▁of ▁citizens ▁of ▁the ▁Republic ▁of ▁R ag usa . ▁ ▁Background ▁▁ ▁Nov o ▁Br do ▁was ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁largest ▁cities ▁in ▁the ▁B alk ans , ▁and ▁because ▁of ▁its ▁rich ▁gold ▁and ▁silver ▁mines ▁it ▁was ▁the ▁most ▁important ▁non - co ast al ▁city ▁in ▁the ▁B alk ans ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 4 th ▁and ▁ 1 5 th ▁centuries . ▁The ▁Ott om ans ▁un success fully ▁bes ie ged ▁it ▁in ▁ 1 4 1 2 ▁and ▁in ▁ 1 4 2 7 ▁when ▁they ▁used ▁can n ons ▁constructed ▁for ▁the ▁ 1 4 2 2 ▁sie ge ▁of ▁Constantin ople . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 4 3 9 ▁Ott oman ▁forces ▁led ▁by ▁Sultan ▁Mur ad ▁II ▁attacked ▁the ▁Ser bian ▁Desp ot ate . ▁Ser bian ▁Desp ot ▁ Đ ura đ ▁B rank ović ▁fled ▁to ▁Hung ary ▁to ▁seek ▁support ▁for ▁the ▁defense ▁of ▁his ▁real m , ▁organized ▁by ▁his ▁son ▁Gr g ur . ▁S med ere vo ▁was ▁the ▁capital ▁and ▁the ▁most ▁important ▁city ▁of ▁the ▁Ser bian ▁Desp ot ate . ▁During ▁the ▁sie ge ▁of ▁S med ere vo ▁in ▁ 1 4 3 9 , ▁Mur ad ▁II ▁ordered ▁the ▁march er - l ord ▁I sh ak - B eg , ▁who ▁was ▁on ▁his ▁return ▁from ▁Me cca , ▁to ▁join ▁forces ▁with ▁Had ı m ▁ Ş e hab ed din ▁and ▁bes ie ge ▁Nov o ▁Br do .