Jovan Branković

Jovan Branković (Serbian Cyrillic: Јован Бранковић; pronounced [jɔ̌v̞an brǎːnkɔv̞itɕ]; c. 1465 – 10 December 1502) was the titular Despot of Serbia from 1493 until his death in 1502. Title of despot was given to him by Hungarian king Vladislas II of Hungary. From 1493 to 1497 he held the title together with his elder brother Đorđe Branković, who was despot since 1486. In 1497, Đorđe relinquished the title, and Jovan remained the sole Despot of Serbia, until his death in 1502. Jovan was the last Serbian Despot of the Branković dynasty. Brothers built the Krušedol monastery, and made various donations to Hilandar and other Eastern Orthodox monasteries. He was proclaimed a saint by the Serbian Orthodox Church.[1][2]

Jovan Branković
Detail of Andreja Raičević's icon (c. 1645), depicting Jovan as a saint
titular Despot of Serbia
Reign1493–1502
PredecessorĐorđe Branković
SuccessorIvaniš Berislavić
Bornc. 1465
Died10 December 1502
Burial
Krušedol monastery
SpouseJelena Jakšić
HouseBranković
FatherStefan Branković
MotherAngelina Arianiti
ReligionSerbian Orthodox Christian

Life

Jovan was younger son of Stefan Branković, exiled Despot of Serbia (1458–1459), and Angelina Arianites. He was born c. 1465, while his parents were residing in the castle Belgrado, in the region of Friuli. His father, despot Stefan died in 1476, while family was still living in Belgrado. In 1479, emperor Friedrich III granted them castle Weitensfeld in Carinthia, and Jovan moved there with the rest of family.[3]

Their cousin Vuk Branković, titular Despot of Serbia, died in 1485, without direct hairs. His title and estates in the Kingdom of Hungary were left vacant, prompting Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus to find a suitable hair. He opted for the only remaining male members of Branković family (Đorđe and Jovan), inviting them to come to Hungary.[4][5]

In 1486, they arrived in Hungary, and Jovan's elder brother Đorđe received the title of Despot of Serbia from king Matthias, who granted them possessions in Kupinik, Slankamen, and Berkasovo in the region of Syrmia.

From 1493 forwards, brothers ruled jointly, since Jovan was also granted the title Despot of Serbia, as it was customary in the Kingdom of Hungary that various senior posts should be held jointly by two incumbents.

In 1497, Đorđe decided to relinquish all of his titles and possessions to his brother Jovan. In the same time, Đorđe took monastic vows, adopting the name Maksim (Serbian Cyrillic: Максим). Brothers built the Krušedol monastery in the region of Syrmia.[6]

Jovan had different goals to those of his brother Đorđe. He did not seek to create a heavenly realm, but sought to defeat the Turks and drive them out of his lands, and as such be entitled the ranks of his ancestors. He fought successfully with the Ottoman Empire, several operations in Bosnia, especially around Zvornik. Jovan also planned to free the Serbs from Ottoman rule with the help of the Republic of Venice, but he was stopped with his death in 1502. After his death, the hope of restoring Serbia under the advancing Ottoman Empire became weaker.

He married a Serbian noblewoman Jelena Jakšić, with whom he had several children, but no surviving male hair. After his death in 1502, Hungarian king Vladislaus II (d. 1516) instructed Jovan's widow Jelena to remarry (1504) a prominent nobleman Ivaniš Berislavić (d. 1514) from the Požega County, who was granted the title Despot of Serbia and control over Branković family estates.[7][8]

He is mentioned in the "Dell'Imperadori Constantinopolitani", or Massarelli manuscript, found in the papers of Angelo Massarelli (1510–1566).[9]

Sainthood
Saint Jovan Branković
Свети Јован Бранковић
Saint
Bornc. 1465
Died10 December 1502
Krušedol Monastery, modern Serbia
Venerated inEastern Orthodox Church
Canonized16th century, in Syrmia by the Serbian Orthodox Church
Major shrineKrušedol Monastery
FeastDecember 10 O.S.
December 23 N.S.

Members of the Branković dynasty were known for their devotion to Eastern Orthodox Christianity,[10][11] and Jovan Branković also represented that family tradition. His cult began in the first half of the 16th century. He was buried at the Krušedol monastery, and laid together with the rest of his family members, in coffins at the altar.[12] During the Austro-Turkish War (1716–1718), a Turkish army invaded Syrmia in 1716, captured Krušedol monastery and burned the holy relics, shortly after the Battle of Petrovaradin. Only some minor parts of the relics were preserved.[13]

Family

He married Serbian noblewoman Jelena Jakšić, who is mentioned as "Helena, Serbiæ despotissa" in a charted dated to 1502. They had 4 children, all of whom were daughters:

Some researchers have suggested, after taking into account the dates of Jelena's both marriages (first with Jovan Branković, and second with Ivaniš Berislavić), that some of her daughters who are usually considered to be from her first marriage, might in fact be from her second marriage.[15]

Some genealogies also indicate that another daughter, Milica Despina, married Neagoe Basarab, Prince of Wallachia (1512–21).[16] Some believe Milica was too old to be his daughter, but she was born cca. 1486–1488.[17] Milica Despina might have been an illegitimate daughter of his or other close relative or even the daughter of Jovan's brother Đorđe with whom she went to Wallachia in 1503.

References
  1. Ćirković 2004, p. 101, 116, 139.
  2. Krstić 2017, p. 151-152.
  3. Jireček 1918, p. 245.
  4. Ćirković 2004, p. 116.
  5. Bataković 2005, p. 98.
  6. Krstić 2017, p. 151.
  7. Jireček 1918, p. 256.
  8. Krstić 2017, p. 152.
  9. Tony Hoskins. "Anglocentric medieval genealogy". newsgroups.derkeiler.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2015-03-22.
  10. Paizi-Apostolopoulou 2012, p. 95-116.
  11. Andrić 2016, p. 202–227.
  12. Ćirković 2004, p. 139.
  13. Ćirković 2004, p. 150.
  14. Wasilewski 1963, p. 117-124.
  15. Zabolotnaia 2010, p. 115-122.
  16. The Byzantine tradition in church embroidery p. 89
  17. George Marcu, Rodica Ilinca, Enciclopedia personalităţilor feminine din România, Editura Meronia, București, 2012,

Sources
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Đorđe Branković		 titular Despot of Serbia
1493–1502		 Succeeded by
Ivaniš Berislavić
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