Between Byzantium and the Ottoman World: Political Authority, Religious Identity, and Statecraft in the Reign of Despot Stefan Lazarević
Between Byzantium and the Ottoman World: Political Authority, Religious Identity, and Statecraft in the Reign of Despot Stefan Lazarević

Summary/Abstract: The reign of Despot Stefan Lazarević (1377–1427) represents one of the most significant periods in the history of medieval Serbia. Emerging from the political and military consequences of the Battle of Kosovo (1389), Stefan governed a state situated betwee n two competing spheres of influence: the Byzantine world and the expanding Ottoman Empire. This study examines the political and religious vision that shaped his rule, focusing on the ways in which he combined Byzantine models of legitimacy, Orthodox spirituality, and pragmatic diplomacy in order to preserve and strengthen Serbian statehood. Particular attention is given to his transition from Ottoman vassalage to a more autonomous political position following the Battle of Ankara (1402), his reception of the Byzantine title of despot, his support for monastic institutions, and his patronage of the Resava cultural movement. The article argues that Stefan developed a distinctive model of governance in which political authority and religious identity functioned as complementary instruments of state consolidation. By situating his policies within the broader context of late medieval Balkan history, the study highlights the enduring significance of his reign for the formation of Serbian political and cultural identity.

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