Vuk Branković was the son of Branko of Ohrid, who governed lands in Macedonia under Stefan Dušan (1331–1346).

Vuk also governed eastern parts of the Raška region (including the old Serbian capital Ras) and lands in Polimlje, in present-day northern Montenegro, as well as Skoplje for a short time.

After the death of Đurađ I Balšić of Zeta in 1373, Vuk captured cities of Prizren and Peć and the area of Metohija.

[1] The most important cities in Vuk's Realm were Priština, Prizren, Skopje, Peć and Ras, as well as the rich mining settlements of Novo Brdo, Trepča, Janjevo, Gluhavica and others.

Still, the Branković wielded a significant amount of power in the state, controlling most of Serbia's extremely rich ore extraction sites.