stephen tomašević's reign in serbia was short-lived. the ottoman sultan mehmed the conqueror regarded the arrangement as an offense to his rights as overlord of serbia. on 20 june 1459, ottoman forces captured smederevo without a struggle and proceeded to annex the remnants of the serbian state to their realm. stephen and maria fled to bosnia, seeking refuge at the court of his father in jajce. maria carried with her the relics of saint luke the evangelist, her precious family heirloom. upon the death of king thomas in the summer of 1461, maria's husband ascended as king of bosnia. maria became the new queen consort, with her stepmother-in-law catherine possibly retiring from the court as queen dowager.