Smederevo Fortress

The site had good transport links and military strategic properties for defence, while also providing ample space for future expansion of the town and a wealth of agricultural resources in the hinterland to sustain the population.    

The nature of the soil itself influenced the triangular shape of the base, while the sheer size and monumental construction of the Fortress reflected its role of the last stronghold, thrust upon it by historical circumstances. 

With its surface area of 10.5 hectares, encompassed by the ramparts, it is among Europe’s largest lowland fortifications and the largest fortified structure in the mediaeval Serbian state. 

As he embarked on the task of erecting a new capital of mediaeval Serbia, Despot Djuradj Branković was driven by a desire to create a modern capital city, rather than just a military stronghold.

Gradually, the Smederevo Fortress acquired all the trappings of a large mediaeval city.    

In parallel with the fortification, it also saw the construction of the court, two churches (only one of which has been discovered to date) and residential and commercial quarters, which have unfortunately not been preserved for the most part. 

In a short while, Smederevo emerged as a vibrant political, ecclesiastical, cultural, commercial and economic centre of Serbia. 

Therefore, given the circumstances of its creation, its concept and the worldview of the day, instead of the Smederevo Fortress, the name under which it is now commonly known, it would be much more appropriate to refer to it as the Town of Smederevo.    

Unfortunately, due to historical circumstances, the original idea only partly came to fruition, in the first three decades of the town’s existence (1428-1459).   

In the subsequent course of its history, Smederevo would never again have such a prominent role as the one for which it was originally destined.    

It was built from 1428 to 1439, when works were completed on the two main fortification units: the Fortified Court (the so-called Small Town) and the Large Town, covering a total surface area of 10.50 hectares and featuring 25 massive towers built on a rectangular base, and with a rampart between 3.00 and 5.00 metres thick.

In front of the land rampart was a moat filled with water, which completed the defensive power of the Smederevo Fortress based on water, earning it the nickname of the “water town”, a common reference in historical sources.

Construction works on the fortress were managed by the brother of Despotess Jerina, Thomas Kantakouzenos, who probably designed and shaped its concept.   

The court saw a constant inflow of numerous envoys from all over contemporary Europe; Kir Stefan the Serb translated the first music theory textbook from Greek into Serbia; many learned individuals lived there; the Despot himself owned what was a large library of manuscripts by the standards of the day; and the court was the seat of the Metropolitan Bishop of Smederevo. 

Commercial and political relations were particularly strong with the people of Dubrovnik, who even had their merchants’ colony in the town.

A crucial event for the capital city and the entire Serbian people, deeply concerned for their future, was the transfer of relics of Saint Luke the Evangelist from Rogos to Smederevo in early.