After the Ottoman victory at Maritsa (1371), the Ottomans did not immediately start with real conquests in the Balkans, but, reinforcing their positions, stopped to spread their influence and create grounds for further progress. They did not want to cause a persistent struggle from a Christian alliance until they were fully sure, so in the beginning they were satisfied with the Balkan magnate families recognizing their sovereignty and paying them tribute, in order to increase Ottoman financial resources. In that way they did not take Vukašin's province, but agreed to let his son and heir Marko rule in the Macedonia region, with the seat at Prilep (the foremost fortification of Pelagonia). In the north of Vukašin's province, Marko's younger brother Andrijaš held properties. Vukašin's successors fought with their western and northern Serbian neighbours, who after the death of Vukašin rushed to take over his possessions.