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66-473: The progenitor , sevastokrator Dejan , was a magnate in the service of Emperor Dušan, and also the Emperor's brother-in-law through his marriage with Teodora-Evdokija . Dejan held the župe (counties) of Žegligovo and Preševo under Dušan, and later received the title of despot during the rule of Dušan's son, Emperor Uroš V, when he was appointed the administration Upper Struma with Velbužd , after

132-489: A family , line of descent , clan or tribe , noble house , or ethnic group . Genealogy (commonly known as family history) understands a progenitor to be the earliest recorded ancestor of a consanguineous family group of descendants . Progenitors are sometimes used to describe the status of a genealogical research project, or in order to compare the availability of genealogical data in different times and places. Often, progenitors are implied to be patrilineal . If

198-557: A vassal of the Serbian Empire , and after 1355 as a largely independent lord. Descended from high-ranking Bulgarian nobility, John was a brother of both Tsar Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria and Helena of Bulgaria , the wife of Tsar Stephen Dušan of Serbia . Perhaps in search of better opportunities, he emigrated to Serbia, where his sister was married. There, he was granted the title of despot by Stephen Dušan, who placed him in charge of his territories in modern south Albania . As

264-635: A daughter of despot Shishman of Vidin , and Sratsimir , the despot of Kran . John's mother was a descendant of the Asen dynasty as a grand granddaughter of Tsar Ivan Asen II . His siblings were Ivan Alexander , who would ascend to the Bulgarian throne in 1331, and Helena , who married Serbian ruler Stephen Dušan in 1332. Even though John was commonly referred to as a Komnenos in the sources, his relations to that Byzantine family are rather scarce. He had rights to that name either through his mother's descent from

330-612: A daughter, Jelena , who in 1392 married Byzantine Emperor Manuel II . Although Manuel II and Konstantin maintained relations, they were of no political importance. Konstantin was an Ottoman vassal, within nearest reach and always on the look from Edirne and the Sultan, and was unable to change it. Bayezid, having conquered south Bulgaria, saw an opportunity for the conquest of Wallachia when dissatisfied Wallachian noblemen called for Ottoman support against Mircea I of Wallachia , which he accepted. Sigismund supported Mircea and helped him back to

396-555: A female member of the dynasty. After the death of Dejan, his province, besides the župe of Žegligovo and Upper Struma, was appropriated to nobleman Vlatko Paskačić . Vukašin Mrnjavčević , of whom there are no notable mentions until 1365, became more powerful (ultimately the most powerful in Macedonia) after the deaths of Vojislav, Dejan and despot Jovan Oliver (whose status in Macedonia

462-503: A granddaughter of Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos and a widow of John II Orsini , the despot of Epirus. This marriage to an Epirote noblewoman consolidated and legitimised John's position in the region. Besides Alexander, another very likely child of John Komnenos Asen was a certain Komnena, the wife of Balša II who had succeeded Alexander as ruler of Vlorë in early 1372. However, reliable sources indicate that Balsha II's wife

528-451: A high position in the government, and this shows that the elder brother Jovan relatively early started to share the rule with his younger brother. On June 1, 1377 the brothers wrote a charter to Hilandar , where they confirmed the earlier donations of čelnik Stanislav ; the donations included the Church of St. Blasius in Štip and three villages. In 1377 and 1380 the family issued charters to

594-402: A legend surrounding the origin of the family. By contrast, families and peoples with a matrilinear history trace themselves back to an original female progenitrix . Matrilinear rules of descent are found in about 200 of the 1300 known indigenous peoples and ethnic groups worldwide, whilst around 600 have patrilineal rules of descent (from father to son). In the mythological beliefs of

660-410: A patrilineal dynasty is considered, each such dynasty has exactly one progenitor. Aristocratic and dynastic families often look back to an ancestor who is seen as the founder and progenitor of their house (i.e. family line). Even the old Roman legal concept of agnates ( Latin for "descendants") was based on the idea of the unbroken family line of a progenitor, but only includes male members of

726-532: Is evident from the fact that Pope Innocent VI addressed Dejan in 1355, asking him to support the creation of the union between the Catholic Church and the Serbian Orthodox Church (such letters were sent to the highest nobility and the church). Dejan received the title of despot sometime after August 1355, either from Emperor Dušan, who died on 20 December 1355, or his heir Uroš V, most likely under

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792-475: Is not so sure), but because Dejan's disappearance ended any stronger candidate to counter the Mrnjavčević family . Jovan received the title of despot , like his father before, by Emperor Uroš. Most of Jovan Oliver's lands were later given to the brothers. It is not known why Jovan Oliver's sons did not inherit his lands; Serbian historian V. Ćorović considered turmoil and disorder the case, however not knowing

858-458: Is unknown, and from this marriage Konstantin had a daughter, Jelena , who in 1392 married Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos (r. 1391–1425). Manuel II and Jelena had several children, among whom were the last Byzantine Emperors John VIII (r. 1425–1448) and Constantine XI (r. 1449–1453). Constantine XI, the last Byzantine Emperor, who died defending Constantinople from the Ottomans in 1453 ,

924-714: The Adriatic with Serbia crossed this region; it was used for the trade between Republic of Venice and Ragusa and Serbia and Bulgaria. It started in the Zetan ports and towns, continued along the Drin Valley to Prizren , then to Lipljan , then through Novo Brdo to Vranje and Niš . The road ended its use with the Ottoman conquest of Serbia . They had vast mines in Kratovo (until 1390) and Zletovo . Konstantin married, but his spouse's name

990-667: The Battle of Rovine in 1395. The Dejanović family built and reconstructed several churches and monasteries throughout their province. Some of these include the Zemen Monastery and Arhiljevica Church , built by Dejan, and the Poganovo Monastery and Osogovo Monastery , built by Konstantin. Konstantin had married his daughter Jelena to the Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos (r. 1391–1425), from which

1056-602: The Romans the god of war, Mars , was viewed as the progenitor of the Romans; which is why the Mars symbol ( ♂ , a shield and spear), is used to refer to the male sex . Besides cities and countries, ethnic groups may also have a progenitor (often a god) in their mythologies, for example, the Hellenistic Greeks look back to Hellen as their progenitor. In Indian Hinduism Manu is

1122-516: The fall of the Serbian Empire was roughly located between the rivers Struma and Vardar and included territories of the modern countries of Bulgaria , Serbia and North Macedonia . According to Stojan Novaković , the province "spanned from Prince Lazar's border (between Kumanovo and Preševo and the Skopska Crna Gora ridge) and then much further towards the south, as it looks, to

1188-542: The plague epidemic which hit Vlorë and Durrës in 1363. John's first marriage probably dates to after his arrival in Serbia, though the identity of his first wife, if any, is unknown. If the next ruler of Valona, Alexander Komnenos Asen , was his son, then he would have been born circa 1346–1348, as he was already an adult in 1363–1366. This would place John's potential first marriage a few years before Alexander's estimated birth. Around 1350–1355, John married Anna Palaiologina,

1254-479: The 14th century, during the rule of the Nemanjić and Dejanović. The Dejanović family built and reconstructed several churches and monasteries throughout their province. Some of these include the Zemen Monastery and Arhiljevica Church , built by Dejan, and the Poganovo Monastery and Osogovo Monastery , built by Konstantin. View the collapsible list below for a complete overview of church buildings that were located in

1320-579: The Asens, themselves related to the Komnenoi, or through his marriage to Anna Palaiologina . It is uncertain as to exactly why John emigrated to Serbia instead of assuming a high-ranking position in Bulgaria, as his ancestry and family ties would suggest. Bulgarian historian Ivan Bozhilov is of the opinion that John was not seeking political refuge in Serbia. Instead, it is most likely that he moved to that country with

1386-603: 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

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1452-603: The Byzantinization of the Serbian court followed, particularly in court ceremonial and titles . In the years that followed, the Serbian nobility were elevated: Dušan's half-brother Simeon Uroš , brother-in-law Jovan Asen and Jovan Oliver were granted the title of despot . His brother-in-law Dejan and Branko were granted the title of sevastokrator . The military commanders ( voivodes ) Preljub , Vojihna and Grgur received

1518-638: 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. Emperor Uroš V died childless in December 2/4 1371, after much of the Serbian nobility had been destroyed in Maritsa earlier that year. This marked an end to

1584-503: The Monastery of St. Panteleimon on Mount Athos . Jovan most often signed documents of the two. As the Dejanović brothers were maternally descended from the Nemanjić dynasty as grandsons of King Stefan Uroš III , they worked on expanding their rule and perhaps ultimately rule Serbia. The brothers spoke of "our Empire", and their mother Teodora-Evdokija signed as Empress . Their state symbol was

1650-603: The Ottoman army compelled Jovan (who they called Saruyar ) in the upper Struma, to recognize Ottoman vassalage. As Marko had done, also the Dejanović brothers recognized Ottoman sovereignty. Although vassals, they had their own government. The Ottoman gazi at the time conquered more than the Empire could put under its immediate control. Thus it is not surprising that the brothers had built an internal administration, shared possessions, issued charters, minted coins. In 1376, Konstantin took up

1716-474: The Serbian conquest of south Albania from the Byzantine Empire, which was concluded no later than August 1345. Besides the Adriatic port of Vlorë , John's appanage included nearby Kanina and the inland castle of Berat to the northeast. Other than that, the extent of his domain is uncertain. Estimates of the area John ruled over range from all of central Albania to only the three cities mentioned, with

1782-534: The Serbian dynasty of Dragas in East Macedonia. She was the daughter of Prince Constantine Dejanovic and a niece of the Despot John Dragas. "Constantine" was a good name, Manuel and Helena believed; for one thing, it was the name of Helena's father. Progenitor In genealogy , the progenitor (rarer: primogenitor ; German : Stammvater or Ahnherr ) is the – sometimes legendary – founder of

1848-660: The Vlorë customs . The customs was profitable because the port was often visited by merchant ships. Even though all of these documents were written in Slavic , John signed his name in Greek , which testifies to his Hellenisation . At the time, John also had ties with the Mamluk rulers of Egypt , who addressed him as “King of Serbia and Bulgaria” in correspondence. In 1353, John and his family were granted Venetian citizenship, which hints that his domain

1914-474: The battle." . In the Wallachian victory at the Battle of Rovine (17 May 1395), both Marko and Konstantin died. The provinces of Marko and Konstantin became Ottoman. According to Emperor Dušan's Arhiljevica charter (August 1355), sevastokrator Dejan possessed the župe (counties) of Žegligovo and Preševo (modern Kumanovo region with Sredorek , Kozjačija and the larger part of Pčinja ). As despot under

1980-452: The belief that Serbia's territorial expansion and political influence in that period would secure him better career opportunities. Presumably, John accompanied his sister Helena when she moved to Serbia to marry Stephen Dušan in 1332. John was first mentioned as the despot of Vlorë in 1350 and his documented presence in the Albanian lands only dates to 1349. However, he was most likely bestowed

2046-429: The coins as being minted by John, was proposed by Yugoslav numismatist Nedeljković, who rejects the initial attribution of these coins to Jovan Oliver. A commercial document from 30 January 1359, which testifies to John's continuing trade relations with Venice, is chronologically the last reference to his activity in contemporary sources. While the date of his death was not recorded, it is likely that John perished during

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2112-466: The death of powerful despot Jovan Oliver . After Dejan's death between 1358 and 1365, most of his province was given to Vlatko Paskačić , besides the initial counties of Žegligovo and Preševo, which were left to his two sons, Jovan and Konstantin . The brothers, who ruled jointly, managed to double the extent of their province during the Fall of the Serbian Empire following Emperor Uroš V's death, chiefly to

2178-472: The despot of Valona, John established commercial ties with Venice and Ragusa , and he became a citizen of the former in 1353. After the death of Dušan in 1355, he took the side of the unsuccessful Simeon Uroš in the ensuing conflict for the Serbian throne. With Venetian assistance, John maintained the essentially independent status of the Principality of Vlorë. He probably died of the plague in 1363 and he

2244-435: The extent it developed to and what the consequences were. Earlier scholars believed that the Dejanović were relatives of Jovan Oliver , although this is no longer accepted (Fine 1994). The Dejanović brothers ruled a spacious province in eastern Macedonia, in the southern lands of the Empire, and remained loyal to Uroš V. After the Ottoman victory at Maritsa (1371) , the Ottomans did not immediately start with real conquests in

2310-3571: The family's province. There are possible portraits of the family in their monasteries ( ktetor frescoes), but it is not affirmed that these represent Dejan's family. Дејановићи, српска феудална породица. Оснивач јој је војвода Дејан, од 1346. г. севастократор, војни заповедник цара Душана. Жена му је била Душанова сестра. Управ- љао је кумановском облашћу. Синови су му били Констаи- ... У повељи манастиру Архиљевици, издатој ав- густа 1355. године, Душан на три места каже: „Брат царства ми севастократор Дејан". Именица брат има вишеструко значење. Најодређеније је оно примарно: рођени брат. према повељи манастиру богоро- дичимог ваведења у Архиљевици,50 држао као своју баштину пространу област иеточно од Скопске Црне Горе. Она је обухватала старе жупе Прешево и Жеглигово (данас кумановски крај са Средореком, Козјачијом... Севастократор Дејан, зет цара Душана по сестри Теодори (у калуђерству Евдокији), држао је кумановско-прешевску удолину, а то је део самог језгра Балкана. [...] „Брат царства ми севастократор Дејан"\ Судећи према овој повељи, Архиљевица се налазила тамо где су дарована села Подлешане, Извор и Рућинци, а то је Куманов- ска Црна гора, односно падине Језерске планине. Дејанова баштина — жупе Жеглигово и Прешево — простиру се између Пчиње, Јужне Мораве и Скопске Црне горе. Источно од Жеглигова и Прешева, око горњег тока Струме са Велбуждом, простирала се „држава" севастократора Дејана ... старе жупе Жеглигово (са данашњом Козјачијом, Средореком и највећим делом Пчиње) на истоку и Прешево са једним делом Гњиланског Карадага на западу. Оно се није ограничавало само на кумановски крај — Жеглигово — ... То је био дота- дашњи севастократор Дејан. Поставши деспот све српске, поморске и грчке земље (али не велики деспот, јер је после Оливера у Урошевој држави увек био само један деспот, па није ни било усло- ва за великог), ... Тако би 1358. година била прекрет- ничка за неке великаше: те године деспот Дејан је умро,13 на његово место дошао је вероватни дота- дашњи велики војвода Вукашин, а на место вели- ког војводе дошао је Јован Угл>еша. Синови деспота Дејана заједнички су управљали пространом облашћу у источној Македонији, мада је исправе чешће потписивао старији, Јован Драгаш. Као и његов отац, Јован Драгаш је носио знаке деспотског достојанства. Иако се као деспот помиње први пут 1373, сасвим је извесно да је Јован Драгаш ову титулу добио од цара Уроша. Високо достојанство убрајало се, како је ... Брат његов Јован Драгаш умро је бно пре 1381 године (О кнезу Лазару, I. Руварац стр. 106-109) Према Ст. Новаковићу, област Дејановића се „ширила од кнез Лазаревих граница (између Куманова и Прешева и слемену Црне Горе) па доста далеко к југу, како изгледа, до венаца што с југа граниче водопађу Дојранског и Бугарског Језера. U oblasti gospodina Konstantina Dragaša, na širem području oko reke Strumice vođeno je nekoliko sporova oko zemljišnih međa u toku 6884 (1375. septembar 1 - 1376. avgust 31, indikt XIV) godine. Sačuvana je isprava o četiri spora i načinu njihovog rešavanja u njegovoj oblasti. Sporovi su vođeni između Hilandara i ruskog manastira Sv. Pantelejmona ili Rusika, manastira Hilandara i vlastelina Vojina Radišića, manastira Hilandara i Bogoslava, gospodara sela Nežičino. Četvrti sastavni deo isprave odnosi se na utvrđivanje međa sela Prosenikova. Five sons of Manuel II: John VIII, Constantine XI, Theodore, Thomas, and Demetrios, last family of reigning Emperors at Constantinople and Despots of Mistra. Constantine XI Dragases, so named after his mother Helen, of

2376-406: The family, whilst the women were referred to as " cognatic ". It is rarely possible to confirm biological parenthood in the case of ancient family lines (see bastardy ). In addition, the progenitor is often a distant ancestor, only known as a result of oral tradition . Where people groups and communities rely solely on a patrilinear family line, their common ancestor often became the subject of

2442-447: The involvement of Stephen Dušan in order to settle the dispute between Venice and John, as evidenced by an official document from 13 April 1350. Despite this conflict, under John the Principality of Vlorë was an active partner of Venice and Ragusa (modern Dubrovnik ) in maritime commerce. Two receipts from 27 April 1350 document John's role as a mediator in cattle, sugar and pepper trade and reveal that he received significant income from

2508-415: The larger part of Pčinja ). Based on the charter, Arhiljevica was situated where the granted villages ( metochion ) of Podlešane , Izvor and Rućinci ( Kumanovska Crna Gora ) lay, in the slopes of Jezer . The fact that Dejan built Arhiljevica rather than renovate it is evidence of his economical strength. Dušan also granted a church, metochion , and two villages in the region on his own behalf. Dejan

2574-458: The last Byzantine Emperors John VIII (r. 1425–1448) and Constantine XI (r. 1449–1453) sprung. Constantine XI, who died defending Constantinople from the Ottomans in 1453 , was known by his mother's surname, in Greek , Dragases (Δραγάσης, tr. Dragáses ). The family's progenitor was Dejan, a Serbian vojvoda (military commander and lord) in the Kumanovo region, who married Teodora ,

2640-474: The latter. As despot under the rule of Uroš V, Dejan was entrusted with the administration of the territory between South Morava , Pčinja , Skopska Crna Gora (hereditary lands) and in the east, the Upper Struma river with Velbuzhd, a province notably larger than during Dušan's life. As the only despot , Dejan held the highest title in the Empire (this had earlier been Jovan Oliver). Dejan's daughter Teodora

2706-407: The lord of Nežičino village; the boundary confirmation of Prosenikov village. The brothers minted coins according to the Nemanjić style, and used the white double-headed eagle ( Serbian eagle ). The province of the brothers had business with foreign merchants, and besides the domestic currency there was also Venetian moneta in circulation. The important Via de Zenta trade route connecting

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2772-464: The most recent common ancestor in the matrilineal line, is estimated to have lived from 100,000 to 230,000 years ago. (There being no suggestion that these, “Eve” and “Adam”, lived at nearby times or places. And there were many other common ancestors in other lines of descent.) Jovan Asen John Komnenos Asen was the ruler of the Principality of Vlorë from c. 1345 to 1363, initially as

2838-439: The nobility of the old Serbian lands. While Vojislav lived, his influence secured the pre-eminence of the old Serbian nobility, but after his death Vukašin quickly gained a decisive influence on the Emperor. The nobility in the old Serbian lands was not at first alarmed at this, but Vukašin's ambition and his subsequent moves woke up the simmering antagonism between the two groups. It was not only Vukašin's endless ambition that paved

2904-409: The once powerful Empire. Vukašin's son Marko, who had earlier been crowned Young King was to inherit his father's royal title, and thus became one in the line of successors to the Serbian throne. Meanwhile, the nobles pursued their own interests, sometimes quarreling with each other. Serbia, without an Emperor "became a conglomerate of aristocratic territories", and the Empire was thus divided between

2970-575: The progenitor of all mankind. In the Abrahamic religions , Adam , Noah , Abraham and others are described as progenitors (see also Biblical patriarchy ). In archaeogenetics (archaeological genetics), a human Y-chromosomal Adam has been named as the most recent common ancestor from whom all currently living people are descended patrilinearly. This Adam lived in Africa at a time variously estimated from 60,000 to 338,000 years ago. And Mitochondrial Eve ,

3036-482: The provincial lords: Marko, the Dejanović brothers, Đurađ I Balšić , Vuk Branković , Nikola Altomanović, Lazar Hrebeljanović. The Balšić family took Prizren , and Vuk Branković took Skoplje , from Marko. In the new redistribution of feudal power, after 1371, the brothers despot Jovan and gospodin Konstantin greatly expanded their province. Not only did they recreate their father's province but also at least doubled

3102-425: The rest remaining under the government of local Albanian nobility, who owed allegiance either to John or to Stephen Dušan directly. To the south, John's appanage bordered on the lands of Simeon Uroš, the ruler of Epirus . In 1349, John plundered a Venetian commercial ship which had been shipwrecked on the coast he controlled, in accordance with the medieval principle of jus naufragii . This act necessitated

3168-516: The rule of Uroš V, Dejan was entrusted with the administration of the territory between South Morava , Pčinja , Skopska Crna Gora (hereditary lands) and in the east, the Upper Struma river with Velbužd (Kyustendil) , a province notably larger than during Dušan's life. Dejan's son Jovan became a vassal of the Ottoman Empire after the Battle of Maritsa (1371), and Konstantin also acknowledged Ottoman suzerainty. Their province ( oblast ) during

3234-410: The sister of Stefan Dušan. Dejan became sevastokrator in 1346. His origin is unknown. Earlier scholars believed that the Dejanović were relatives of Jovan Oliver , although this is no longer accepted (Fine 1994). K. Jirechek suggested that he was vojvoda Dejan Manjak . On April 16, 1346 ( Easter ), Stefan Dušan convoked a huge assembly at Skopje , where the autocephalous Serbian Archbishopric

3300-419: The south; the lands now covered from Vranje and Preševo to Radomir, in the south to Štip , Radovište and Strumica . In 1373, two years after the devastating Battle of Maritsa , the brothers became vassals to the Ottoman Empire . After the death of Jovan in 1377, Konstantin continued to rule under Ottoman overlordship. Konstantin and his provincial neighbour and fellow Ottoman vassal, Prince Marko , fell at

3366-542: The territory, on all sides, but chiefly towards the south. The brothers ruled on the left riverside of the Vardar, from Kumanovo to Strumica. In 1373, two years after Maritsa, the first mentions are made on the events in the province of the Dejanović brothers, as well as their mutual relation. In June 1373, on the road from Thessaloniki to Novo Brdo , some Ragusan merchants had an accident in despot Jovan's land ("in terenum despotis Dragassii"). Ottoman sources report that in 1373,

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3432-558: The throne, while Bayezid led a great army into Wallachia, composed also out of vassals Stefan Lazarević , Konstantin Dejanović and Marko. A contemporary source, Constantine the Philosopher , wrote that Marko unwillingly joined this fight against fellow Christians, and how he said to Konstantin: "I speak and pray to the Lord that he helps the Christians, even if I would be among the first to die in

3498-408: The title as early as 1345 or 1346, when Stephen Dušan was proclaimed Emperor ( Tsar ). American scholar John Fine believes this happened immediately after Stephen Dušan's coronation in 1346. Along with Stephen Dušan's half-brother, Simeon Uroš , and Jovan Oliver , John was one of three people to bear that title under Stephen Dušan. John was installed as ruler of Vlorë in late 1345, in the wake of

3564-572: The title of ćesar . The raising of the Serbian Patriarchate resulted in the same spirit - bishops became metropolitans. He is mentioned in 1354. According to Stefan Dušan's charter to the monastery of Arhiljevica (August 1355), sevastokrator Dejan, whom he called his brother ("брат царства ми севастократор Дејан") possessed a large province east of Skopska Crna Gora . It included the old župe (counties) of Žegligovo and Preševo (modern Kumanovo region with Sredorek , Kozjačija and

3630-688: The way to the top, as he had plenty of support from other nobles who benefited from him. Jovan Oliver and Dejan died sometime before 1365, that is when Vukašin was elevated to King as co-ruler to Emperor Uroš V. Mandić believes that Dejan died in 1358, and that Vukašin (who until then was veliki vojvoda ) took his place as despot, and that Jovan Uglješa became veliki vojvoda . It is unlikely that Dejan took monastic vows before his death, as his children were still young. His wife Teodora took monastic vows as Evdokija and lived in Strumica and Kyustendil, and she would until her death sign as "Empress", being entitled so as

3696-548: The white double-headed eagle and they minted coins according to the Nemanjić style. Jovan died in ca. 1378, before 1381. Konstantin continued to rule under the suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire. By 1379, Lazar Hrebeljanović , the lord of Pomoravlje , emerged as the first and most powerful among Serbian nobles. In his signatures, he titled himself as the " Autokrator of all the Serbs " (самодрьжць вьсѣмь Србьлѥмь); nevertheless, he

3762-525: The wreath that in the south marks the border of the waterfall of the Dojran and Bulgarian lake". There were some four disputes regarding boundaries in the Strumica region within Konstantin's province, dated year 6884 (September 1, 1375 - August 31, 1376): of the metochion (church-dependent territory) between Hilandar and Agiou Panteleimonos monastery ; Hilandar and nobleman Vojin Radišić ; Hilandar and Bogoslav,

3828-621: Was gaining ground in Thessaly and Epirus, forced John to request the dispatch of a Venetian warship and an administrator from Venice to take control of his domain, to which the republic obliged. Bulgarian historian Hristo Matanov conjectures that after 1355, John may have minted his own coinage intended for trade with partners outside the inner Balkans. He bases this theory on a new reading of several Latin -language coin inscriptions as Monita despoti Ioanni instead of Monita despoti Oliveri , as previously thought. The new reading, which would identify

3894-567: Was known by his mother's surname, in Greek , Dragáses (Δραγάσης). Constantine XI was named after his grandfather. Konstantin Dragaš is attested in Serb epic poetry as "beg Kostadin", as a friend of Prince Marko. Kyustendil , even in its turkified name, still keeps the memory of its lord, Konstantin. Turkish custendil means "Konstantin's bath/spa". The Kumanovo region (old Žegligovo) received its geographical location and certain settlement picture in

3960-525: Was married to Žarko , the Lord of Lower Zeta ( "gospodar donje Zete" ), in 1356. Together they had a son, Mrkša (born 1363). Until the death of knez Vojislav Vojinović in December 1363, the Serbian nobility in the Greek lands showed itself more ambitious, as it held more titles ( despots Dejan and Vukašin, sevastokrator Vlatko, kesar Vojihna, etc.) and greater independence (deriving from their more extensive possessions, and therefore, wealth) in relation to

4026-469: Was not powerful enough to unite all Serbian lands under his authority. Konstantin, the Balšić, Mrnjavčević, Vuk Branković, and Radoslav Hlapen, ruled in their respective domains without consulting with Lazar. Konstantin let the Ottoman army cross his province into Kosovo and also gave supporting armed bands, before the Battle of Kosovo (1389). Konstantin married, but his spouse's name is unknown. Konstantin had

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4092-486: Was one of the prominent figures of Dušan's reign and during the fall of the Serbian Empire after Dušan's death. Under Emperor Dušan, despot Jovan Oliver, with his brother Bogdan and sevastokrator Dejan, ruled over all of eastern Macedonia. He is not mentioned much in Dušan's military endeavors, although the reputation of him and his successors suggest that he was involved in most of Dušan's successes. His prominence beyond Serbia

4158-429: Was raised to the status of a Patriarchate . The new Patriarch Joanikije II now solemnly crowned Dušan as " Emperor (basileus) and autocrat of Serbs and Romans (Greeks)". Dušan had his son Uroš V crowned King of Serbs and Greeks , giving him nominal rule over the Serbian lands , and although Dušan was governing the whole state, he had special responsibility for the "Roman", i.e. Greek lands . A further increase in

4224-409: Was succeeded by Alexander Komnenos Asen , who was likely his son from his unknown first wife. John's second marriage was to the former Epirote queen-consort Anna Palaiologina . While the birth date of John Komnenos Asen is unknown, his origin is clearly documented in the sources. On both sides, he descended from the highest ranks of 14th-century Bulgarian nobility. He was born to Keratsa Petritsa ,

4290-553: Was under the protection of Venice. The premature death of Stephen Dušan in 1355 plunged the Serbian Empire into civil war. In that conflict, John took the side of his wife's son-in-law Simeon Uroš against the legitimate successor Stephen Uroš , who was Stephen Dušan's son and Simeon Uroš's nephew. While Simeon's attempt at taking the throne was ill-fated and Stephen Uroš even captured Berat in 1356, John managed to preserve his remaining lands and became independent from both Simeon and Stephen Uroš. The threat of Nikephoros II Orsini , who

4356-543: Was very high), as Vukašin's rise would have been unlikely during the lifetime of these. Vukašin's younger brother Jovan Uglješa is thought to have participated in the dismemberment of Dejan's province, as he used this chance to take the provinces which bordered on the oblast (province) of Ser ( Serres ), which he de facto held (Empress Jelena de jure ). No one looked to the young sons of Dejan who would later become very important. Dejan's death brought benefit to Vukašin and Uglješa, not so much in territorial expansion (which

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