Saint Đorđe Branković

Đorđe Branković (Serbian Cyrillic: Ђорђе Бранковић; anglicized as George; also known as Saint Maksim; 1461–1516) was the last male member of the Branković dynasty, and titular Despot of Serbia from 1486 to 1497. The title was granted to him by Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus. From 1493, he shared the title with his brother Jovan. In 1497, Đorđe relinquished all titles and possessions to his brother, and decided to take monastic vows, adopting the name Maksim (Serbian Cyrillic: Максим). He built the Krušedol monastery, and served as diplomatic envoy for prince Radu IV the Great of Wallachia (1507). In 1513, he became Metropolitan of Belgrade. After his death (1516), he was venerated as saint, and canonized by the Serbian Orthodox Church. Đorđe was the son of Stefan Branković, exiled Despot of Serbia (1458–1459), and the Albanian Princess Angjelina Arianiti, daughter of Gjergj Arianiti. He was born in 1461, while his parents were residing in the region of Shkoder. The family later moved to northern Italy and acquired Castle Belgrado in the region of Friuli. His father, Despot Stefan, died in 1476, and young Đorđe became his principal heir. In 1479, emperor Friedrich III granted them Castle Weitensfeld in Carinthia, and Đorđe moved there with the rest of family. Đorđe′s first cousin Vuk Branković, titular Despot of Serbia, died on April 16, 1485, without direct heirs. His title and vast estates in the Kingdom of Hungary were left vacant, prompting Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus to find a suitable heir. He opted for the only remaining male members of Branković family (Đorđe and his brother Jovan), inviting them to come to Hungary. In 1486, Đorđe arrived in Hungary and received the title of Despot of Serbia from King Matthias, who granted him cities of Kupinik, Slankamen, and Berkasovo in Syrmia, as well as other towns which fell under these cities. In 1487, Đorđe was married to Isabella del Balzo (d.