Pavle Bakić facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Despot Pavle BakićPavle Bakić |
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| Serbian Despot | |||||
Seal of Pavle Bakić (1533)
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| Despot of Serbia | |||||
| Reign | 1537 | ||||
| Predecessor | Stefan Berislavić | ||||
| Successor | vacant | ||||
| Born | 1484 Šumadija, Ottoman Empire (today Serbia) |
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| Died | 9 October 1537 (age 52-53) Đakovo, Habsburg monarchy (today Croatia) |
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| Spouse | Teodora | ||||
| Issue | Margarita and Angelina | ||||
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| House | Bakić  |
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| Father | Komnen Bakić | ||||
| Religion | Serbian Orthodox Christian | ||||
Pavle Bakić (Serbian Cyrillic: Павле Бакић, Hungarian: Bakics Pál; around 1484 – October 9, 1537) was the very last person to hold the special title of Despot of Serbia. He was a brave and important military leader among the Serbian nobility in the Kingdom of Hungary. Pavle Bakić fought many battles against the powerful Ottoman Empire. He was especially known for his role in the Battle of Mohács (1526) and the Siege of Vienna in 1529. Sadly, he died fighting in the Battle of Gorjani (1537).
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Early Life and Moving to Hungary
Pavle Bakić, like his father, had a special land grant called a timar from the Ottoman Empire. This meant he was in charge of large areas around Venčac in Šumadija, known as "Bakić's land." The Ottomans thought highly of him. He even had the right to collect taxes, called kharaj, from the people living on his land.
However, Pavle Bakić decided to leave his homeland. He moved to Hungary with his family, five brothers, and many other Serbs. This move was planned with Pál Tomori and Louis II of Hungary, who was the King of Hungary. In return for leaving his lands, Pavle received new estates in Hungary, including a town called Lak.
Fighting for Hungary
Pavle Bakić and his soldiers joined the fight in the famous Battle of Mohács in 1526. This was a huge battle where the Hungarian army faced the Ottomans.
After the battle, a group of Serbian river soldiers called the Šajkaši had not been paid for their service. Pavle Bakić spoke up for them. He warned King Ferdinand that if the Šajkaši were not paid, it could make Serbs in different lands feel less loyal. He also told Ferdinand that Austrian officers were treating Serbs badly.
Changing Sides and Loyalty
When a war started between two kings, Ferdinand I and John Zápolya, Pavle Bakić first supported John Zápolya. But after John Zápolya lost the Battle of Tokaj in 1527, Bakić switched his loyalty to Ferdinand. He remained loyal to Ferdinand for the rest of his life.
In 1528, King Ferdinand officially recognized Bakić and his brothers' land holdings. He also made Pavle Bakić the captain of all Serbian foot soldiers, cavalry (horseback soldiers), and river forces.
Defending Vienna
During the Siege of Vienna in 1529, the Ottoman army tried to capture the capital city. Serbian hussars, who were light cavalry soldiers, led by Pavle Bakić, were the first to fight the Turks. They bravely defended the city.
Later, after the Ottomans took over a region called Syrmia, another Serbian leader named Radoslav Čelnik found safety in Bakić's lands near Győr. In 1534, King Ferdinand again confirmed that Bakić and his brothers owned their lands. These lands included important towns like Lak, Győr, Szombathely, and Hédervár. The fortress of Győr was managed by Pavle's Hungarian friend, Count György Cseszneky.
Becoming Despot of Serbia
By this time, the person who previously held the title of Despot of Serbia, Stefan Berislavić, had passed away in 1535. So, the title was empty. On September 20, 1537, King Ferdinand officially named Pavle Bakić as the new Despot. He called on all Serbs to join and follow Bakić as their leader.
King Ferdinand tried to push the Ottomans out of areas like the Banate of Slavonia with Pavle's help. However, these efforts were not successful. In 1537, Pavle Bakić tried to free the city of Osijek from the Ottomans but could not. He then went to Đakovo, where he bravely died fighting the Ottomans in the Battle of Gorjani. The Ottoman leader, Mehmed-paša, sent Bakić's head to Constantinople.
Family Life
Pavle Bakić was married to a woman named Teodora. They had two daughters:
- Margita, who married a nobleman named Baron Menyhért Balassa.
- Angelina, who first married Imre Révay and later married Baron Imre Czobor de Czoborszentmihály.
See also
| Regnal titles | ||
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| Preceded by Stefan Berislavić |
titular Despot of Serbia 1537 |
Succeeded by vacant |
Sources
