The Life and Deeds of the Ever-Remembered Despot Stefan

Hiridan, who ruled the region between Persia and Armenia which today is called Achamia. After Constantinople had been raised up, and after many events had deprived the Greek emperors of power, the leader of the aforesaid region appeared in Constantinople and began to rule the Greek land in the name of that (Greek) people, as the most noble and as an imperial scion. His brother came to rule in his fatherland, in the Persian part, he too being a Christian (like Haridan). Certain men persuaded the Greek emperor to go against his brother, into his own fatherland. And he went with the whole Greek army. As he went, he was terrified, fearing his brother. He arrived in those regions, (and) the Achamian ruler, hearing of it, became a monk and, going out on foot, met the emperor at an appointed place. When the emperor learned who he was, he at once dismounted from his horse and gave his brother a sincere kiss. He asked him the reason (for such conduct). The other answered him: "What profit and gain is it to me to be the cause of so much bloodshed? Our father died, as did all our grandfathers and great-grandfathers; everyone knows that I too shall die. My only son from his youth has given no thought to lordship, but because of his youth he cannot be a monk. There are monasteries which our fathers built among our people. Give them to him (and) confirm it in writing, that he may have the means to support himself, (and, if thou wilt), give something to the church, and the rest give to whomever thou wilt." The emperor was moved to mercy and did all according to his will. From that time the children of his son ruled their land, serving the Greek state. As the Ishmaelites grew ever stronger and conquered the eastern lands, they annexed those regions too (to themselves) and compelled their rulers to withdraw. Alas (for the misfortune)! After this, Orhan's son⁴⁹ Süleyman,⁵⁰ older than the Achamian leader, the great-grandson of that monk (Haridan), while Orhan was still alive, brought Seydiya⁵¹ with an army into the western regions, promising to give him (every) tenth city he conquered. And this Süleyman before that crossed the sea toward Kallipolis⁵² and opened the way for Seydiya and others, in the time of Emperor Andronikos,⁵³ who was at war with his brother. Süleyman and Seydiya died. And Orhan died. Orhan's youngest son Amurat (began) to rise and subdued many western (lands). First of all he hurled himself upon the most pious Prince Lazar. This one /Lazar/ no longer wished to wait and to forget his members, which, like those of Christ, were being cut and torn apart, but (resolved) to remove that shame or himself to die and bear witness (to it) by martyrdom. (Therefore), led by his thoughts, he went against the Ishmaelites, and the battle was at the place called Kosovo. Among the warriors who fought there was one, very noble (by the name of Miloš), whom the envious blackened before their lord, saying that he was unfaithful. And this one /Miloš/, wishing to show how faithful he was (to Prince Lazar), as well as that he was valiant, found a fitting time and went toward the supreme commander himself, pretending to be a deserter; (the Turks) made a passage for him. When he was close (to the sultan), he suddenly rushed forward and plunged his sword into that dreadful