Maps of Power

Mišić 2009a

Description

Siniša Mišić, Hrisovulja kralja Stefana Uroša III Prizrenskoj episkopiji, in: Stari srpski arhiv 8 (2009) 11-36.

Relations

Actors (12)
Name Class Begin End Relation Type Description
Anʼdrijanь Person He lived before summer 1343, maybe even later. He occurs as son-in-law of Pardo in the Vrěviō. It seems clear, that the source refers to Pardo Kosta. He sold the rest of the field called Zlovadnica above Trěboš to bishop Ignatije for a mare and 2 perper. The field bordered on the old furrow and on the road called after the village Poroj (Niva Zlovadnica, što kupi Sava Surkišь u Parʼda Koste nad Trěbošom a ōstalo dokupi piskopь Ignatije u Anʼdrijana, zeta Pardova, za kobilu, za 2 perper).
C’kler(o) Person He lived before summer 1343, maybe even later. His property was mentioned in the border delimitation of a field above the village of Trěboš (Niva nadь Trěbošomь ōtь Pardove megje do C᾿klerove i do brěga Stare Rěke, koupljena ōtь Trěboše, a putь po srěd nive te trěbošky).
Damianos (1) Person It is very unlikely that he is the same person as Damijan, the Bishop of Prizren. The latter is attested in the collective charter of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin and Stefan Uroš IV Dušan for the Tower of Hrusija of the Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos (jepiskupomь prizrěnskymь Damijanomь). Before 1307 he together with the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin took the fields near the Church of Holy Mother of God at Trhalě not far from Trěboš in Polog from Žegrь and they set his houses on fire (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). He was still alive in 1307 according to the ktitorial inscription of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin, which is preserved in the apse of the Church Bogorodica Ljeviška in Prizren (Stefan Urošь kralь hristě bozě blagověrьnь kralь srьbskyh i pomorskihь prěvnukь svetago simeōna nemane i zetь cara grьčkago kirь andronika paleōloga ponovihь hramь svetie bogorodice lěviške ot samogo ōsnovanija i ja směreni popь prizrěnьsky damijanь trudyhь se vь lěto ѕ ѱ ei). Damianos is mentioned in the sermon of the Byzantine writer Theodoros Metochites, who undertook the task to arrange the marriage of the Byzantine princess Simonis with the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin. He was a Monk. He accompanied Dukaites around 1298 at the request of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš Milutin to Constantinople (κἀγὼ μὲν αὐτίκα τὸν καλὸν Δουκαίτην ἐς βασιλέα· καὶ αὐτὸς δὲ οὕστινας οἶσθα, σὺν αὐτῷ πέμπομεν, Δαμιανόν τινα αὐτὸν οἶμαι ὄνομα μοναχὸν).
Dragoslavь (1) Person Mentioned in the chrysobull charter of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski for the Bishopric of Prizren from 1326. He was a Despot. Probably relative of Theodora, the first wife of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski. The Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski commissioned Dragoslavь together with Arsenij, the Bishop of Prizren, to inspect the disputed fields near the Church of Holy Mother of God at Trhalě not far from Trěboš in Polog, which were previously in possession of the Bishopric of Prizren. Stefan Uroš III Dečanski reinstated the situation „as it was before“ after the report of Despot Dragoslav and Bishop Arsenij (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).
Fracilь Person He died before summer 1343. He had children. He donated a 4 dnin field between the field of Kanaděj(ev) and the road called after the village of Trěboš for the sake of salvation to the Monastery of the Holy Virgin in Htětovo (Niva dana ōtь Francila za dušu, na 4 dьninь, ōtь Kanadějeve nive do trěboška puti). The children of Fracil donated a 5 plug field under Velgošt to the Monastery of the Holy Virgin in Htětovo. Their land was in the vicinity of the field of Drьmanь (Niva pod Velьgoštom, što dade Fracilьva dьšti pri Drьmanově nivě na 5 plugovь).
Ignatije Person The charter for the monastery in Gračanica does not give a strong support for the identification of Ignatije with his namesake, who was Bishop of Lipljan. Mentioned several times in the Inventory of property of the Holy Virgin Monastery in Htětovo from 1342/1343. In Vrěviō mentioned only as bishop. Ignatije held probably the abbotʼs office of the Monastery of the Holy Virgin in Htětovo before his career as bishop. He purchased a field above a furrow on the right side of the emperorʼs road, which was reaching the road called after the village of Lěška near Jablance, from Gjuro, Radunь and the sons of Polelěj for the horse of Budimirь (Niva tu nad brazdom, i do lěška puti u Jablan᾿ce ō desnu stranu careva puti, što kupi piskopь Ignati za Budimirova konja, što běše dalь za dušu ōtь Polelějevěhь synovь i ōd Raduna i ōd Gjuroja). A certain Anʼdrijanь, son-in-law of Pardo, sold the rest of the field called Zlovadnica above Trěboš to Bishop Ignatije for a mare and 2 perper. The field bordered on the old furrow and on the road called after the village Poroj (Niva Zlovadnica, što kupi Sava Surkišь u Parʼda Koste nad Trěbošom a ōstalo dokupi piskopь Ignatije u Anʼdrijana, zeta Pardova, za kobilu, za 2 perper. A mega nivě toi do stare brazde i do poroiska puti). Bishop Ignatije bought the field called Ilovica under Drěnovec and under a road from Pardo Kosta for 18 perper (Niva Ilovica pod Drěnovcemь pod putemь, što kupi Ignatije piskopь u Parda Koste za 18 perper). He acquired a meadow under Velgošt and under a road from Pardo Kosta for a horse and 30 perper (I livadu kupi Ignatie piskopь pod Velьgoštom pod putemь u Parda Koste za konja, za 30 perper). He obtained a 25 zamet field in Zlovadnica under the churchʼs field, which was reaching the boundary of Drьmanь, inexpensively from Manoil(o) Globica and Globicaʼs brother (Niva na Zlovadnici što kupi piskopь Ignatije u Manoila Globice i u bratije mu; malo uze cěne, a vse priloži crьkvi za svoju dušu, nizь crьkvnu nivu i do Drьmanove mege, na 25 zametь). A certain Gōnь, with his wife Theōdora, sold the field called Gumnište to Ignatije for 8 perper and 9 run of wool (Niva Gumnište što kupi piskopь Ignatije u Gōna i u žene mu Theōdore za 8 perper 9 runь vlьnь). Ignatije bought also the rest of a field in Nikiforovec near the churchʼs field, which belonged to Theōdora and her daughter Jelena, for 10 perper. The bishop was also responsible for the written record of this sale transaction. The act was signed in the presence of the witnesses Kalojan 2 from Lěška and the two sons of Radoslavь Drobnjakь, Argirь and Hranь (Niva u Nikiforovci, uzь crьkvnu nivu što kupi igumьnь Theōktistь u Theōdore i u čtere Jelene za 10 perperь, a dokupi piskopь Ignatije i zapisa. A Tomu svědoci: Kalojanь ōd Lěška, Mihovь šugra, i dva syna Radoslava Drobnjaka, Argirь i Hran).
Ilija Person He died on 13th April in 1308 or 1309. He was the Bishop of Prizren 1306/1307–1308/1309. The Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin together with the Bishops Damijan and then Ilija took the fields from Žegrь and they set his houses, which he had built on the fields near the Church of Holy Mother of God at Trhalě not far from Trěboš in Polog on fire. (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). He is also mentioned in the Pomenik of the Church of Holy Mother of God Ljeviška in Prizren.
Kosta Pardo Person Mentioned in the Inventory of property of the Holy Virgin Monastery in Htětovo from 1342/1343. His son-in-law was Anʼdrijanь? He sold the field called Zlovadnica above Trěboš to Sava Surkiš. The field bordered on the old furrow and on the road called after the village Poroj (Niva Zlovadnica, što kupi Sava Surkišь u Parʼda Koste nad Trěbošom a ōstalo dokupi piskopь Ignatije u Anʼdrijana, zeta Pardova, za kobilu, za 2 perper. A mega nivě toi do stare brazde i do poroiska puti). He sold the field called Ilovica under Drěnovec and under a road to the Bishop Ignatije for 18 perper (Niva Ilovica pod Drěnovcemь pod putemь, što kupi Ignatije piskopь u Parda Koste za 18 perper). He vended also a meadow under Velgošt and under a road to Bishop Ignatije for a horse and 30 perper (I livadu kupi Ignatie piskopь pod Velьgoštom pod putemь u Parda Koste za konja, za 30 perper).
Par’do (1) Person Mentioned in the inventory of property of the Holy Virgin Monastery in Htětovo from 1342/1343. He had a family. His father-in-law was Galinь (ōd Galina za dušu, ōd tьsta Pardova) and his brother-in-law Theōdorь. The husband of his sister was Robь. His sister was probably also Aleksa, the wife of Theōdorь. His son-in-law was Anʼdrijan (Anʼdrijana, zeta Pardova)? He, together with his brother-in-law Theōdorь, donated one half and sold other half of a field under the road called after the village of Lěška and under the irrigation canal called after the village of Hvališe to the Monastery of the Holy Virgin in Htětovo (Niva pod lěš᾿kimь putem᾿ nizь izvodь hvališ᾿ki prodana ōd Parda i ōd Theōdora šure mu, polovina prodana, a polovina harizana). He, together with his family, brother-in-law Theōdorь and the husband of his sister, Robь, sold a field under the field of Alavandь in Saždena Vrba to the Monastery of the Holy Virgin in Htětovo. The land lay along a furrow between a hawtorn and the road called after the village of Hvališe ((I druga niva niže tezi nive što proda Par᾿do s᾿ rodom᾿ si, i sь šurem᾿ si Theōdoromь i svojačimomь si Robomь, na jednoi brazde glogь mežda i do hvališ᾿ka puti). The monastery received partly as a donation and bought partly from Pardo a field, which was situated under the road called after the village of Lěška at the place, where the road called after the village in Hvališe and the road called after the village of Lěška met. This land extended to the limits of Hvališe. The purpose of this partly donation was the salvation of the soul of Theōdorь and Aleksa (Niva Pardova podь lěškimь putemь kako se staje hvališki putь i lěš᾿ki i do megje hvališ᾿ke, što kupismo i što jestь dano crьkvi za dušu Theōdorovu i Aleksinu). His boundary mark is attested in the border delimitation of a field above the village of Trěboš (Niva nadь Trěbošomь ōtь Pardove megje do C᾿klerove i do brěga Stare Rěke, koupljena ōtь Trěboše, a putь po srěd nive te trěbošky).
Surkišь Sava Person Mentioned in the inventory of property of the Holy Virgin Monastery in Htětovo from 1342/1343. He bought the field called Zlovadnica above Trěboš from Pardo Kosta. The field bordered on the old furrow and on the road called after the village Poroj (Niva Zlovadnica, što kupi Sava Surkišь u Parʼda Koste nad Trěbošom a ōstalo dokupi piskopь Ignatije u Anʼdrijana, zeta Pardova, za kobilu, za 2 perper. A mega nivě toi do stare brazde i do poroiska puti).
Trěbošь Person Mentioned in the inventory of property of the Holy Virgin Monastery in Htětovo from 1342/1343. He sold a field above the village Trěboš and the road called after village of Trěboš, which traversed the field in the middle, to the Monastery of the Holy Virgin in Htětovo. His land ran from the boundary mark of Pardo to the boundary mark of C’kler(o) and to the shore of Stara Reka (Niva nadь Trěbošomь ōtь Pardove megje do C᾿klerove i do brěga Stare Rěke, koupljena ōtь Trěboše, a putь po srěd nive te trěbošky).
Žegrь 2 Person Identical with Žegrь Radomirь and Žegrь 1? Mentioned in the chrysobull charter of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski for the Bishopric of Prizren from 1326. He built some houses on the fields near the Church of Holy Mother of God at Trhalě not far from Trěboš in Polog, which were in possession of the Bishopric of Prizren.The representatives of the eparchy complained to the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin about the forceful act of the people of Polog and Žegrь. The Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin together with the Bishops Damjan and Ilija took the fields from Žegrь and they set his houses on fire. The church fields were still in dispute in the times of reign of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski. The Serbian ruler engaged the royal court and sent his royal representatives personally to the area. Stefan Uroš III Dečanski reinstated the situation „as it was before“ after the inspection of Despot Dragoslav and Bishop Arsenij (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). He is also mentioned in the Pomenik of the Church of Holy Mother of God Ljeviška in Prizren.
Places (4)
Name Class Begin End Description
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).
Potoča Place The Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski confirmed the donation of his father Stefan Uroš II Milutin. The latter granted the church of Sveti Vrač(i) 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).
Potoča, Church Sveti Vrači Place The Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski confirmed 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).
Treboš Place The Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski confirmed together with his son, the Young King Stefan (Dušan), 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 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 Land Inventory Brebion of the Monastery of the Holy Virgin in Htětovo mentions the village Treboš three times. In article 8 the Land Inventory Brebion contains evidence about a field above Treboš, which was sold to the monastery by the people of Treboš (p. 284 Niva nadь Trěbošomь ōtь Pardove megje do C᾿klerove i do brěga Stare Rěke, koupljena ōtь Trěboše, a putь po srěd nive te trěbošky). In article 10 a field near Treboš was donated to the Monastery of the Holy Virgin in Htětovo by Francil for the sake of his salvation (p. 284 Niva dana ōtь Francila za dušu, na d(l) dьninь, ōtь Kanadějeve nive do trěboška puti). The last remark of Treboš is given in article 22. The field named Zlovadnica above Treboš was bought by Sava Surkiš from Pardo Kosta and the rest by the Bishop Ignatije from Andrijan, the son-in-law of Parda for a mare and 2 perper (p. 287 Niva Zlovadnica što kupi Sava Surkišь u Par᾿da Koste nad Trěbošomь a ōstalo dokupi piskopь Ignatije u An᾿drijana, zeta Pardova, za kobilu, za V perper. A mega nivě toi do strae brazde i do poroiska puti).
Sources (1)
Name Class Description
Stefan Uroš III Dečanski's Charter for the Bishopric of Prizren Source King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski granted a chrysobull Charter to the Bishopric of Prizren. Although the charter is not dated, Siniša Mišić proposes, that it was written in April 1326.