Olivera Lazarevic - the forgotten Serbian princess

Time has come to explain where my web nickname comes from. Many of you have been excited by the feats of Joan of Arc or brought to tears by the tragic fate of the last Russian princesses. Here’s the less known story I want to tell you, but no less interesting and dramatic, except for it ended relatively well for its heroine who slightly reminds me of George Martin’s Margaery Tyrell.

Picture source: riznicazsrpska.net

Olivera («olive tree» in latin), born in 1373, was youngest daughter of Serbian Prince Lazar - the last independent ruler of medieval Serbia - and his spouse Milica. The princess had younger brothers Vuk and Stefan and older sisters Mara, Dragana, Theodora and Jelena. «Despina» is not the second name but a title which is referred to a wife or a daughter of a Serbian ruler.

The princess spent her early years at her father’s palace at Kruševac and seems to have been got solid education. Princess and princesses studied religious texts and chronicles, Greek, Latin, Maths and music. The daughters of Lazar were also familiar with Christian theology, philosophy and diplomacy, and the knowledge that Olivera obtained at her father’s court were going to play a crucial role in the young lady’s further fate and that of her homeland.

There’s a legend that golden-haired Olivera won the heart of Miloš Obilić, the valiant Serbian knight who frequently appeared at her father’s court and, according to the Serbian epic cycle, was accepted there as one of the family. We’ll never know that for sure, as the threat of Turkish invasion impended upon Serbia and all the Europe.

During the disastrous battle of Kosovo on 28 June 1389, attempting to change the course of the battle against the more numerous Turks, Miloš Obilić managed to get close to Sultan Murad and stab him. However, the Sultan’s younger son Bayezid was quick enough to replace Murad at the head of the Turkish army and defeated the united Slavic troops joined by a number of knights from Western Europe. Miloš Obilić, Prince Lazar, who was wounded and captured some time later, and many other noble Serbs (including Milica’s father) were executed on the spot. So, Olivera lost a dear person in this battle, perhaps, two. But her troubles were not to end there.

Luckily, her teenage brothers returned to Kruševac safe and sound. Milica became the ruler of Serbia until Stefan’s age of majority and had to proceed with the peace talks with Ottoman Empire. To win the most advantageous conditions possible, Serbian clergy and gentry insisted that Olivera should marry Bayezid to guarantee peace to her country. In addition to Olivera’s marriage to the new Sultan, Serbia was obliged to pay a tribute and support some of Turkey’s military campaigns.

The legend says that when Olivera, accompanied by her brothers, set out for the former Bulgarian city Adrianople, Bayazid’s European capital (Edirne in Turkish), people paved her way with roses to show respect for her sacrifice. We only can guess what the princess felt being married to a man who was the cause of her father’s death. Anyway, she managed to win decades of peace and relative freedom for her country, «whispering things in her brother’s favor».

By the moment of marrying Olivera, Bayezid already had three wives, six children and hundreds of most striking women in his harem, but somehow the blond Serbian princess enchanted him, though she never converted to Islam and only gave birth to three daughters. Thanks to her courage, willpower and intellect, the Serbian princess is said to have had a great influence over the powerful ruler who had access to beauty of any kind. For twelve years she stayed his most precious wife; Bayezid took Olivera with himself wherever he went. Some sources say that it was the Serbian princess who inclined the Sultan into drinking wine, which is regarded by Islam religion as a sin. When her younger brother Stefan started talks with the king of Hungary and was suspected of treason (in fact, he never left the hope to regain independence), his life was saved by Olivera’s interference. Being not only a ruler but also a writer, Stefan dedicated a touching literary work «The word of love» to his sister.

In 1402, the battle of Ankara against Timur-leng (Tamerlane), Emir of Samarkand, became fatal for Bayezid (nicknamed «Thunderbolt» for the surprise of his attacks) who got too used to being a winner and whose mind had been blurred by heavy drinking. Underrating his enemy’s advantages, the Osman ruler was defeated and taken into captivity together with Olivera.

According to a widespread belief, she suffered some great humiliation that made Bayezid take his life by poison. Some sources say Timur made Olivera serve him wine while naked. Others say that she was raped. Some doubt that she and Bayezid ever were mistreated in captivity and claim that the Sultan’s death had natural causes. Soon Olivera was released and joined her brother in Serbia, becoming his faithful counselor until his early death in 1427.

Back to her homeland, the princess never remarried. Some historians suppose that she might have really loved Bayezid, but my personal believe is that she wanted to live at last for herself and her people, the luxury that a rare woman could afford at that time. She spent the late years of her life at her nephew's place in Smederevo and often visited her elder sister Jela in Dubrovnik, much regarded by its inhabitants.

Olivera supposedly died in 1444, and her burial place is unknown.

Sources:
http://akademskikrug.rs/olivera-srpska-princeza-turska-kaduna/
https://www.srbijadanas.com/clanak/bajazitova-sudenica-pogledajte-koliko-je-bila-lepa-kci-kneza-lazara-foto-09-02-2015
http://www.kosovo.net/sk/history/dorich_kosovo/kosovo01.htm