User:Bbik/Smederevo

Smederevo fortress
The small town
General information
Architectural style	Byzantine fortification
Town or city	Smederevo
Country	Serbia
Construction started	1428
Completed	1430 (small town) 1439 (fortified suburb) 1480s (outer defenses) early 18th century (trenches)
Client	Đurađ Branković
Technical details
Size	11 hectares

Smederevo fortress (Serbian Latin: Smederevska tvrđava, Cyrillic: Cмeдepeвcκa твpђaвa), in Smederevo, Serbia, was a medieval fortified city and temporary capital of Serbia. It was built by Despot Đurađ Branković in the first half of the 15^th century, during the era of the Serbian Despotate. Later that century, it received additional fortifications from the Turks.

Despite withstanding several sieges by Turks and Serbs, Smederevo fortress survived relatively unscathed. It was not until World War II that it was heavily damaged, by explosions and bombing. Though it is now in the midst of extensive restoration and conservation work, the fortress remains "one of the rare preserved courts of medieval Serbian rulers."

Location

Smederevo fortress, 45 kilometers southeast of Belgrade, covers 11.3 hectares in the center of the modern-day city of Smederevo. It is strategically located on the right bank of the Danube river on the triangular plain formed by the confluence of the Danube and Jezava rivers, only 72 meters above sea level. This location allowed the Serbian capital to remain near the Christian Kingdom of Hungary, while also satisfying Sultan Murad II of the Ottoman Empire by eliminating the uncontrolled passage of the Hungarians into the Morava valley.

The fortress' position connecting the Balkans and Central Europe has made it an important religious and commercial center for centuries, now aided by being on the Pan-European X corridor. The Danube also connects it to many other historic sites, most notably Belgrade and its suburb of Vinča, Novi Sad, Golubac fortress, Lepenski Vir and Viminacium.

History

• visit
• conquest
• SUC
• sima
• anjou
• turkishh
• turkishm
• answers history 1450-? section
• elsie
• heilprin
• mehmed see pg 19 for info on durad's sons/blinding/etc, pg 30 for zseged envoys
• vezirs

• mosque (sacral complex?) and bath still existed at least as late as August 1758 ([2])

Serbian control

Amidst the turbulence of the Ottoman conquest of the Balkans in early 15^th century, the region's Christian rulers lost several battles, such as the Battle of Kosovo and the siege of Veliko Tarnovo. Despot Stefan Lazarević had to maintain the Serbian Despotate in a delicate balance between the Ottomans and Hungarians. Around 1403, he accepted the Hungarian vassalage from King Sigismund and established the new capital in Belgrade, which was ceded to him as an award. After Stefan's death in 1426, Đurađ Branković, Stefan's nephew and successor, had to return Belgrade to the Hungarians. To compensate for this loss, Đurađ decided to build a new capital, and the choice fell to Smederevo.

Smederevo, which had no prior settlement, was chosen for several reasons. In 1428, during the Ottoman Empire's war with Venice, the Hungarians and Ottomans agreed to recognize Branković as an independent ruler of Serbia, thereby turning it into a buffer state. A contract also established Ottoman overlordship of Serbia, in conjunction with remaining a Hungarian vassal. Between the longer status with Hungary and religious differences with the Ottomans (Hungary and Serbia were Christian, as compared to the Muslim Turks), it was preferred that the capital be closer to Hungary than the Ottoman Empire. Smederevo's location on the Danube, between Belgrade and Golubac, provided easy access to other points along the river. It also allowed the control of Danube traffic, including blocking Hungarian entry into the Morava valley, which satisfied the Turks.

In the fall of 1428, construction of the capital began. In 1430, the first part of the fortress, including a palace and enough other buildings to form a small town, was completed. Work on a fortified suburb and additional fortifications continued until 1439.

On April 20, 1434, Đurađ Branković's youngest daughter Katarina and Ulrich II of Celje were wed in the new fortress. This marriage stressed the friendly relations the Despot had with the Ottoman Porte, however, as Ulrich's kinship with the Hungarian Queen implied an increased Serbo-Hungarian alliance. As a result, Vizier Mehmet Saridže-pasha arrived in Smederevo in mid-1434 with a message from Edirne. It stated that Serbia's safety from the Ottoman Empire could only be guaranteed through the marriage of Branković's older daughter to Sultan Murad II. After much deliberation, the council convoked at the palace conceded, and arrangements were made for Mara to be engaged to the Sultan. That autumn, Murad sent several of his "most famous viziers" to retrieve his fiancée.

On August 14, 1435, a formal contract of "brotherhood and friendship" between Serbia and the Republic of Venice was signed in Smederevo's audience hall. This contract resulted in Đurađ and his sons being counted as Venetian citizens.

In 1437, Murad II, who had been attacking the surrounding countries, turned to Serbia and met with a defensive force at Smederevo. Led by John Hunyadi, until then known only as the "Raven Knight", the small Hungarian force sent the Turks into full retreat.

In early June 1439, the relative peace with the Ottomans, which had been gained through Mara's marriage to the Sultan, was broken. Led by Murad II, 130,000 Turkish soldiers covered the hills around Smederevo. Branković rushed to Hungary for help, leaving his son Grgur and son-in-law Thomas Kantakouzenos in command. Help was not forthcoming, but Smederevo withstood the attack, even when Murad brought in cannons.

Nearly three months later, after a small force sent by King Albert offered no help, hunger forced the Serbs to surrender on August 18, 1439. The Ottomans had conquered almost all of Serbia; the silver mines at Novo Brdo were the sole exception. Princes Grgur and Stefan were sent to Anatolia and blinded, despite the pleas of their sister, now Sultana Mara. Five years later, however, Smederevo, Grgur, and Stefan returned to Branković through the Peace of Szeged, and Branković peacefully reentered the fortress on August 22, 1444.

In 1441, Ishak Pasha of Smederevo raided the countryside, prompting pursuit by Hunyadi. They met at the Battle of Smederevo, where Hunyadi drove the Turks back into the fortress and retook the extensive spoils and prisoners they had captured. Following the Second Battle of Kosovo in 1448, Hunyadi was imprisoned in the fortress by Branković, who was angry about the army's looting of the Serbian countryside. Marriage negotiations between his son Matthias Corvinus and Branković's daughter-in-law Elizabeth Cilli gained his release.

The land you rule over does not belong to you but to Lazar's son Stjepan, and consequently to me. I can cede to you the share of Vuk, your father, as well as Sofia (Skopje). If you refuse, I will fall on you.

—Sultan Mehmed II to Despot Đurađ Branković, 1454

In the spring of 1454, Sultan Mehmed II and Isak-bey Arbanazović lead a devastating raid on Serbia, taking 50,000 men, women, and children as slaves and demanding Branković turn over Smederevo fortress. Branković's refusal brought about the Seige of Smederevo, during which the outer wall was breached. Smederevo's 6,000 men, lead by Thomas Kantakouzenos, held the main fortress against the Ottoman's 20,000 sipahis until Ottoman victories in Omol and Ostrovica ended the seige. In retaliation, Hunyadi attacked the 32,000-man guard force left at Kruševac, taking prisoner the commander, Firuz Bey, and bringing him to Branković on October 2, 1454.

The next year, Mehmed and Đurađ Branković signed a treaty which allowed the Serbian Despotate to remain a buffer state between the Ottoman Empire and Hungary. Lazar Branković renewed the agreement when he acceeded to the throne, but it collapsed in 1458 after he died without heirs.

• 13 for more explanation jstor
• revolution at end of march 1458 over whether turks or hungarians are to rule, hungarian side won, mihailo, brother of grand vizier mahmud pasha, imprisoned/sent to hungary mid-april, mahmud pasha gets impatient, agaisnt others opinions attacks serbia, takes much, breaches big town, but can't take castle, quit and took more of serbia jstore
• 1458 Mihailo Anđelović elected ruler of serbia, turkish, lured to smed and chained, something about fighting for control again (pg 154) (also pg 95-97 in vezirs), rule instead went to stephan brankovic, aug 1458 golubac fell, despotate little more than capital (smed), oct 15 king matthias imprisoned uncle michael szila'gyi in smed for conspiracy mehmed
• ...after the death of Despot Lazar in January 1458, a regency was formed consisting of Lazar's wide Helen, his brother Stephen, and Michael Angelovic. Helen and Stephen were prone to accept Hungarian influence in Serbia, while Michael opted for Ottoman influence. Michael and some of his followers staged a revolt in the Serbian capital Smederevo, but were defeated. Michael was captured by Helen, who surrenedered him to the Hungarians. vezirs
• Turks conquer all of northern Serbia except Smederevo. Death of despot Lazar (1458). SUC
• Under the rule of Mohammed II (1451- 1481), the Turks began to conquer the vassal states systematically and Serbia found itself under attack every year (1451-1459). In those assaults, the territory of Serbia grew ever smaller... sima

Ottoman control

In 1459, Smederevo was captured by the Ottomans, leading to the end of the medieval Serbian state.

• Meanwhile Mehmed, meeting with no resistance, was approaching Smederevo with his army. No one thought seriously of defending the city. As soon as the Ottoman army was seen in the distance, the notables opened the gates, trooped out to present the sultan with the keys to the city, and implored his protection. On Wednesday, June 20, 1459, the famous Serbian city fell into the sultan's hands without a struggle. mehmed
• The fall of Smederevo appears to have created almost as much emotion in the West as the capture of Constantinople. Enea Silvio Piccolomini, who at the death of the aged Calixtus III, on August 6, 1458, had mounted the chair of St. Peter as Pius II, aptly termed Smederevo "a gateway to Rascia". Both he and King Matthias put the full blame for its shameful surrender on the treachery of the Bosnians, the king, his brother, and his son. By way of punishment, all property on the Serbian Despotate on Hungarian soil was confiscated. Only Helena Brankovic, Lazar's widow, was allowed, in accordance with a previous agreement, to leave the country with her treasures. Stjepan Tomaš had fled shortly before. Helena and her daughters went first to Bosnia by way of Hungary and later to Italy, where they lived in various places. Helena died on Nov 7, 1473, as a nun on the island of Levkas (Santa Mavra). mehmed
• The notables of Smederevo, who had been so helpful to the sultan, were richly rewarded with money and lands. Only the Hungarian garrison and those citizens who showed signs of recalcitrance were taken prisoner and led away. At the sight of the Ottoman banners, the smaller fortresses of northern Serbia surrendered without resistance. By the end of 1459 all of Serbia was in Ottoman hands. Such was the ignominious end of a once proud kingdom. Metamorphosed into the monk Germanos, the blind Grgor vanished. He died on October 16, 1459, presumably in Chilandar on the sacred Mount Athos, where, in any event, he was buried. Only his sister Mara lived out her life in peace.... (164, more mara) mehmed
• 1459 Surrender of Semendria (June) turkishm
• Smederevo finally fell on June 20, 1459. sima
• Despot Stefan Tomasevic, despot of Serbia (1459), king of Bosnia (1461-1463).
  Final fall of Smederevo to Turks, central Serbian state disappears. Stefan returns to Bosnia (1459). SUC
• But by taking the fortress by Sultan Mehmed 1459, not only had the town lost of its importance, but this tragedy signified the end of the Serbian medieval State. visit
• 1459 thomas kanta part of defense of smed vezirs
• 1459 "In fact, mehmed II came only to Shehirkijy (Pirot), and the keys of Smederevo were handed to him by the Serbian envoys in Sofia [skopje?]. Then the Sultan sent an imperial order to the Sanjakbeg of that region to take over Smederevo. This Sanjakbeg was probably Ali Beg, who had been blockading the city before the Sultan's expedition" jstor
  • smed taken easily because:
    • hungarian king busy with german emperor in west
    • many in smed supported turks
    • Stephan Tomašević asked aid from father, king of bosnia, it didn't come
    • sultan made agreement directly with king's envoys (met on the road) to exchange smed for srebrnica
• In 1459 the Sultan Mehmed conquered it and the fortress belonged to the Ottomans during three centuries. visit
• The Turks continued their conquest until they finally seized the entire Serbian territory in 1459 when Smederevo fell into their hands. Serbia was ruled by the Ottoman Empire for almost five centuries. conquest
• Over the course of the Ottoman conquest and in subsequent centuries, many Orthodox Christians migrated northward and westward under the pressure of the Ottoman advance. Thus, a large Serbian presence was established in the Habsburg Monarchy. Population movements began in earnest after the Battle of Smederevo in 1459, and by 1483, up to two hundred thousand Orthodox Christians had moved into central Slavonia and Srijem. answers

• following years, smed base for many raids into rest of europe mehmed
• 1576 matthias reached smed after winning/destroying other ottoman cities in serbia, built three wooden forts nearby in prep for attacking smed (stuck at pg 352) mehmed

Modern Times

• Turkish-Austrian Battle of Smederevo on the Danube east of Belgrade in 1789 elsie
• The Austrians had conquered it three times in the XVIII century [maybe 19th, by other dates], but had been compelled to cede it to Turks. visit
• As late as 1806 when the I Serbian Insurrection had been in course, [before] the Turks had been thrown out. visit
• The Serbian rebels under Karadjordje Petrovic conquered it on November 8th 1808, and Smederevo became the centre of the First Serbian Insurrection in 1867 Turks had definitively left the town. visit

During World War II, German forces used the fortress for ammunition storage. On June 5, 1941, the ammunition exploded, blasting through the entirety of Smederevo and reaching settlements as far as 10 kilometers away. Much of the southern wall of the fortress was destroyed, the nearby railway station, packed with people, was blown away, and most of the buildings in the city were turned into debris. Around 2,500 people died in the explosion, and every other inhabitant was injured or wounded. Bombing by the Allies in 1944 caused further damage.

Current and future use

The fortress is currently used as a city park, and occasionally hosts festivals, concerts, fairs, and other cultural events. A stage has been built in the small town. To the southeast, the previously open space along the Jezava now boasts a harbor and a marina. There are also discussions underway to determine compatible future, modernized uses, and to develop projects to restore and rehabilitate the fortress.

Panoramic view of the fortified suburb

Cultural and historical significance

Smederevo fortress has been described as "one of the most striking and monumental pieces of architecture surviving from medieval Serbia" and "the witness of Serbian creative force." It is an accurate display of traditional medieval defensive architecture and has remained incredibly well preserved, suffering no major deterioration until World War II. The fortress and surrounding area have also accumulated evidence of the civilizations that developed throughout history, mainly from the 15^th – 20^th centuries, providing a direct testimony for the progress of the medieval Serbian state and corresponding Orthodox Church.

One of the fortress' double-arched windows

The fortress was built by Đurađ Branković as the new capital of Serbia. During construction, Branković's wife Jerina was seen speaking with the foreign overseers—her brother George Kantakouzenos and his men—which resulted in her being commonly associated with the project. Among the workers, this association, coupled with required long-term labor and high taxes, gained her the nickname Jerina Prokleta (Damned Jerina).

The amount of effort exerted also produced a variety of exaggerations and stories, such as the epic poem "Starina Novak i knez Bogosav" ("Starina Novak and Count Bogosav"), which stated that many people fled to the woods and became hajduci in order to escape taxes and further work. While there were in fact hajduci in the area, it is unclear whether they were actually related to the fortress' construction.

Once the first part was completed, Smederevo fortress quickly became an important connection between the Balkans and central Europe. Shortly after it was built, the city reached its peak importance as a religious, commercial, and trade center, at which point it was populated mainly by Serbs and colonies of merchants, primarily from Dubrovnik. Around the same time, the relics of Saint Luke the Evangelist, who became the patron saint of Smederevo, were brought and stored in the church in the fortress.

In relation to the structure itself, the small town is notable for the audience hall, which is a strong representation of Serbian medieval architecture. High in the stone wall on the Danube side, four sets of double-arched windows are carved in a combination of Gothic and Romanesque styles. This building is also where a merchant contract between the Republic of Venice and the Serbian Despotate was signed.

The Despot's inscription tower

There is also a tower in the the small town with a large brick inscription naming Đurađ Branković and stating the date of construction. It reads „V Hrista Boga blagoverni despot Gurg, gospodin Srblju i Pomorju zetskomu; zapovešću njegovom sazida se ovaj grad v leto 6938“ ("In Christ the Lord faithful despot Gurg, master of Serbs and the Littoral of Zeta. By His order this city was built in the year of 6938 [1430]"). Above it is an immured cross, which gains the tower the names "krstata kula" and "krstača". This type of inscription is rare, and found only on former Byzantine territory. It is the sole example in Yugoslavia.

In the fortified suburb are the minimal remains of two more significant stuctures. One was a sacral complex, Blagoveštenjska crkva (Annunciation Church), where the Saint's relics were stored. Though its construction began in the 15^th century, it was built over several historical phases. The second structure was a Turkish bath from the 17^th century.

For years, Smederevo fortress stood as the last defense against Ottoman assaults. During their attack in 1439, it also became the first site in Serbia to see cannonfire. When it fell in 1459, it became the center of a Turkish sanjak. Later, Smederevo was a province of the Hapsburg Monarchy, and between 1805–1807 it was once again the center of the renewed Serbian state.

Architecture

Plan of Smederevo fortress (Pale grey - Collapsed; Blue-grey - Dried out)

---

A. Fortified suburb B. Small town / Fortified manor

---

1. Main entry gate
2. City gate II
3. City gate I
4. Ship gate
5. Jezava gate
6. Flag tower
7. Turkish inscription tower
8. Water tower
9. Outer water trench
10. Inner water trench
11. Bridge
12. Small town gate
13. Rectangular tower
14. Keep (Donžon kula, Donjon tower)
15. Jerina's tower
16. Despot's inscription tower (krstata kula)
17. Audience hall / Throne hall
18. Palace
19. Bath remains
20. Church remains

Smederevo fortress is a monumental complex built in the Byzantine tradition and modeled after Constantinople fortress. Although its foundations were not intended to be submerged, it is classed as a water fortress because it is completely surrounded by water. After the fortress' completion, there was a decline in its military importance and few structural changes were made. As a result, the original architectural style has been preserved to this day.

The fortress is encircled by 1.5 kilometers of crenelated walls over 2 meters thick, and 25 towers which are each approximately 25 meters tall. Two sides were bordered by the Danube and Jezava rivers, though the Jezava has now been redirected away from the wall. The third side had two moats added to the defensive system, one for the small town and one for the suburb. The area south of the outer walls was left open.

Construction

There were four main phases in the construction of the fortress. The work on the first part, a fortified manor for Despot Đurađ Branković built at the confluence of the rivers, began in the autumn of 1428.

Under the eye of George Kantakouzenos, older brother of Despotina Jerina Branković, lumber, lime, and enormous stones from the former Roman cities of Mons Aureus (the modern village of Seone, west of Smederevo), Margum (at the mouth of the Great Morava), and Viminacium were collected. In the spring of 1429, Greek and Ragusan workers began the brickwork. In 1430, the elegant manor was completed. It included a palace stretching along the length of the moat wall; a throne hall against the Danube wall; a keep, Donžon kula (Donjon tower), in the corner formed by the walls; a treasury in a high chamber; and other auxiliary buildings, creating a small town.

A view to the Danube from a small town tower

The throne hall, where Branković received his visitors, was built with four double-arched windows, fashioned in a mixed Gothic/Romanesque style. Donžon kula was intended to be the final line of defense. It was constructed with walls over 4 meters thick, and housed the nobility during Turkish attacks. Hidden doors were also built into the Jezava wall, allowing for passage towards Hungary.

The next nine years were spent expanding the fortifications to include a larger fortified suburb, thereby finishing the main fortress. In the suburb, a sacral complex was built in phases from the 15^th century onwards, and a Turkish bath was added by the Ottomans in the 17^th century. It is unclear whether any long-term residential buildings were built. There was also a ship gate in the suburb's Danube wall, where sailors could enter the fortress.

Between 1460–1480, while held by the Ottoman Empire, a larger defensive system was built, including escarpments, low walls, and more towers. During the first half of the 18^th century, fortified trenches were added to the defenses.

Current condition

The state of deterioration of the fortress ranges widely, from krstata kula which is still well preserved, to sections of the walls which have seen no repair work and have collapsed in some places.

The southwestern wall of the fortified suburb

The first, and most severe, damage happened during World War II. On June 5, 1941, ammunition stored in the fortress exploded, destroying not only a large part of the southern wall, but also decimating most of Smederevo. Further damage was caused by the Allies' bombing in 1944.

A dam in the Iron Gate, completed in 1972, raised the water level of the lower Danube basin and caused significant flooding. Between 1970–1980, a system was built to protect the fortress and surrounding city from future high water, however there was once again major flooding in 2006, a result of heavy rainfall and melting snow.

The fortress has been the focus of restoration and conservation efforts, followed by archaeological and architectural research, since at least 1970. The majority of work so far was done between 1970–1995. While some parts were at least partially repaired, others only received conservation work and are still in bad condition.

In the small town, the foundation is the only part of the palace which remains standing, and the audience hall has only an outline where the base was. What remains has been partially restored and is now stable, though issues of vegetation growth and permanent maintenance remain. The surrounding towers also still need work, as many have collapsed. The town's restoration was followed in 1994–1995 with an archaeological investigation.

The southeastern wall of the fortified suburb

The fortified suburb is still in very bad condition. Parts of the wall are missing and several towers are leaning or partially collapsed. The corner tower behind the Turkish inscription tower, and the stretch of wall along the Danube have seen conservation efforts, and the southern wall, which has been restored several times as part of a levee, is stable, but the conservation work is of poor quality. Much of the time has instead been spent on archaeological excavations and research, especially of the remains of the sacral complex and Turkish bath.

The escarpment along the Danube, which had partially collapsed several times, has seen restoration work, and is now in good condition. On the other sides, much of the escarpment is gone or underground, and the overall condition is unknown.

The ambiance and setting are also threatened, though they remain the best along the Danube. The other two sides are surrounded by modern development, such as a marina on the eastern side, a railway to the south, and a variety of other urban structures.

The planned final result of the work is for full rehabilitation of both Smederevo fortress and its immediate surroundings, including relocating the railroad, though estimations of cost vary widely. Between 2003–2004, the cost for just the conservation work was estimated to be €10,600,000, while the total rehabilitation cost, including conservation, restoration, and research, reached as high as €22,000,000. In 2005, the combined cost for basic conservation and research dropped to €4,000,000.

Lasting risk factors

Despite conservation efforts, the fortress is still at risk of damage for several reasons, both natural and man-made. The higher level of groundwater resulting from the dam in the Iron Gate threatens its stability and has increased the number of floods, especially before the coast was consolidated. Air pollution and vegetation growth are also increasing the rate of decay. Urban encroachment, especially by the railroad, continues to threaten the character of the area surrounding the fortress. Unrestricted visits by tourists, combined with inadequate protection, maintenance, and support, both administrative and financial, also contribute to the slow deterioration of the fortress.

See also

• List of fortresses in Serbia
• Tourism in Serbia

Further reading

• Starina Novak i knez Bogosav on Wikisource (in Serbian)
• Interview regarding the sacral complex, Blagoveštenjska, and a proposed small town chapel, Dvorska. (in Serbian)
• Reaction to the above interview. (in Serbian)