The Chancellery of Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg and Serbian Despots Stefan Lazarević and Đurađ Branković

Krstić, Aleksandar and Ivanović, Miloš (2026) The Chancellery of Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg and Serbian Despots Stefan Lazarević and Đurađ Branković. In: Der Hof Kaiser Sigismunds. Personelle Bühne und internationales Zentrum. Brill Österreich GmbH – Böhlau Verlag, Wien, pp. 311-324. ISBN 978-3-205-20391-9; 978-3-205-22390-0

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Abstract

The paper highlights the evolution of relations between Emperor and King Sigismund of Luxembourg (1387–1437) and the Serbian rulers, Despots Stefan Lazarević (1389–1427) and Đurađ Branković (1427–1456), the impact of Ottoman expansion on Serbian-Hungarian relationships, and the significance of documents issued by the Sigismund’s chancellery for reconstructing the chronology of events, military campaigns, and the transfer of estates in Hungary to the Serbian despots. During the first years of his reign in Hungary, marked by internal conflicts and the Ottoman threat, the relations of King Sigismund with the Serbian Prince Lazar (1371–1389) and his heir Stefan Lazarević was hostile. After 1402, following the temporarily weakening of Ottoman power, Despot Stefan Lazarević became a vassal and ally of Sigismund, starting a period of close cooperation until Sigismund’s death in 1437. King Sigismund provided military aid to Serbia during Ottoman attacks, notably in 1409, 1425 and 1427, while Despot Stefan sent military assistance to his suzerain against the Hussites. The Serbian despots received vast estates in Hungary, which is also documented in Sigismund’s charters and other documents, and participated in Hungarian court life and politics. In 1426, Sigismund recognized Đurađ Branković as Stefan’s heir, in exchange for the return of key fortresses (e.g., Belgrade) to the Hungarian Crown. Despite their vassal status to the Hungarian king, Serbian rulers also maintained vassalage to the Ottoman sultans, creating a complex and often contradictory political position. The documents of Sigismund’s chancery related to his relationships with the Serbian rulers also reveal the ideological stance of the Hungarian king. Sigismund’s documents emphasized his and Hungary’s historical rights over Serbia, reflecting his broader policy toward the Balkans. On the other hand, the Serbian despots presented themselves as independent rulers to their subjects and weaker neighbors

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