District of Branković

The District of Branković centred around present-day Kosovo, with cities such as Pristina being particularly important.

History

Vuk Branković was the son of Branko of Ohrid, who governed lands in Macedonia under Stefan Dušan (1331–1346). After the Battle of Maritsa, the Serb nobility had been weakened. This led to Branković rapidly expanding his authority over much of present-day Kosovo and Macedonia.

The Realm of Branković was located in the largest part of present-day Kosovo and parts of Southern Serbia. Vuk also governed eastern parts of the Raška region (including the old Serbian capital Ras) and lands in Polimlje, in present-day northern Montenegro, as well as Skoplje for a short time. After the death of Đurađ I Balšić of Zeta in 1373, Vuk captured cities of Prizren and Peć and the area of Metohija. The most important cities in Vuk's Realm were Priština, Prizren, Skopje, Peć and Ras, as well as the rich mining settlements of Novo Brdo, Trepča, Janjevo, Gluhavica and others.

The semi-independent lordship ceased to exist as such with the establishment of Serbian Despotate by Stefan Lazarević. Still, the Branković wielded a significant amount of power in the state, controlling most of Serbia's extremely rich ore extraction sites. Đurađ Branković inherited the title of Serbian despot as Stefan died childless.