Chalkokondyles mentions that Angelović was captured by Ottoman horsemen while traveling with his mother from Novo Brdo to Smederevo (the Serbian capital), and taken to the Ottoman court.[6] It is assumed that this took place in 1427, when the Ottomans attacked Serbia.[7] Furthermore, it is unconcluded whether he was captured according to the devşirme practice, the regular practice of taking children of conquered noble families, or as a prisoner of war.[8] Taşköprüzade (d. 1560) and Aşık Çelebi (1520–1572) name two other boys led with Angelović on horseback to Edirne, Molla Iyas and Mevlana Abdülkerim, the latter which reached the rank of kadıasker (chief judge) and şeyhülislam (Islamic scholar).[9] Upon conversion to Islam, he received the name Mahmud.