The Life and Deeds of the Ever-Remembered Despot Stefan

when (the king) had returned, the Despot went every year to the council (of the western rulers), and never returned without having received (new) cities and lands. Thus he went to them in person, and they came to him. (And) not only (that), but before this the (Hungarian) king also sometimes stayed in his White City /Belgrade/; and they passed through the Hungarian and Serbian cities (as) from (their own) house to (their own) house; O wonders, when has anyone anywhere heard of (anything) like this?! In the world the eastern rulers (were) hostile (toward) the western (rulers), they plundered (their) lands and made war on one another, yet this one (Despot Stefan) sent his army to the eastern (rulers) against the western, and to the western (rulers) he went in person to seek counsel. Both these (things) he did openly, and that for many years. And truly, no one indeed did anything of the kind, but he alone, great and extraordinary in wisdom and strength. And after him this remained as a kind of established law. Nor was this easy for the western (rulers) to bear, but they knew that (he) was as a kind of shield and an unshakable force; and their priests said: "Again we pray for the most pious Despot who is in the Serbian land." Their noblest and bravest came to serve the Despot as though he were a king. And at the council of all the grandees one of the knights of the most pious (Despot) defeated the strongest (in the tournament) and took the victor's crown. This one (Despot Stefan) had the right to bestow (knightly) distinctions on noble kings and glorious knights, so that they took pride, (considering themselves above) the king's (knights), saying: "The Despot gave me the rank of knight." Let us say something also of the eastern (rulers). The aforementioned sultan honored him (i.e., the Despot) with (many) praises and with love because of his excellence. When he (seized) and bound the commander of his army (Mihail-bey), he said to those who pleaded for him: "If I do not receive from my brother the Despot (his) opinion, I will not release him." He sent (a message to the Despot with a request) for counsel, and he answered: "If thou wilt nourish a serpent in thy house, then bind it and cut off its tail." Hearing this, (the sultan) did not free (Mihail-bey) until his own death. So (it was) also with all his other counsels. The sultan waged war in the east, and (again) sent his army through Bosnia against the Hungarians; the Hungarian bans who had come there they captured and defeated; they brought them to the sultan, and (thanks to) the Despot's intercession they ransomed themselves with money and escaped a bitter death. This happened with Petar and Ivaniš Mirovijski. The sultan returned (home) and brought back the Bulgarian captives whom (Sultan) Musa had driven out. The sultan lived in peace with all with whom he had from the beginning established love. He died in Adrianople (peacefully), not making war, and they concealed his death from (the powerful).

78. When the news of what had happened reached the Despot, many incited him, even some of the eastern (rulers). He answered: "I swore to the sultan that I would do good to his children." At that time there came (also) his nephew Balša, the Albanian lord.¹²⁹ Sensing his death, for he had long been ill, he died there (as well). (The Despot) with great honor and sorrow prepared (and) buried him. Then, seizing a fitting time and taking all his army, he set out against the Albanians. And they, knowing his exceptional right (hand) and seeing him, all soon came to him with joy.