Summary
Mihailo Popović: Mara Branković
A woman between Christian and Islamic cultural circles in the 15th century Mara Branković, daughter of the despot Đurđ Branković, wife of Sultan Murat II and stepfather of Mehmed II, the conqueror of Constantinople in 1453, belongs to the most interesting personalities of the Balkan history of the 15th century. In addition to participating in the diplomatic negotiations of the Turkish Empire and mediating on the order of Mehmed II, she did a lot for her compatriots, primarily through her donation and founding activities. She especially took care of the monasteries of Svetogorje, Hilandar and Sveti Pavlo. This monograph, which covers different cultures and peoples, tells about the life of Mara Branković based on a large number of written sources, Byzantine, Serbian, Turkish and Latin. Historical sources, chronicles, travelogues, charters and letters, especially documents from the State Archives in Venice, allowed the author to devote himself to the issue of the organization of the Turkish sultan's harem, as well as the social position that Mara had there with regard to her religion and origin. For the first time in science, all written sources from the 15th century, as well as somewhat later ones, in which Mara is mentioned, were collected. What freedom of action did she have in certain periods of her life? How much should the degree of her independent performance be appreciated? What title did she have in the written sources of that time? What was her real influence on the diplomacy and politics of the ruling sultan? Detailed and documented, along with new knowledge about Mari Branković, a broader picture is presented, both of her family and of the political and cultural history of Southeast Europe.
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