
- Milica (died 30 January 1554). Not listed in the Massarelli manuscript, only later genealogies. Married Neagoe Basarab, Prince of Wallachia.
See also
References
- ^ Tony Hoskins, "Anglocentric medieval genealogy"
- ^ "The Archives: the past & the present", section "The Council of Trent"
- ^ a b c d e Profile of Đurađ and his children in "Medieval Lands" by Charles Cawley
- ^ Fine, J. V. A. (1994). The Late Medieval Balkans, A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest.
- ^ a b Miklošič, Franc (1858). Monumenta Serbica Spectantia Historiam Serbiae, Bosniae, Ragusii.
- ^ Detlev Schwennicke, "Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten" (1878), vol. 3, page 180
- ^ J. V. A. Fine, "The Late Medieval Balkans, A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest" (1994), page 574
- ^ Profile of Mara in "Medieval Lands" by Charles Cawley
- ^ a b Profile of Stefan and his children in "Medieval Lands" by Charles Cawley
- ^ Profile of the Araniti family in "Medieval Lands" by Charles Cawley
Regnal titles Preceded by
Lazar BrankovićSerbian Despot
1458-1459Succeeded by
Stjepan TomaševićMonarchs of Serbia 1st Serbian Principality 641–969 Unknown Archont · Višeslav · Radoslav · Prosigoj · Vlastimir · Mutimir · Pribislav · Petar · Pavle · Zaharija · Časlav · annexation, Duklja emerging as seat2nd Serbian Principality
(Duklja)998–1101 Jovan Vladimir · Stefan Vojislav · Mihailo I · Constantine Bodin · Rascia re-emerging as seat (Grand Principality of Serbia)Serbian Grand Principality 1101–1217Vukan · Uroš I · Uroš II · Beloš · Desa · Tihomir · Stefan Nemanja · Stefan II · Proclamation of KingdomSerbian Kingdom 1217–1346Stefan II · Stefan Radoslav · Stefan Vladislav I · Stefan Uroš I · Stefan Dragutin ( · Stefan Vladislav II at Syrmia) · Stefan Uroš II Milutin · Stefan Konstantin · Stefan Uroš III Dečanski · Stefan Uroš IV Dušan · Proclamation of EmpireSerbian Empire 1346–1371Serbian Lordship and Despotate 1371–1537Lazar · Stefan Lazarević · Đurađ Branković · Lazar Branković · Stefan Branković · Stefan Tomašević · Ottoman annexation, titular: · Vuk Grgurević · Đorđe Branković · Jovan Branković · Ivaniš Berislavić · Stevan Berislavić · Radič Božić · Pavle Bakić · Stefan Štiljanović · Ottoman annexationRevolutionary Serbia 1804–1837Principality of Serbia 1837–1882Miloš I · Milan II · Mihailo III · Aleksandar · Miloš I · Mihailo III · Milan IV · Proclamation of KingdomKingdom of Serbia 1882–1918Milan I · Alexander · Petar I · Proclamation of Kingdom of Yugoslavia · Proclamation of SFR YugoslaviaSerbian Orthodox Church Serbian Orthodox Church overview topics Overview topics See also Subdivisions of the Serbian Orthodox Church Metropolitanates Belgrade and Karlovci · Dabar-Bosnia · Montenegro and the Littoral · New Gracanica - Midwestern America · Zagreb and LjubljanaTraditional dioceses Bačka · Banat · Banja Luka · Bihać and Petrovac · Braničevo · Buda · Budimlje and Nikšić · Dalmatia · Upper Karlovac · Mileševa · Niš · Osečko polje and Baranja · Raška and Prizren · Šabac and Valjevo · Slavonia · Srem · Šumadija · Timişoara · Timok · Vranje · Zahumlje and Herzegovina · Žiča · Zvornik and TuzlaDiaspora dioceses Ohrid Archbishopric MetropolitanatesSkopjeDiocesesPrespa and Pelagonija · Bregalnica · Debar and Kičevo · Polog and Kumanovo · Veles and Povardarie · StrumicaSpiritual leaders of the Serbian Orthodox Church Archbishops (1219–1337) St. Sava · St. Arsenije I Sremac · St. Sava II · Danilo I · Joanikije I · St. Jevstatije I · St. Jakov · St. Jevstatije II · St. Sava III · St. Nikodim I · St. Danilo IIPatriarchs (since 1346) 1346–1463St. Joanikije II · Sava IV · St. Jefrem · St. Spiridon · Danilo III · Sava V · Danilo IV · St. Kirilo · St. Nikon · Teofan · Nikodim II · Arsenije II1557–1766St. Makarije Sokolović · Antonije Sokolović · Gerasim Sokolović · Savatije Sokolović · Nikanor · Jerotej · Filip · Jovan · Pajsije I Janjevac · St. Gavrilo I Rajić · Maksim Skopljanac · Arsenije III Čarnojević · Kalinik I Skopljanac · Atanasije I · Mojsije Rajović · Arsenije IV Jovanović Šakabenta · Joanikije III Karadža-Grk · Atanasije II Gavrilović · Gavrilo II Sarajevac · Gavrilo III · Vikentije Stefanović · Pajsije II Grk · Gavrilo IV Grk · Kirilo II · Vasilije Jovanović-Brkić · Kalinik II Grksince 1920Metropolitans and Patriarchs of Karlovci (1690–1920) Arsenije III Čarnojević · Isaija Đaković · Sofronije Podgoričanin · Vikentije Popović · Mojsije Petrović · Vićentije Jovanović · Arsenije IV Jovanović Šakabenta · Isaija Antonović · Pavle Nenadović · Jovan Đorđević · Vićentije Jovanović Vidak · Mojisije Putnik · Stefan Stratimirović · Stefan Stanković · Josif Rajačić · Samuilo Maširević · Prokopije Ivačković · German Anđelić · Georgije Branković · Lukijan BogdanovićMetropolitans of Belgrade (1801–1920) Leontije Lambrović · Agatanel · Antim · Melentije Pavlović · Petar Jovanović · Mihailo Jovanović · Teodosije Mraović · Inokentije Pavlović · Dimitrije PavlovićMetropolitans of Montenegro (1484–1920) Visarion · Vavila · Roman · German · Romu · Vasilije · Makarije · Dionisije · Romil · Pahomije · Đerasim · Venijamin · Stefan · Rufim I · Mardarije · Pajsije · Rufim II · Visarion Borilović-Bajica · Sava Očinić · Danilo · Sava · Vasilije · Arsenije Plamenac · Petar I · Petar II · Danilo II · Nikanor Ivanović · Ilarion Roganović · Visarion Ljubiša · Mitrofan BanSerbian Orthodox monasteries Serbia Bukovo · Ćelije · Crna Reka · Đurđevi stupovi · Gornjak · Gradac · Kalenić · Kastaljan · Koporin · Ljubostinja · Manasija · Mileševa · Nimnik · Pokajnica · Prohor Pčinjski · Pustinja · Rača · Rajinovac · Ravanica · Rukumija · St. Nicholas · Sopoćani · Studenica · Suvodol · Tronoša · Tuman · Vitovnica · Zemun · ŽičaBeočin · Bešenovo · Divša · Grgeteg · Jazak · Krušedol · Kuveždin · Mala Remeta · Novo Hopovo · Privina Glava · Petkovica · Rakovac · Staro Hopovo · Šišatovac · Velika Remeta · Vrdnik-RavanicaOthersMontenegro Bosnia and Herzegovina Bišnja · Dobrićevo · Dobrun · Duži · Glogovac · Gomionica · Hercegovačka Gračanica · Klisina · Knežina · Krupa · Liplje · Lomnica · Lovnica · Moštanica · Ozren · Papraća · Petropavlov · Sase · Stuplje · Svetog Arhangela Gavrila · Svetog Nikole · Svetog Vasilija Ostroškog · Tavna · Tvrdoš · Uspenja BogorodičinogCroatia Others List of Serbian Orthodox monasteries Serbian Orthodox churches Belgrade Central Serbia Saint Achillius Church · Church of Peter · Pećinska church
Vojvodina Kosovo Montenegro Bosnia and Herzegovina Croatia Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Lord · St. Petka's ChurchUnited States Saints Constantine and Helen Serbian Orthodox Church
Serbian saints St. Angelina · St. Basil of Ostrog · St. Danilo II · St. Hélène d'Anjou · St. Jovan Vladimir · St. Prince Lazar / St. Princess Milica · St. Nikodim I · St. Nikolaj Velimirović · St. Peter of Cetinje · St. Sava · St. Sava II · St. Simeon the Monk · St. Simeon the Myrrh-flowing · St. Stefan Lazarević · St. Stefan Štiljanović · St. Stefan Uroš · St. Stephen of Dečani · St. Stefan the Blind · St. Stephen of Piperi · St. Vladislav · St. Vukašin
Categories:- 1417 births
- 1476 deaths
- 15th-century Serbian monarchs
- House of Branković
- Orthodox monarchs
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.