Maps of Power

Purković 1938b

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ID 10463
System Class Bibliography
Bibliography Article
Case Study Byzantino-Serbian Border Zones in Transition (1282–1355) , Historical Region of Macedonia TIB 16

Description

Miodrag A. Purković, Itinerar kralja i cara Stefana Dušana, in: Glasnik Skopskog naučnog društva 19 (1938) 239-244.

Relations

Places (22)
Name Class Begin End Description
Beroia Place On 5 December 1355 the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) issued a charter for Maroje Gučetić in Beroia.
Brusnica Place On 10 August 1354 the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) issued a charter in Brusnica for the Monastery of Chilandar on the Holy Mount Athos.
Dobrušta Place On 19 May 1334 the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) issued a charter for Dubrovnik at Dobrušta. Also in May 1334 King Stefan Dušan granted a charter to the Church of Sveti Nikola in Dobrušta, most probably while he was staying there.
Dĭbrěšte Place On 25 October 1343 the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) issued a charter for the Monastery of the Saints Peter and Paul at Lim in Dĭbrěšte near Prilep.
Holy Mount Athos Place The Holy Mount Athos is a mountain and a peninsula in North-Eastern Greece and an important centre of Orthodox monasticism. In the period from September 1347 until April 1348 the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) issued several charters for the monasteries on the Holy Mount Athos. In April 1351 the Emperor Stefan Dušan enacted a charter on Athos for the Monastery of Zographou.
Krupište Place The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) donated beekeepers with beehives near Krupište to the Monastery Hagios Panteleemon on the Holy Mount Athos on 12 June 1349 (konь krupištь). The current village of Ularci, which is located 2 km to the North-East of Krupište, probably emerged from this settlement of beekeepers. Stefan Dušan confirmed the Monastery of Sveti Petar Koriški as metochion of the Monastery of Hilandar on the sabor (state assembly) held at Krupište on 17 May 1355 (zьbor na Krupištihь; na zboru na Krupištihь). The respective charters were composed by the Serbian Logothet Gjurg in Ovče Pole. Stefan Dušan issued a third charter in favour of the Monastery of Hilandar on the same sabor at Krupište on 2 July 1355 (zborь na Krupištihь). The charter was written by the same Logothet in Ovče Pole. Also in 1355 a charter for the Church of Sveti Nikola in Dobrušta (in Kosovo) was issued by Stefan Dušan, when he was in Krupište (stoještu... vь Krupištehь). The village of Krupište is mentioned in the charter of the Serbian Despot Jovan Dragaš and his brother Konstantin Dragaš for the Monastery Hagios Panteleemon on the Holy Mount Athos, which they issued after 1376/77 (I u Krupištehь selo Ulijari i selište Butkovcь). The village of Krupište is attested in the Lesnovski pomenik (Krupišta; 16th century). It is also registered in the Defter for the Sanjak Köstendil from 1519, 1550 and from the years 1570 to 1572 as Kurpšta.
Kruša Place In 1354/55 the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) issued a charter in Kruša for the Monastery of Chilandar on the Holy Mount Athos.
Lukavica Place On 28 May 1350 the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) issued a charter for Ivanko Probištitović in Lukavica, to the South-East of Štip.
Melnik Place On 8 March 1350 the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) issued a charter in Melnik for the Monastery of the Holy Archangels in Jerusalem.
Monastery of Treskavec Place After the conquest of the town of Prilep and its surrounding area, the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan issued a Slavonic charter in 1334/35 for the Monastery of Treskavec to the North of Prilep, while he was most probably staying there. The upper part of the attached photograph shows the Monastery of Treskavec during the First World War. Its title "Kloster Varos" is misleading, because this monastery lies in the mountains to the North of the town of Prilep and is not situated in the Old Town (Varoš) of Prilep.
Nerodimlja Place On 14 August 1332 (?) the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) issued a charter for Dubrovnik in the palace of Nerodimlja. Before 8 August 1339 King Stefan Dušan issued a charter for Dubrovnik in Nerodimlja. On 10 September 1340 King Stefan Dušan enacted a charter for Dubrovnik in Nerodimlja. Between April 1346 and December 1355 (1351?) the Serbian Emperor Stefan Dušan issued a charter for the town of Kotor in Nerodimlja.
Novo Brdo Place On 20 September 1349 the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) issued charters for Dubrovnik in Novo Brdo.
Polog Place The Byzantine historian Anna Komnene relates that the Norman general Raoul of Pontoise conquered Skopje and Peter of Aulps took probably Lower und Upper Polog in 1082 (ἔνθέν τοι καὶ τοὺς μὲν δύο Πολόβους εὐθὺς ὁ Πέτρος τοῦ Ἀλίφα κατέσχε, τὰ δὲ Σκόπια ὁ προρρηθεὶς Πουντέσης). She reports also that Peter von Aulps was able to defend both Polog territories, despite the fact that the Bohemond's payment of soldier’s pay was delayed and the commanders received offers from the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos (καὶ τὸν τοὺς Πολόβους φυλάσσοντα Πέτρον τοῦ Ἀλίφα). As a result of Kastoria's capitulation, even Peter of Aulps, was left alone and could not hold the two Polog areas for long. He offered his services to the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos and the Byzantines became rulers of the two Polog areas again. The whole region of Polog is mentioned in a letter of Archbishop Theophylaktos of Ohrid to the governor of Dyrrhachion Ioannes Komnenos, probably written in 1090. The archbishop complains to the governor about the situation of the clergy in Polog. The Byzantine Emperor previously issued a document granting the clerics of the city of Ōhrid and its surroundings freedom from all tax burdens except the ζευγολόγιον (tax imposed on the draught cattle). According to Theophylaktos the imperial officials ignored the decree. He therefore asked the governor to write a pittakion to confirm the tax exemption. He also asked him to renew the required payments of the ἀερικόν and the ὀτρωτζίνα. The second epistle, probably written by the Archbishop between the years 1092-1097, shows that even after the governor issued his pittakion, the clerics of Polog were still forced to perform various duties and taxes. The Serbian Grand Prince (Veliki Župan) Vukan devastated in 1092 the area in the vicinity of Skopje and even conquered Polog (κᾷθ’ οὕτως τεθαρρηκὼς ὁ Βολκάνος ὡς μή τινος τοῦ ἀντικαθισταμένου περιλειφθέντος ἐληίζετο τὰς παρακειμένας πόλεις καὶ χώρας, καὶ τῶν Σκοπίων τὴν ἔξω χώραν τελείως ἠρίπωσε, τὸ δέ τι καὶ κατέκαυσεν. οὐ μέχρι δὲ τούτου, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸν Πόλοβον καταλαβὼν καὶ ἄχρι Βρανέας φθάσας καὶ δῃώσας ἅπαντα πολλὴν τὲ λείαν ἐκεῖθεν ἀφελόμενος εἰς τὴν οἰκείαν ὑπέστρεψε χώραν). The Arab geographer al-Idrisi mentions in 1153/1154 a city bearing the name of Būluġū in a description of the route from Dyrrhachion to the city of Chrysopolis in his work ῾Kitab al-Rujar. According to al-Idrisi, it was two days' journey from Ōhrid. It was on a large mountain and was said to have been beautiful. According to al-Idrisi, between Būluġū and the city of Skopje, which was located north-east of Būluġū, the traveller had to reckon with a distance of a day's journey. Although Būluġū has often been identified with some towns in Polog, the sparse data for exact localization do not suffice and it seems that al-Idrisi describes rather an administrative unit. The Serbian Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja, actually a loyal vassal of the Byzantine Empire since his deditio in 1172, risked an uprising in 1183 and was able to invade the city of Sofia/Serdica and devastate the surrounding territory with the help of the Hungarian King Béla III. Then he went alone, only with his forces and destroyed the strongholds in Velbužd, Žitomisk, Skopje, Lěšok in the lower Polog and the town of Gradac (Prišьdь bo prěpodobʼni sevty Symeōn sь ugьrьskymь kralemь i donde grada do Srědʼca rekomago i vь sʼkrušenije postavi jego i vь ōpustěnije konьčʼnoje. Vьzvraštьšou že se rizě ugьrьskomu vь svoje njemu vladičьstvo, ōn že svety ōtvraštь se ōt nego ide sь siloju svojeju na gradь Pernikь i tьь skrušivь svojeju i vь ōpustěnije i i gradь Stobь i gradь Zemlьnь i gradь Velьbluždь i gradь Žitomitьskь i gradь Skьplь i gradь Lěšьskь u Dolnemь Polozě i gradь Gradьcь). According to the Vita of him, which was written by his son Stefan the First-Crowned, Stefan Nemanja fully included not only the Lower Polog with Lěšok and Gradac, but also the Upper Polog with border areas in his dominion (Priloži že kь zemli ōtčьstvija svoigo ōblastь nyševьskuju do konca, Lypljanь že i Moravu i glagoljemy Vrani, prizrěnsku že ōblastь i Pologa ōba do konca sь megami svoimi). The area of Polog appears again several times in the document corpus of Demetrios Chomatenos. These charters give account about the situation in this administrative entity shortly after the successful conquest of Macedonia up to the city of Skopje in 1217–1219 by the Epirote ruler Theodoros I Komnenos Dukas. The widow Maria from Polog addressed the archbishop's synod due to an inheritance matter (Παρέστη ἡ ἀπὸ τοῦ Πολόγου ὁρμωμένη χήρα γυνή, ἧς τοὔνομα Μαρία). The monk Gerasimos from the Monastery of the Holy Theotokos in Htětovo and the priest Dobros, both from the village of Banista in the Upper Polog, argued over a property that was illegally confiscated in the past (Ὁ γὰρ ἀπὸ τοῦ Ἄνω Πολόγου ὁρμώμενος καὶ ἐν τῇ σεβασμίᾳ μονῇ τῆς ὑπεραγίας δεσποίνης ἡμῶν Θεοτόκου τῇ ἐν Κτεατόβῃ ἀσκούμενος μοναχὸς Γεράσιμος μετὰ τοῦ παρ’ αὐτοῦ ἐναγομένου καὶ ἐκεῖθεν ὁρμωμένου καὶ ἐν τῷ χωρίῳ Βανίστῃ οἰκοῦντος Δόβρου ἱερέως τῷ παναγιωτάτῳ ἡμῶν δεσπότῃ, τῷ ἀρχιεπισκόπῳ πάσης Βουλγαρίας, παραστάς, κατὰ τοῦ τοιούτου ἱερέως ἐνῆγε λέγων). In this context, Polog is described as χώρα. The term was used to denote the administrative unit or even a province at the time. In a bizarre divorce trial, Georgios' former wife is briefly mentioned. Georgios wanted to live with her again. Her name was Omprada and she was the daughter of a certain Radoslav from Lower Polog (Λαβὼν γυναῖκα νομίμως ἐκ πρώτου συνοικεσίου τὴν θυγατέρα τοῦ Ῥαδοσλάβου τοῦ οἰκοῦντος ἐν τῷ Κάτω Πολόγῳ, τὴν καλουμένην Ὀμπράδα). The Bulgarian Tsar Konstantin I Asen, who reigned between the years 1257-1277, confirmed in the fragmentary preserved chrysobull charter the previous possessions of the Monastery of Saint George-Gorg near Skopje, which was erected by the Byzantine emperor Romanos III. Argyros. Beside the area around Skopje and Prilep, the document also explicitly mentions the dominion (oblast) of Polog. A list of donated villages in this territory follows, which included the village of Rěčice, the so-called Krajište of Lisec, the village of Lěskovljani and also the furrow near Htětovo. Then the possessions of the monastery in Upper Polog are mentioned. Unfortunately, the name of the first village has not survived, but it possessed vineyards and mills. Two other villages, Tōčilь and the village of Banica with vineyards and mills, are easily readable (Vь Položkoi ōblasti selo Rěčici, i to darovan’noje svetoïmь Romanomъ carjemь Svetōmu Geōrgiju sъ vinogradi, sь nivijemъ, i sъ žrъnъkami, sъ perivolmi, sь sěnokosi, sь zaběloï, sь planinami, sь lovištemъ zvěrnoïmъ, i sь vsěmi dohodkoï i sь vsěmi pravinami, i da ne meteha nikoi kefalija, nikōtori vladalecь carьstva mi ni vladalʼci gospodstvujaštih po carьstvu mi, da ne ima vьlěsti vь seko Rěčici, ni sjaditi, ni svjazati, ni globja vьzjati, nikōi dohodokь vьzjati, vsakoi dohōdokь i birokь zakōnʼnoii da si vʼzima crьkva· A sinor selu tōmu: ōt izvora Rěčickjaja rěkja na desnō vьzdolь..nizь brьdo na Ōslьnikь, ta na Ivanovь dolь, ta pō rovčišta, ta meždu Prěslopь a meždu Ōgraždenikь prěz brьdo na na izvorь Palʼčiškja rěkja, i nizь rěkja do Katafigь, ta vъzь brьdo na kraište kako slazi Lisecь vьs kraište Lisečkō, niz gvozdъ na studenʼčec, ta na Glьbokoi dolь, i ōt Glьboka dola.....a ōt sěverьnja...strana prězь ljagь prěko Velikja rěkja, ta nizь Velikja do Htětovьskja brazdja..... .......o na Točilь koi laz....ad...Lěskovijane......vьz brьdō do gor.... desno ..... pjatemь.. Suhja.. planinja..št.nizь gvozdь na Rěčičkja rěkja do izvora jeja, i tō vse paričkō městō. I vь Gornemь Polozě selo...nivijemь sь vinogradi, sь žrъnьkami, sь vsěmi pravinami ih. Selo Tōčilъ i planina rekōma sъ vseja pravinoja. Selo Banici sъ nivijemъ sъ vinōgradi , s žrъnkami, i sъ vsěmi pravinami). Immediately after the ruler of Nicaea, Michael Palaiologos, was elevated to the rank of Despot, he sent his brother Ioannes with a small army, which was reinforced after the Battle of Pelagonia in 1259, to reconquer the territories of Macedonia. The Byzantine historian Georgios Pachymeres describes that Ioannes also captured fortresses in Polog. Ioannes achieved this success more with his diplomatic skills than militarily, because he fought only occasionally (Τοῖς δὲ δυτικοῖς καὶ προσετετήκει· ὅθεν καὶ τὸν οἰκεῖον ἀδελφὸν Ἰωάννην, μέγαν ἔτι δομέστικον ὄντα, συνάμα πλείσταις δυνάμεσι πέμπει, ὅς, τοῖς δυτικοῖς ἐπιστάς, φοβερὸν ἔδοξε πνέειν ἐκείνοις, ἅμα μὲν τῷ θερμῷ τῆς νεότητος, ἅμα δὲ καὶ τῷ περὶ ἐκεῖνον στρατεύματι κουφιζόμενος. Καὶ ἀπτέρῳ τάχει αἱρεῖ μὲν τὸ περὶ τὰ Κάνινα φρούριον, αἱρεῖ δὲ καὶ τὸ περὶ τὰ Βελλάγραδα καὶ Πόλογον καὶ Κολώνειαν, χειροῦται δὲ καὶ Καστορίαν καὶ Πελαγονίαν καὶ Δεύρας, Τζέρνικόν τε καὶ Διάβολιν καὶ τὴν Πρίλαπον, Βοδεεινά τε καὶ Βόστρον, ἔλλιμνον νῆσον, Πέτραν, Πρέσπαν τε καὶ Στερίδολα καὶ Ἀχρίδαν καὶ τὰ Ἰλλυριῶν ὀχυρώματα, καὶ ἕως Δυρραχίου φθάνει τὸ δόρυ κινῶν· προσβάλλει δὲ καὶ Πάτρᾳ καὶ Τρίκκῃ. Καὶ τὰ κύκλῳ κατὰ συνθήκας κρατήσας, καὶ ἀμαχεὶ τὰ πλεῖστα, εἰς φόβον μέγαν καθίστησι τὸν δεσπότην καὶ ἐν στενῷ κομιδῇ. Τότε καὶ ἐγγίονος ἀξιῶν τύχης αὐτὸν πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ ὁ κρατῶν, πέμψας τὰ σύμβολα, σεβαστοκράτορα καθιστᾷ). The sources give almost no information about the Byzantine administration of Polog, except for the later Byzantine Emperor and historian Ioannes Kantakuzenos. He gives a longer account on Theodoros Synadenos, who was born around 1280. He mentions also his father, the Megas Stratopedarches Ioannes Synadenos, who administered Polog as Toparch. However, Ioannes Kantakuzenos localized Polog in the macro-region of Dalmatia, because he probably confused the broader regional designation Illyrikon with Dalmatia (ὁ δέ γε πατὴρ τοῦ πρὸς ἑσπέραν κατὰ τὴν Δαλματίαν λεγομένου Πολόγου τοπάρχης ἦν. ὁ δέ γε πατὴρ τοῦ πρὸς ἑσπέραν κατὰ τὴν Δαλματίαν λεγομένου Πολόγου τοπάρχης ἦν· ἣν δὴ τοπαρχίαν σὺν ἑαυτῷ τῷ πρώτῳ τῶν βασιλέων προσαγαγὼν Παλαιολόγῳ τῷ Μιχαὴλ καὶ ὑποχείριον ἀποδείξας αὐτῷ, τιμῶν τε ἠξιώθη μεγάλων παρὰ Ῥωμαίοις καὶ γάμου κοινωνίας ἐπιφανοῦς, τῇ βασιλέως ἀνεψιᾷ συναφθείς). Probably in 1268 or 1269 an embassy to the Serbs, consisting of the Metropolitan of Traianupolis Ioannes Kondumnes, the Patriarch of Constantinople Joseph I and the Chartophylax of Hagia Sophia Ioannes Bekkos, failed to arrange a marriage between Anna, the daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII. Palaiologos and Milutin, the second son of the Serbian King. Georgios Pachymeres relates that the embassy also passed through Polog and gives his explanation of the Slavic name to his audience (Τῇ Πολόγῳ δὲ παραγγειλάντων, ἣν δὴ ἄλσος Θεοῦ ἐκεῖνοι κατὰ γλῶσσαν εἴπειαν). Polog was withdrawn from the sovereign authority of the Byzantine Empire in 1282/1283 during the reign of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (Prьvěje prijetь oba Pologa sь gradovy ihь i sь oblastiju, i gradь slavьnyi Skopije, po sihь že Ovьče Polje i Zletovu i Pijanьc. Takovyje vьse zemlje prijetь vь prьvoje prišьstvije jego, i priloži ihь kь drьžavě otьčьstvija svojego). In 1300, Polog is mentioned for the first time as Župa in the charter of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin for the Monastery of Saint George Gorg near Skopje. The word župa is attested in connection with the village of Rěčice. Firstly, the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II. Milutin, as the issuer, refers to the older privileges for the monastery, including the charter of the Bulgarian Tsar Konstantin I Asen, which he confirms and therefore repeats the phrase vь ōblasti položьkoi. Only later, when he comes to the privileges of the village of Rěčice, the Serbian King mentions Župa. He freed the village of Rěčice from all works, taxes and duties, which the villagers were obliged to pay to the Governor of the Polog Župa (Selo vь ōblasti položьkoi Rěčice s popovlïani, iže jestь priložilь svety Romanь carь, prьvi ktitorь. I vidě kraljevstvo mi jako podano jestь svetymь Romanomь caremь, i svetimь kyrь-Aleksiemь caremь, i zapisano i utvrьždeno kyrь-Manoilemь caremь, kyrь-Asanōmь caremь i svetimi pravověrnimi cari i krali višepisanimi, i osvoboždeno ōtь vsěhь rabotь carьskihь i ōtь vsěhь podanьkь malihь i velikihь. Po tomužde ōbrazu i kraljevstvo mi ōsvobodi selo Rěčice ōt vsěhь rabotь carьskihь i ōt vsěhь podanьkь malihь i velikyhь. I komu se dastь župa Položʼka na državu milostiju kralievstva mi, Rěčicamь da ne ima zapovědati ni na iednu rabotu, ni na voinsku poiti, grada ne zidati ni bljusti, vinograda ne kopati, ni glasa nositi, ni provoda, ni ponosa. I do nema ulěsti u selo to Rěčice nikoi vladalcь kralievьstva mi, ni vladacь drьžeščago župu tu, ni uzeti kojega dohodka ni mala ni velika: ni sevastь, ni prahtorь, ni knezь, ni vinarь, ni pozobь, ni konjuhь, ni piscь, ni gerakarь, ni pьsь hraniti, ni desetka pčelna, ni ōvčega, ni žitnoga, ni vinnoga, ni travnine, ni torovnine, ni komota, ni mitate, ni košarьštine, ni pisa, ni dimnine, ni voloberʼštine platiti, ni priselice, ni nametkь žitni ni vinni, ni člověka garepsati, ni konja, ni vola, ni ōsla, ni carinu da dajutь, ni suditi člověku Svetago Geōrgija posilijemь, ni potku da uzima na njemь, ni ruku ni ōdboi, ni koju globu, ili potku, ili ruku, i vsaky birьkь zakonny da uzima crьkьvь. Sije zapisanije i utvrьždenije ōbrěte kraljevstvo mi vь hrisovulehь svetihь pravověrnih carьь i kralʼь, takožde i kraljevstvo mi po tomužde ōbrazu potvrьdihь zapisanija i hrisovule, da si drьži selo Rěčice s vinogradi, s perivoli, s nivijemь, s mlini, sь sěnokosi, sь zaběli, i sь planinomь, i sь vsěmi pravinami sela togo). The Byzantine Emperor Michael IX Palaiologos confirmed at the request of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin the possessions of the monastery of Saint Nicetas near Skopje in a chrysobull charter. The document must have been created after 1299, because the emperor addressed Stefan Uroš II Milutin as his brother and brother-in-law. The monastery owned in the region of Polog the village of Nerašta with all rights and a place called Radějevo with vineyards, mills and the courtyard, which at that time was in the hands of a certain Vratislav (ὡσαύτως δέδωκε καὶ χωρίον διακείμενον περὶ τὸν Πόλογον καὶ ἐπιλεγόμενον Νεράσταν μετὰ πάντων τῶν δικαίων αὐτοῦ, ἔτι δὲ καὶ τόπον καλούμενον τοῦ Ῥαδέα μετὰ τῶν ἐν αὐτῶ ἀμπελίων καὶ μυλοστασίων καὶ αὐλῆς, ἅπερ κατεῖχε τίς ὁ Βρατίσθλαβος). The Byzantine emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos issued in 1308 at the request of the Serbian king Stefan Uroš II Milutin a charter, in which he approved the endowment of the monastery of Saint Nicetas near Skopje to the Hrusija tower at the Hilandar monastery. The Greek original has not been preserved, only a Church Slavonic translation of the authentic document is known. The village of Nerašta and a place called Radějevo in the region Polog are attested there again (I u Polozě selo Nerašta s pravinami jegō. I drugo město narečeno Radějevo s vinogradi i s voděničijemь i s dvoromь, ježe jestь drьžalь někto Bratislavь). The Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin confirmed probably in 1303 or 1304 the possessions of the Hrusija tower at the Hilandar monastery. The authentic document is lost, the text has been preserved in four transcripts. One of the transcripts (AHS 144/146), certainly transcribed in the king’ chancery between 1310 and 1340, describes the southward expansion of the Serbian king. Polog is mentioned there as a strana (area) (I pospěšьstvovanijemь svetyju mi gdnu Simeōna i Savy, prějeh po měju Skopsku stranu i Ōvčepolsku i Položsku i Dьbrьsku i pročeje ine strane. I potomь byhь zetь blagověrnomu i samodržavnomu caru grьčьskomu kur Androniku Paleōlogu, i da mi ōnuzi zemlju u prikiju). The Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin donated in 1321 the village of Odri in Polog with the church of Sveti Dmitrij, people, summer pasture, all boundaries and rights, the place of Borko near Podbrezi with a court, people and also everything, which belonged to Borko in Ljašcje to the Monastery of Gračanica. These properties in Polog were given to the monastery within the scope of an exchange of property between Gračanica and the Bishopric of Debar (I Bane u Suhogrьlě koi běhu takožde upisani vь ōtčině mi hrisovulě, i vzehь i dahь Svetomu Nikolě jepiskuplii dьbrьskoi, a za ne dahь zaměnu Svety Bogorodici gradčanьskoi u Polozě Ōdri crьkьovь Svetago Dmitrija sь ljudmi i sь planinomь, i sь vse mi megjami pravi mi koako si je imalo se to ōd iskoni). The Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski confirmed between May 1324 and August 1331 the donation of his father Stefan Uroš II Milutin. The latter granted the church of Sveti Vrač(i) (the Saint Cosmas and Damian) near Potoča, located in Upper Polog, with vineyards, fields, bought estates, smallholdings given for the sake of salvation and retinue to the Bishopric of Prizren (U Gornemь Polozě crkьvь Svetyju Vračju u Potočahь, što jestь pridalь roditeь kraljevьstva mi, i s vinogradi, i s nivijemь, i s kupljenicami i zadušninami i z dvorani). Milutin granted also the property of a priest near Gjurgjevište with people, which lived there, to the Bishopric of Prizren (I stasь popovska u Gjurjevištih i s ljudmi koi sěde na njei, što jestь pridalь roditelь kraljevьstva mi sь arhiepiskopomь Savomь i sь arhiepiskopomь svetymь Nikodimomь, da su crьkovny). The Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski donated the Church of the Holy Mother of God located in Lower Polog near Lešok and and three estates of the priest not far away, which were known as bishop’s court since time immemorial, to the bishopric of Prizren (I tako i u Dolnijemь Polozě u Lěšcě crkьvь svetyje bogorodice i pri njei tri stasi popovske što se zove dvorь piskopovь ōtь věka, da jestь svobodno ōt vsěhь rabotь kraljevьstva mi i podanьkь, kako je i ōtь isprьva bylo). The Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski confirmed the possession of fields near the Church of Holy Mother of God at Trhalě not far from Treboš, which had previously been taken by the people of Polog, to the Bishopric of Prizren. His father, King Milutin, together with the Bishops Damjan and Ilija took the fields from Žegr and they set his houses on fire. But the situation was resolved in its entirety only in the time of King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski. Stefan Uroš III Dečanski engaged the royal court and sent his royal representatives (Despot Dragoslav and Bishop Arsenij) personally to this area. After their inspection the Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski reinstated the situation „as it was before“ (I u Trěboši pri crьkvi svetyje bogorodice pri Trьhalě nivije crьkovno što bylo ōt věka. I uzeli jesu byli Položani, i iznašьlь je roditelь kraljevьstva mi sь jepiskopomь Damijanomь i sь iepiskopomь Iliōmь, i ōtjelь ōt Žegra, i kušte mu popalilь; i pakь posla kraljevьstvo mi despota Dragoslava sь jepiskopomь Arsenijemь da ihь iznadju, da si je ima sveta crьkvi kako je isprьva bylo). The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan issued on 22 January 1333 a charter for Dubrovnik in the region of Polog (A tu imь milostь učini kraljevstvo mi u Polozie vь lětoь 6833 měseca ženvara 22 danь). The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan confirmed in 1334/1335 the donation of his grandfather to the Treskavec Monastery regarding the village Krьpenь in the Region of Polog probably with the Metochion of Saint Nicholas, vineyards, field, summer pastures and all rights (U Polozě metohь Krьpenь sь voděničjemь i sь vinogradi i sь nivijemь i sь planinami i sь vsěmi pravinami jego, što priloži svetopočivšii kralь za dušu si). The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan together with his son, the Young King Uroš, issued most likely in the summer of 1343 a charter for the Monastery of Holy Mother of God in Htětovo, after he had found it devastated and without possessions. The explicit choice of words in the arenga suggests that the Serbian king was personally present in the region of Polog. The administrative unit Polog is denotated in the charter as zemlja (country) and is perceived as an integral part of the Serbian kingdom (prědaju vь ōblasti kraljevʼstva mi zemlju Položʼkuju). The Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan donated in 1347 the village of Selce in Polog with Veli Vrh, hamlets, vineyards and all rights to the Monastery of the Holy Archangels in Prizren (selo u Polozě Selce, i s Velimь Vrьhomь, i sь zaselki, i s vinogrady, i sь vsěmi pravinami, a megja mu sь Htětovomь na Črьni Dolь i prěko za Veli Vrьhь na Stražišta, i ōtь tudu prěko do Dola Velijega na Bajevь Kamy, i megja s Porojemь po dělu uzь Vlaku tere na Planincu, a s Hraštani ōtь Sopotca uz brьdo na Dupnii Kamy; i megja z Garani po vodovagi na Dobri Studen᾿cь ta na Uši, i na Črьni Vrьhь, i niz brьdo na rěku, i niz řeku gdě se obě rěcě stajeta pod Brodcem, i megja Světcomь uz rěku na Srědnju Planinu, i uz brьdo Planine po dělu na Bělьmužьcь, i planina Ranestьcь). The charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan for the Monastery of the Holy Archangels reveals also details about Polog's western border. The border between Krstac and Polog is mentioned in the boundary description of the summer pasture in Sinjavica (I planina Sinjavica i z Bilijanicom, i niže Sinjavice Romanь Dolь, kako pohodi nadь krai, i ōt kraja pravo u vrьhь Ranetьcь: dotezi megja Krьstьcu ōt Pologa). The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan confirmed in 1348 the possessions of the Hilandar Monastery. His deed distinguishes between possessions of the monastery in Serbian land and in Romania (also zemlja grečečska). The estates in Polog are the last in the list of the mentioned possessions, which belonged to the Hilandar Monastery in in the Serbian land. Among them are the former properties of the Monastery of the Holy Mother of God Htětovo in Broděc, Drěnovec, Hraštany, Htětovo, Jadovarce, Mlačice, Sedlarevo, Staro Želynje, Štenče, Sedlarevo and a new endowment in Izbice. The Serbian emperor donated the village Štenče with Vlьkovnō in the Upper Polog, that appears in this document for the first time, to the Hilandar Monastery (U Polozě crьkvь Mati Božia Htětovska i sь seli. I vь Jadovarcehь crьkvь Svety Nikolae, što priloži carьstvo mi Bogorodici Htětovskoi popa Draju i sь rodōmь i sь městomь i sь megjami i sь vsěmi pravinami. Mlačice sь zemlomь, što je dalь svety kralь; a mega zemli toi ōdь Nikiforca kako grede putь na ōpogorь prěz livadu u Kraljevu pekь i u Bivolь Brodь. I Staroga Želina polovina sь megjami i sь crьkoviju. Selo Htětovo i Hraštani, Mlačice i sь zemlōmь. Selo Drěnovьcь, Brodьcь, Sedlarevo i sь Izbicami. I u Gornjemь Polozě selo Štenʼče, i sь Vlьkovnōmь). The founder and funerary inscription of Abbot Ioanikij, probably made between the years 1346 and 1355, gives account about the appointment of Ioanikij as Bishop of the Lower Polog after the Skopje assembly in 1346. Although the inscription mentions only one bishop of the Lower Polog , sources from the 16th century suggest that Polog was a singular church district, not divided in two units (i prizva patriarha blьgarskago i arhiepiskupa srьbskago iōanikija i stvori zborь u skopi i blagosloviše ego na carьski sanь i bystь prvonastolny carь srbskoi zemli i grčkoi i pomorskoi arhiepiskupa iōanikija blagosloviše na patriarhiju srbskoi zemli vь to carstvo blagosloviše anьtonija na episkupstvo dolnemu pologu prvonastolna po izvoleniju božiju prětvoriše ime jemu iōanikie poneže něe bilo prěge episkupь polozě).
Prilep, Upper Town Place In the charter of donation by the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355), dating to 1334/35, Prilep is indicated as a settlement with an upper town (gradь glagolemii Prilěpь). On 18 January 1347 the Emperor Stefan Dušan issued a charter for the Monastery of Chilandar in Prilep. Between January and August 1348 the same Emperor enacted a charter for the kellion in Karyes on the Holy Mount Athos in Prilep.
Prizren Place On 30 September 1341 the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) issued a charter for Živa Bunić in Prizren. The same King enacted a charter to the starec Grigorije in Prizren on 19 May 1343. The Serbian Emperor Stefan Dušan issued several charters for Nikola Lukarević, Marin Gučetić, Dubrovnik and the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren in August 1347 in Prizren.
Radovište Place The Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos confirmed in August 1323 that Ioannes Sguros Orestes is the owner of Tzykalas and Branas with proprietary possession in Radovište. Both were previously held by the Sebastos Palates, who gave them to his son-in-law as dowry (ἀλλὰ δὴ καὶ εἰς τὸ Ῥαδοβίσδιν ἀνθρώπους δύο ἐνυποστάτους, τόν τε Βρανᾶν καὶ τὸν Τζυκαλ(ᾶν), οὓς εἶχεν ὁ πενθερὸς αὐτοῦ ὁ σεβαστὸς ὁ Παλάτης ἐκεῖνος διὰ χρυσοβούλλου καὶ ἐπροικοδοτήθησαν τούτω παρ’ αὐτοῦ). Between 1349 and 1353 the Logothet Gjurgь of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) wrote a Prostagma in Radovište (u Radovištichь) at the behest of the Emperor, which confirmed the landed property of the Monastery of Chilandar in the valley of the river Strumica.
Serres Place In October 1345 the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) issued a charter for the Monastery of St. John Prodromos near Serres. On 15 October 1345 the same King enacted a charter for the Doge of Venice in Serres. Stefan Dušan issued a third charter in Serres on 26 October 1345 for Dubrovnik. In February 1355 the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan issued a charter in Serres for Dubrovnik.
Skopje Place The Bulgarian Tsar Constantine I Asen mentioned the town of Skopje in his donation of goods to the Monastery of St. George-Gorg (na brъdě Vir'gině prěmo Skopii grad(a) nadь Serěvǫ, vь grad(ě) Skopьskomъ). The Byzantine Co-Emperor Michael IX Palaiologos mentioned the town of Skopje in his donation to the monastery of Saint Nikita in the years 1299/1300 (πλησίον [τῶν Σκοπίων]). In 1299/1300 or 1308 a Serbian version of a charter by Andronikos II Palaiologos - at the instigation of the Serbian king Stefan Uroš II Milutin - confirmed the donations made by Michael IX (ō priloženi ježe vь Skopi ). In both charters the Upper Town of Skopje is also mentioned (kь gradu Skopьskomu/ἀπὸ τοῦ κάστρου τῶν Σκοπίων). The Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin confirmed the donations by Tsar Constantine I Asen and added new properties to the Monastery of Saint George-Gorg (svetago i velikago mučenika Hristova Gjeōrgiïa prěmo Skopiju gradu na Seravě na brьdě rekoměmь Verьginь). On 1 January 1345 the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan issued a charter in Skopje concerning the Tower of Hrusija on the Holy Mount Athos. In the period from April until August 1346 King Stefan Dušan enacted a series of charters in Skopje for several monasteries on the Holy Mount Athos, for Georgios Phokopoulos and for Dubrovnik. In the year 1346/47 the same King mentioned the town of Skopje in the foundation charter of the episcopal see in Zletovo (такодже и подвигосмо всечьстнѹю Скопию), which he most probably issued in Skopje itself. On 21 May 1349 Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan issued a charter for the anagnost Dragoje in Skopje. In the years 1354/55 the same Emperor enacted a charter in Skopje for the Church of the Presentation of the Theotokos in Arhiljevica. Petančić mentioned it in 1522 as Scopia.
Sopotnica Place On 14 June 1347 the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) issued a charter for Orsa Crijević in Sopotnica (most probably near Kruševo).
Svrčin Place In 1337 (?) the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) issued a charter for the Monastery of Chilandar in the palace of Svrčin.
Čahra Place In 1348 the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) issued a charter for the Cell of Saint Sava (ca. 1175-1236) in Karyes on the Holy Mount Athos concerning the village of Kosorići, when he stopped at the place called Čahra near Skopje (Sego radi napisa se sii hrisovulь vь ōkrьstnoi st᾿raně grada Skopia, stoještu carstvu mi na Čahri). The charter of Stefan Dušan for the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren dated to 1347/48 refers to the place of Čahra in the border delimitation of the village of Klьčevišta (A megja Klьčevištemь: do visa us poljanu, megju Pьsi Dolь i megju hlьmь tere pravo na kolovozь, i koi putь ide ōt Banjanь pravo mimo selo Slivovikь, kako izlazi kolnikь na kamenikь na brьdo, i ōt tudu pravo u planinu putemь obь druge strane do crьkvišta pri Kalopetrově lozě, a gorě uz dělь u planinu; a ōt Skopija megja, po srědě Dobroga Dola, u putь u prěky koi grede ōt Čahra, i do mramora putemь koi grede uz Golihovo pravo u Banjane, ōt toga puti pravo u visь, koi ide megju Banjane i megju Klьčevišta). Čahra was not a village in medieval times, but a place (topographical entity), which is most probably to be localised in "Čairsko Polje" (cf. the map by Radoslav M. Grujić), which is today Skopje's Northern urban district of Čair.
Župa of Morava Place In ca. 1189/90 the Serbian Grand Župan Stefan Nemanja (reigned 1166/68-1196) incorporated Morava into his realm (Priloži že kĭ zemli otčĭstvïa svojego oblastĭ nyševĭskuju do konca, Lypljanĭ že i Moravu i glagoljemy Vrani, prizrěnĭsku že oblastĭ i Pologa oba do konca sĭ megami svoimi.). In ca. 1299/1300 the Byzantine Co-Emperor Michael IX Palaiologos (reigned 1295-1320) donated the village of Mērana in (the župa of) Morava to the Monastery of Sveti Nikita (χωρίον διακείμενον εἰς τὴν Μοράβαν καὶ ἐπονομαζόμενον τὴν Μηράναν). In a charter of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos (reigned 1282-1328), at the instigation of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (reigned 1282-1321), in ca. 1299/1300 (or 1308?) for the Tower of Hrusija (Pyrgos Basileiu) of the Monastery of Chilandar on the Holy Mount Athos the donation of the village of Izmira in Morava is confirmed (I selo u Moravě narekomoje Izmira). In the first quarter of the 14th century Morava was part of the Bishopric of Lipljan (po Moravě). The forged transcript A of the collective charter of the Serbian King Milutin for the Monastery of Chilandar from the years 1303-1304 (or after 1331) reports that the village of S'mira in Morava was granted to the Monastery of Sveti Nikita near Skopje and afterwards to the Tower of Hrusija (Pyrgos Basileiu) in the vicinity of the Monastery of Chilandar by the Serbian King (i u Moravě selo S'mira ... To vʼse utʼvrьdivь i zapisavь dahь Svetomu Nikitě, a Svetago Nikitu dahь mojemu pirʼgu sь vʼsěmь jego utʼvrьždenijemь). In 1342 the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) issued a charter in favour of the starec Ioanĭ in Morava donating to him the Monastery of Sveti Nikola Mrački for lifelong subsistence (u Moravě). According to Siniša Mišić the medieval Serbian župa of Morava is to be localised along the river Binačka Morava.