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(Paskačić) Vladko
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Mentioned in the charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan concerning the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača from 1354/1355 and in the inscription accompanying his painted portrait in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača. The portrait of Vlatko was painted probably between 1365 and 1371. He appears as prěvьzljubljenʼny i pravověrnii vlastelinь carstva mi in the charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan. The inscription describes him as sevastokratorь vse srьpьske zemlie vladko. The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan gave in 1354/1355 permission to his nobleman Vladko (Paskačić) to donate the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača, which Vladko erected on the inherited property of his father Paskačь, together with the appertaining metochion to the Hilandar Monastery (I vьspomenu carstvu mi prěvьzljubljenʼny i pravověrnii vlastelinь carstva mi Vladko ō crьkvy svetago Nikoly jaže jestь sьzdalь na svoōi baštině Pʼsači a sь blagoslovljenijemь carstva mi...i poljubi prěd carstvomʼ mi i priloži svoju baštinu crьkvь svetago Nikoli na Psači prěsvetěi Bogorodici hilandarьskoi sь vsěmь metehōmь). The painted portrait of Vladko is preserved on the southern wall of the narthex in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača. The fresco displays him with his whole family. The representation of Vladko and his father Paskać, who are hoisting the model of the church to the icon of Saint Nicholas, can be described as an act of the joint ktetorship.
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(Vlatković) Ugl(j)eša
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It is estimated that he was born around 1359. His last appeareance in the source is in 1423. He held the title of kesarь (kesarь Ugleša gospodarь Serblemь i Podunaju i vsěhь zapadnihь stranь). He was the son of Vladko (synь sevastokratōrovь Ugleša) and Vladislava. His son Stěfanь was buried in the Monastery of the Holy Virgin in Ljubostinja. An inscription in the naos of the church, which was made between 1402 and 1405, is commemorating his son Stěfanь (A se leži Stěfanь kesara Ugleše). It is likely that the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V. bestowed upon him the title of kesarь. Ugl(j)e)ša was apperently in a subordinate position to Konstantin Dragaš before 1395. After 1395 he became a vasall of the Ottoman sultan. Miloš Blagojević believes that Ugl(j)eša participated in the battle of Ankara in 1402. His role in the battle of Gračanica is described by Konstantin Kostenečki, who wrote the biography of the Despot Stefan Lazarević. He left the Ottomans in the beginning of the battle and defected to the army of Stefan Lazarević. On the side of despot he reconquested the region of Vranje, Inogošt and Preševo, which he inherited from his father (Běše že togda i kesarь Ugleša sь ismaility i tь mnogo služenije sьtvori sь sьlanijemь kь blagočьstivomu izь sihь sьvěty i kovy vьzvěštaje, taže po malě i samь priběgь podь krilě despotu Stefanu i zemlju svoju otьčьskuju Vranju i Inogoštu i Prěševo prějetь i udrьža). He fought in 1410 together with Stefan Lazarević in the battle of Kosmidion, where the Ottoman Prince Musa was defeated. The Byzantines escorted the army of Stefan Lazarević and Ugl(j)eša on their ships back to their homeland via Wallachia. His domains were attacked by the force of Musa in 1412. Musa plundered Vranje and endangered Novo Brdo. He donated in 1423 the Church of Saint Nicholas in Vranja with the village Vranje, all rights, boundaries, watermills, fields and meadows, the church of Saint Nicholas in Lučani with all rights and boundaries and the village Trnovac with all boundaries and rights to the Hilandar Monastery (blagověrni kjesarь Uglješa, imeja želanije i usrьdije i ljubovь kь prěčistyje vladyčice našei Bogomateri iže vь Svetěi Gorě Athona, carskije ōbiteli, domu prěčistyje vladyčice naše Bogorodice velikyje lavri Hiladara, dahь bo i prьvo crьkvu Svetago Nikolu u Vraniju tako i selomь Vranemь sь vsě pravinami sela togo, sь vsemi megjami i vodenicami, i s’ nivami i s livadami, i iněmь sь vsěmь. I crьkvu u Lučanehь Svetago Nikolu sь vsěmi pravinami i megjami sela togo. I selo Trьnovcь, sь vsěmi sinori i megjami i pravinami sela togo). The painted portrait of Ugl(j)eša as a child is preserved on the southern wall of the narthex in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača. He is depicted in the front of his grandparents Paskačь and Ozra.
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(Čihorić [Drugović]) Dabiživь
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He was a member of the noble family of Čihorić in Trebinje. He had three brothers (župan Vratko, župan Nenac and tepčija Stepko). He served as a sluga for the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan 1334–1345. He was the Cupbearer (enohijarь) of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V in 1362. Dabiseus Drugouich bought in 1334 at Brskovo a horse from the inhabitant of Ragusa Miloš Hlapović for 30 perper. He came in 1343 to the župa Žrnovnica with Marcus Maurocenus in order to see the property of Sorento from Ragusa, which was near the boundary between the realm of the Serbian Kingdom and the Republic of Ragusa (ad uidendum confines Rusci de Sorento cum Dabiseo sluga). His name appears from 1343 to 1345 in the Liber omnium reformationum. According to it did the people of him cause frequently harm to the Ragusians in the župa Žrnovnica. The emissaries of the Republic of Ragusa complained before the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in October 1345 that Dabiživь established a fair in Trebinje and imposed a tax for the goods exported and imported by the Ragusans. The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan accepted the complaints of the Ragusans and forbade Dabiživь to collect any taxes from the Ragusans (Piše kraljevstvo mi da jestь bědomo vsakomu, kako pridōše poklisarie, vlasteli dubrovьčьci, kraljevstvu mi pod Serь – Piro Grubešikь Marьtolь Črěvikь i Paske Gučetikь – i govoriše kraljevstvu mi na slugu Dabiživa, kako e učinilь trьgь na Trěbini i uzima ōd tovara dinarь kto grede i u Dubrovьnikь izь Dubrovnika, i ōd dobitka koi grede u Dubrov’nikь. i govorěe Dabiživь prědь kraljevstvomь mi: „uzimano e i prěžde, ōnazi carina ōnьdězii.“ A govorěke poklisarie dubrovьč’ci: „Tazi carina ne uzimana ōd veka, ōdkole světь stalь.“ I kraljevstvo mi iz’nage erě ne uzimana tazi carina i u moihь dědь i pradědь i u rodietelja kraljevstva mi i u kraljevstva mi. I sьtvori milostь kraljevstvo mi vsemь vlastelomь dubrovьč’cimь, vělimь i malimь, da ne ōnogazi trьga na Trěbini, kagō ga i prěžde ne bilo. I po sema sega da ne uzima Dabiživь Dubrovьčanomь ni carine da ni koega dohodьka, ni trьgov’cu dubrovьč’komu, ni vlahu, ni srьbinu, da nikōmu i k’to grede Dubrovьnikь, izь Dubrovьnika. I vsaci vlasteli koi te stagati po Dabiživě da ne uzima carine tezi do veka věk, ni u syna kraljevstva mi da ni u koga nastoeštago kralja u Srьblihь). In October 1349 he received together 10 perper from the Ragusans (In minori consilio, sono campane solito congregatio, captum fuit et firmatum de donando de havere communis Dabisco yppos X). He was probably buried in the Monastery Church of the Holy Mother of God at Treskavec near Prilep. His tombstone with an inscription has been preserved on the northern wall of the monastery church (měseca genara: uspe rabь božiei dabiživь: enohijarь: cara uroša: vьse srьbьskyi zemьle: grьčьskje: i pomorьskje vь leto: ѕ: ō: o: enьdikta).
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Andrěašь
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He died between 1394 and 1399. He was killed in the battle of Rovine on 17th May 1395 according to the Dečanski letopis (Va lěto 6902 razbi mirčje voevoda vlaški pajazita na rovinahь i tu pogibie marko kraljevičь i kōnstantïnь, i andrea, i koimenь, oktōbrïa 10 gь). One of the first preserved epic poems about the brothers Marko and Andrijaš from 1556 relates about the murder of Andrěašь by his brother Markos. He appears as kralevikь in the inscription on the edge of the vault of the Saint Andreas Church by the river Treska. He was the son of the Serbian King Demetrios Blukasinos and Lena. His siblings were Markos, Dmitьrь, Ivanišь and Olivera. He is attested along with his mother Lena and his brother Marko in the charter of the Serbian King Demetrios Blukasinos for the Ragusan Republic, which was issued on 5th April 1370 (i po vʼse dni veselešti mi se vь zemʼli kraljevstva mi sь prěvьzljubljenʼnomь kraljestva mi kralicomь kyra Lěnom i sь prěvьzʼljubʼljenʼnimi synovi kraljevstva mi Markomь i Anьdrějašemь). After the death of his father in 1371 he remained at the court of his mother Lena. He minted his own coins with the legend blagověrni andreaš. Grubadin, the kefalija of Porěčie district, send him a message about the disobedience of his garrison force (Gospodinu mi Andrejašu ōd Grubadina tvoegō kefalije...tuži mi se ōt [tvoih?] junakь neposluha). Andrěašь appears in the ktitorial inscription above the south door in the interior of the Church of the so-called Marko’ Monastery (Saint Demetrius Monastery in Sušice near Skopje), which was completed in 1376/1377 (Izvōlenïemь ōtca i voplьšenïem sina i sьšestviemь svetago duha ōbnovi se i popisa si svety i božestavni hramь svetago velikōmučenika Hristova pobědōnosca i myrotočьca Dimitrija sь usrьdïemь i potštanïemь blagověrnago kralja Vlkašina sь blagověrniei kralice Eleny i sь prěvazljublenym eju i prьvorodnimь sinomь blagověrnimь kraljemь Markomь i Andreašemь i Ivanïšemь i Dimïtrom vь lěto ·ѕ·ō·p·e· si že monastirь nače se zdati lěto ·ѕ·ō·n·g· vь dni blagověrnago cara Stefana i hristoljubivago kralja Vlьkašina a sьvrši se vь dьni blagověrnago i hristoljubivago kralja Marka). He together with his mother Lena was the ktitor of the Saint Andreas Monastery by the river Treska. In 1388/1389 he endowed the monastery with villages near the field and beyond the hill: The ktitorial inscription above the entrance on the western wall of the naos gives account about the villages Bukurci and Poviьlno, which were exchanged for the villages Momkovo and Ivanje from the endowment of the Saint Demetrius Monastery near the village Sušica (the so-called Marko’s Monastery) (trudomь i podvigom hristoljubivago raba božija andrěaša sina ftorago blagověrnago kralě Vlьkašina i kralice Eleni monahini Elisaveti i eliko vьzmožno bistь dahomь i priložihomь svetěi crьkьvi sela u poli i u zabrьdi sь metohomь i pravinami jaže pisana sutь izvěstně o vsemь jaže o nihь v vrevi vь hrisovulě. I si dvě selě tamo Bukurci i Povilьno vь zaměnenie crьkьvi sušičkoi z govoromь i dahomь za Momkovo i za Ivane poneže tako priležno bistь ōboimь crьkьvamь imeti tako sija sela bezьsьmušena vь utvrьždenie lěto ·ѕ·ō·č·z· indiktiōn). The list of villages granted to the Saint Andreas Monastery by the river Treska by Andrěašь appears in another inscription on the edge of the vault of the Saint Andreas Church by the river Treska (trudomь i podvigomь raba božia kralevikь andreaša se že priloženie svetě crьkьvi hrisovulě sьvoiomь.....selo Šišoevci i metohь jego sь obě straně rěke i orašie i lovišta. Selo Dučinci s metohomь starimь i lovišta i Kačěpuri s metohomь. Selo Ivane i Lozno s metohomь. Selo Dlьbočica i Uzdolie s metochomь. Selo Lukovica i Krušica s metohomь....Zaselie sa vьsěmi pravinami selь tehь lovišta i planine). He together with his brother Markos marched with the troops of the Ottoman Sultan Murad I against the army of the Serbian Prince Lazaros (Lazar Hrebeljanović) and Bulkos (Vuk Branković) according to the Tronoški rodoslov from the 18th century (Amuratь že ōbrativь voinstvō skoe na deržavu lazarevu, predvodimь markomь i andreemь). He probably left Macedonia with his brother Dmitьrь following the meeting at Serres in winter 1393/1394, because they refused to serve the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I. He and his brother Dmitьrь came in summer 1394 to Dubrovnik. They received on 10th August 1394 374 perper and 6 grossi from the treasury of their father, which was deposited at the place of the nobleman Pavle Barabić (Paulus de Baraba). The last part of the treasury was reserved for their brother King Markos (denarii quondam regis Volchassini....due partes Andree et Dymitrio, filiis et heredibus condam regis Volcasini, mandato prescripti domini rectoris perperos trecentos septuaginta quatuor et grossos sex, tertia parte dictorum yperperorum reservata pro Marcho rege). Dmitьrь and Andreas were pleasently surprised by the large amount of money, that was paid to them by the Ragusan republic. They migrated afterwards in Hungary according to a later charter of the Ragusan republic to the duke Sandal Hranjić from 1423, where they found their livelihood (trovaron pane).
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Blukasinos Demetrios
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The name Demetrios is attested in the memorial book (pomenik), which has been preserved at Protaton in Karyes on Mount Athos (Protaton 340 [113], 1v: Ἔτι δεόμεθα ὑπὲρ μακαρίας μνήμης καὶ ἀφέσεως τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν τῶν ἀειμνήστων δούλων τοῦ Θεοῦ Δημητρίου κράλη καὶ Ἰωάννου δεσπότου καὶ τῶν σὺν αὐτοῖς ἀναιρεθέντων ὀρθοδόξων χριστιανῶν). He died on 29th June 1371 during the battle against the Ottomans at Černomen/Marica. He held the dignity of Despot from January 1364 to September 1365 according to G. Ostrogorsky (Sь že Vlьkašin spodobi se ōt njego čьsti despotatskago sana, potom že i věnčavajetь jego). He worked as a royal wine-pourer (οἰνοχόος) of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan. He held the position of Župan in Prilep, 1350/1351 (pri županě Vlьkašinu...vь dьnь blagověrnago cara našego Stefana i syna mu Uroša i carice Elene...kьga se ōtvrže Berь). He witnessed the apparently falsified charter issued by the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V in 1355 for the inhabitants of the town of Kotor as he held the position of čelnik (e zeonich Vucasin). In January 1366 ugodni vlastelin Novakь Mrasorovikь addressed the request to the Serbian Despot Ioan Uglješa (Ioannes Unklesis) and also the Serbian King Demetrios Blukasinos to approve his donation of the village Koprivljane to the Monastery Hagios Panteleemon on the Holy Mount Athos. Both of them confirmed the endowment of Novakь Mrasorovikь to the Monastery Hagios Panteleemon on the Holy Mount Athos in a separate chrysobull charter (kralь Vlьkašinь blagōvěrni Srьblemь i Grьkomь). In November 1366 he is mentioned as king in the archives of the Ragusan republic. He is attested in the Ragusan archives with name and the title of king for the first time in April 1367 (domino regi Rassie Volchassino). He was probably a co-ruler of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V. between 1365 and 1368/1369. This is proven by the fact that his portrait is next to Stefan Uroš V. on the northern wall of the narthex in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača, they appear together on coins and they both accept embassies from the Ragusan republic. The situation changed in 1368/1369. The ktitorial inscription of Nobakos, apparently identical with Novakь Mrasorovikь, in the Virgin Maryʼs Church in Mali Grad mentions that the decoration of the church was painted during the reign of the highest king Demetrios Blukasinos (Άνηγέρθη ἐκ βάθρου καὶ κόπού καὶ μόχθοῦ ὁ θεϊος κὲ πάνσεπτος ναώς ουτος της υπεραγίας δεσπίνης ἡμων Θεοτόκου καὶ ἀνηστορίθην παρὰ του αὐφθέντου αὐτοῦ πὰνευτυχεστάτου κέσαρος Νοβάκου ἠγουμενέβῶντὸς δὲ Ἰωνὰ μοναχοῦ. Αὐφθεντεύβοντος πανυψηλοτάτου κραλήου τοῦ Βεληκασίνου. Άρχαηερατεύωντος δὲ τῆς ἀγιωτάτης ἀρχιεπησκοπῆς τῆς Πρότης Ἰουστινηανης, ετους ͵ςωοζʹ). It seems, that Demetrios Blukasinos took all the power immediately after the victory over the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V and his coalition at the Kosovo field in 1369. The proof that he ruled without Stefan Uroš V is the charter for the Ragusan republic issued on 5th April 1370, which he signed alone by himself (gospodina zem’li srьbьskoi i Grьkōmь i zapad’nimь stranamь...vь Hrista Bōga blagověrni i hristōljubïvi Vlьkašinь kralь). The Koporinjski and Pećki letopis (chronicle) recorded that the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V. was expelled by Demetrios Blukasinos and his brother Ioannes Unklesis before the battle near the river Marica. A fragment of choros from 1365–1371 originally placed in the Saint Demetrius Monastery near the village Sušica (the so-called Marko’s Monastery), now in collection of the museums in Skopje, Sofia, Istanbul a Belgrade, with installed medallions bearing the name Vlьkašinь and the title of a king, confirm the suggestion, that he governed as a sole ruler. The priestmonk Mihailo wrote the Apostol manuscript from 1365–1371 at Lešnica in the region of Polog for the priest Miho in Debreše during the reign of the King Demetrios Blukasinos (Pisase sija kniga mnogogrěšnogo rukoju ieromonaha Mihaila popu Mihě iz Debreše Nikolinu synu…Azь ōbrěmeneni i ōkajanьni pisahь vь dьni Vlьkašina kralja, kьdi drьžaše Grьgurь Pologь, a pisavši beše iz Lešnice, nierei mnih’). His father was Margnaua (Orbini)/ Margna (Luccari), who was a poor nobleman from Livno in Hum. His brother was Ioannes Unklesis (Ioan Uglješa) and his sister Helene. The husband of his sister was Nikolaos Radochnas (Νικόλαος ῾Ραδόχνας, Nikola Radonja). He was married to Lena. They had together four sons (Marko, the King, Andrěašь, Dmitьrь, Ivanišь) and one daughter (Olivera). The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan took his father and the family of Mrnjavcević to the Serbian court. The domains of Demetrios Blukasinos were in the southern Serbia, Kosovo and in the northwestern parts of historical Macedonia with strongholds in Prilep and Skopje. Since 1345/1346/1347 the Saint Demetrius Monastery near the village Sušica (the so-called Marko’s Monastery) was built under the patronage of Demetrios Blukasinos and his sons (Izvōlenïemь ōtca i voplьšenïem sina i sьšestviemь svetago duha ōbnovi se i popisa si svety i božestavni hramь svetago velikōmučenika Hristova pobědōnosca i myrotočьca Dimitrija sь usrьdïemь i potštanïemь blagověrnago kralja Vlkašina sь blagověrniei kralice Eleny i sь prěvazljublenym eju i prьvorodnimь sinomь blagověrnimь kraljemь Markomь i Andreašemь i Ivanïšemь i Dimïtrom vь lěto ·ѕ·ō·p·e· si že monastirь nače se zdati lěto ·ѕ·ō·n·g· vь dni blagověrnago cara Stefana i hristoljubivago kralja Vlьkašina a sьvrši se vь dьni blagověrnago i hristoljubivago kralja Marka). His fresco portrait is above the south gate of the monastery and flanks with the portrait of his son Marko the bust of Saint Demetrius. The Historia della casa Musachia records, that Andrea II Musachi defeated the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan or Demetrios Blukasinos at the Pelister Mountain. After 1361 Demetrios Blukasinos was very influential on the Serbian court, because the Ragusans often wrote letters to him. He deposited a treasury in Ragusa (denarii quondam regis Volchassini), which was withdrawn by his sons totally not until 1399. In summer 1371 Demetrios Blukasinos marched to Zeta, where he assisted his relative Đurađ Balšić in his war against Nikola Altomanović. Demetrios Blukasinos waited in Skadar for the naval support from the Ragusan republic. Despot John Uglješa informed his brother by letter about the invasion of the Turks to Europe. Demetrios Blukasinos and his brother commanded the Serbian forces, which fought against the Ottoman army commanded by the Beglerbeg Lala Şahin Pasha and Evrenos near the village Černomen on 26th September 1371. His portrait and its accompanying inscription (Vь hrista boga blagověrni kralь Vlьkašin) has been preserved on the southern part of the entrance to the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael at Prilep. The inscription in the chapel of the Panagia Eleousa on the shore of Lake (Great) Prespa, which mentions the three patrons of the church, gives detail about the date of the repainting (1410) and the name of the ruler, who was Demetrios Vlukasinos. The possibility of a later local ruler with the same name cannot be excluded, but a more probable version is that the construction of the church was realised during the rule of Demetrios Vlukasinos (Ανηγέρθει καὶ ἀνιστωρίθει ὁ Θείος καὶ πάνσεπτος ναὸς τὴς Ὑπεραγίας Δεσποίνης ἠμῶν Θεοτόκου καὶ Ἀειπαρθένου Μαρίας διὰ σὶνδρομὶς κόπου τε καὶ ἐξόδου τοῦ τιμίὅτατου εν ἰερομονάχοις κῦρου Σάβα καὶ κῦρου Ἰακόβου καὶ Βαρλαὰμ τῶν κτητόρων. Αὐθέντης ὁ Βλουκασίνος. Ἐπἷ ἒτους ϛπιη).
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Branko
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Mentioned in the the chrysobull charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan, which confirmed the foundation of the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary by the Sebastokrator Dejan in the village of Arhiljevica and its landed property. The original charter has not come upon us and its content is preserved only in two later transcripts. The older one (Hil. 36) is probably an authentic transcript, but its dating is questionable, because it contradicts historical circumstances known from other reliable sources. Therefore, the date, when the lost orginal was issued, can only be approximated to the years 1354 or 1355. The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan donated the village Kolicko to the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary in the village of Arhiljevica. Branko’s boundary mark (a burnt area) is mentioned in the delimitation of the village Kolicko (A vo mege sela Kolicka: ōdь gumništa Čaikova prěko po srědě prokopannьnoga puta, tere po srědě Skačkova selišta na sipanu mogilu na drumь drobnihь krьstьcь, tere niže Běžana gde jestь kamenь na kameni, tere niz brьdo na Brankove žigove).
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Chlapenos Radoslabos
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Identical with Radoslav’ (Povikь?)? It is doubtful, that he is the same person as the župan Hlapen, who governed Konavle and the region of Trebinje. He died before 1385. He was a commandant of the Serbian military troops in Macedonia, 1350. He controlled a large area in Macedonia in the border region, 1357–1362. He was a relative of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan. He married Eirene Prelumpissa in 1358 (ὅθεν καὶ γυναῖκα λαμβάνει τὴν τοῦ Πρελούμπου ἐκείνου γαμετήν). He was the father of Helena. According to a manuscript note she was married to Marko Mrnjavčević (vь dьni blagověrnago kralja Mar’ka, jegda ōdade Thodoru Grьgurovu ženu Hlapenu, a uze ženu svoju prьvověn’čan’nu Jelenu, Hlapenovu dьštere). His second daughter was the wife of Nikolaos Baldubinos Pagases [Νικόλαος Βαλδουβῖνος Παγάσης/Nikola Bagaš] (ἀπὸ τοῦ πενθεροῦ μου Ῥαδοσλάβου τοῦ Χλαπένου). The third daughter called Maria Angelina Radosthlaba married Alexios Angelos Philantropenos. Mauro Orbini, a Ragusan chronicler from 16th century, who used older sources, mentions also a son of him called Stefan-Dukas (I maschi si chiamauno Duca & Stefano). He defected in 1350 along with Tolisthlabos from the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan to the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos (ἧκον δὲ καὶ αὐτόμολοι δύο ἐξ αὐτῶν· ὧν ἅτερος τῶν μάλιστα ἦν ἐπιφανῶν, κατὰ γένος προσήκων Κράλῃ, Χλάπαινος ὠνομασμένος, στρατιάν τε ἔχων ὑφ’ ἑαυτὸν οὐκ εὐκαταφρόνητον καὶ πολλὴν περιουσίαν· ὁ λοιπὸς δὲ οὐ τῶν πάνυ περιδόξων ἦν, πλὴν κἀκεῖνος ἀρχάς τε πόλεων ἐγκεχειρισμένος καὶ στρατοπέδων ἡγεμονίας, ὄνομα Τολίσθλαβος). After a while he switched sides again and joined most likely the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan. He captured Beroia before 1359, probably in 1351 (Οὗτος τοίνυν ὁ Χλάπενος, εἷς ὢν τῶν Σερβικῶν σατραπῶν καὶ τινα φρούρια ἐκ τῶν Ῥωμαï κῶν ὁρίων εἰληφώς, ἀλλὰ δὴ καὶ τὴν μεγαλόδοξον πόλιν Βέῤῥοιαν, μεγάλως ἐπὶ τοὶς κατορθώμασιν ἐσέμνυνεν). He witnessed the apparently falsified charter issued by the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V in 1355 for the inhabitants of the town of Kotor (Radosav Chlapene). He acted as a protector of the inheritance right of his wife and his stepson Toma Preljubović (Θωμᾶς Πρέλουμπος). Therefore he seized the Thessalian town Damasis in 1359/1360 (Τῇ Βλαχίᾳ δὲ φθάσας μετὰ τῶν στρατευμάτων καὶ φρούριον ἓν πολιορκία εἰληφώς, Δάμασιν καλούμενον, εἰς συμβάσεις μετὰ τοῦ βασιλέως Συμεὼν χωροῦσι, καὶ τὸ φρούριον τούτῳ παραχωρεῖ). He gave up the town of Damasis to Simeon Uroš (Συμεὼν Παλαιολόγος) on condition of arranging the marriage between Maria Angelina Komnene Palaiologina, the daughter of Simeon, and Toma Preljubović (Θωμᾶς Πρέλουμπος). He founded the Mesonesiotissa Monastery near Kastoria (καὶ ἂν κατὰ διαδοχὴν καὶ κληρονομίαν ἔλαβον ἀπὸ τοῦ πενθεροῦ μου Ῥαδοσλάβου τοῦ Χλαπένου σεβασμίαν καὶ ἱερὰν μονὴν, τὴν παρ’ ἐκείνου ἀνεγερθεῖσαν ἐκ βάθρων αὐτῶν τῇ ὑπερευλογημένῃ ἡμῶν δεσποίνῃ καὶ θεομήτορι, τὴν οὕτω πως καλουμένην Μεσονησιώτισσαν). Apparently his ring was found on a medieval necropolis of the Vodoča Monastery near Strumica. It bears an invocation (Izvolite raba Božija Hlapena).
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Dimitr’
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Mentioned in the fragmentary preserved inscription above the entrance on the south wall of the Church of the Holy Mother of God in Drenovo, which is dated to 1356 or later. He was a painter (zugraf). He decorated the church of the Holy Mother of God in Drenovo with paintings after the death of the Serbian Emperor Stefan (probably Uroš IV Dušan) at the same time as the dominion was controlled by Nikola (Nikola Stanjevikь?) and Marko (Markos, the King?) (sьzda se hram’ si v’ lě.. ѕ i ō.....i azь Dimitr’ zugraf priloh’ vь hramь sei...lě..z i d i pisah’ pri drž’avě Nikole i Markě po smrьti svetorodnago cara Stefana).
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Dmitьrь
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Person
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Vladimir Ćorović suggested that Dmitьrь was the patron of the fresco painting of the Saint Nicholas in the lunette of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Prilep (primi gospodi molenie raba svoego dimitra). Gojko Subotić showed that the corresponding inscription was made in 1477/1478. He is mentioned in the sources from 1376/1377 to 1412. He died after 30th June 1407 and before 1410. A certain terminus ante quem is the charter of the Court judge Simon Rozgonyi from 29th July 1412, where the death of Dmitьrь is attested (tempore mortis condam Demetrij filij Vilkuli, Regis tunc similiter Castellani de Wylagusuar). He appears as kraljevikь, dominus, viro magnifico ac spectabili in the sources. He held the position of the castellanus of the town Világos (now Şiria), 1404–1409/1410? and comes comitatus of the Zaránd (now Arad) county, 1404–1407/1408. He was the son of the Serbian King Demetrios Blukasinos and Lena. His siblings were Markos, Andrěašь, Ivanišь and Olivera. He is attested in the ktitorial inscription above the south door in the interior of the Church of the so-called Marko’ Monastery (Saint Demetrius Monastery in Sušice near Skopje), which was completed in 1376/1377 (Izvōlenïemь ōtca i voplьšenïem sina i sьšestviemь svetago duha ōbnovi se i popisa si svety i božestavni hramь svetago velikōmučenika Hristova pobědōnosca i myrotočьca Dimitrija sь usrьdïemь i potštanïemь blagověrnago kralja Vlkašina sь blagověrniei kralice Eleny i sь prěvazljublenym eju i prьvorodnimь sinomь blagověrnimь kraljemь Markomь i Andreašemь i Ivanïšemь i Dimïtrom vь lěto ·ѕ·ō·p·e· si že monastirь nače se zdati lěto ·ѕ·ō·n·g· vь dni blagověrnago cara Stefana i hristoljubivago kralja Vlьkašina a sьvrši se vь dьni blagověrnago i hristoljubivago kralja Marka). After the death of his father in 1371 he remained at the court of his mother Lena. He probably left Macedonia with his brother Andrěašь following the meeting at Serres in winter 1393/1394, because they refused to serve the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I. He and his brother Andrěašь came in summer 1394 to Dubrovnik. They received on 10th August 1394 374 perper and 6 grossi from the treasury of their father, which was deposited at the place of the nobleman Pavle Barabić (Paulus de Baraba). The last part of the treasury was reserved for their brother King Markos (denarii quondam regis Volchassini....due partes Andree et Dymitrio, filiis et heredibus condam regis Volcasini, mandato prescripti domini rectoris perperos trecentos septuaginta quatuor et grossos sex, tertia parte dictorum yperperorum reservata pro Marcho rege). Dmitьrь and Andrěašь were pleasently surprised by the large amount of money, that was paid to them by the Ragusan republic. They migrated afterwards in Hungary according to a later charter of the Ragusan republic for the duke Sandal Hranjić from 1423. They found their livelihood in Hungary (trovaron pane). Dmitьrь came again to Dubrovnik 1399. He collected the Hungarian tribute on behalf of the Hungarian King Sigismund (De promittendo ex gracia Dymitrio filio condam regis Volchassini, quod portando literam preceptoriam et expeditoriam a domino nostro regi Hungarie in forma consueta tributi quingentorum ducatorum, quos tenemur dicto domino nostro regi, dandi ipsi Dymitrio, dabimus et solvebimus illud eidem pro tempore hactenus preterito, quod debetur dicto domino nostro regi). He also picked up the last part of the treasury of his father on this occasion. Before he received the money, he had to prove that no legitimate heirs of King Marko exist (partem depositi, quod posuit ipse dominus rex Volchassin, que spectabat Marcho eius fratri, probando ipso Dymitras nobis, quod ipse Marchus non dimisit heredes legitimos). In 1400 Dmitьrь stayed in the town of Dubrovnik as an envoy of the Hungarian King Sigismund according to the charter of the Ragusan Republic for the Grand duke Hrvoje Vukčić. Dmitьrь asked the Ragusians to not relaese the Ottoman embassy to the Sultan (ōvьde se naměri Dmitьrь kraljevikь i tьdi se prigōdiše posli Turačski u našemь grafu da minu prěko mora. Doide k namь Dmitьrь mole da ihь ne propustimo, a mi tozi ništorь ne čusmo propustismo ihь, i prigōše slobodno tolikog je i dьnasь i vьzda mogu vsakōi posli slobodno poki). The Ragusan archives record between 20th and 22th December 1402 that Dmitьrь collected the tribute for the Hungarian King Sigismund. In March 1403 the tribute was given to Rafael Gučetić, who acted on behalf of Dmitьrь (Prima pars est de assignando Ser Raphaeli de Gozijs ad duhanam salis nostri communis cum ordine ducatos quingentos, recipienti nomine domini Dimitrii filii condam regis Vocassini pro tributo domini nostri regis Hungarie millesimi trecentesimi nonagesimi de mense marcii, assignato dicto domino Dimitrio per dominum regem, et hoc pro literis expeditoriis et preceptoriis dicti domini Dimitrii scribenti nobis super hoc literas suas). The Hungarian King Sigismund issued on 30th June 1407 a charter, where he appealed on Dmitьrь to give up the acts of violence towards the possession of Sigismundus, who was the son of Ban Ladislaus, the lord of Lučenec (Losonci) at Pankota (now Pâncota).
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Doja
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Mentioned in the inscription next to the portrait of a woman on the south wall of the Church of Saint John the Theologian at the Zemen Monastery. The depiction is part of the ktitorial composition. The wall painting of Doja can be dated around 1360. She was the spouse of Dejanь? She was the mother of Vitomirь and Stajo. She was a sponsor of the Church of Saint John the Theologian at the Zemen Monastery. She is portrayed on the southern wall of the naos in the church next to her husband. On the right side of the painting of Doja is an inscription (i podružie ego doja i čǫda imь).
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Euphemia
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Died after 1404/1405. She appears as καισαρίσις Σερβίας, βασιλείσης Σερβίας and despotica kyra Eupraxia in the sources. She became a nun after the death of her husband Ioannes Unklesis (26. 9. 1371). She wrote poems. Her father was kaisar Boichnas (Vojihna). She was married to Ioannes Unklesis. Her son was Uglješa. Euphemia composed a lament over the premature death of her son. Between 1368 and 1371 was the lament over Uglješa (Despotović) inscribed under the patronage of Euphemia on the silver revetment, which connected the two icons of Uglješa (Despotović) and made a diptych. Euphemia donated the diptych icon to the Hilandar Monastery for the salvation of the soul of her son. It is suggested that she commisioned in 1371 the double sided icon with the Virgin Kataphyge and the Vision of Ezechiel, the so-called Poganovo icon. After the death of her husband she lived at the court of the Serbian Prince Lazaros (Lazar). When Milica became widow after the Kosovo battle in 1389 both took monastic wows. Euphemia and Milica were initially at Županja Monastery near Kruševac. They lived later at Ljubostinja Monastery. Euphemia accompanied the princess Milica on her diplomatic mission to Bayezid I., who was at Serres. Her epitaphios is preserved in the collection of the Putna Monastery (Μνήσθητοι, κ(ύρι)ε, τὰς ψυχὰς τῶν δούλων σου καισαρίσις Σερβίας ’Εφημίας μοναχῆς σὺν θυγατρὶ βασιλείσης Σερβίας Εὐπραξίας μοναχῆς). She wrote a prayer for Lord Jesus Christ influenced by the work of Saint Symeon the New Theologian. She mentioned also her father kaisar Boichnas (Voihna), who was buried at Hilandar, in the prayer. Her prayer was embroidered on a curtain (katapetasma) made of silk and gold for the altar door. It was decorated with the figure of Christ as a priest flanked by Saint John Chrysostom, Saint Basil and two archangels. Euphemia donated the curtain in 1398/1399 to the Hilandar Monastery. In 1402 Euphemia composed a laud for the Prince Lazaros (Lazar). Her text was embroidered on the shroud for the head of Prince Lazaros (Lazar). The Relic is preserved in the Museum of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Belgrade. The Serbian Despot Stefan Lazarević granted the village Jabučje to Euphemia (Eupraxia). She bequeathed the village Jabučje to the Hilandar Monastery and the Despot Stefan Lazarević confirmed her endowment in the charter from 1404/1405.
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Georgios (7)
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He appears ὁ ὀικεῖος αὐτῇ κύριος Γεώργιος ὁ λογοθέτης in the prostagma charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan for the Saint Anastasia Monastery near Zichna from February 1352. He was the logothetь of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan, 1349–1355. He worked also as a logothetь for the Serbian Empress Jelena (Helena), the wife of Stefan Uroš IV Dušan and the mother of Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V. (siju knigu dade Gjurgь logothetь gospožde carice presvetěi bogorodici Gory Sinaiskyje, bog da go prostit). According to the hypothesis of Konstantin Jireček he was the brother of Radoslav’, the Governor of Serres, and čelnik Miloš from the Povika family. In 1361 the Ragusan republic sequestrated the deposited money of Georgios for the purpose of war (Prima pars est, de accipiendo de manibus Milçe de Lebro denarios Jurech Logofeti, et ponere ipsos in manibus comunis pro serviçiis guerre). On 27th February 1367 Georgios sent his will from his residence in Thessalonike to the Ragusan republic. His decision was to sell his property and belongings in Ragusa administrated by Milac Lebrović and Lovro Razumenović. He donated according to the testament the earned sum and also other gifts, including notary’s books, to his relative Živko Dlьžić (prědal dobitьkь i rěznicu moju vašimь Dubrovčanomь, na ime Milcu Dumonikju i Lavretevi Razumenikju, a bě i vsi znate a ōdь vasь ne se utajalo. Da znate vlastele, moja bratija, ere sьmь bilь dlьžьnь ō-davno za mnogo godištь za potrebe, koe ni je iznosilь Živko, sinь Radoslava Dlьžica, vašь Dubrovčaninь, za mnogo mu sьmь drьžnь bilь do denesь, ere ni jestь rodinь krьvьno, a i da znate, vlastele, ere mu prodahь i darovahь vesь moi dobětьkь i riznicu, što mi je u Dubrovnici, no je na Milci Dumoniki i na Lavrete Razumenoviku, i kuke i vinograde, inonikatske knige da e volьnь Živko uprašati i prodati i knigami inonikatskimi i kaželeriskimi, kleti se i dušiti se na moju dušu, kakono ja samь Gjuregь logofetь, i da slobodi, kogo mu se vidi, kano ja samь Gjuregь logofetь. a sezi mu prodahь i darovahь u Sulune na ·kz· dьnь febrara měseca). His brother Radoslav’, the Governor of Serres, wrote to the Ragusan republic and confirmed that the belongings of the deceased logotet Georgios (Gjurgь) were rightly bequeathed to his second brother Miloš. He issued the respective document „in domo suo in civitate Serrarum“ on the 15th May 1368.
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Grubadinь
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Mentioned in two notes writtten in the manuscript of collected liturgical and other texts, which has been preserved in the Chludov collection of the manuscripts at the State Historical Museum in Moscow under the signature 237. Most of the Bulgarian scholars date the manuscript at about the period of 1340–1350. He probably held the position of the governor of the Porěčie district (kefalije, kepalija). He appears as a scribe of the manuscript in the prayer inscription on the folio 57v (A se Grubadinь grešni pisa kepalija u kuli Zagradskoi, i ašte kto pročte sija slovca, molju vi, bratije, rьcete bogь da prosti grešnago Grubadina, a vasь bogь). Most of the Bulgarian scholars suggested, that Grubadin wrote the manuscript in the Parorie region. On the contrary Serbian scholars assumed, that the place of the origin of the manuscript was Zagrad in the Porěčie district. The other marginal note from Grubadinь relates about the message to his lord Andrejaš, probably the son of the Serbian King Demetrios Blukasinos, about the disobedience of his garrison force (Gospodinu mi Andrejašu ōd Grubadina tvoegō kefalije...tuži mi se ōt [tvoih?] junakь neposluha).
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Grьgurь (2)
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The identification with Grьgurь, the governor of the region of Polog, and kaisar Grьgurь (Gurguras) is doubtful. Died before 16th July 1398. He appears as dominus in charter from the archives of the Ragusan republic. He was the son of Prankos Mladenes (ja Grьgurь i bratь mi Vlьkь, synove velikago sevastokratora Bran’ka gospodina že gradu Ohridu). He had two brothers (Nikolaos Radochnas, Bulkos) and a sister (Theodora). He was married to Theodora (uxor quondam domini Gregorii Brancovich fratris sepedicti domini Volch). He and his brother Bulkos gave Nikolaos Radochnas in 1365 the permission to donate the patrimonial church of Saint Archangel with three villages Trstenik, Bežanići, Tušilo and the selište Hudine to the Hilandar Monastery. He is portrayed on the western facade of the chapel of Saint George in the Church of the Holy Mother of God Peribleptos at Ōhrid. There is an inscription next to his image (VELIK...SEVASTOKRATORA BRANKA).
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Hartōfilakovikь Dmitrь
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Mentioned in the charter from 1378/79, through which the Serbian Empress Jevdokija and her son Konstantin Dragaš donated the Church of the Presentation of the Holy Mother of God in the village of Arhiljevica together with its possessions to the Hilandar Monastery on the Holy Mount Athos. It seems, that his father was a hartofilaks. The Serbian Empress Jevdokija and her son Konstantin Dragaš ordered in 1378/1379 Dmitrь Hartōfilakovikь to compose their charter in the town of Strumica (Povelěnijemь gospogje prěvisokje carice kyra Evdokije gospodina Kostandina ja Hartōfilakovikь Dmitrь pisahь u gradu Strumici).
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Helene
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Person
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Died between 1358 (Autumn) and 1364 (Autumn). She appears as κυρὰ in the inscription n the parekklesion dedicated to Saint Nicholas in the katholikon of the Saint John Prodromos Monastery near Serres. Her father was Margnaua (Orbini)/ Margna (Luccari), who was a poor nobleman from Livno in Hum. She had two brothers: Demetrios Blukasinos and Ioannes Unklesis. She was married to Nikolaos Radochnas. They had together two daughters. She was buried with her daughters in the parekklesion dedicated to Saint Nicholas in the katholikon of the Saint John Prodromos Monastery near Serres. The greek inscription placed on the western wall of the chapel relates about Helene’s and her daughter’s burial in the monastery (Ἐκοιμήθη ἡ περιπόθητος αὐταδέλφη τοῦ πανευτυχεστάτου δεσπότου κῦρ Ἰωάννου τοῦ Οὔγκλεση κυρὰ Ἐλένη, ἡ ὁμόζυγου τοῦ εὐγενεστάτου κῦρ Νικολάου τοῦ Ραδόχνα. Συνετάφησαν δὲ ταύτῃ καὶ αἱ φίλτατοι αὐτῆς δύο θυγατέρες).
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Ivanišь
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Person
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He died on 18th September 1385. The third son of the Serbian King Demetrios Blukasinos and Lena. His siblings were Marko, Andrěašь, Dimitarь and Olivera. He is attested in the ktitorial inscription above the south door in the interior of the Church of the so-called Marko’ Monastery (Saint Demetrius Monastery in Sušice near Skopje), which was probably completed in 1376/1377 (Izvōlenïemь ōtca i voplьšenïem sina i sьšestviemь svetago duha ōbnovi se i popisa si svety i božestavni hramь svetago velikōmučenika Hristova pobědōnosca i myrotočьca Dimitrija sь usrьdïemь i potštanïemь blagověrnago kralja Vlkašina sь blagověrniei kralice Eleny i sь prěvazljublenym eju i prьvorodnimь sinomь blagověrnimь kraljemь Markomь i Andreašemь i Ivanïšemь i Dimïtrom vь lěto ·ѕ·ō·p·e· si že monastirь nače se zdati lěto ·ѕ·ō·n·g· vь dni blagověrnago cara Stefana i hristoljubivago kralja Vlьkašina a sьvrši se vь dьni blagověrnago i hristoljubivago kralja Marka). After 1371 he moved to Zeta, where he stayed at the court of Balša II Balšić (Μπάλσας II). He supported the Zetians, who fought against the Ottoman Vizier Hayraddīn. He fell in the battle of Savra (battle of Vjosa) between the Zetians and Ottomans on 18th September 1385 according to the later historian Mauro Orbini.
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Kasteljanovikь Momčilo
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Mentioned in the charter from 26th March 1388, in which the Serbian Despot Konstantin Dragaš confirmed the endowment of the Duke Dmitrь for the Church of Ascension in the town of Štip. He sold an arable land near the town of Štip to the Duke Dmitrь. The record about the contract has been preserved in the charter of the Serbian Despot Konstantin Dragaš from 26th March 1388. The contract was authenticated by 15 witnesses. The immunity clause, which is also preserved in the charter, prohibits anyone from violation under the fine of 80 Venetian perperь (I ošte kupi voevoda Dmitrь nivu na onoi straně prěmo Spasu, odь Momčila Kasteljanovikja za ·d· perpere venetike sь eksodomь, i megja nivě toi do Radulina i do Gorga Kalugerovikja, i dolu do samoga dola, i takoi kupi po hotěniju nihь a ne po silě, da si drьži crьkovь Spasь svobodno kako vsako pravo kupljenno i baštin’no, jako da ne meteha Momčilo ni njegovь koi ljubo rodimь. Tko li se takovyi nagje otь togai rodstva i poište vyše pisanoje, da plati vladuštomu ·p· perperь veneticěhь. A tomui svědoci: protopopa Rusinь, popь Ivanko, popь Kiro, popь Gusto, popь Stanko, popь Dragoslavь, popь Todorь, popь Bogoslavь, Miloradь Repošь, čel’nike Stanislava synь, Koo knezь, i Moiša i Juranikь, Piuleo, i Ivanь Barbaei i Dragikь Momenikь).
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Komnene Eudokia
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The last mentioned date of her appearance in the sources is the year 1395. The sources refer to her as κυρὰ, δέσποινα, before 1395. She was the daughter of Alexios III Komnenos, who was the Emperor of Trapezunt and Theodora Komnene Kantakuzene. She was married to Tāj al-Dīn (Τατζιατίνης), the Emir of Jānīk, on 8th October 1379. Her second husband was Konstantinos Dragases (Konstantin Dragaš) or the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes V Palaiologos after 24th October 1386. Her grandson was the Byzantine Emperor Konstantinos XI Palaiologos. Michael Panaretos relates about her journey from Constantinople to the Monastery of Saint Phocas at Kordyle on 4th September 1395. On the following day she returned back to Trapezunt. Georgios Sphrantzes wrote as an argument for the marriage of the Byzantine Emperor Konstantinos XI Palaiologos with Mara Branković the fact, that also Eudokia had married a Turkish chieftain and bore him a child, before she became the wife of Konstantinos’ XI. grandfather. The problem in the account of Sphrantzes is that he does not mention if the husband of Eudokia was from the paternal or maternal side of Konstantinos. Raymond-Joseph Loenertz, Ivan Đurić, Radivoj Radić, Hristo Matanov, Mihailo Popović and Anthony Kaldellis suggest that her husband was Konstantinos Dragases, other scholars plead for the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes V Palaiologos, who appears as the husband of Eudokia in the historical work of Laonikos Chalkokondyles.
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Koreses Dukas
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Active in the vicinity of Serres between 1341 and 1375. He was οἰκεῖος and δοῦλος of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan, 1355. He was in the commision, which was entrusted by Iakobos, the Metropolitan of Serres, to delimit the metochion of the Philotheu Monastery in Kremna and Tzainu (ὁ οἰκεῖος τῶ κραταιῶ καὶ ἁγίῳ ᾑμων αὐθέντη καὶ βασιλεῖ Δοῦκας ὁ Κορέσης εἰδέναι ἀκριβὼς τὰ σύνορα καὶ προνόμια τῆς ἁπάσης αὐτῶν γῆς). He signed the document, which was issued by Iakobos in December 1355 (Ὁ δοῦλος τοῦ κραταιοῦ καὶ ἁγίου ἡμῶν αὐθέντου καὶ βασιλέως Δούκας ὁ Κορέσης). He appears in another document of Iakobos, the Metropolitan of Serres, for the Hilandar Monastery from November 1360. Several local nobleman, among them also Duka Koreses, who lived in the vicinity of the metochion Saint Nicholas in Kamenikaia, took in possesion some of its estates. Iakobos returned the unjustly annexed lands to the Hilandar Monastery (καὶ πρῶτον μὲν εὕρομεν ὅτι ἀπὸ τούτων ὑφείλετο ὁ Δούκας ὁ Κορέσης καὶ κατεῖχε, προβαλλόμενος ἐξ ἀγορᾶς τοῦτο κεκτῆσθαι). Dukas Koreses was more than thirty years in dispute with the Alopu Monastery on Mount Athos over a land in Klopotitza. The judicial panel summoned by Theodoros, the Metropolitan of Serres, confirmed in August 1375 the claim of the convent of Alopu on Mount Athos on the land Klopotitza. The decision was realised only after the end of the Serbian rule, since Duka Koreses was courtier and supporter of the Serbian rulers.
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Kïriakь
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Person
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Mentioned in the charter of the Serbian Despot Jovan Dragaš and his brother Konstantin Dragaš for the Monastery Hagios Panteleemon on Holy Mount Athos, which was issued after 1376/1377. He was a knjez. He probably founded the Church of Saint Stephen in the town of Strumica. The Serbian Despot Jovan Dragaš and his brother Konstantin Dragaš donated the church with a land, a vineyard, people and the knjez Kïriakь to the Monastery Hagios Panteleemon on the Holy Mount Athos (I vynu priložismo u Strumici Svetago Stefana, crьkovь Kïriaka knjeza sь ljudmi, sь vinogrady, zemljomь).
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Lena
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Person
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Mentioned in the sources from 1348 to 1388/1389. The sources refer to her as kyra. She was Serbian queen (kralica). She became nun probably before 1385. She was married to Demetrios Blukasinos (Δημήτριος Βλουκασῖνος). They had together four sons (Marko, the King, Andrěašь, Dmitьrь, Ivaniša) and one daughter (Olivera). She made her testament during the Great Plague at Dubrovnik in 1348 (Item a Chiralegna mare de Peter de Tolen). She is attested along with her sons Marko and Andrěašь in the charter of the Serbian King Demetrios Blukasinos for the Ragusan Republic, which was issued on 5th April 1370 (i po vʼse dni veselešti mi se vь zemʼli kraljevstva mi sь prěvьzljubljenʼnomь kraljestva mi kralicomь kyra Lěnom i sь prěvьzʼljubʼljenʼnimi synovi kraljevstva mi Markomь i Andrějašemь). The executors of the last will of Pavle Barabić from the Ragusan republic contacted on 8th June 1374 her logotet Dabiživь (cum logofeto, misso per consortem condam dicti domini regis et per heredes suos) in order to control the treasury of Demetrios Blukasinos, which the Serbian King had deposited at Pavle Barabić. Dabiživь became 30 ducats for his expenses. Her name appears in the ktitorial inscription above the south door in the interior of the Church of the so-called Marko’ Monastery (Saint Demetrius Monastery in Sušice near Skopje), which was completed in 1376/1377 (Izvōlenïemь ōtca i voplьšenïem sina i sьšestviemь svetago duha ōbnovi se i popisa si svety i božestavni hramь svetago velikōmučenika Hristova pobědōnosca i myrotočьca Dimitrija sь usrьdïemь i potštanïemь blagověrnago kralja Vlkašina sь blagověrniei kralice Eleny i sь prěvazljublenym eju i prьvorodnimь sinomь blagověrnimь kraljemь Markomь i Andreašemь i Ivanïšemь i Dimïtrom vь lěto ·ѕ·ō·p·e· si že monastirь nače se zdati lěto ·ѕ·ō·n·g· vь dni blagověrnago cara Stefana i hristoljubivago kralja Vlьkašina a sьvrši se vь dьni blagověrnago i hristoljubivago kralja Marka). She is mentioned as the mother of Andrěašь in the ktitorial inscription of the Saint Andreas Monastery by the river Treska from 1388/1389 (trudomь i podvigom hristoljubivago raba božija andrěaša sina ftorago blagověrnago kralě Vlьkašina i kralice Eleni monahini Elisaveti). Her name appears in the Bigorski pomenik (prisnopominaemuju kralicu monahïju Elisavethu).
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Markos
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Person
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The fragmentary preserved inscription above the entrance on the south wall of the Church of the Holy Mother of God in Drenovo, which is dated to 1356 or later, refers to a painter Dimitr’, who worked on the decoration of the church Drenovo after the death of the Serbian Emperor Stefan (probably Uroš IV Dušan) at the same time as the dominion was controlled by Nikola (Nikola Stanjevikь?) and Marko (Markos, the King?) (sьzda se hram’ si v’ lě.. ѕ i ō.....i azь Dimitr’ zugraf priloh’ vь hramь sei...lě..z i d i pisah’ pri drž’avě Nikole i Markě po smrьti svetorodnago cara Stefana). The hypothesis about the identity of Marko from the inscription and Markos was refuted by Evgenij P. Naumov. He died on 17th May 1395. He appears in the sources as mladi kralj. He was the co–ruler of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V, 27.9.1371–2. (4.) 12. 1371, since 2. (4). 12. 1371 formal king of the Serbian Empire. He was the son of the Serbian King Demetrios Blukasinos and Lena. His siblings were Andrěašь, Dmitьrь, Ivanišь and Olivera. He was married to Jelena, the daughter of Radoslabos Chlapenos. He divorced her and lived then with Thodora, who was the daughter of a certain Grьgurь, probably Grьgurь Branković. After the romance with Thodora ended, Markos gave Thodora to Radoslabos Chlapenos and remarried Jelena according to dijak Dobre, who wrote about it in a note in the festal Menaion (Pysa se sija knyga u Porěči, u selě zovom Kalugerecь vь dьni blagověrnago kralja Mar’ka, jegda ōdade Thodoru Grьgurovu ženu Hlapenu, a uze ženu svoju prьvověn’čan’nu Jelenu, Hlapenovu dьštere). Markos divorced her again because of her bad behaviour according to Mauro Orbini. The later Greek chronicler Makarios Melissenos relates that Andronikos IV Palaiologos, the son of the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes V Palaiologos, together with his father-in-law Markos, who ruled over the Bulgarian land, sought help at the court of the Ottoman Sultan (καὶ τοῦ πενθεροῦ αὐτοῦ Μάρκου τοῦ τῆς Βουλγαρίας ἔτι μέρος δεσπόζοντος). In July 1361 he was in Dubrovnik as an emissary. The Ragusans gave him back his silver deposit under the condition that he will not trade with it and with the 25 pounds of silver, which belonged to Lena, his mother (Prima pars est de restituendo Marco ambaxiatori argentum suum cum hac conditione, quod non possit emere mercationes cum ipso nisi de libris XXV argenti uxoris Volcassini). Demetrios Blukasinos intended to marry Markos to the daughter of the Croatian nobleman Gregor Pavlović Šubić. Demetrios Blukasinos contacted therefore the Bosnian King Tvrtko at whose court the woman lived as a protégé. The plan of Demetrios Blukasinos failed because of the opposition of Pope Urban V, who did not allow to marry the catholic princess to schismatic Markos. Pope Urban V expressed his point of view to Tvrtko in a letter from April 1370 (quodque tu eandem puellam tradere nuptui filio mangnifici viri Regis Rascie scismatico absque dictorum parentum voluntate procuras, in anime ipsius puelle periculum, eorundem parentum iniuriam et offensam fidei christiane). Markos is attested along with his mother Lena and his brother Andrěašь in the charter of the Serbian King Demetrios Blukasinos for the Ragusan Republic, which was issued on 5th April 1370 (i po vʼse dni veselešti mi se vь zemʼli kraljevstva mi sь prěvьzljubljenʼnomь kraljestva mi kralicomь kyra Lěnom i sь prěvьzʼljubʼljenʼnimi synovi kraljevstva mi Markomь i Anьdrějašemь). The Church of Saint Sunday (Sveta Nedela) in Prizren was renovated under the patronage of Markos in 1370/1371. He is attested as a young king in the ktirorial inscription (izvōljenjemь ōtca i vьplьštenijemь sina i blagodětiju svetago duha. sii svety i božьstvny hramь prěčьstïe vladičice naše bogordice. vьhoda ne sьzda se ï popisa. Pōvělěnïemь ï sь ōtkupōmь gospodina mladago krala marka lěto ·ѕ·ō·o·th· indiktiōn th). Ioannes Unklesis mentioned Markos in the charter for the Monastery Lavra on the Holy Mount Athos from April 1371 as his anepsei. Markos and Demetrios Blukasinos planned a campaign against Nikola Altomanović in the spring 1371. They camped near Skutari, on the territory of their ally Đurađ I Balšić, in July 1371 and were ready to attack Onogošt in the land of Altomanović (Li çintili homini et lo comun di Ragusa reçevi una littera, la qual lor mandasti tu Andrea Pastrovich, dando lor a savere, ca Jura cum misser lo re Volchassin et cum Marco suo fio, cum lor hoste son suta Scutari, et va sovra çuppan Nicola o in Anagast). The attack never took place, because the Ottomans threatened Ioannes Unklesis. Demetrios Blukasinos rushed to help his brother. After Ioannes Unklesis and Demetrios Blukasinos were killed at the battle of Marica on 26th September 1371, Markos became the co–ruler of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V. When the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V. died on 2th (or 4th) December 1371, Markos became the formal king of the Serbian Empire, but his rule was never accepted by the local Serbian aristocrats. Subsequently, the Serbian local aristocrats took advantage of the militarily weakened position of Markos and gradually seized large parts of his lands. Lazar took very early Priština and Novo Brdo, in 1372 Đurađ I Balšić occupied Prizren, later Kastoria, Bulkos (Vlkь Brankovikь) controlled since 1376/1377 the Skopje area and Konstantinos Dragases with his brother Ioannes expanded also their territory at the expense of Markos. Markos ruled since then over the area of Pelagonia and had his stronghold in Prilep. Markos minted his own coins. Markos renovated also the Church of the Saint Archangels in Prilep around 1372. The main entrance to the church is flanked by the painted portrait of Demetrios Blukasinos and Markos, who is depicted in the white sakkos. The portrait of Markos bears an inscription (Vь hrista boga věrenь kralь Marko). Markos became the vassal of the Ottoman sultan following the meeting at Serres in winter 1393/1394. Markos rebuilt the Saint Demetrius Monastery near the village Sušica (the so-called Marko’s Monastery) between 1376/1377 and 1381 (Izvōlenïemь ōtca i voplьšenïem sina i sьšestviemь svetago duha ōbnovi se i popisa si svety i božestavni hramь svetago velikōmučenika Hristova pobědōnosca i myrotočьca Dimitrija sь usrьdïemь i potštanïemь blagověrnago kralja Vlkašina sь blagověrniei kralice Eleny i sь prěvazljublenym eju i prьvorodnimь sinomь blagověrnimь kraljemь Markomь i Andreašemь i Ivanïšemь i Dimïtrom vь lěto ·ѕ·ō·p·e· si že monastirь nače se zdati lěto ·ѕ·ō·n·g· vь dni blagověrnago cara Stefana i hristoljubivago kralja Vlьkašina a sьvrši se vь dьni blagověrnago i hristoljubivago kralja Marka). The lunette of the south door of the monastery church is decorated with his portrait. Markos is shown holding a horn in his right hand and a scroll with the inscription Azь vь Hrista Boga blagověrьni kralь Markos sьzdahь i popisahь sy božestvni hramь. He together with his brother Markos marched in 1389 with the troops of the Ottoman Sultan Murad I against the army of the Serbian Prince Lazaros (Lazar Hrebeljanović) and Bulkos (Vuk Branković) according to the Tronoški rodoslov from the 18th century (Amuratь že ōbrativь voinstvō skoe na deržavu lazarevu, predvodimь markomь i andreemь). He together with Konstantinos Dragases as Ottoman vassals marched on the side of the Sultan Bayazid I. against the Wallachian army led by Mircea the Elder. He perished in the battle of Rovine on 17th May 1395. Markos is the hero of the Serbian epic poetry.
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Milošь (2)
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Person
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Mentioned in the charter of Vukašin (Demetrios Blukasinos) from January 1366, in which the Serbian King confirmed the donation of Novakь Mrasorovikь to the Monastery Hagios Panteleemon on the Holy Mount Athos.He was the Governor of the town Prilep (kefalia prilěpьski). He was the guarantee of the legal accuracy of the charter, which was issued by the Serbian King Vukašin (Demetrios Blukasinos) in January 1366 (A tomu milostnikь Milošь kefalia prilěpьski).
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Mpogdanos
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Person
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Mentioned in the sources between 1342 and 1371. He was a local ruler (governor) in Macedonia. He controlled the area of the Rhodopemountains according to the later byzantine historian Laonikos Chalkokondyles (Μπόγδανον τὸν τὴν Ῥοδόπην κατέχοντα). His brother was the Despot Jovan Oliver (Ioannes Liberos). He was sent by Stefan Uroš IV Dušan to the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos in order to greet him and to let him know that the Serbian king will soon arrive (πέμψαντες δὲ πρὸ αὐτῶν Μπογδάνον τὸν Λιβέρου ἀδελφὸν, ἠσπάζοντό τε βασιλέα καὶ ἐδήλουν, ὡς ὀλίγῳ ὕστερον ἀφιξόμενοι πρὸς ἐκεῖνον). The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan entrusted the region between Serres and the river Vardar to him, because he was skilled warrior and a good man according to the later byzantine historian Laonikos Chalkokondyles (τὰ δὲ ἀπὸ Φερρῶν ἔστε ἐπὶ Ἀξιὸν ποταμὸν Μπογδάνῳ ἀνδρὶ ἀγαθῷ καὶ τὰ ἐς πόλεμον οὐκ ἀδοκίμῳ). After the battle at the river Marica he became a vassal of the Ottoman Sultan Murad I. (μετὰ ταῦτα Μπόγδανον τὸν ταύτῃ ἡγεμόνα ὑπαγόμενος, ὥστε οἱ ἕπεσθαι σὺν τῇ αὐτοῦ στρατιᾷ).
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Olivera
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Person
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Mentioned in the charter from 22 May 1444, which has been preserved in the archives of the island Mljet. She appears as domina in the charter. Her father was Demetrios Blukasinos (Δημήτριος Βλουκασῖνος). Her mother was Lena. She had four brothers (Markos, Andrěašь, Dmitьrь and Ivanišь). She was married to Đurađ I. Balšić (Γεώργιος I.). He left her after the battle at Marica in 1371. Her daughter was Jelisanta. She sponsored the construction of the Church of Saint Maria de Lavrendi near Skadar from her own money and the dowry. The church was decorated by the artists, who were brought by Olivera from the area of the realm of her father (domina Olivera filia regis Volcassini per magistros conductos de regno patris sui et cum denariis suis proprios et de dote sua edificari fecit ecclesiam predictam, et illam dotavit de sua propria dote cum licentia mariti sui, et sibi jus patronatus servavit).
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Ozra
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Person
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She was probably already dead before 1354/1355. She was married to Paskačь and therefore held the title of knegyna. Her son was Vladko. The painted portrait of Ozra is preserved on the southern wall of the narthex in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača next to the image of Paskačь.
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Paskačь
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Person
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He was already dead before 1354/1355. He held the title of knezь. He and his son Vladko founded together the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača. The painted portrait of Paskač is preserved on the southern wall of the narthex in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača. The fresco displays him with his whole family. The representation of Paskač and his son Vladko, who are hoisting the model of the church to the icon of Saint Nicholas, can be described as an act of the joint ktetorship.
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Radoslavь (3)
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Person
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The identification with Radoslabos Chlapenos (Radoslav Hlapen) is doubtful. Mihailo Dinić identified Radoslav with „Rado(a)sclavus filius de jupan Vratisclavo“, who is attested in the Ragusan archives under the year 1319. Some scholars supposed that he was the same person as „iupan Rodosclauo“, who appears in the charter of Vladislav, the son of the former Serbian King Dragutin, adressed to Ragusan authorities from the 25th October 1323. He is mentioned in the chrysobull charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in favour of the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren. Attested also in the ktitorial inscription and the wall painting in the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in Kučevište. The wall paintings in Kučevište can be dated between 1331 and 1334. He held the position of župan. Apparently the son of Marena. He figures in the inscription of the founders of the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in Kučevište. His portrait has been preserved only in fragments on the northern wall of the narthex in the same church. The Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski donated the village Klьčevišta (Kučevište) to Župan Radoslavь. Župan Radoslavь bestowed the village of Klьčevišta and its church of the Mother of God together with the hamlet Brodcь, vineyards, fruits, bought estates and all rights to the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren. The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan confirmed the gift of Župan Radoslav in the chrysobull charter for the monastery (I ješte priloži carьstvo mi crьkvi carьstva mi Arhaggelu sь hotěnijemь ljubimago vlastelina carьstvu mi Radoslava župana, selo Klьčevišta, sь crьkoviju Svetyje Bogorodice, i sь zaselkomь Brod᾿cemь, s vinogrady, sь ōvoštijemь, i s kupljenicami, i sь vsěmi pravinami, kako piše u hrisovulě Klьčevišt᾿komь što jestь zapisalь roditelь carьstva mi gospodinь kral).
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Skačko
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Person
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Mentioned in the the chrysobull charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan, which confirmed the foundation of the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary by the Sebastokrator Dejan in the village of Arhiljevica and its landed property. The original charter has not come upon us and its content is preserved only in two later transcripts. The older one (Hil. 36) is probably an authentic transcript, but its dating is questionable, because it contradicts historical circumstances known from other reliable sources. Therefore, the date, when the lost orginal was issued, can only be approximated to the years 1354 or 1355. The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan donated the village Kolicko to the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary in the village of Arhiljevica. The settlement site Skačkovo, probably a former property of Skačko, is mentioned in the boundary description of Kolicko (A vo mege sela Kolicka: ōdь gumništa Čaikova prěko po srědě prokopannьnoga puta, tere po srědě Skačkova selišta).
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Stajo
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Person
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Identical with Staniša 2? Mentioned in the inscription next to the portrait of a child on the west wall of the Church of Saint John the Theologian at the Zemen Monastery. The depiction is part of the ktitorial composition. The wall painting of Stajo can be dated around 1360. His parents were Despot Dejanь? and Doja. His brother was Vitomirь. He was a member of a family, which sponsored the Church of Saint John the Theologian at the Zemen Monastery. He is depicted as a child. His portrait is on the west wall of the naos. The wording of the inscription can be interpreted as follows (molba raba božija staja).
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Stanislavь (2)
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Person
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Mentioned in the charter of the Serbian Despot Jovan Dragaš and his brother Konstantin Dragaš for the Hilandar Monastery on the Holy Mount Athos from the 1th June 1377. He was a nobleman in the service of the Hilandar Monastery (vlastelinь doma prěsvetije Bogorodice Hilanʼdarʼskije). He was čelnik in Štip (čelʼnikь iže u Štipu Stanislavь). He had a son, who is mentioned in the charter from 26th March 1388, in which the Serbian Despot Konstantin Dragaš confirmed the endowment of the Duke Dmitrь for the Church of Ascension in the town of Štip (čelʼnike Stanislava synь). He erected the Church of Sveti Vlasija (Saint Blaise) on his inherited property in the area possessed by the Hilandar Monastery. He donated the church to the Hilandar Monastery and requested the Serbian Despot Konstantin Dragaš to confirm his endowment. The Serbian Despot Konstantin Dragaš issued on this ground the charter for the Hilandar Monastery (i vьspomenu carьstvu mi kako jestь sьzidalь crьkvь na svojei baštině vь oblastь domu prěsvetije Bogorodice Hilanʼdarʼskije, svetago sveštenʼnomučenika Vlasija, mole carьstvo ni i trěbuje potvrьždenije carьstva mi jakože biti toi svetoi i božьstvʼnoi crьkvi vь vsaku svobodu podь oblastiju doma prěsvetije Bogorodice Hilanʼdarʼskije i ježe carьstvu ni pravověrʼnoje jego porabotanije. Prošenije jego isplьnihomь, jako da si jestь svetaa i božьstvьnaa crьkvь sveti sveštenʼnomučenikь Hristovь Vlasije vь oblasti domu prěsvetije Bogorodice Hilanʼdarʼskije neotjemljemь nikimь do věka, i sь ljudmi što si imaa u gradu).
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Stefanь (1)
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Person
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Mentioned in the inscription accompanying his painted portrait in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača. The portrait of Stefan was painted probably between 1365 and 1371. He was the son of sevastokratorь Vladko (synь sevastokratora Vlatka). The painted portrait of a young adult Stefanь is preserved on the southern wall of the narthex in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača next to Vladislava.
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Theodora (5)
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Person
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She died after October 1402. The sources refer to her as domina, gospogja. She was the daughter of Dejanь (Dragaš) and Theodora-Jevdokija. Her siblings were Ioannes Dragases (Jovan Dragaš) and Konstantinos Dragases (Konstantin Dragaš). Her first husband was Žarko, the nobleman, who ruled over Zeta (Sarcus, baro domini regis Raxie, qui dominator in partibus Çente et Lodrini et illius Maritime) and threatened the town and market of Saint Sergius on the left bank of the river Bojana (A za Žarka, što vi jestь uzelь ně znalo carьstvo mi ni mi ste kazali da pošlěte mi dobre ljudi da pozovu Žarka prědь carьstvo mi da vi ga da carьstvo mi, da vi plati vse samosedmo. I tamo smь poslalь vlasteličikja carьstva mi Vlьkšu u Sveti Srьgь da stoi i da vi čuva i bljude ōd vsake zabave i ōt Žarka ōd vsega i š nimь da ste pozvali Žarka prědь carьstvo mi). From the marriage with Žarko she had the son Mrkša Žarković (Merchxa Xarchouich, Μύρξας, Μῆρξος, Μίρτζας, Μέρξας) and probably a daughter, who was married (offere brigantinum nostrum armatum Merchxe expensis nostris communis pro mittendo sororem suam ad maritum). The later historian from Dubrovnik Mauro Orbini narrates the story about the battle between Lazar Hrebeljanović and Nikola Altomanović in 1372, in which also Žarko, who was fighting on the side of Lazar, lost his life. Her second husband was Đurađ I Balšić. She bore him a son (Konstantin) and three daughters (Goislava, who became the wife of the nobleman from Hum Radić Sanković, Jevdokija [Εὐδοκία] who married the Despot of Epiros Esaù de Buondelmonti and Jelena Balšić). Orbini, who was well informed about her first marriage with Žarko and also the second marriage with Đurađ I Balšić, describes her as wise and beautiful (Teodora, che fù moglie di Zarco Meressich, & sorella di Dragas, & Constantino, figliuoli di Deano, donna saggia, e bella). On the 15th February 1379 she was already a widow (Balša i gospogja Thōdora, žjena brata mōga). In 1395 she was probably in Dagno near Skadar (Skutari), where she resided at the court of her son Konstantin and often took the place of Konstantin in the correspondence with the Ragusan Republic. Theodora dwelt two months in Ragusa with her son Mrkša and his wife, where they received the honorary citizenship. She then returned back to Valona on 2nd October 1397 on a Ragusan ship with the gift of 100 perpers from the Ragusans (Merxcha et domina Theodora, similiter domina uxor dicti Merchxe et domina...eius socrus). After her son Konstantin was executed in 1402, she was sent with Jelena, the widow of Konstantin, to Venice, where they lived in conditions of extreme poverty.
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Unklesis Ioannes
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Person
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He died on 29th June 1371 during the battle against the Ottomans at Černomen/Marica. The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V bestowed on 9th August 1365 the title of Despot upon him. Ioannes Unklesis enlarged the Simonos Petra-Monydrion and made from it the Simonos Petra-Monastery on the Mount Athos out of gratitude for being awarded with the title. He endowed it with many lands. Ioannes Unklesis issued between 9th August 1365 and October 1368 a chrysobull charter regarding his ktitorial activity in the Simonos Petra-Monastery on Mount Athos, which has been preserved only in the transcription of Kyrillos Lukaris, the Patriarch of Constantinople, from 1622/1623. He designates himself as δεσπότης καὶ αὐτοκράτωρ πάσης Σερβίας καὶ Ῥωμανίας in this charter. He signed the charter in favour of the Zographu-Monastery on the Mount Athos in February 1369 as Ἰωάννης ἐν Χριστῶ τῷ Θεῷ πιστὸς δεσπότης καὶ αὐτοκράτωρ, ὁ Οὔγκλεσης. He designated his reign since March 1368 as βασιλεία. He retained this self-designation till 1371. This self-designation appears in the Slavic documents in the form „carstvo“. He was the groom (ἱπποκόμος) of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan. Ioannes Unklesis, who held the position of grand duke, confirmed in 1358 an endowment of his mother-in-law, the wife of Boichnas, for the Kutlumus Monastery (ὅπερ ἐπροσίλοσεν ἡ ἁγία μου κυρία ἡ Κεσάρισα πρὸς αὐτὴν τὴν μονὴν ἐν τι τοποθεσία τὴ ἐπικεκλημένι ἡ Προυνέα χάριν ψυχηκὴς δωρεὰς αὐτῆς ζευγαρίων τεσσάρον... ἐγὼ Οὔγλεσις μέγας βοεβόδας ἀπὸ τὴς αὐτοῦ ἐλεημοσίνης τοὺ αὐθέντου ἡμῶν τοὺ πανευτυχεστάτου δεσπότου καὶ τοὺ ἀδελφοὺ αὐτοὺ τοὺ [...τ...]ου μου στέργο καὶ βεβεῶ τὰ τιαύτα χωράφια εἰς τὴν Προυνέαν γὴν ζευγαρίων τεσάρον ὅπος νέμωσην οἱ τιαύτοι μοναχοὶ τὴς θείας βασιλεικῆς μονῆς τοὺ Κουτλουμούσι ἀκολείτος). He signed the document as velik vōevoda. His father was Margnaua (Orbini)/ Margna (Luccari), who was a poor nobleman from Livno in Hum. Ioannes Unklesis was the cousin (ἀνεψιός) of Helene, the Serbian Empress. His brother was Demetrios Blukasinos and his sister was Helene. The husband of his sister was Nikolaos Radochnas (Νικόλαος ῾Ραδόχνας, Nikola Radonja). He was married to Euphemia. Ioannes Unklesis was the son-in-law of Boichnas (Voihna). He was the father of Uglješa, who died as a child. The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan took his father and the whole family to the court. The senate of the Ragusan republic (Consilium rogatorum) granted the payment of 50 ducats to Ioannes Unklesis on 22th July 1346 (In consilio rogatorum, in quo interfuerunt 34 consiliarii, captum fuit per omnes, nemine discortante, quod Ugiesse barono huius contrate noviter misso a domino imperatore, pro confirmanda et captanda benivolentia cum ipso ei ut habeat causam bene vivendi cum terra, de avere comunis detur et donetur eidem usque florenos seu ducatos L, prout videbitur d. comiti et suo minori consilio). Ioannes Unklesis governed independently in the are of Serres, Christupolis (Kavala), Philippoi, Drama and Zichnai. He had a good connection to the monks in Mount Athos and acknowledged Sabas, the Protos at the Mount Athos, in 1369 as his spiritual father. The Batopedi Monastery on the Mount Athos obtained at the beginning of the year 1365 from Ioannes Unklesis the Monastery of Theotokos Spelaiotissa in the vicinity of the town Melnik with vineyards and gardens, the village Tzukarades, land near the gate of the Lower Town of Melnik, twelwe subjects within the fortress of Melnik, the village Katunitza, the monydrion Hagios Georgios Aliseres, the village Hagia Kyriake, the village Dempreane, the village Mpusdobos, four mills within the fortress of Melnik, two mills in Katunitza, and other lands in the vicinity of the town Melnik. The Byzantine Emperor Ioannes V Palaiologos issued in September 1365 a chrysobull charter at the request of the Despot Ioannes Unklesis, in which he donated estates in the vicinity of Serres and Kalamaria to the Hilandar Monastery (Ἐπεὶ ὁ περιπόθητος ἀνεψιὸς τῆς ὑψηλοτάτης δεσποίνης Σερβίας καὶ περιποθήτου ἀδελφῆς τῆς βασιλείας μου, εὐτυχέστατος δεσπότης τῆς Σερβίας κῦρ Ἰωάννης ὁ Οὔγκλεσις, ἐζήτησε καὶ παρεκάλεσε τὴν βασιλείαν μου ἵνα γένηται χρυσόβουλλον τοῖς μοναχοῖς τῆς κατὰ τὸ ἅγιον ὄρος τοῦ Ἄθω διακειμένης σεβασμίας μονῆς, τῆς εἰς ὄνομα τιμωμένης τῆς πανυπεράγνου δεσποίνης καὶ θεομήτορος καὶ ἐπικεκλημένης τοῦ Χελανταρίου, καὶ κατέχωσι καὶ εἰς τοεξῆς τὸ περὶ τὰς Σέρρας χωρίον, τὸ καλούμενον τοῦ Ποθολινοῦ, ἔτι τε τὸ ἐν τῇ Καλαμαρίᾳ ἕτερον χωρίον τὸ καλούμενον Λιγνὸν μετὰ τῆς σκάλλας αὐτοῦ). In January 1366 ugodni vlastelin Novakь Mrasorovikь addressed the request to the Serbian Despot Ioannes Unklesis and also to the Serbian King Demetrios Blukasinos to approve his donation of the village Koprivljane to the Monastery Hagios Panteleemon on the Holy Mount Athos. Both of them confirmed the endowment of Novakь Mrasorovikь to the Monastery Hagios Panteleemon on the Holy Mount Athos in a separate chrysobull charter (Sьdrьžeštu mi sia vsa blagověrьnōmu i Bogomь postavlěnnōmu despotu Iōanu Ugleši despotьstvujuštu; blagōvěrьnyi despotь Iōannь Uglešь). The Despot Ioannes Unklesis sponsored the hospital at the Batopedi Monastery and the Esphigmenu Monastery as well. He erected the monydrion of Saint Nicholas at Karyes. He was the ktitor of the small church of Saint Anargyroi at the Batopedi Monastery, where he is portrayed as a patron. The Serbian Despot Ioannes Unklesis confirmed the donation of Kaisar Boichnas (Voihna) for the monk and spiritual father Daniil. He approved all privileges concerning the Church of the Saint Archangels Michael and Gabriel above Gabrovo for him (Kako pride kь carьstvu mi čьstni starьcь duhovьnikь kyrь Daniil…Mihaila i Gabrila više Gabrova, i prinese mi zapisanie gospodina….roditelě mi kesara, i viděhь pročtohь čto jestь zapisalь i….kesarь Voihna, i ini hristoljubivi crьkvi onoizi ljud…..zemle: bystь hotěnije carьstvu mi kudě godě mu se što nahodi……hru….ljud…..vinogradь, perivolja, ili i mlinь, ima hotěnije carьstvo mi kako da je……vь věkomь, i da jestь pace svobodna, nikiimь nepotьknovlenno….). Ioannes Unklesis donated in April 1369 the village Neōhorь on the plain of Mavrovo with all boundaries and rights to the Monastery of Kutlumus. The monastery obtained all estates, which were in possession of Theōdorь Ōduevikь. The community of monks on the Mount Athos received also pronoia helders with people, land parcels and fruit trees, which were in some way dependent upon Kalabaris (Kalavar) (selo u poli Mavrovьskom imenem Neōhorь sь vsemi megami i s pravinami sela togai, sь vsemь što e drьžalь Theōdorь Ōduevikь pri carstvě mi, i pri Kalavari proniari što su drьžali ili ljudi ili vokie sь vsem periorom sela). At the instance of the monk Theodosios and his confreres from the Monastery Batopedi Ioannes Unklesis pledged to grant in November 1369 120 hyperpyra per annum, extracted from the revenues of the lake of Porou, to the monastery. The Serbian Despot Ioannes Unklesis gave between 1369 and 1371 the selište located between the village Akroterion (Akrotirion) and the river Plumiska as a tax-free property to the Monastery of Batopedi with all rights. The selište was a possession of Lanzo (probably Lantzaretos), who lived at the time as Kalabaris or was bonded by a certain contract with Kalabaris (i darova crtvo mi ōbitěli prstie Bce Vatopedu selište megju Akrotiro, i megju Plumsko šte e drьžalь Lanzo pri Kalavari sь vsemi megjami i pravinami sela toga). The Protaton on Mount Athos gathered in December 1370 at the behest of the Serbian Despot Ioannes Unklesis ruled the dispute over the village of Mpresnitza in favour of the Hilandar Monastery. He endowed in 1370/1371 the Hilandar Monastery with the village Akroterion (Akrotirion) and the katun of Vlachs Zarvince. He gave also pastures and hunting grounds in the vicinity of the village Akroterion and the katun of Vlachs Zarvince to the monastery (I priložihь na jezěre, u prěděle rědinьskōmь, selo Akrotirь i s pašišti i sь lovišti i sь v’sěmi megjami i pravinami sela toga. I selo katunь vlahь imenemь Zar’vin’ce sь v’sěmi pašišti i megjami i pravinami sela togo). Ioannes Unklesis donated in or before 1371 a vineyard and a farmland in the place called Koremistes to the monastery complex Theotokos Kataphygion near Melnik (ἕτερον ἀμπέλιον καὶ ζευγηλατεῖον, εὑρισκόμενα περὶ τὸν τόπον τῆς Κορεμίστης, ἅπερ ἔδωκεν ὁ εὐτυχέστατος δεσπότης Σερβίας ὁ Οὔγκλεσης). In January 1371 Sabas, the Protos at the Mount Athos, granted the small monastery of Makrou to Ioannes Unklesis. In April 1371 Ioannes Unklesis donated the fishpond of Saint Theodore in the lake of Porou with all its possessions and rights, including the fishing privileges in the lagoon, to the Batopedi Monastery. Ioannes Unklesis established the contact with Constantinople in 1367/1368 in order to reconcile with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and to overcome the schism. He therefore received Theophanes, the Metropolitan of Nikaia and at the same time emissary of the patriarch of Constantiople, at his residence. He send im March 1368 a letter to the Patriarchate of Constantinople, which has been preserved in the Register of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Ioannes Unklesis proposed in the letter that the metropolises in the territory of his realm, among them the Metropolises of Drama, Christupolis, Serres and Zichna should respect the authority of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Philotheos Kokkinos, the Patriarch of Constantinople, and the Ecumenil synod issued a charter in May 1371, where they officialy proclaimed the Union with the eparchies under the control of Ioannes Unklesis. Philotheos Kokkinos describes him as ὁ εὐτυχέστατος δεσπότης Σερβίας, κῦρις Ἰωάννης ὁ Οὔγκλεσης, τοῦ πλέον τοῖς ἡμετέροις μέρεσιν ἐγγίζοντος τόπου κύριος καταστὰς, ἄνθρωπος ὑπάρχων φρόνιμος καὶ καλὸς καὶ τρόπου καὶ συνειδήσεως ἀγαθῆς καὶ τὸν τοῦ θεοῦ φόβον κεκτημένος, ἠθέλησεν ἐπανασώσασθαι τὰς ἐκκλησίας ταύτας τῇ ἰδίᾳ μετρὶ καὶ κεφαλῇ τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν. Demetrios Blukasinos and his brother Ioannes Unklesis commanded the Serbian forces, which fought against the Ottoman army commanded by the Beglerbeg Lala Şahin Pasha and Evrenos near the village Černomen on 26th September 1371. His name is attested in the brebion (memorial book), which has been preserved at Protaton in Karyes on Mount Athos (Protaton 340 [113], 1v: Ἔτι δεόμεθα ὑπὲρ μακαρίας μνήμης καὶ ἀφέσεως τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν τῶν ἀειμνήστων δούλων τοῦ Θεοῦ Δημητρίου κράλη καὶ Ἰωάννου δεσπότου καὶ τῶν σὺν αὐτοῖς ἀναιρεθέντων ὀρθοδόξων χριστιανῶν).
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Vladislava (1)
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Mentioned in the fragmentary inscription from the Church of Saint Nicholas in the village Kalotina, which was made during the reign of the Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Alexander. Attested also in the ktitorial composition from the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in Kučevište, which bears an identifying inscription. The wall paintings in Kučevište can be dated between 1331 and 1334. She appears as sevasьtica in the inscription from the Church of Saint Nicholas. She was married to the duke (voivoda) Dejanь. The names of their sons were Iōanь and Dmitarь?. She together with her husband Dejanь erected the Church of Saint Nicholas in the village Kalotina. Their effort is praised in the dedicatory inscription in the naos of the church. She and her husband are portrayed next to the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan and her wife Jelena on the southern wall of the narthex in the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in the village Kučevište. Her identity is confirmed by an inscription bearing her name (voivodica Vladislava). Her noble family apparently changed sides and supported the Serbian king Stefan Uroš IV. Dušan. On the facade above the south door of the church there is supplicant inscription of Vladislava and her sons (Primi gdi moleniie rabe svoie Vladislave i čěda eie Iōvana i Dmitra bg da ihь pomene v carstva svoemь).
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Vladislava (2)
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Mentioned in the inscription accompanying her painted portrait in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača. The portrait of Vladislava was painted probably between 1365 and 1371. She was married to sevastokratorь Vladko and therefore held the title sevastokratorica. Her sons were Stefanь and Ugleša. The painted portrait of Vladislava is preserved on the southern wall of the narthex in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača next to the image of Vladko.
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