The House of Branković (, Brankovići / Бранковићи, ) is a Serbian medieval noble family and royal dynasty.
History According to genealogies created in the first half of the 15th century, the family descends via female lineage, through marriage with the Nemanjić dynasty. The family rose to prominence during the fall of the Serbian Empire.
The original family domains were centered in the Kosovo region. Later family members extended their rule over all remaining unconquered regions of Serbia making them the last sovereign rulers of medieval Serbia. The dynasty ruled the Serbian Despotate from 1427 to 1459 and their descendants continue to claim the throne of the Despotate Serbia, some having entered the ranks of the Hungarian aristocracy, while other descendants of the dynasty continue to go by a courtesy title.
Members of the family intermarried with other noble houses from neighbouring countries including Austrian and Hungarian nobility, and provided at least one wife to the Ottoman Sultan. By the 17th century, Branković lineage had become part of the House of Habsburg, providing more descendants into the ruling houses of Europe.
One such descendant was Maria of Yugoslavia, the wife of Alexander I of Yugoslavia. With the ascension of her son Peter II of Yugoslavia in 1934, Branković, Lazarević, and Nemanjić blood returned to the Serbian throne.
Notable members Vuk Branković, lord of District of Branković (1371–1396) Đurađ Branković, lord of District of Branković (1396–1412), Despot of Serbia (1427–1456) Lazar Branković, Despot of Serbia (1456–1458) Stefan Branković, Despot of Serbia (1458–1459) Angelina of Serbia, titular Despotess of Serbia (1460–1476) Jelena Branković, the last Queen of Bosnia (1461–1463) Mara Brankovic, daughter of Despot Đurađ, wife of Ottoman sultan Murad II (1435–1451) and stepmother of sultan Mehmed II Vuk Grgurević Branković, titular Despot of Serbia (1471–1485) Đorđe Branković, titular Despot of Serbia (1486–1497) Jovan Branković, titular Despot of Serbia (1493–1502)
Family tree
Predecessors
Unknown Nikola, Serb župan in modern-day Northern Albania Vojvoda Mladen, ruled Trebinje and Dračevica Ratislava, daughter of Vojvoda Mladen, married Altoman Vojinović
Brankovići
Branko Mladenović, son of Vojvoda Mladen, ruled Ohrid Nikola Radonja, the eldest son of Branko Mladenović who governed an estate in Serres region, married Jelena Mrnjavčević and later became a monk on Hilandar Vuk Branković, Prince of Raška and Kosovo, married Marija Lazarević Đurađ Branković, Prince and Despot of Serbia (1427–1456) Todor (died young) Grgur Branković, married Jelisaveta N (illegitimate) Vuk Grgurević, titular Despot of Serbia, married Barbara Frankopan Stefan Branković, Despot of Serbia (20 June 1458 - 8 April 1459), exiled from Serbia 1459, a saint of the Serbian Orthodox Church, married Angelina Arianiti Đorđe Branković, titular Despot of Serbia, later took monastic vows under the name Maksim, and became Metropolitan of Belgrade and Srem, died in 1516. (uncertain) Jelisaveta, married Alessio Spani, Lord of Drivasto and Polog Jovan Branković, Despot of Serbia, married Jelena Jakšić Marija, married Ferdinand Frankopan, of the House of Frankopan Jelena, married Peter IV Rareş, Prince of Moldavia Ana, married Fiodor Sanguszko, Marshal of Volhynia Marija Magdalena, married Iwan Wiśniowiecki, a noble from Volhynia Marija, married Bonifacio III, Mongrave of Montferrat (uncertain) Milica Despina, married Neagoe Basarab, prince of Wallachia Lazar Branković, Despot of Serbia (24 December 1456 - 20 June 1458), married Jelena Palaiologina Jelena, married Stjepan Tomašević, King of Bosnia (1461–1463) and Despot of Serbia (1459), Jerina, married Gjon Kastrioti II, son of Skanderbeg Milica, married Leonardo III Tocco, Lord of Epirus Jelena Mara, married Murad II, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire Katarina Branković, married Ulrich II, Count of Celje Grgur Lazar Grgur Branković, Lord of Polog under Vukašin Mrnjavčević Teodora Branković, married George Thopia, Prince of Albania and Lord of Durazzo
References
Sources
External links House of Brankovic, Marko Pistalo, No 3205, 2013. Holy line of the Brankovics by Željko Fajfrić