The Life and Deeds of the Ever-Remembered Despot Stefan

and terrible autocrat. There he himself also perished at their hands. At the beginning Lazar's warriors withstood (the enemy) and were prevailing. But it was already too late for deliverance. Therefore the son of that emperor (that is, the sultan) also grew strong in that battle and prevailed, by God's will, so that both the great (Lazar) and those who were with him might be crowned with the crown of martyrdom. And what was there after this? (Prince Lazar) attained a blessed death by having his head cut off, and his dear comrades-in-arms earnestly begged that they be executed first, so as not to behold his death. This battle was in the year 6897 /1389/, in the month of June, (on the) 15th (day). And this one /Lazar/ received a martyr's death and is seen today as though alive in the great brotherhood /monastery/ by the name of Ravanica, which he himself built, and (the martyrs) received him sincerely, and now he rejoices with them in the heavens. At that time there was no place in that /Serbian/ land where there was not heard sorrowful weeping and lamentation such as can be compared with nothing; and the air was filled (with it), so that throughout this whole land Rachel⁵⁴ wept inconsolably - not only for her children but (also) for her well-chosen lord,⁵⁵ for he is not, nor are (the children).

20. And (he) reached the blessed (places); not to speak of (his) most beautiful edifices, (that is,) churches and monasteries, of the freeing of captives (and) of mercy, which like a spring pours forth every good deed, and (of his) fulfilling of the commandments (of God).

21. In the course of his life he built strong cities; he raised up also Kruševac, in which he built a most beautiful church (dedicated) to the protomartyr Archdeacon Stephen, with prayer for his ever-remembered son /Stefan/. So much for that.

22. And that lion who in his own (Turkish) tongue is called the Thunderbolt /Bayezid/ quickly returned to the east in order to sit upon the throne of (his) father and to strengthen the empire on all sides. If anyone should object to me what profit there is in weaving this in, let him look into the books of old and he will see that they set forth much and at length about rulers, whether earlier in Jerusalem or (later) in Constantinople, as well as (about) the lives (of the rulers) of the surrounding lands, so as to help the life of our most pious and holy lords to be better known. It is enough only to mention this.

23. And those who remained orphaned and plundered were horrified, for misfortune came not only from the Ishmaelites, but the western (neighbors) too were making ready for war. In addition there arose internal strife among those who had been subject to them; others, (however), were independent, so that with Mordecai⁵⁶ it may be said in riddles and prophetic dreams: and, behold, a voice and a wailing, rumors, thunder and earthquakes and tales throughout the land - not (only) (those) two dragons, but many came, like creeping things, to seize this (land). And there was a voice, and all were thrown into tumult by their cry; and for all men it grew dark by day, and (there were) storms and