The Order of the Dragon

In the early 15th century, as the Ottoman threat loomed over Europe, alliances were forged not just through war, but through chivalric brotherhoods. On 12 December 1408, King Sigismund of Luxembourg founded one of the most fascinating of these orders, the Order of the Dragon. Among its first and most distinguished members was Serbian Despot Stefan Lazarević, whose name still echoes through the history of Golubac Fortress.

Modeled after the Order of Saint George of Burgundy, the Order of the Dragon was created to protect Sigismund’s royal family and, more broadly, to defend Christendom from the advancing Ottomans. Its founding charter declared its mission: to guard the cross against all enemies. But beyond faith, it was also a shrewd political alliance, a circle of Europe’s most powerful sovereigns and nobles bound by loyalty and shared purpose.

Originally, the Order counted just 24 knights, all of the highest rank – members of the Golden Order. Over time, its ranks expanded to include the Silver Order, a broader group of noble allies.

The emblem of the Order was striking: a coiled dragon with its tail wrapped around its neck, a red Cross of Saint George emblazoned across its back.

To wear that insignia was to stand among the elite of medieval Europe, a mark of honor, devotion, and power.

Imminent Danger

By the early 15th century, King Sigismund of Luxembourg understood what few rulers dared to admit, that the Ottoman advance was unstoppable unless Europe stood united. Golubac Fortress, perched like a stone sentinel over the Danube, had become a symbol of that peril. Determined to reclaim it, Sigismund ordered the construction of a new stronghold across the river on the Hungarian bank. Built with the skill of Italian craftsmen, the fortress of Laszlovar rose opposite Golubac, bristling with newly cast cannons, a bold innovation for the age. From here, Sigismund would launch his campaign.

In the spring of 1428, he summoned the nobles of his realm to join the great offensive. Between 25,000 and 30,000 men rallied under the royal banner. There were a formidable mix of Hungarian knights, seasoned mercenaries, and allied forces from across Eastern Europe.

Reinforcements poured in: Grand Duke Vytautas of Lithuania sent Polish and Lithuanian troops; Vlach Duke Dan II contributed 6,000 cavalrymen; Prince Alexander the Good dispatched soldiers from Moldavia; and Italian archers from Genoa and Lombardy, armed with early rifles, arrived to bolster the ranks.

A powerful river fleet, armed with cannons and siege engines, accompanied them, the Battle of Golubac began.

The Battle of Golubac

This marked the first recorded use of firearms in Hungarian military history. Once the army was assembled, the mighty forces of King Sigismund of Luxembourg descended upon Golubac Fortress. They were determined to wrest it from Ottoman control.

From his new base at Laszlovar, cannons roared across the Danube for the first time in Hungarian history, their thunder echoing between the river’s cliffs.

The Ottoman garrison, though vastly outnumbered, held firm behind the fortress’s stone walls. Weeks turned into months as the siege dragged on. During this time, the Danube, that shimmering lifeline, became a battlefield of its own. Hungarian ships clashing with Ottoman vessels in the swirling current, smoke drifting like shrouds over the water.

Negotiations began when it seemed the defenders might finally surrender. Sigismund, cautious yet hopeful, agreed to allow them safe passage if they yielded. But as his army began to withdraw, Ottoman reinforcements suddenly appeared on the southern bank. The truce dissolved in chaos.

The retreat turned deadly. Hungarian and allied troops, caught between the river and enemy forces, fought desperately to reach their ships. The Danube ran red with the losses of that day. Noblemen, knights and soldiers all pulled under by the current or cut down on its shores.

King Sigismund himself narrowly escaped. According to legend, he was rescued by Serbian allies, slipping aboard a boat under the cover of darkness to cross back to safety.

The failed siege was a bitter blow. Golubac remained in Ottoman hands, standing defiant as the empire’s westernmost fortress on the Danube for centuries to come.

Witold The Great

Among the great figures who answered King Sigismund’s call to arms was Witold the Great. This Grand Duke of Lithuania was one of medieval Europe’s most powerful and enlightened rulers. From 1392 to 1430, Witold transformed Lithuania from a frontier duchy into a formidable state. He signed the Union of Kreva with Poland in 1385, binding their kingdoms through alliance and faith, and ushering in an era of reform, trade and growth.

By the early 15th century, his name carried immense weight across Europe. He was a ruler as feared in battle as he was respected in diplomacy. In modern Lithuania, Witold remains a national hero. He’s celebrated for his vision and independence, and his role as a symbol of unity and renewal during the country’s later 19th-century awakening.

When Sigismund rallied his allies for the campaign against Golubac in 1428, Witold sent his finest Polish and Lithuanian knights. They were led by the legendary Zawisza the Black, a man renowned throughout Europe for his chivalry, bravery and unshakable honor.

Voivode Dan II of Wallachia

Another key ally in King Sigismund’s campaign for Golubac was Dan II of Wallachia. This warrior duke’s life was defined by rebellion, resilience and the constant tug-of-war for his throne.

Ruling five separate times amid relentless strife, Dan’s greatest rival was Radu II, a ruler backed by the rising Ottoman power. Though their feud was fierce and often bloody, Dan proved to be a brilliant military commander. In 1423, he crushed the Ottomans in open battle, momentarily securing his dominion and restoring Wallachian independence.

But the peace was fragile. The Ottomans reinstated Radu, and Dan once again rose to challenge him. In 1427, after their final clash, a brutal encounter fought alongside Ottoman forces, Radu vanished from the historical record. He was most likely slain by Dan himself.

When Sigismund called for allies in 1428, Dan answered with 6,000 of his finest cavalry, men hardened by years of border warfare. Their arrival bolstered the Christian army assembled along the Danube, a sign that even weary Wallachia would rise again to resist the Ottoman advance.

Yet fate was unkind. After the disastrous outcome at Golubac, Dan was forced to negotiate peace with the Ottomans. This truce that brought him only a few brief years of calm before his death in 1432, when the empire swept across Wallachia for good.

Alexander The Good

Among the array of banners that gathered for the Battle of Golubac, one flew from distant Moldavia,the standard of Alexander the Good. This ruler is remembered for both his wisdom and his resolve.

Ascending the Moldavian throne in 1400, Alexander brought stability and reform to a land often caught between powerful neighbors. He strengthened administration, secured trade routes and elevated Moldavia’s standing among European principalities. His reign marked the beginning of Moldavia’s rise as a regional power, both proud and fiercely independent.

Politics in the 15th century were never simple. Though King Sigismund of Hungary had once supported his ascent, Alexander forged his lasting loyalties elsewhere. By pledging allegiance to Poland in 1402, he formed an alliance with Wallachia, standing against Hungary when needed. Yet when the Ottoman threat surged northward, threatening the Christian realms, Alexander set aside old rivalries.

In 1428, he answered Sigismund’s call to arms, sending Moldavian troops to fight alongside Hungarians, Poles, Lithuanians and Wallachians at Golubac Fortress. His soldiers joined the allied host that gathered on the banks of the Danube – a coalition of kingdoms momentarily united against the empire pressing from the east.

Alexander’s own reign would continue until 1432, defined by careful diplomacy and moments of bold defiance. He fought off the first Ottoman invasion of Moldavia in 1420, and even waged war against Poland during the Lithuanian Civil War before peace was restored.

Good To Know

Standing on the riverbank today, imagining those knights of the Order of the Dragon posed for battle, sends a chill down my spine. With banners rippling in the spring wind, armor gleaming in the sunlight, they gathered along the Danube to face the Ottomans. Their journey to this distant corner of Serbia reminds us how Golubac’s story was never local. It’s woven into the greater tapestry of Europe’s shifting powers and the eternal struggle for dominion along the Danube.

If you’re planning a road trip through the Balkan Peninsula, put Golubac Fortress high on your list. It’s an unforgettable blend of history, nature and adventure.

Victor Tours, booked through Viator, runs regular day trips to Golubac Fortress including lunch and a Danube boat tour. Our tour guide, Drazen, was almost encyclopedic in his knowledge of Serbian history, weaving together a summary of the land, people and politics during our drive that was both factual and passionate. Once we arrived at Golubac Fortress, he gave a short (approximately 20 min) summary of the fortress and then the rest was for us to explore for ourselves.

Overall, the day was a 5 star experience. A Serbian Highlight:

“Golubac Fortress was a highlight of my trip to Serbia. Our tour guide, Drazen, had a deep knowledge of Serbian history and the history of the fortress. Lunch and the subsequent boat ride were pleasant and informative.”

– Viator review (dukesglobaladventures.com), October 2025.

Golubac Fortress is around a 2 hour drive from Belgrade city centre. The Victor Tours trip allowed us around 1.5 hours (total) at the fortress. The visitor centre has good facilities including bathrooms and a restaurant. After the fortress tour, we proceeded to lunch and then a Danube river boat tour before returning to Belgrade.

Would I Return?

No.