Lazar Branković facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lazar Branković
Despot of Serbia
Lazar Branković from a charter held in Esphigmenou Monastery, Mount Athos
Reign	1456–1458
Predecessor	Đurađ Branković
Successor	Stefan Branković
Born	c. 1421
Died	20 February 1458
Spouse	Helena Palaiologina, Despotess of Serbia
Issue	Marija, Milica, Jerina
House	Branković
Father	Đurađ Branković
Mother	Eirene Kantakouzene
Religion	Eastern Orthodoxy

Lazar Branković (Serbian Cyrillic: Лазар Бранковић; around 1421 – February 20, 1458) was a ruler known as the Despot of Serbia. He ruled from 1456 to 1458. Lazar was the third son of Despot Đurađ Branković and his wife, Eirene Kantakouzene. He did not have any sons, so his older brother, Despot Stefan Branković, became the next ruler after him.

Lazar's Life and Rule

Serbian Despotate, 1455–1459

Lazar's older brothers, Grgur and Stefan, were blinded in 1441 by order of the Ottoman Sultan Murad II. Because of this, Lazar became the main heir to his father. He was the only son who was not handicapped.

His father, Đurađ, passed away on December 24, 1456. Lazar then took over as the Despot of Serbia, just as planned.

Challenges During His Reign

Lazar's time as ruler was quite short. It mostly involved disagreements within his own family, including with his mother and siblings.

In 1457, Lazar made a promise of loyalty to Mehmed II. Mehmed II was the son and successor of Sultan Murad II. This promise was likely an attempt to stop the Ottoman Empire from invading Serbia.

One important decision Lazar made was to appoint Mihailo Anđelović as his chief official. Mihailo was a member of the Angelos family. After Lazar's death, Mihailo briefly led a group that governed Serbia.

Lazar died on February 20, 1458. The exact reason for his death is not known.

Lazar's Family

Information about Lazar and his relatives can be found in an old document. This document is kept in the Vatican Library. It is sometimes called the "Massarelli manuscript."

This document names Lazar as a son of Đurađ Branković and Eirene Kantakouzene. On September 11, 1429, Lazar's father, Đurađ, made a gift to Esphigmenou Monastery on Mount Athos. The official paper for this gift lists his wife Irene and their five children. The Massarelli manuscript also lists the same five children.

Lazar's Siblings

• Grgur Branković: He was the oldest sibling listed in the Massarelli document. He was once a governor of parts of southern Serbia. In 1441, he was accused of plotting against Sultan Murad II. He was imprisoned and blinded. Later, Grgur became a monk.
• Mara Branković: She was an older sister of Lazar. Mara became one of the wives of Sultan Murad II.
• Stefan Branković: He was also blinded in 1441, like his brother Grgur. Stefan later became the Despot of Serbia after Lazar died.
• Katarina: She was another sister of Lazar. She married Ulrich II of Celje.

Lazar was the youngest of the five children listed in these documents.

Marriage and Children

In 1446, Lazar married Helena Palaiologina of Morea. Helena was the daughter of Thomas Palaiologos, who was a ruler in Morea.

Lazar and Helena had three daughters:

• Helen (Mary): She married King Stephen Tomašević of Bosnia.
• Milica: She married Leonardo III Tocco, a ruler from Epirus.
• Jerina: She married Gjon Kastrioti II.

See also

• List of Serbian monarchs