Battle of Tripolje

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Battle of Tripolje
Stefan Lazarević and Đurađ Branković
Date 21 November 1402 Location Tripolje, near Gračanica, Serbian Despotate (now Kosovo) Result Despotate victory
Belligerents
Serbian Despotate	District of Branković Ottoman Sultanate
Commanders and leaders
Stefan Lazarević Vuk Lazarević	Đurađ Branković

The Battle of Tripolje (Serbian Cyrillic: битка код Трипоља/бој на Трипољу), also known as the Battle of Gračanica (Грачаничка битка), was fought in November 1402 between the Serbian Despotate, ruled by the Lazarević dynasty, and the Branković family, aided by the Ottoman Empire.

Following the Ottoman defeat at Ankara in 1402, Serbian ruler Stefan Lazarević saw an opportunity to free himself of Ottoman overlordship. Awarded the high honorary title of despot by Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos, Lazarević began to wield increasing autonomy in his political decision making. Following a quarrel, said to have arisen because of his nephew Đurađ Branković's intent to join forces with the new Ottoman sultan, Lazarević had Branković imprisoned. Freed by a friend, Branković joined the Ottoman ranks and was set to fight Lazarević. Buoyed by Ottoman reinforcements, Branković set up in Kosovo, along the route through which Lazarević would return from the Adriatic coast to the Serbian interior. The two sides clashed at the field of Tripolje on 21 November 1402. The larger part of Lazarević's army, commanded by his brother Vuk, engaged Branković's forces while Lazarević clashed with the Ottomans. While Vuk experienced setbacks fighting Branković's forces, Lazarević encountered more success in fending off the Ottomans, thereby deciding the battle in his favor.

The Lazarević brothers fell out following the battle. Lazarević allied himself with Hungary in 1403, ending his subservience to the Ottomans, while the Lazarević–Branković conflict continued over the years.