Milica Despina (Serbian Cyrillic: Милица Деспина; Romanian: Milița Despina; c. 1485 – 30 January 1554) was the Princess consort of Wallachia by marriage to Neagoe Basarab (r. 1512–1521). She was regent of Wallachia from 1521 to 1522, on the behalf of her son Teodosie of Wallachia. In later years, she became a nun, and took the name Platonida.
| Milica Despina of Serbia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Regent of Wallachia | |
| Regency | 1521–1522 |
| Voivode | Teodosie of Wallachia |
| Princess Consort of Wallachia | |
| Tenure | 1512–1521 |
| Born | c.1485 |
| Died | 30 January 1554 Sibiu, Transylvania |
| Spouse | Neagoe Basarab of Wallachia |
| Issue | Teodosie of Wallachia Ioan Petru Stana of Wallachia Angelina of Wallachia Ruxandra of Wallachia |
| House | House of Branković (by birth) House of Craiovești (by marriage) |
| Father | Jovan Branković, Despot of Serbia or Đorđe Branković, Despot of Serbia |
| Mother | Jelena Jakšić or Isabella del Balzo |
Life edit
Princess Milica Despina was of Serbian origin, and closely related to noble houses of Branković and Lazarević. In historiography, there are several theories about her parents. Some scholars think that she was one of the daughters of Serbian despot Jovan Branković who died in 1502.[1] Others think that she was daughter of John's elder brother, Serbian despot Đorđe Branković who died in 1516. There is also some other views about her origin.[2]
Issue edit
Milica Despina and Neagoe Basarab had six children:
- Teodosie of Wallachia
- Stana of Wallachia married to Stephen IV of Moldavia
- Petru
- Ioan
- Roxanda (Ruxandra) of Wallachia married to Radu of Afumați, and later to Radu Paisie
- Angelina (Anghelina) of Wallachia
References edit
Literature edit
- I. C. Filitti, "Despina, princesse de Valachie, fille présumée de Jean Brankovitch", Revista istorică română, I (3), București 1931, 241–250.
- I. R. Mircea, P. Ş. Năsturel, "De l'ascendance de Despina, épouse du voévode Neagoe Basarab", Romanoslavica, X, București 1964, 435–437.
- C. Nicolescu, "Princesses Serbes sur le trône des Principautes Roumanies", Зборник за ликовне уметности, 5, Нови Сад 1969, 95–117.