It is mentioned for the first time in 878 as a bishopric. It continues the early Christian seats of Viminacium and Horreum Margi. In 1018, the Bishopric is mentioned as part of the Eastern Orthodox Archbishopric of Ohrid with seat at Braničevo (at the ruins of ancient Viminacium, near Požarevac).
Since the end of 13th century, from the time of Serbian kings Stefan Dragutin and Stefan Milutin, the Eparchy was part of the Serbian Archbishopric. It gained the honorary status of Metropolitanate in 1346, within the Serbian Patriarchate of Peć.
The seat of the Metropolitanate was moved to Smederevo between 1430/1434 and 1439, and since then, the bishops hold the titles "of Smederevo". In 1705, the Smederevo Metropolitanate or old Braničevo Eparchy, became part of the Eparchy of Belgrade. It was resurrected in 1921 as "Eparchy of Braničevo", with seat in Požarevac.