The Charter of Despot Stefan on the Annual Fair in Munkács

The Charter of Despot Stefan on the Annual Fair in Munkács of May 6, 1427

To each and every one - to the prelates, barons, magnates, towns, castellans, free villages and all their elders and stewards to whom this charter shall come, lords, brethren and our esteemed friends, Stefan, by the grace of God Despot of Rascia and Lord of Serbia, [wishes] with full love the increase of due friendship.

It is known to you, lords, brethren and friends, that the exalted sovereign, Lord Sigismund, by the grace of God King of the Romans and of Hungary, etc., by the abundant mercy of his majesty, has, among other rights, endowed us and our town called Munkács, beneath our fortress likewise called Munkács, with such special grace that every year on the feast of the Holy Martyrs Cosmas and Damian a free market or fair is to be held, lasting fifteen days.

We, too, approving this, have confirmed it by another charter of ours, wherefore we diligently ask you, lords, brethren and friends, by this charter, that each and every one of your people, merchants and others, be permitted to come freely and peacefully to the said market or fair, and we, protecting them, shall defend them from all assailants, which we likewise consider our duty, and you will see this even more clearly in the content of the gracious charter of the same lord king, ours and yours.

The same royal majesty, and we in support of him, have ordered that this be made public and manifest and proclaimed in places and towns, at markets or fairs, knowing that if you do this according to our wishes, you will afford us exceptional satisfaction in this matter.

Greetings in Christ, and may He deem you worthy to serve Him for a long time. Written at Nekudim, on the feast of Saint John before the Latin Gate, in the year of the Lord one thousand four hundred and twenty-seven.

Translated from Latin into modern Serbian after: Aleksandar Krstić and Neven Isailović, “The Charter of Despot Stefan Lazarević on the Annual Fair in the Town of Munkács (Nekudim, May 6, 1427)” („Исправа Деспота Стефана Лазаревића о годишњем сајму у граду Мункачу (Некудим, 6. мај 1427. године)“), Initial. A Review of Medieval Studies (Иницијал. Часопис за средњовековне студије), vol. 9 (2021): 209–222: 217–218.