Misconceptions About Despina Hatun
*I: Olivera Was a Serbian Spy*
No. That’s all.
*II: The Lazarevics Brothers Asked Bayezid to Marry Their Sister*
Stefan was 11 years old and Vuk 9 years old when the permission of the council of bishops was granted for Olivera to marry Bayezid in late 1389, and though the Lazarevics preferred to partake in familial council, the boys likely had nothing to do with this due to their age and inexperience in politics.
This misconception comes from an Ottoman chronicler who tried to portray the Lazarevic brothers as spies who were seeking more land because, in truth, Bayezid granted them more land despite them being his state’s vassals.
*III: Milica Asked Bayezid to Marry Olivera*
Though the Serbian side was likely aware of an upcoming proposal from the Ottomans as Olivera remained the only chaste daughter, the proposal itself did not come from them.
It is true Milica, as regent, accepted vassalage to the Ottomans, however, the vassalage itself only included taxes and soldiers. Bayezid and his council likely asked for Olivera as a “Symbol of Peace.”
It did not benefit the Serbian side to make such a proposal as they gained nothing from it. However, marrying Olivera would guarantee that the Serbian side would remain loyal.
This belief likely comes from the Ottoman belief that Bayezid did not make the right decision by marrying Olivera, and thus are trying to blame said union on someone else (other than the one to blame, their Sultan).
*IV: Bayezid Captured Olivera*
This is something I see being mentioned from the Serbian side. They try to explain Stefan’s loyalty and closeness to Bayezid with this misconception.
Many choose to believe that Stefan stayed loyal to Bayezid because this one had forced his sister to be a concubine, which is not true. Their marriage is mentioned by Constantine the Philosopher, the biographer of Stefan Lazarevic.
She is neither his captive nor his concubine.
*V: Olivera Had Sons*
All of Bayezid’s sons were recorded by an Ottoman chronicler from that time as being from concubines.
It is therefore not probable that Olivera had any son.
The only children she had were three daughters, who were mentioned in the Zafarnama; the biography of Timur narrated by his grandson, Ibrahim.
If Olivera had a son, Stefan, her younger brother who assisted Bayezid at the Battle of Ankara would not have stayed for as long as he did. Additionally, he wouldn’t have saved Suleiman, Bayezid’s eldest son from a concubine, when this one almost fell to the enemy, he would have let him perish for the easier succession of his blood-nephew.
