The House of Jakà ¡ià(, ÃÂðúÃÂøÃÂø / Jakà ¡iÃÂi; ) was a prominent Serbian noble family from the 15th and 16th century, in the Serbian Despotate and the Kingdom of Hungary. The eponymous founder, Jakà ¡a, was a Voivode (Duke) in the service of Serbian Despot ÃÂuraàBrankoviÃÂ, and after the fall of Serbia to the Ottomans (1459) his descendants joined the ranks of the Hungarian army, and gained prominence in wars against the Ottoman Empire. Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus granted them possessions in various counties, from NÃÂdlac, to Syrmia and Valkó. The male line of the family died out in 1543.
Jakà ¡a Breà ¾iÃÂiàwas a voivode in the Serbian Despotate, under Despot ÃÂuraàBrankoviÃÂ. Jakà ¡a was mentioned in 1452 as ÃÂuraÃÂ's envoy in the Republic of Ragusa. As an Ottoman vassal, ÃÂuraàwas forced to send an army to participate in the siege of Constantinople in 1453. Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror did not tell ÃÂuraàhis intentions, but said that the cavalry would travel to Karaman. The sultan's forces harassed civilians on their way to Constantinople. Jakà ¡a objected to Mehmed, who did not hold back in his threats to Jakà ¡a. Jakà ¡a reached the fallen Constantinople, the center of the world of Orthodox Christianity, with its last ruler Constantine XI Palaiologos perishing together with the Byzantine Empire. The event is recorded in the writings of Konstantin MihailoviÃÂ, who was in Jakà ¡a's army.
Stefan and Dmitar Jakà ¡iÃÂ, the sons of Jakà ¡a (hence Jakà ¡iÃÂi), left Jagodina with 1200 warriors for Hungary. They were hospitably received by Matthias Corvinus, who gave them NÃÂdlac (Nagylak) and estates around Morià ¡, 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 Pomorià ¡je, 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 Koà ¡ice in 1474, of which he has been celebrated of in Serbian epic poetry. In 1476, Dmitar took part in the battle of PanÃÂevo, alongside Despot Vuk GrgureviÃÂ. 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 risen in the ranks of barons through their military service, as did Vuk, Ladislaus Egervari, Paul Kinizsi and many more.
Stefan is remembered for his victory in a duel against a Polish swashbuckler that resulted in the withdrawal of the Polish army in 1490. The next year, in December 1491, another battle is fought at Koà ¡ice between Polish King John I Albert and Hungarian King Vladislaus II. The Hungarian victory was largely due to the Serbian warriors led by Miloà ¡ Velmuà ¾eviàand the Jakà ¡iàbrothers.
Despot Vuk, Dmitar Jakà ¡iÃÂ, and his son Jovan Jakà ¡iàtook part in the campaign of King Matthias against the Turks in 1481, when the Christian army arrived at Kruà ¡evac. Jovan's detachment liberated Golubac. With the retreat from Serbia, some 110,000 Serbs joined up, settling in the vicinity of TimiÃÂoara. Dmitar, on his way back from Turkey as a deputy of the King at the Sultan's court, was attacked and seriously wounded near Smederevo. He died from his wounds on November 8, 1486, while his brother Stefan died in 1489.
In May 1514, an uprising was instigated by György Dózsa against the Landed nobility. The uprising spread over a great part of south Hungary, over Banat, BaÃÂka to Syrmia. It affected a part of Serbs, the properties of the Jakà ¡iàbrothers in NÃÂdlac were destroyed and a part of the former Despot's. The greater part of Hungarian Serbs aided the royalty and nobility against the kurucs. Marko Jakà ¡iÃÂ, the son of Stefan, took part in the Battle of Mohács in 1526.
The last nobility as ktetors of Hilandar, were the Jakà ¡iÃÂi. Despotissa Angelina Brankoviàasked Vasili III for help to Hilandar. The Hilandar clerics had in the mid 16th century asked Emperor Ivan IV for protection and material aid. Ivan the Terrible became the new ktetor of Hilandar. He was the great-grandson of Stefan Jakà ¡iÃÂ. The last Jakà ¡iànobleman died in 1543.
Post-Kosovo cycle.