George Branković

Timeline

1. 1377–1427Pristina · Serbian landsGeorge was the son of Vuk Branković and Mara Lazarević, of the Lazarević dynasty on his mother's side. After the Battle of Kosovo the family held its lands under Ottoman sovereignty; he gradually built up forces and Hungarian ties, and was designated Serbian heir by his childless uncle Stefan Lazarević.
2. 1427–1439Smederevo · Danube regionAfter Stefan's death in 1427 Belgrade passed to Hungary; George built the Smederevo fortress-palace at the confluence of the Danube and Jezava in 1428–1430 as his new capital. In 1429 he was formally granted the title of despot by Byzantine emperor John VIII. He paid tribute to Murad II and married his daughter Mara into the Ottoman court to buy breathing room.
3. 1439–1444Kingdom of Hungary · HungaryThe Ottomans captured Smederevo in 1439; George withdrew with his family into Hungary, living off fiefs such as Zemun and Slankamen, and planned counterattacks with Hunyadi and other commanders. During the Treaty of Szeged and the Varna Crusade he joined the Christian side in exchange for the return of his lands, recovering the capital around 1444.
4. 1444–1456Smederevo · Danube regionAfter restoring his realm he refused to turn his land into a crusade corridor. Before the Second Battle of Kosovo in 1448 he failed to join forces with Hunyadi, and afterwards detained the retreating Hunyadi, breaking their relationship. After the relief of Belgrade in 1456 he briefly recovered some lost territories, and died at Smederevo on 24 December 1456, nearly eighty years old.