The city of Belgrade
The beauty of Belgrade was stressed again by the soldiers of the First and Second Crusades, the French and German armoured knights of Gottfried of Bouillon and Frederick Barbarossa, who passed this way at the end of the 11th and in the 12th century. And quite certainly it was loved by the Serbian king Dragutin, who conquered it in 1284. The Despot (ruler) of Serbia, Stephen Lazarevic, wrested it from the Hungarians in 1402 and in the town charter opened his heart:
“…I found that most beautiful place of ancient times, the great town of Belgrade, which had been by chance destroyed and was deserted. I rebuilt it and dedicated it to the Virgin Mary.”
