Right-believing (Ruler) 15th century

Saint Stephen the Blind of Serbia

c. 1417 – October 9, 1476

Also known as Stefan Brankovic

A fifteenth-century Serbian ruler who was blinded and endured exile, remembered for patience and faithfulness to Christ.

Feast Day

October 9

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Commemorated as

The Holy and Right-believing Despot Stefan the Blind of Serbia, Confessor

Life

Stefan Branković (Serbian: Стефан Бранковић), known as Stefan the Blind, was a fifteenth-century Serbian ruler of the Branković dynasty who briefly held the title of Despot of the Serbian Despotate. Born around 1417 in Belgrade, he was a son of Despot Đurađ Branković and Irene Kantakouzene.

Together with his elder brother Grgur, Stefan was blinded in 1441 on the order of the Ottoman Sultan Murad II, after Grgur was accused of plotting against the sultan. He bore his blindness and subsequent exile for some thirty-five years, and is remembered for his patience and faithfulness to Christ.

He ruled as Despot of Serbia only briefly, from January 1458 to March 1459, making him the last ruling member of the Branković dynasty. After losing the throne he lived in exile, eventually settling in Friuli in northern Italy, where he died in 1476.

Stefan is venerated as a saint by the Serbian Orthodox Church, both individually and as part of the Holy Branković Family, alongside his wife Angelina and their sons Jovan and Đorđe.

Timeline 7 moments Read Hide

c. 1417 Birth in Belgrade Stefan Branković was born around 1417 in Belgrade, a son of Đurađ Branković and Irene Kantakouzene.
1441 Blinded by order of Sultan Murad II On 8 May 1441 Stefan and his elder brother Grgur were blinded with hot irons on the order of the Ottoman Sultan Murad II, after Grgur was accused of plotting against the sultan. Stefan and his sister Mara had resided at the Ottoman court.
Jan 19, 1458 – Mar 21, 1459 Despot of Serbia Following the death of his younger brother Lazar, Stefan claimed the throne and ruled as Despot of the Serbian Despotate, the last ruling member of the Branković dynasty. He lost the throne to Stjepan Tomašević.
Late 1459 Exile to Albania Having lost the throne, Stefan traveled to Albania.
November 1460 Marriage to Angelina Arianiti Stefan married Angelina Arianiti Komneni, daughter of Prince Gjergj Arianiti and a relative of the military leader Skanderbeg, in Albania.
c. 1462 Settlement in Friuli By 1461 Stefan moved to Italy, settling at Castle Belgrado in Friuli, where he remained for the rest of his life.
October 9, 1476 Repose in Friuli Stefan died at Castle Belgrado near Varmo in Friuli, northern Italy, having endured his blindness for some thirty-five years. He was later buried at Kupinovo.

Contributions & Legacy

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Historical Context

Stefan belonged to the Branković dynasty, one of the final Serbian ruling families of the medieval period. His father Đurađ Branković reigned from 1427 to 1456, the family's peak of power, though that power was constrained by Ottoman vassal status.

Stefan and his sister Mara resided at the court of Sultan Murad II; Mara had been given in marriage to the sultan. In April 1441, while Grgur governed his father's former estates as an Ottoman vassal following the 1439 Ottoman capture of Smederevo, Grgur was accused of treason. As a consequence, both brothers were blinded in 1441 at Edirne (Adrianople).

Rule and Legacy

After the death of his younger brother Lazar Branković, Stefan claimed the Serbian throne and ruled as despot from January 1458 to March 1459. His was a brief reign, and with the loss of the throne to Stjepan Tomašević the Branković dynasty ceased to rule.

Stefan spent his final years in exile, moving from Albania to Italy and settling in Friuli. He is venerated as a saint by the Serbian Orthodox Church and appears among the saints of the Serbian Orthodox Church as a royal saint of Serbia.

Family

Stefan was a son of Despot Đurađ Branković and Irene Kantakouzene. His siblings included Grgur Branković, who was blinded alongside him and later became a monk under the name German at Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos; Mara Branković, wife of Sultan Murad II; Katarina, who married Ulrich II of Celje; and Lazar Branković.

In 1460 Stefan married Angelina Arianiti Komneni, born around 1440 in Berat, a daughter of Prince Gjergj Arianiti. Their children included Đorđe, who died in 1516 and later became Metropolitan of Ungro-Wallachia; Jovan, a titular despot who died in 1502; and Marija, who died in 1495 and married Boniface III, Marquess of Montferrat. A daughter Irene is recorded as having died in childhood.

After Stefan's death, Angelina retired to Krušedol Monastery in Fruška Gora and is herself venerated as Venerable Mother Angelina. Stefan, Angelina, Jovan, and Đorđe are together venerated as the Holy Branković Family by the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Veneration

Stefan's principal commemoration falls on October 9, the day of his repose. He is also venerated together with members of his family on December 10.

He is buried at Kupinovo, and is counted among the Eastern Orthodox royal saints of Serbia.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints