League of Lezhë
74-661: Skanderbeg's Rebellion (1443–1468) Contemporaneous Campaigns (1447–1462) Resistance until the Fall of Shkodra (1468–1479) The Battle of Kosovo took place on 15 June 1389 between an army led by the Serbian Prince Lazar Hrebeljanović and an invading army of the Ottoman Empire under the command of Sultan Murad Hüdavendigâr . The battle was fought on the Kosovo field in
148-600: A betrayer of the Christians. Lazarević's success as an Ottoman vassal was such that eventually his lands encompassed a territory bigger than his father's and matched the territories of the Nemanjic dynasty in the 13th century. After Mehmed 's death in 1421, Lazarević was one of the vassals who strongly supported the coalition against the future Mehmed the Conqueror who ultimately prevailed. This move led Mehmed to punish
222-555: A popular Serbian folk tradition (represented in folk epic poems and tales) that he betrayed Lazar in order to become supreme ruler of Serbia, a theory that is rejected by modern-day Serbian historians but not by the Serb people. Despite the consensus of modern historiography in Serbia that Vuk Branković was not a traitor in the Battle of Kosovo in 1389, Momčilo Spremić emphasized that there
296-617: Is a possibility that Vuk really betrayed his Serbian allies. After the Battle of Kosovo, Vuk refused to become an Ottoman vassal (unlike prince Stefan Lazarević , son of prince Lazar, who became an Ottoman vassal in late 1389) and started to plan anti-Ottoman action together with the Hungarian king Sigismund. However, Vuk was unable to resist the Ottomans for long. In 1392, they captured Skopje and forced Vuk to become their vassal and pay tribute. Even after that, Vuk showed some resistance to
370-505: Is celebrated on June 28 and is an important Serbian national and religious holiday as a memorial day for the Battle of Kosovo. Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan "the Mighty" (r. 1331–55) was succeeded by his son Stefan Uroš V "the Weak" (r. 1355–71), whose reign was characterized by the decline of central power and the rise of numerous virtually independent principalities; this period is known as
444-570: Is improbable that Lazar commanded a broad coalition composed of Albanians, Bulgarians, Czechs, Hungarians, Germans and Vlachs, in addition to his and Vuk Branković’s armies and reinforcements from Bosnia. Daniel Waley says that next to nothing can be said with assurance about numbers and multi-ethnic composition of both armies. A group of crusaders linked to the Knights of Rhodes , led by John of Palisna , has been suggested as participants on Lazar's side by Croatian historian Neven Budak , who quotes in
518-474: Is less information about Lazar's preparations, he gathered his troops near Niš , on the right bank of the South Morava . His forces likely remained there until he learned that Murad had moved to Velbužd, whereupon he moved across Prokuplje to Kosovo. This was the best place he could choose as a battlefield, as it gave him control of all the routes that Murad could take. The historiographical examination of
592-552: The Archbishop of Ohrid and clerics and boyars of Ohrid Archbishopric together with considerable number of Christian citizens of Ohrid were expatriated by sultan to Istanbul in 1466 because of their anti-Ottoman activities during Skanderbeg 's rebellion. Skanderbeg's rebellion was also supported by Greeks in the Morea. According to Fan Noli , the most reliable counselor of Skanderbeg was Vladan Jurica . Himara also supported
666-507: The Battle of Nicopolis , where Vuk Branković another Serbian magnate who ruled in parts of Kosovo had joined the anti-Ottoman coalition. As a reward for his contribution to the Ottoman victory, Lazarević was given a large part of Branković's lands. Branković himself died as an Ottoman prisoner, although in all later "Kosovo myth" narratives first created by Stefan Lazarević, he is portrayed as
740-609: The Principality of Serbia signed a secret alliance ; in 1914 the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was carried out by the Serbian Gavrilo Princip (although a coincidence that his visit fell on that day, Vidovdan added nationalist symbolism to the event); in 1921 King Alexander I of Yugoslavia proclaimed the Vidovdan Constitution ; in 1989, on the 600th anniversary of
814-595: The fall of the Serbian Empire . Uroš V was neither able to sustain the great empire created by his father nor repulse foreign threats and limit the independence of the nobility; he died childless in December 1371, after much of the Serbian nobility had been destroyed by the Ottomans in the Battle of Maritsa earlier that year. Prince Lazar , ruler of the northern part of the former empire (of Moravian Serbia ),
SECTION 10
#1732779481551888-500: The Battle of Niš, while fighting against the crusaders of John Hunyadi. Skanderbeg quit the field along with 300 other Albanians serving in the Ottoman army. He immediately led his men to Krujë, where he arrived on November 28, and by the use of a forged letter from Sultan Murad to the Governor of Krujë he became lord of the city. To reinforce his intention of gaining control of the former domains of Zeta, Skanderbeg proclaimed himself
962-685: The Italian Chronicles Annales Forolivienses , " Domino Johanne Banno cum Crucesignatis " (Ban John with those marked by a cross). According to Budak, " Domine Johanne Bano " probably refers to John of Palisna the Ban of Croatia, but the writer of the Chronicles could have been honouring someone who was no longer a ban , such as John Horvat . British historian and Hospitaller scholar Anthony Luttrell disputes Budak’s assumption that " crucesignati " means
1036-666: The Knights Hospitaller, stating, “Hospitallers wore a cross but technically were not crusaders or crucesignati , how the author of the Annales Forolivienses understood the term is uncertain.” Budak himself suggests that the term could simply designate warriors who marked a cross on their clothing, a customary practice before going to war against infidels. Both armies contained soldiers of various origins. Contemporary Greek authors list among participants Northern Albanians, those of Himarë , Epirus and
1110-1402: The League. After Skanderbeg's death Ivan and his brother Gjok Balsha , together with Leke, Progon and Nicholas Dukagjini , continued to fight for Venice. In 1432 Andrew Thopia revolted against his Ottoman overlords ... inspired other Albanian chiefs, in particular George Arianite (Araniti) ... The revolt spread ... from region of Valona up to Skadar ... At this time, though summoned home by his relatives ... Skanderbeg did nothing, he remained ... loyal to sultan Мада ниједан савремени млетачки документ не помиње овај скуп, сви старији и многи новији историчари прихватили су Барлецијеве вести не придајући им, разуме се, исти значај. die Skanderbegs Personlichkeit gelassen hatte, nicht zu füllen. Deshalb muste Venedig wie in den Jahrzehnten vor Skanderbeg mit einer Vielzahl von Adligen zusammenarbeiten; neben Leka, Progon und Nikola Dukagjin gehörten zu dieser Schicht auch Comino Araniti, wohl derselbe, der 1466 Durazzo überfallen hatte; die Söhne von Juani Stexi, di Johann Balsha, Machthaber zwischen Alessio und Kruja; Gojko Balsha und seine söhne der woiwode Jaran um Kruja (1477), und auch der mit seinem Erbe überforderte Johann Kastriota. Vuk Brankovi%C4%87 Vuk Branković ( Serbian Cyrillic : Вук Бранковић , pronounced [ʋûːk brǎːnkoʋit͡ɕ] , 1345 – 6 October 1397)
1184-520: The Ottoman Empire and established the League of Lezhë . The coalition would go on to successfully fight the Ottoman forces up until 1479, after which it was dissolved. After Skanderbeg's death in 1468, the league would continue fighting under Lekë Dukagjini . Skanderbeg's revolt represented a reaction by sections of local society and feudal lords against the loss of privilege and the exactions of
1258-585: The Ottoman Turks. Perceptions about the Battle of Kosovo in Serbian public discourse changed and were "harnessed in earnest in the rise of Serbian nationalism during the 19th century" and acquired new meanings in the context of the Greater Serbia nationalist project. Many of the elements which came to be seen later in Serbian discourse as crucial elements of Serbian tradition appear to have entered
1332-486: The Ottoman feudal hierarchy. Consequently, some of the Serbian principalities that were not already Ottoman vassals became so in the following years. These feudal lords – including the daughter of Prince Lazar – formed marriage ties with the new Sultan Bayezid. In the wake of these marriages, Stefan Lazarević , Lazar's son, became a loyal ally of Bayezid, and contributed significant forces to many of Bayezid's future military engagements, including
1406-457: The Ottoman government which they resented. Because of the frequent conflicts between rival families in Albania during Skanderbeg's rebellion, particularly between Skanderbeg and Lekë Dukagjini , Albanian studies scholar Robert Elsie described the period as more of an Albanian civil war. However, Skanderbeg reconciled with Lekë in 1453 and re-allied with Gjergj Arianiti in 1456. In Albania,
1480-448: The Ottoman lines: Fortunate, most fortunate are those hands of the twelve loyal lords who, having opened their way with the sword and having penetrated the enemy lines and the circle of chained camels, heroically reached the tent of Murat himself. Fortunate above all is that one who so forcefully killed such a strong vojvoda by stabbing him with a sword in the throat and belly. And blessed are all those who gave their lives and blood through
1554-455: The Ottoman wing commanded by Yakub Çelebi. When the knights' charge was finished, light Ottoman cavalry and light infantry counterattacked and the Serbian heavy armor became a disadvantage. In the center, Serbian troops managed to push back Ottoman forces, except for Bayezid's wing, which barely held off the Bosnians commanded by Vlatko Vuković , who inflicted disproportionately heavy losses on
SECTION 20
#17327794815511628-536: The Ottomans in the region of central Albania in August 1443. Skanderbeg decided to leave his position of Ottoman sanjakbey and revolt against the Ottomans only after the victorious Crusade of Varna in 1443. Successes of the crusaders inspired revolt of Skanderbeg and revolt of Constantine XI Palaiologos in the Despotate of the Morea . In early November 1443, Skanderbeg deserted the forces of Sultan Murad II during
1702-577: The Ottomans was fought on 10 October 1445, on the mountain Mokra. According to Setton, after Skanderbeg was allegedly victorious in the Battle of Torvioll , the Hungarians are said to have sung praises about him and urged Skanderbeg to join the alliance of Hungary , the Papacy and Burgundy against the Ottomans. In the spring of 1446, using help of Ragusan diplomats, Skanderbeg requested support from
1776-465: The Ottomans, refusing to participate on the Ottoman side in the battles of Rovine (1395) and Nicopolis (1396) , unlike other Serbian lords such as prince Stefan, prince Marko , and Konstantin Dejanović . He also maintained contacts with Hungary. Finally, the Ottomans ended this situation by attacking Vuk in 1395–96, seizing his land, and giving most of it to prince Stefan Lazarević, while Vuk himself
1850-457: The Ottomans. The Ottomans, in a ferocious counterattack led by Bayezid, pushed the Serbian forces back and then prevailed later in the day, routing the Serbian infantry. Both flanks still held, with Vuković's Bosnian troops drifting toward the center to compensate for the heavy losses inflicted on the Serbian infantry. Historical facts say that Vuk Branković saw that there was no hope for victory and fled to save as many men as he could after Lazar
1924-516: The Pope and Kingdom of Hungary for his struggle against the Ottomans. Marin Span was commander of Skanderbeg's forces which lost the fortress Baleč to Venetian forces in 1448 during Skanderbeg's war against Venice . Marin and his soldiers retreated toward Dagnum after being informed by his relative Peter Span about the large Venetian forces heading toward Baleč. On 26 March 1450 a political treaty
1998-514: The Serb center, Branković took command of the right, while Vuković the Bosnian general commanded the left, which also included the foreign contingents. The formidable Serb cavalry took their place at the forefront, with lighter cavalry armed with bows positioned on the flanks. Murad led the Ottoman center, entrusting his younger son Bayezid and his commander Evrenoz with the European troops on
2072-456: The Serbian and all other vassals who supported the other claimants to the throne by campaigning against them to directly annex their lands. In a series of campaigns from this era onward Serbia formally became an Ottoman province. The capture of Smederevo on June 20, 1459 marks the end of medieval Serbian statehood. The Kosovo Myth has for a long time been a central subject in Serbian folklore and Serbian literary tradition , and for centuries
2146-441: The Serbian corpus about Kosovo just a few decades before 19th century Serbian folklorists recorded them. Throughout most of the 19th century it did not carry its later importance, as the Principality of Serbia saw the region of Bosnia as its core, not Kosovo. The Congress of Berlin (1878) was the event which caused the elevation of the narratives about the Battle of Kosovo (" Kosovo myth ") in its modern status. The region of Bosnia
2220-429: The Serbian feudal class in response to these threats split in two factions. A northern faction supported a conciliatory, pro-Ottoman foreign policy as a means of defence of their lands against Hungary, while a southern faction which was immediately threatened by Ottoman expansion sought to establish a pro-Hungarian foreign policy. Some Serbian feudal lords continued to fight against the Ottomans and others were integrated in
2294-417: The alliance between two houses and secured Lazar's assistance for Vuk's future plans, although Vuk in return had to acknowledge Lazar as his feudal senior. Soon after the marriage, Lazar and King Tvrtko I of Bosnia attacked župan Nikola Altomanović , who ruled in the western part of Serbia, and conquered and divided his lands in 1373. In the partition of Altomanović's land, Vuk got areas of Raška (including
Battle of Kosovo - Misplaced Pages Continue
2368-574: The alternative route through Sofia and the Nišava Valley , this led the Ottoman forces to Kosovo , one of the most important crossroads in the Balkans . From Kosovo, they could attack the lands of either Prince Lazar or Vuk Branković . Having stayed in Kratovo for a time, Murad and his troops marched through Kumanovo , Preševo , and Gjilan to Pristina , where he arrived on June 14. While there
2442-520: The assassination however, with another version describing Obilić playing dead on the battlefield and stabbing the Sultan as he walked. It is also unclear when the assassination occurred, as some sources suggest it happened once the battle turned against the Serbs or in the immediate aftermath of the battle, while others describe it happening early on as Miloš sought to prove his loyalty to Prince Lazar after he
2516-509: The battle but evolved from different originators into various versions. In Serbian folklore , the Kosovo Myth acquired new meanings and importance during the rise of Serbian nationalism in the 19th century as the Serbian state sought to expand, especially towards Kosovo which was still part of the Ottoman Empire . In modern discourse, the battle would come to be seen as integral to Serbian history, tradition and national identity. Vidovdan
2590-468: The battle differ, making it difficult to reconstruct the course of events. It is believed that the battle commenced with Ottoman archers shooting at Serbian cavalry, who then made ready for the attack. After positioning in a wedge formation, the Serbian cavalry managed to break through the Ottoman left wing, but were not as successful against the center and the right wing. The Serbs had the initial advantage after their first charge, which significantly damaged
2664-459: The battle is challenging. No first-hand accounts from participants in the battle exist. Contemporary sources are written from widely diverging points of view and not much is discussed in them about battle tactics, army size and other battleground details. Estimates about army size vary, but the Ottoman army was larger. It is likely that the army led by Lazar had 12,000/15,000 to 20,000 troops against 27,000–30,000 led by Murad. A higher estimate places
2738-666: The battle on the side of the Christian coalition, bringing a band of Albanians to join Lazar's army. Of those Albanian lords, Teodor II Muzaka died during the battle, alongside a number of fellow Albanians. Based on Ottomans sources, it is claimed by Albanian historiography that the Albanians accounted for around a quarter of the total number of troops in Lazar's coalition, primarily under the command of Dhimitër Jonima, Đurađ II Balšić and Teodor II. According to historian Dejan Djokić , it
2812-523: The battle, Serbian president Slobodan Milošević delivered the Gazimestan speech on the site of the historic battle. Skanderbeg%27s rebellion [REDACTED] Crown of Aragon (1450-) [REDACTED] Ottoman Empire Skanderbeg's Rebellion (1443–1468) Contemporaneous Campaigns (1447–1462) Resistance until the Fall of Shkodra (1468–1479) Skanderbeg's rebellion ( Albanian : Kryengritja e Skënderbeut )
2886-492: The battle, it is described that twelve Serbian knights, known in Serbian epic poetry as the Jugović brothers , successfully breached the Ottoman defense. One of the knights, later identified as Miloš Obilić , pretended to have deserted to the Ottoman forces. When brought before Murad, Obilić pulled out a hidden dagger and killed the Sultan by slashing him. He was then killed by the Sultan's bodyguards. There are differing versions of
2960-465: The battle, known in Serbian as Vidovdan (St. Vitus' day) and celebrated according to the Julian calendar (corresponding to 28 June Gregorian in the 20th and 21st centuries), is an important part of Serb ethnic and national identity, with notable events in Serbian history falling on that day: in 1876 Serbia declared war on the Ottoman Empire ( Serbian–Ottoman War (1876–78) ; in 1881 Austria-Hungary and
3034-466: The battles of Dubravnica (1381), Pločnik (1386), and Bileća (1388), the Ottomans launched a full-scale attack on Serbia, aiming at the very heartland of Vuk's realm in central Kosovo. In the epic Battle of Kosovo (1389), Vuk participated along with his father-in-law Lazar and a contingent of King Tvrtko's army. Unlike Lazar, who died in the battle along with most of his army, Vuk managed to survive and preserve his army, which later gave material for
Battle of Kosovo - Misplaced Pages Continue
3108-530: The coast. Based on Neşri's account, Đurađ II Balšić has also been linked to the Christian coalition which fought in the battle of Kosovo. The hypothesis about his participation is considered to be "almost entirely false" as he had become an Ottoman vassal; he was in hostility with Lazar's ally Tvrtko I; and at the time of the battle he was most likely in Ulcinj . Serbian forces assembled at Kosovo Field approximately 3 miles northwest of Priština . Prince Lazar led
3182-508: The complicated political setting preceding the battle has been simplified in the battle being a clash between Christianity and Islam . However, Miodrag Popović notes that in Ottoman Serbia of the 16th and 17th century, the local population was " Turkophilic " in accordance with the general climate of necessary adaptation to Ottoman rule. Тhey did not give the legend of the Battle of Kosovo an interpretation unfavorable or hostile to
3256-602: The final years of Stefan Uroš V 's rule, Grgur and Vuk's governance was limited to their heritance in Drenica. Vuk took advantage of the death of King Vukašin in the Battle of Maritsa (1371) and conquered Sjenica , Zvečan , and part of the Lim River valley. Vuk's marriage to Mara, the daughter of the most powerful Serbian magnate prince Lazar Hrebeljanović , brought him substantial lands in Kosovo. This marriage sealed
3330-461: The glorious manner of martyrdom as victims of the dead leader over his ugly corpse. Another Italian account, Mignanelli's work of 1416, asserted that it was Lazar who killed the Ottoman sultan. Both armies were destroyed in the battle. Both Lazar and Murad lost their lives, and the remnants of their armies retreated from the battlefield. Murad's son Bayezid killed his younger brother, Yakub Çelebi, upon hearing of their father's death, thus becoming
3404-511: The heir of the Balsha family. After capturing some less important surrounding castles (Petrela, Prezë, Guri i Bardhë, Svetigrad, Modrič and others) and eventually gaining control over more than his father Gjon Kastrioti's domains, Skanderbeg abjured Islam and proclaimed himself the avenger of his family and country. He raised a red flag with a black double-headed eagle on it: Albania uses a similar flag as its national symbol to this day. Dorotheos,
3478-827: The largest battles of late medieval times. In comparison, in the battle of Agincourt (1415) even by assuming the higher estimate of army size as correct, around 10,000 fewer soldiers were engaged. The Ottoman army was supported by auxiliary troops from the Anatolian Turkoman Beylik of Isfendiyar , and comprised no more than 2,000 Janissaries . Lazar's main forces included the Serbian contingent from his principality, troops of Vuk Branković his son in law and Bosnian forces under Vlatko Vuković , sent by Lazar's ally King Tvrtko of Bosnia. Lazar's Christian coalition also included Albanians, Croatians, Hungarians and Bulgarians. Teodor II Muzaka , Dhimitër Jonima and other Albanian lords and aristocrats participated in
3552-768: The meeting as the generalis concilium or universum concilium [general or whole council]; the term "League of Lezhë" was coined by subsequent historians. Kenneth Meyer Setton claims that majority of accounts on Skanderbeg's activities in the period 1443–1444 "owe far more to fancy than to fact." Soon after Skanderbeg captured Krujë using the forged letter to take control from Zabel Pasha, his rebels managed to capture many Ottoman fortresses including strategically very important Svetigrad ( Kodžadžik ) taken with support of Moisi Arianit Golemi and 3,000 rebels from Debar . According to some sources, Skanderbeg impaled captured Ottoman officials who refused to be baptized into Christianity. The first battle of Skanderbeg's rebels against
3626-589: The old Serbian capital Ras ) and lands in Polimlje (northern Montenegro). After the death of Đurađ I Balšić (13 January 1378), Vuk captured his cities of Prizren and Peć (Peja) and the area of Metohija . At its peak, the realm of Branković stretched from Sjenica in the west to Skopje in the east, with the cities of Pristina and Vushtrri serving as its capitals. The most important cities in Vuk's province were Priština, Prizren, Peć, Skopje, and Ras, as well as
3700-464: The period between 1374 and 1379 accepted knez Lazar as "Lord of Serbs and Podunavlje". According to historian R. Mihaljčić , when Vuk claimed the title, Stefan Lazarević was around 15 years old (ca. 1392). Vuk was not recognised with that title, as it was preserved for Lazar and Lazar's son Stefan. Folk tradition portraits Vuk as a traitor in the Kosovo Myth : supposedly, Vuk tarnished
3774-436: The rebellion against the Ottomans had already been smouldering for years before Skanderbeg deserted the Ottoman army. The most notable earlier revolt was revolt of 1432–36 led principally by Gjergj Arianiti . Although Skanderbeg was summoned by his relatives during this rebellion, he remained loyal to the sultan and did not fight the Ottomans. After this rebellion was suppressed by the Ottomans, Arianiti again revolted against
SECTION 50
#17327794815513848-459: The rich mining settlements of Trepča , Janjevo , Gluhavica , and others. After the Battle of Maritza, the Ottomans forced the southern Serbian feudal lords (in present-day Macedonia and Greece), Konstantin Dragaš , King Marko , Toma Preljubović , and others, to become their vassals and started to attack the northern Serbian lands ruled by prince Lazar and Vuk. After initial Serbian successes at
3922-541: The right wing; Murad's other son, Yakub, led the Anatolian troops on the left. The wings were fortified with around 1,000 archers , while the Janissaries held the central position, supported by Murad and his cavalry guard standing behind them. Ottoman sources claim that Murat also placed camels in front to scare the Serbian cavalry. One of the Ottoman commanders was Pasha Yiğit Bey . Serbian and Turkish accounts of
3996-479: The senate of Trogir (August 1) and the council of Florence claimed that he had defeated the Ottomans in Kosovo. The response of the Florentines to Tvrtko (20 October 1389) is an important historical document as it confirms that Murad was killed during the battle and that it took place on June 28 (St. Vitus day/Vidovdan). The killer is not named, but it was one of 12 Serbian noblemen who managed to break through
4070-431: The size of Murad's army up to 40,000 and Lazar's up to 25,000 troops. Ottoman historian Mehmed Neşri who authored the first detailed report in Ottoman historiography about the battle of Kosovo in 1521 represents the Ottoman imperial narrative. As an Ottoman Sultan died before or during the battle, the size of the Christian army is presented as significantly larger in Ottoman sources. Neşri placed it at around 500,000, double
4144-406: The size of the Ottoman army. According to historian Noel Malcolm , Ottoman writers were most likely eager to build up the size and significance of Lazar's army, which they described as vastly outnumbering Murat's, in order to add to the glory of the "Turkish victory". Moreover, Malcolm claims that the Ottoman sources lack reliability. Regardless of the exact army size, the battle of Kosovo was one of
4218-404: The so-called "Kosovo cycle", which became the final version of the transformation of the myth. The modern narrativization of the legend focuses on three main motifs: sacrifice, betrayal and heroism, exemplified respectively by Prince Lazar choosing a "heavenly kingdom" over an "earthly kingdom", Vuk Branković's supposed desertion and Miloš Obilić's assassination of Murad. In Serbian historiography,
4292-506: The sole heir to the Ottoman throne. The Serbs were left with too few men to defend their lands effectively, while the Turks had many more troops in the east. The immediate effect of the depletion of Serbian manpower was a shift in the stance of Hungarian policy towards Serbia. Hungary tried to exploit the effects of battle and expand in northern Serbia, while the Ottomans renewed their campaign in southern Serbia as early as 1390–1391. Domestically,
4366-451: The territory ruled by Serbian nobleman Vuk Branković , in what is today Kosovo , about 5 kilometers (3.1 mi) northwest of the modern city of Pristina . The army under Prince Lazar consisted mostly of his own troops, a contingent led by Branković, and a contingent sent from Bosnia by King Tvrtko I , commanded by Vlatko Vuković . However, Lazar was also supported by a Christian coalition from various European ethnic groups. Prince Lazar
4440-521: The title of gospodin (lord, sir), under Prince Lazar of Serbia . After the Battle of Kosovo (1389), Vuk was briefly the de facto most powerful Serbian lord. Branković was born in 1345 and belonged to a Serb noble family that held a prominent role in the 14th century. Vuk was a son of Branko Mladenović (died before 1365), who received the high court title of sevastokrator from Emperor Stefan Dušan (r. 1331–1355) and served as governor of Ohrid (present-day North Macedonia). Vuk's grandfather
4514-459: The treaty of Gaeta, Naples sent a detachment of 100 Napolitan soldiers commanded by Bernard Vaquer to the castle of Kruje in the end of May 1451. Vaquer was appointed as special commissioner and took over Kruje on behalf of the Kingdom of Naples and put its garrison under his command. Gjergj Balsha was perceived by Venice as Skanderbeg's successor, whilst Lekë Dukagjini became the leader of
SECTION 60
#17327794815514588-774: The war and supplied men to fight under Skanderbeg. On 2 March 1444 the regional Albanian and Zetan chieftains united against the Ottoman Empire . This alliance ( League of Lezhë ) was forged in the Venetian held Lezhë . The main members of the league were the Arianiti , Balšić , Dukagjini , Muzaka , Spani , Thopia and Crnojevići . All earlier and many modern historians accepted Marin Barleti's news about this meeting in Lezhë (without giving it equal weight), although no contemporary Venetian document mentions it. Barleti referred to
4662-535: Was Mladen (died after 1326), who was župan (count) in Trebinje under King Stefan Milutin (1282–1321) and vojvoda (duke) under King Stefan Dečanski (1321–1331). Later chronicles alleged that the Branković were descended from Vukan Nemanjić , son of Stefan Nemanja . After their father's death, Vuk and his brothers Grgur and Nikola Radonja retreated to the valley of Drenica (central Kosovo). During
4736-473: Was a Serbian medieval nobleman who, during the Fall of the Serbian Empire , inherited a province that extended over present-day southern and southwestern Serbia , entire Kosovo , the northern part of present-day Republic of North Macedonia , and northern Montenegro . His fief (and later state) was known as Oblast Brankovića ( District of Branković ) or simply as Vukova zemlja (Vuk's land), which he held with
4810-567: Was accused of treachery. The battle marked the only time in history an Ottoman Sultan was killed in battle. The event of the battle quickly became known in Europe. Not much attention was paid to the outcome in these early rumors which circulated, but they all focused on the fact that the Ottoman Sultan had been killed in the battle. Some of the earliest reports about the battle come from the court of Tvrtko of Bosnia who in separate letters to
4884-464: Was an almost 25-year long anti-Ottoman rebellion led by the Albanian military commander Skanderbeg in what is today Albania and its neighboring countries. It was a rare successful instance of resistance by Christians during the 15th century and through his leadership led Albanians in guerrilla warfare against the Ottomans. On 2 March 1444 the regional Albanian chieftains and nobles united against
4958-419: Was aware of the Ottoman threat and began diplomatic and military preparations for a campaign against them. After the defeat of the Ottomans at Pločnik (1386) and Bileća (1388) , Murad I , the reigning Ottoman sultan, moved his troops from Philippoupolis to Ihtiman (modern Bulgaria) in the spring of 1388. From there they traveled across Velbužd and Kratovo (modern North Macedonia ). Though longer than
5032-410: Was captured. In popular oral tradition, however, Branković is said to have fled and betrayed Lazar, a theory which was first presented by the writer Mavro Orbini in a 1601 work but is largely seen as unfounded. Sometime after Branković's retreat from the battle, the remaining Bosnian and Serb forces yielded the field, believing that a victory was no longer possible. In one of the earliest accounts of
5106-412: Was cultivated mostly in the form of oral epic poetry and guslar poems. The mythologization of the battle occurred shortly after the event. The legend was not fully formed immediately after the battle but evolved from different originators into various versions. The philologist Vuk Karadžić collected traditional epic poems related to the topic of the Battle of Kosovo and in the 19th century, he released
5180-487: Was effectively handed out to Austria-Hungary and Serbian expansion towards that area was blocked, which in turn left southwards expansion towards Kosovo as the only available geopolitical alternative for the Serbian state. Today, the Battle of Kosovo has come to be seen in public discourse as "particularly important to Serbian history, tradition and national identity ". The battle has become a force of historical, political, military and artistic inspiration to date. The day of
5254-475: Was imprisoned and died in an Ottoman prison. A small part of Vuk's land with the towns of Priština and Vučitrn was given to his sons to hold as Ottoman vassals. He married Mara (Marija) , the daughter of Lazar of Serbia and Milica Nemanjić in 1371. She died on April 12, 1426. They had three sons: He is most often titled "Lord Vuk" (господин Вук), while he signed himself "Lord of Serbs and Podunavlje" ( господар Срба и Подунавља ). The Serbian Church had in
5328-416: Was killed in battle. Serbian manpower was depleted and had no capacity to field large armies against future Ottoman campaigns, which relied on new reserve forces from Anatolia. The Serbian principalities that were not already Ottoman vassals, became so in the following years. The mythologization of the battle and writings began shortly after the event, though the legend was not fully formed immediately after
5402-761: Was stipulated in Gaeta between Alfonso V for the Kingdom of Naples and Stefan, Bishop of Krujë , and Nikollë de Berguçi , ambassadors of Skanderbeg . In the treaty Skanderbeg would recognize himself a vassal of the Kingdom of Naples, and in return he would have the Kingdom's protection from the Ottoman Empire . After Alfonso signed this treaty with Skanderbeg, he signed similar treaties with other chieftains from Albania: Gjergj Arianiti , Gjin Muzaka, Gjergj Balsha , Peter Spani , Paul Dukagjini , Thopia Muzaka, Peter of Himara, Simon Zenebishi and Carlo II Tocco . To follow
5476-455: Was the ruler of Moravian Serbia and the most powerful among the Serbian regional lords of the time, while Branković ruled the District of Branković and other areas, recognizing Lazar as his overlord. Reliable historical accounts of the battle are scarce. The bulk of both armies were wiped out, and Lazar and Murad were killed. The battle marked the only time in history when an Ottoman Sultan
#550449