Jakšić noble family
| Jakšić noble house Јакшићи |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Country |
 Serbian Despotate Kingdom of Hungary
|
| Estates | Nădlac |
| Titles | voivode (war-leader, duke) |
| Founded | before 1453 |
| Dissolution | after 1543 |
| Ethnicity |
Serb
|
The Jakšić (Serbian: pl. Јакшићи / Jakšići, Hungarian: Jaksics család) were a Serbian noble house that fought against the Ottoman Empire. The eponymous founder, Jakša, was a voivode (Duke) in the service of Serbian Despot Đurađ Branković, and after the fall of Serbia to the Ottomans his descendants joined the ranks of the Hungarian army, Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus titled them "pillars of Christianity".
Jakša was a vojvoda in the Serbian Despotate, under Despot Đurađ Branković. Jakša was mentioned in 1452 as Đurađ's envoy in the Republic of Ragusa. As an Ottoman vassal, Đurađ was forced to send an army to participate in the siege of Constantinople (1453). Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror did not tell Đurađ his intentions, but said that the cavalry would travel to Karaman. The sultan slaughtered civilians on his way to Constantinople, which he quickly besieged, Jakša hearing of this, wanted to return but was warned that if they would not continue, the sultan would destroy the Serbs. The cavalry reached the fallen Constantinople, which had been the cradle of Southeastern Christianity and culture, up until now serving as the capital of the Byzantine Empire. The event is recorded in the writings of Konstantin Mihailović, who was in the army of Jakša.
Stefan and Dmitar Jakšić, the sons of Jakša (hence Jakšići), left Jagodina with 1200 warriors for Hungary. They were hospitably received by Matthias Corvinus, who gave them Nădlac (Nagylak) and estates around Moriš, to rule as vassals in 1464. The operations of the Serbian nobility in Slovakia against Germany and Poland in the second half of the 15th century, were hugely successful and as such were lavishly celebrated. Dmitar held dozens of settlements of Pomorišje, and with his cavalry detachment hidden in the woods, and great skill and courage, he led victories against the Polish armies at Humenné and Michalovce in 1473. Dmitar was the general of King Matthias in a battle of Košice in 1474, of which he has been celebrated of in Serbian epic poetry. In 1476, Dmitar took part in the battle of Pančevo, alongside Despot Vuk Grgurević. In 1479, Dmitar participated in the Battle of Breadfield with some 900 Serbs, the outcome was a decisive Hungarian victory. Dmitar is remembered as one of the most distinguished generals of the Black Army of Hungary, which was primarily composed of Bohemians and Serbs. The brothers had rose in the ranks of barons through their military service, as did Vuk, Ladislaus Egervari, Paul Kinizsi and many more.
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