Pavle Bakić

Despot Pavle Bakić Pavle Bakić
Serbian Despot
Seal of Pavle Bakić (1533)
Despot of Serbia
Reign	1537
Predecessor	Radič Božić
Born	Šumadija, Ottoman Empire (today Serbia)
Died	20 September 1537 Đakovo, Habsburg Monarchy (today Croatia)
Spouse	Teodora
Full name Pavle Bakić
House	Bakić
Religion	Serbian Orthodox Christian, later Protestant

Pavle Bakić (Serbian: Павле Бакић, Hungarian: Bakith Pál; ca. 1525 - 20 September 1537) was the last Despot of Serbia, he ruled a large territory under the Hungarian crown until his death in 1537.

Pavle had a Turkish timar, as did his father, and was the lord of great estates around Venčac in Šumadija called "Bakić's land". He was highly viewed of by the Ottoman Empire, and had the rights to collect taxes (kharaj) from his people.

In consultation with Pál Tomori and Louis II of Hungary, Pavle Bakić left his land with his family, five brothers, and a great number of Serbs, into Hungary, and in return he received the town of Lak among other estates. With his forces he participated in the Battle of Mohács in 1526.

After the battle the Šajkaši were still unpaid for their services. Ferdinand reprimanded the court for nothing having paid at least part of the unpaid salary to the Šajkaši. Bakić once again turned to Ferdinand, alerting him that the nonpayment to the Šajkaši would cause estrangement of the Serbs in his lands, and those of John Zápolya and the Ottoman Empire. He also informed Ferdinand of the persecution of Serbs by the Austrian staff and officers.

When the succession war between Ferdinand I and John Zápolya started, he took the side of Zápolya. After the defeat of Zápolya in the Battle of Tokaj in 1527, Bakić sided with Ferdinand, and would stay faithful to him for the rest of his life. In 1528, Ferdinand confirmed Bakić and his brothers' holdings and appointed him the captain of the Serbian infantry, cavalry and river forces.