The Life and Deeds of the Ever-Remembered Despot Stefan

lands and to the Holy Mountain of Athos. It was told also that at that time it was possible for (Emperor) John to preserve the rule of Constantinople. And it was told (likewise) how the noble (men) said to Kantakouzenos: "Arise and take thy state, as a scion of the most noble and most radiant and most ancient Greek emperors." Him the emperor had then left with John in the place of his much-beloved brother, but this one would not raise his hand against the blessed Manuel. And the chosen emperor sat upon his throne, giving thanks to God, who had led him through water and fire into peace, for all that had come to pass. The great battle at Ankara (Angora) was in the year (of the Lord) 6911 (1403). The children of Bayezid held on in the eastern regions, (and) Sultan Mehmed in the upper land (that is, in the northern). In the end it was shown that (he) ruled more honorably and better than all his brothers. And Musa,⁷⁷ then, fled to the Tatars; Ase-beg⁷⁸ (went) to Anatolia, until Süleyman slew him. And Mustafa died.

44. In the western lands Süleyman established himself; having learned what had become of (Despot) Stefan, and knowing that he wished to come to the western regions, he himself set out there with all his men. With the aforesaid Süleyman at that time were also the sons of the Despot's elder sister Marija /Mara/; they, against their will, fought together with the Turks, for it was not possible otherwise. Therefore the emperor sent them to guard and watch over the roads throughout his land, for the most pious (Despot Stefan) could not pass anywhere else.

45. God thought best of him and (did) so that he might be glorified with greater glory. For, having set out from the aforesaid island (of Mytilene) on ships, with the desire to land in the Albanian land, the lord of those regions welcomed him there with the greatest cordiality. And he was also his brother-in-law. That Albanian lord, by the name of Đurađ (Stracimirović), had taken as his wife Jelena, the sister (of the Despot). With her he had a son, Balša, who also ruled that land and shone (like the sun) with many good deeds. The Despot informed his most pious lady mother (Milica) of his coming; the aforesaid brother-in-law (of the Despot) gave him an army, as much as he could, to accompany him. Going (thus), he drew near to the Serbian land, where the first Serbian archbishopric was. And what were they to do after this, who held the roads with such force, and had examined everything precisely, and were so great a multitude? As Homer said of the Trojan war, that the Hellenes, even two at a time, were against Heracles, and he against so many, alone, so to speak, like lightning hurls fire into battle, scatters them and prevails. Having come, then, to Kosovo, where his father too (had been), and having learned that there were many Turks (there), he arrayed the army that was with him in two regiments, as Jacob once did, so that if one were cut down, the other would be saved; if one brother should fall, the other would remain shepherd to the pious flock. With the utmost haste the army (that) his mother (Milica) (sent) set out, and it arrived soon (thanks to) the mother's care, but nevertheless with delay in time and insufficiently equipped. The greater part of the army (the Despot) gave also to his brother Vuk, and he himself took the lesser part and went into battle. The Ishmaelite army was deployed further off and (likewise divided) into two regiments. He /the Despot/ went alone into the region called Gračanica, where he found that one (Đurađ Branković) with them /the Turks/, for whom (he himself) had earlier fought.