Siege of Novo Brdo (1455)

The siege of Novo Brdo was a successful siege led by Mehmed the Conqueror and Ishak Bey on Novo Brdo, defended by Demetrios Jakšic, during the Second Serbian campaign in 1455.

Siege
The Sultan set out from Edirne and arrived in front of the castle via Sofia. Konstantin Mihailović, who would later become a Serbian janissary, explains that he started resistance against the Ottomans.

Initially, the Sultan sent an offer to the castle's defenders to surrender, which was delivered by Isak Bey to the castle in person. After the castle's commander refused the city was besieged.

The Sultan blockaded the city and began to besiege it by setting up his cannons. When the Serbian ruler Branković heard of the siege, he did not know what to do and fortified all the other fortresses.

The siege lasted for 40 days throughout May and June, and continued despite threats by the Hungarians.

Aftermath
The surrender agreement stated that the inhabitants of the city would be permitted to remain within its walls, but this right was only granted to the miners, whose work was essential. The notables of the city were executed; 320 young men were recruited into the Janissaries and 700 Serbian women were enlisted into the army. The roof of St. Nicholas Church, popularly known as the Saxon church, was removed along with its bells. In 1467, the rest of the people were taken to Istanbul. The Ottoman colony established in the conquered city could not prevent its cultural and economic decline. Novo Brdo, which became noteworthy as the eventual site of an Ottoman mint, maintained its importance until the reign of Murad IV.