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Amerales
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Mentioned in the dedicatory inscription found on the western wall of the Virgin Maryʼs Church in Mali Grad from 1368–1369. He appears as a ὁ πανευγενέστατος Ἀμηράλις ὑιος αὐτοῦ in the inscription next to his portrait. He was the son of the kaisar Nobakos and Kale. His sister was Maria. His father kaisar Nobakos sponsored the renovation and decoration of the Virgin Maryʼs Church in Mali Grad in the year 1368–1369 (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). The family portrait of Nobakos has been preserved on the western external façade. He and his sister are painted to the left of the virgin, who is the central figure of the ktitorial composition. He is portrayed as a small boy.
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Belkos
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Mentioned for the year 1350 by the Byzantine historian Ioannes Kantakuzenos. He was the ἄρχων of the Fortress Gynaikokastron. Ioannes Kantakuzenos designates him as a Serbian. He broke his promise to surrender the fortress Gynaikokastron to the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos, as soon when the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan came with the Serbian troops to Thessalonike.
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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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Boichnas
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It it doubtful, that he is the same person as „lo jupan Voichna“, who appears in the charter of Vladislav, the son of the former Serbian King Dragutin, adressed to Ragusan authorities from the 25th October 1323. The confirmed terminus ante quem of his decease is September 1370/August 1371 (Prišьdšu že mi vь hramě prěsvetije Bogorodice Hilan’darě, i viděvь grobь gospodina mi i roditelja svetopočiv’šega kesara). It is possible that he was already death in 1369, because the Serbian Despot Ioannes Unklesis (Jovan Unglješa) approved in this year the donation of the Church of the Saint Archangels Michael and Gabriel above Gabrovo granted by Kaisar Boichnas (Voihna) for the monk and spiritual father Daniil (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….). He appears as vlastelinь, surodnikь carьstva mi bratučedь Voih’na in the charter of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan for the Hilandar Monastery from 1348. He is mentioned as kaisar/kesar in 1351 (Voicha chiessar) and 1355 (Voichna chiesar) in two forged documents of the Serbian Emperors for the town Kotor translated into old Italian. Attested as kaisar and kesarь from 1357 to 1371 (Βοΐχνας ὁ Καῖσαρ). He was the governor of the town Drama in 1357 according to the Byzantine historian Ioannes Kantakuzenos (ὁ δὲ τῆς πόλεως, ἧς ἦρχεν, ἀποδημῶν, Δράμα δὲ ἦν). Sima Ćirković suggests that he held unter his control a much bigger region corresponding with the ruling area of his son-in-law, the Serbian Despot Ioannes Unklesis (Jovan Unglješa). In a later charter of Iakobos Kutaches Philanthropenos Tarchaneiotes from 1405 he is erroneously described as κράλης. His daughter was Euphemia (Jefimija/Elena). He was the father-in-law of the Serbian Despot Ioannes Unklesis (Jovan Unglješa). The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan confirmed in 1348 at the intervention of his nobleman and most probably also relative Voih’na the previous donation of the village Potolino in the valley of the river Struma to the Hilandar Monastery (I tu vьspomenu carstvu mi vlastelinь, surodnikь carьstva mi bratučedь Voih’na, ō izvěstneišemь po utvrьždeni sela Potolina, iže bě priložilo i po prěžde carьstvō mi Hilan’daru...I po blagosrьdnomu moljeniju i blagoutrobiju kь v’semь svetimь i božьstvnimь crьkvamь bratučeda mi Voih’ne, darova carьtvō mi vь postrum’skomь prědělě: Seloō Potolinovo sь zasel’ci i periōromь, s megjami i sь dohoci sь v’semi pravinami sela togoō). After the death of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan he was a prominent figure in the circle of the Dušan’s widow Jelena (Helene). He encouraged Mathaios Kantakuzenos at first to invade the territory of Eastern Macedonia. He then betrayted him and joined the army of Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V. He defeated Mathaios Kantakuzenos at Philippoi in Macedonia in 1357. Mathaios Kantakuzenos was imprisoned by him. He handed over Mathaios Kantakuzenos in summer 1357 to the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes V Palaiologos for a ransom. The Serbian Despot Ioannes Unklesis (Jovan Unglješa) 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). The Metropolitan of Drama in 1359 gave his consent to return the metochia of Theotokos Koriliotissa and Hagioi Anargyroi to the Batopedi Monastery after the involvment of Boichnas and his wife. Boichnas and his wife endowed the Batopedi Monastery with the church of Saint Photeine. Boichnas was buried in the Hilandar Monastery at Mount Athos.
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Braktos
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It is not clear, if he is the same person as Vratko, a nobleman of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan, who held the position of župan in 1333 (župan Vratkō/çuppanus Vratcho). Vratko is mentioned in the archives of the city Dubrovnik under the date 7.1. 1333 (Et Vratico, qui fuit et est nobis favorabilispenes dominum regem, D. ducatos de auro; Et Vratico qui fuit et est nobis favorabilis penes dominum regem VIC ducatos de auro), 19. 3. 1336 (fuit sibi ablata una salma per Vraticum nomine domini regiss apud S. Sergium) and 11. 7. 1336 (conqueritur supra Vraticum baronem domini regis Raxie...valoris yp. 190 grossorum de cruçe). He is attested as knez also in two Ragusan charters concerning his belt, which was pawned in Dubrovnik and which he demanded back (pojasь kneza vratka; ōtь kneza Vratka). According to the later sources was knez Vratko the father of Princess Milica of Serbia and the father-in-law of her husband Serbian Despot Lazar Hrebeljanović. Konstantin Kostenečki and then several of the Serbian genealogies (rodoslov) reconstructed his ancestry back to Vukan Nemanjić. Mentioned for the year 1342 by the Byzantine historian Ioannes Kantakuzenos. He was a military commander of the Serbian auxiliary troops, 1342. He was one of the Serbian commanders, who were supporting the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos during the siege of Serres at the end of the summer 1342. He fell temporarily ill and the army had to remain in the military encampment for eleven days (ἐν ᾧ δὲ ταῦτα ἐτελεῖτο, Βράκτος τῶν ἡγεμόνων τῆς στρατιᾶς ὁ διαφορώτατος ἐνόσησε καὶ διεκαρτέρησεν ἐκεῖ ἡ στρατιὰ ἐστρατοπεδευμένη μίαν ἡμέραν ἐπὶ δέκα).
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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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Chreles Stephanos
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According to the later tradition and forged documents he came out from the noble family of Ohmućević. He appears for the first time in the history of John Kantakuzenos. In December 1327 he commanded a Serbian auxiliary contingent of twelwe cohorts laying between Drama and Philippoi in support of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II. against his grandson Andronikos III. (τοῦ δὲ ἐκ τῶν Τριβαλῶν συμμαχικοῦ, δυοκαίδεκα ταγμάτων ὄντων, ὁ Χρέλης ἐστρατήγει, τῶν τε παρὰ Τριβαλοῖς εὐπατριδῶν καὶ ἀνδρίας καὶ ἐμπειρίας στρατηγικῆς τὰ πρῶτα φέρων παρ’ αὐτοῖς). In 1334–1335, Hrelja reconstructed the church of the Rila Monastery and built the so-called Hrelja's Tower, the monastery's defensive tower and its oldest structure surviving today. The inscription on the tower testifies that by the time of its construction Hrelja still acknowledged Serbian suzerainty bearing the tile of protosevast ((Pri državě gospodina prěvysokago Stepana Dušana kraal sьzyda sьn pirgь gospodinь protosevastь Hrelь sь trudomь velikomь i eksodomь svetomu ōtcu Iōanu Rylskomu i materi božii naricaeměi Ōsěnovica vь lěto 6843 indiktiōnь 5). Sometimes between 1336 and the june 1341 Hrelja deserted from the Serbian king Stefan Uroš IV Dušan. In early 1342 he made contact with Kantakuzenos. It is not clear when he first met Hrelja, though he does refer to Hrelja as being a friend for the most part and that it was through his own initiative that Hrelja came to know Andronikos III. (ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ Χρέλης, ὃς ἦν πρότερον πρὸς Ἀνδρόνικον τὸν βασιλέα ηὐτομοληκὼς ἐκ Τριβαλῶν, στρατιώτας τε ἔχων χιλίους καὶ πόλεις τρεῖς παραδεδωκὼς, ἃς Ῥωμαίων οὔσας ὑπηκόους κατὰ τὸν πρὸς ἀλλήλους τῶν Ἀνδρονίκων βασιλέων πόλεμον κατέσχον οἱ Τριβαλοὶ, τῶν κατεχόντων Ῥωμαίων παραδόντων· οὗτος δὴ οὖν ὁ Χρέλης χρήμασί τε ἐῤῥωμένος καὶ στρατιὰν ἔχων ἀξιόλογον ὑφ’ ἑαυτῷ καὶ πρότερον βασιλεῖ τῷ Καντακουζηνῷ ἐς τὰ μάλιστα φίλος ὢν, (δι’ αὐτοῦ γὰρ καὶ Ἀνδρονίκῳ προσῆλθε τῷ βασιλεῖ,) πέμψας καὶ αὐτὸς, ὅτι τε αἱροῖτο ἐδήλου τὰ ἐκείνου, καὶ παρῄνει καὶ αὐτὸς πρὸς τὴν ἑσπέραν μᾶλλον τρέπεσθαι, ὡς οὐ φαύλης τινὸς αὐτόθεν ἐσομένης ὠφελείας). The Kantakuzenos' statement and the fact that he handed over one thousand soldiers and three cities gives a picture of Hrelja's wealthiness, which is confirmed also by the forged charters concerning the Hrelja's donation of the Church of St. Archangel Michael in Štip to the Monastery of Hilandar.
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Dobre (3)
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Mentioned in the colophone (170b) of the festal Menaion, which has been preserved in the Chludov collection of the manuscripts at the State Historical Museum in Moscow under the signature 164. The manuscript was written between the years 1371 and 1394. He worked as dijak (scribe). His father was Rado from the village Margaritь. His brother was the priest Stanko. He came from the village Margaritь. He wrote the festal Menaion at Kalugerьcь in the region of Porěčie for the priest Todorь during the reign of King Markos (Marko Mrnjavčević) (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. Vь to vřeme se pisa popu Todoru na Kalugerci rada tod sa zetu, azь mnogogrěšni i nedostōini i vsěhь poslědny nedostojenь narešti se rabь Hristu Dobre dijak Radovь synь ōt Margarita, pōpa Stankovь bratь).
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Jelena (3)
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Person
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Mentioned in the colophone (170b) of the festal Menaion, which has been preserved in the Chludov collection of the manuscripts at the State Historical Museum in Moscow under the signature 164. The manuscript was written between the years 1371 and 1394. She was the daughter of Radoslabos Chlapenos and Eirene Prelumpissa. She was married to King Markos. The marriage to Đurađ I Balšić is preserved in the later work of Mauro Orbini. Markos divorced her and then lived with Thodora, who was the daughter or wife 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. She then resided in town of Kastoria. Đurađ I Balšić, who wanted to seize Kastoria, persuaded Jelena into marriage. After Đurađ I Balšić divorced his first wife, Jelena ceded the town of Kastoria to him and became his wife.
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Kale (2)
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Person
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Mentioned in the dedicatory inscription found on the western wall of the Virgin Maryʼs Church in Mali Grad from 1368–1369. She appears as a πανευγενεστάτη κεσαρισα κυρία Καλῆ in the inscription next to her portray. She was a κεσαρισα.She was married to Nobakos. Her children were Amirales and Maria. Her husband kaisar Nobakos sponsored the renovation and decoration of the Virgin Maryʼs Church in Mali Grad in the year 1368–1369 (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). The family portrait of Nobakos has been preserved on the western external façade. She and her husband are painted to the right of the virgin. She is portrayed as a young woman.
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Kobatzes
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It is not clear, if he is the same person as Covac(er), a nobleman of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan, who received two pieces of blankets in the value of 60 perpers as a gift from the Ragusans on 5th July 1336 (donentur Covacero barono domini regis due petie valoris ypp. LX). Mentioned for the year 1342 by the Byzantine historian Ioannes Kantakuzenos. He was one of the dignitaries (οἱ ἐν τέλει πάντες τῶν Τριβαλῶν), who served the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan. He was against the handing over of Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos to the Byzantine Empress Anna Palaiologina. He threatened Georgios Lukas and Makarios, the Metropolitan of Thessalonike, who were sent as emissaries by Anna to the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan, with death (τις ἐξ αὐτῶν Κοβάτζης ὠνομασμένος φανερῶς ἀντεῖπε καὶ ἠπείλησε θάνατον τοῖς πρέσβεσιν, εἰ μὴ τάχιον ἀπαλλάττοιντο).
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Liberos Ioannes
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Person
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Mentioned in several sources between 1336 and 1354. The inscription placed next to the portrait of Ioannes Liberos on the north wall of the naos in the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo lists all dignities, which were granted to him during his career (azь rabь hristovь iōanь ōliverь po milosti božiei i gospodina mi krala stefana bihь u srьblemь veliky čelnikь potom veliki sulga potomь veliki voevoda potomь veliky sevastokratorь i/a za věrnoe emu porabotanije po milosti božiei i veliki despotь vseja srьbskije zemle i pomorьskije i učestnikь grьkomь). Srdjan Pirivatrić presumes that the titles of grand sebastrokrator, grand despot and učestnik, were bestowed upon Ioannes Liberos by Byzantine imperial authorities before coronation of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in 1346. He held the position of veliki čelnik, before 1341. veliki sluga (megas domestikos), 1332–1341 (ja sluga veli Ōliverь/Iōanь veliki sluga Ōliverь vьse srpskie zemlie i pomorskie). veliki vojvoda (megas dux) 1341/1342 (sь trudomь i podanijemь raba božija ioana velikago voevode olivera; Veliki voevoda Ōlïver povelě pisati, a Stanislavь pisa; ōbьdrьžeštu ōblastiju vseju ōvčepolьskoju velikomu vojevodě Ōliveru, vь horě Zletovcěi; jegože velikyi vojevoda Ōliverь sьzda is temelja; povelěnijemь gospodina velikago vojevode Ōlivera; Bogь da prostitь velikago vojevodu Ōlivera). He was the son-in-law of Georgios Karabides (Γεώργιος Καραβίδης). His brother was Mpogdanos (Μπογδάνος, Bogdan). He was married to Maria Liberissa (Μαρία Λιβέρισσα, Ana Marija). He had six sons (Kraikos [Κράϊκος, Krajko], Damianos [Δαμιανός, Damjan], Vidoslavь, Dabiživь, Rusinь, Oliverь) and one daughter (Danica). Already in 1334 he got acquainted with Ioannes Kantakuzenos during the meeting between the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos and Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in Rhadobosdion (Radovište). They became friends. Jovan Oliver entrusted before 1341 his subordinate Todorь with the task to settle the deserted settlement site Sveti Dimitrije in Jastrebnica, which was in possession of the Monastery of Saint Demetrius in Kočane. Jovan Oliver issued between 1332 and 1341 a charter, in which were listed the rights and duties of Todorь at Sveti Dimitrije in Jastrebnica (Naidohь selište pusto Svetago Dimitrija u Jastrebnicě i podahь moga člověka Todora, koi mi se prěda izь Grьkь, po ruce da naseli ōmozi selo). Ioannes Liberos, the son-in-law of Georgios Karabides, stated on 28th June 1336 in the presence of Nikola Falletro, the comes of the town of Ragusa, that he received the former treasury of Karabides from Junije Lukarević. Ioannes Liberos swore that he will give the treasury to the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan and request a charter for Junije Lukarević from the king, which will confirm the receipt of treasury and ruled out the possibility of demand by the king, Liberos or the children of Karabides (Oliuer Gherchinich, baro domini Regis Raxie et gener Charauide, constitutes ante presentiam nobilis et potentis viri domini Nicolai Falletro, honorabilis comitis Ragusii, contentus e confessus fuit habuisse et recepisse et apud se habere a Junio de Lucarom de Ragusio unam centuram de argento et unam ladicam de argento, ponderis inter ambas librarum tredecim et unciarum V, et centum nonaginta quinque ducatos de auro, que centura et ladica et ducati acomandati fuerunt per dictum Carauidam, socerum olim dicti Oliueri, eidem Junio, ut idem Junius confessus fuit. Et similiter idem Oliverius confessus fuit tantas fuisse res et ducatos, accomandatas eidem Junio per dictum Charauidam et non plures, cum infrascriptis pactis et condictionibus, uidelicet quod ipse Oliuerius teneatur et debeat predictam centuram et ladicam et ducatos dare in manibus domini Regis Raxie in presentia Petri de Ribica et Marini filii Junii de Uolcasso de Ragusio et fieri facere ab ipso Rege eidem Junio de Lucaro unam apouiliam, sigillatam suo sigillo, continentem, qualiter ipse dominus Rex uel suus successor nec frater, filii seu filia dicti Charauidi seu aliqua alia persona de dicta centura et ladica et ducatis non possint facere uel mouere aliquam litem uel questionem in regno Raxie et Slauonie seu in aliquo loco, in curia uel extra, eidem Junio). Ioannes Liberos owned and received from the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan landed estates in the region of Ovče Pole, Zletovo and Tikveš for his service. According to the stone inscription above the Western Entrance of the Katholikon in the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo from 1340/1341, he, his wife and his son Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) sponsored the reconstruction and the painted decoration of the monastery. He, his wife and his Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) endowed the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo with lands in the surrounding area (sьzda se světlyi i čьs(t)nъï.hramь.velikago vojevode vьïšnih silь. Arhistratiga Mihaila. Sьzda se i sьvrьši se. Vь dni Stefan(a) kral(a). Sь trudomь. Ï podanijemь raba B(ož)ija Ïōan(a) veikago voevode Ōlivera. I podružija ego rabu B(o)žiju Annu. Maru i vьzljublennago emu s(y)na Kraika. V(ь) lět(o). ƺ.ō.m.ḟ. se že sela i metohïe. Selo konь crkve Lěsnovo. Sь zaselkomъ Lukovu i u Bakově crkvь S(ve)t(o)ga Nikole sь selomь. Ï na rěcě zaselьkь Globica i selo Dobrьevo i u Drěvěnoi. S(ve)tьï Elisei i zaslьk Peštno i S(ve)ty Prokopije. I katunь Vlah(a) na Stroi i u Štipě S(ve)ty Nikola pop Sïfievь. i. k. kukei). He supplied the monastery with the Menaion. The scribe Stanislavь, who wrote the menaion, recorded, that Ioannes Liberos donated also frames for the screen icons and church vessels to the monastery with the intention to grant the monastery to the Hilandar Monastery (velikyi vojevoda ōliverь sьzda is temelija i sьvrьšivь i popisa i vsakimi dorotami ukrasivь, sьsudï zlatьïmi i srebrьnьïmi pokova velikyje ikony srebromь i zlatomь, jakože jestь lěpo domь božii ukrašati, podavь sela i metohije i pašišta i livade i planine milostiōvь kralevovь utvrьdivь vse sinore i zapisavь zlatopečatnymь hrisovulomь i prědastь ju u svetu goru stoi bogorodici hilandarьskoi sь vsakymь utvrьždenijemь). As a Grand Duke, Ioannes Liberos, ordered the fabrication of a metal polycandilion with an inscribed medallion for the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo (voevoda oliver anna marija). When the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos had proceeded in 1342 with his army along the right bank of the river Vardar, he discovered the forces of Ioannes Liberos near Belesos (Veles). The Byzantine emperor sent an envoy to Liberos in order to remind him of the friendly contacts they had before. Very short after the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos had crossed the river, Ioannes Liberos hosted him and his troops for three days. The Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos, who placed reliance on Liberos, even proposed a marriage between his son Manuel and Danica, the daughter of Liberos. Ioannes Liberos provided accomodation for the Byzatine emperor and his troops in Skopje. In the meantime Liberos visited the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in the area of Morava. Liberos persuaded the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan to receive the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos favourably. The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan then sent Mpogdanos (Μπογδάνος, Bogdan), the brother of Ioannes Liberos, to the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos in order to let him know about his soon arrival in Tao (Pauni) near Pristenon (Priština). In July/August 1342 the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan formed an alliance with the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos. Ioannes Liberos brought the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan to convince the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos in regard of the engagment beween Danica and Manuel. Ioannes Liberos then accompanied the Byzantine Emperor with the Serbian auxiliary forces on the campaign to the town Serres. He fell ill before the gates of town of Serres. As sebastokrator Ioannes Liberos donated another medallion with monogramms for the polycandilion in the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo. The monastic endowment of Ioannes Liberos became a seat of new founded Episcopy of Zletovo between 1346 and 1347, which is documented in the charter of confirmation issued by the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (v’seljubimomu vlastelinu svetago carьsva mi despotu Ōliveru, iže jestь sьzdalь svetyi hramь ōnь ōtь osnovanija, iže vь městě Lěsnově, i ukrasivь v’sěkymi lěpotami crьkьvnymi, i udarovavь sel’mi i sь zaselьci, i sь planinami, i sь pročïimi ōtesy zemlje te). Ioannes Liberos together with his wife and his sons Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) were the patrons of the parecclesion of the Saint John the Baptist in the Church of Saint Sophia in Ōhrid. The chapel was erected between the years 1347–1350. Ioannes Liberos together with his wife and his son Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) are depicted within the ktitorial composition on the western wall of the chapel. The portrait of Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) is situated on the northern wall of the chapel. Ioannes Liberos and his family sponsored a new narthex as a addition to the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo. The painted ktitorial composition with Ioannes Liberos, Maria Liberissa (Μαρία Λιβέρισσα, Ana Marija), Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) is on the northern wall of the narthex. The fresco inscription above the entrance from the narthex to the naos gives details about the donors and the date 1349, when the narthex was decorated (Ἀνηγέρθη ἐκ βάθρων, καὶ ἀνηστορίθη ὁ θεῖος καὶ πάνσεπτος ναὸς τοῦ ταξιαρχου Μιχ δι’ ἐξόδου τοῦ πανευτυχεστάτου δεσπότου Ιωάννου τοῦ Λύβερί. καὶ τῆς πανευτυχεστάτης βασιλείσης Μαρίας τῆς Λυβερίσης καὶ τῶν τέκνων αὐτῶν, Κραίκου καὶ Δαμιανοῦ. ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλεί Στεφάνου καὶ Ἐλένης, καὶ τοῦ ύιοῦ αὐτῶν κράλη τοῦ Οὐροσι μηνὶ αὐγύστῳ ѕʹ ἔτους ϛωνζ ἰνδ β). Ioannes Liberos appears for the last time in the papal letter from May 1354, in which Innocent VI. sent the identical instructions for the most powerful nobles in the Serbian empire, who contributed to the possibility of an union between the Serbian and Roman churches (Oliverio despoto Serviae).
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Lyzikos Georgios
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Died in 1351. He was a commandant of the soldiers at the acropolis in Thessalonike, 1328. He held the position of the governor of Edessa (Vodena), 1350–1351 (Λυζικὸς δὲ ὁ τῆς πόλεως ἄρχων). He came from Beroia. He defended the acropolis of Thessalonike against Andronikos III Palaiologos, just after the Byzantine Emperor had conquered the town. His soldiers forced him to handover the acropolis of Thessalonike to Andronikos III Palaiologos. He deafeated the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan at Kastoria. The Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos appointed him 1350 as governor of the town Edessa (Vodena), which was captured by the Byzantine army recently. He was injured in Edessa (Vodena) during the Serbian invasion of the town. The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan let Lyzikos’ beard to pull out as an act of revenge. Lyzikos was sent in chains to Skopje. He died on the way.
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Margarites Ioannes
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Attested in the sources between 1342 and 1372/1373. He appears as κῦρ and οἰκεῖος of the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes V Palaiologos and of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in the sources. He held the position of the Megas Hetaireiarches in 1348. According to the Praktikon issued in January 1342 by Michal Papylas Romanos was Ioannes Margarites the recipient of a confiscated land from Arsenios Tzamplakon located between Serres and Zichna and of a zeugelateion, which belonged to Kantakuzenos, near Zichna. He became these estates with the revenue of 55 hyperpyra and was fully exempted from paying taxes (κῦρ Ἰωάννην τὸν Μαργαρίτην ἀπὸ τῆς περὶ τὰ Ζίχνα καὶ τὰς Σέῤῥας ἀφαιρεθείσης ἀρτίως οἰκονομίας παρὰ τοῦ Τζαμπλάκωνος κυροῦ Ἀρσενίου, ἔτι δὲ καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ περὶ τὰ Ζίχνα διακειμένου ζευγηλατείου τοῦ Καντακουζηνοῦ, ποσότητα ὑπερπύρων πεντήκοντα πέντε, καὶ κατέχῃ καὶ νέμηται ταύτην ἐλευθέραν πάντη καὶ ἀκαταδούλωτον). The possession of Ioannes Margarites at Kato Uska and Rachoba was declared exempt from the 9 nomismata tax and hereditary by the prostagma of the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes V. Palaiologos from October 1342. The former estates of Tzako [...], most probably Arsenios Tzamplakos, consisted of arable land and vineyards (Ἐπεὶ ὁ οἰκεῖος τῆ βασιλεία μου ὁ Μαργαρίτης κέκτηται δι’ ἀπογραφικῶν ἀποδείξεων τοῦ τε οἰκείου τῆς βασιλείας μου μεγάλου χαρτουλαρίου κυροῦ Ἰωάννου τοῦ Βατάτζη, καὶ τοῦ πανσεβάστου σεβαστοῦ οἰκείου τῆ βασιλεία μου ὀρφανοτρόφου κυροῦ Κωνσταντίνου [ ] εἴς τε τὸ χωρίον τὴν Κάτω Οὔσκαν καὶ τὴν Ῥάχοβαν ἀπό τε Τζάκω[ ] ὑποστάσεων καὶ δημοσιακῶν γῆν τινα καὶ ἀμπέλια). Ioannes Margarites granted his land at Kato Uska to the Monastery of Saint John Prodromos near Serres. The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan confirmed the gift of Ioannes Margarites in the chrysobull charter, which was issued in October 1345. The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan confirmed the endowment of Ioannes Margarites to the Batopedi Monastery in April 1348. It consisted of a property near the village Dratzoba, land in the vicinity of Mikra Neboliane, a property in the town of Kaisaropolis, a piece of land not far from the town Chrysupolis, house and a church in the town Chrysopolis (ὁ οἰκεῖος τῆ βασιλεία μου μέγας εταιρειάρχῃς κῦρ Ἰωάννης ὁ Μαργαρίτης δι’ τῆς βασιλείας μου ὅσον ἐκέκτητο περὶ Δράτζοβαν τὸ χωρίον καὶ γῆν εἰς τὴν Μικρὰν Νεβόλιανιν καὶ ὅσον εἶχεν εἰς τὴν Καισσαρόπολιν ἅτινα προκατεῖχε διὰ χρυσοβούλλου τῆς βασιλείας μου, ἀλλὰ δὴ καὶ τὴν εἰς τὴν Χρυσούπολιν γῆν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐντὸς τοῦ κάστρου ἐκκλησίαν καὶ ὀσπήτιν). He became a monk in the Monastery of Saint John Prodromos near Serres. He probably requested a firman from the Ottoman Sultan. The Monastery of Saint John Prodromos near Serres obtained the charter from Ottoman Sultan Murad I in 1372/1373. The monastery is mentioned in the charter as the church of Margaritis.
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Maria (3)
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Mentioned in the dedicatory inscription found on the western wall of the Virgin Maryʼs Church in Mali Grad from 1368–1369. She appears as a πανευγενεστάτη κυρία Μαρια θυγάτηρ αυτου in the inscription next to her portrait. She was the daughter of the kaisar Nobakos and Kale. Her brother was Amerales. Her father kaisar Nobakos sponsored the renovation and decoration of the Virgin Maryʼs Church in Mali Grad in the year 1368–1369 (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). The family portrait of Nobakos has been preserved on the western external façade. She and her brother are painted to the left of the virgin, who is the central figure of the ktitorial composition. She is portrayed as a young woman.
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Markos
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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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Michael (2)
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Mentioned in a passage of the History of Ioannes Kantakuzenos, which describes the events in July 1342. He was the Governor of Prosek in 1342. He was the οἰκεῖος of Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos. He was a byzantine deserter in the service of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV. Dušan (ὃς δὴ Μιχαὴλ, τῶν βασιλέως οἰκείων, ὡς ὕστερον αὐτὸς ἔφασκεν, ὢν, πρὸς Κράλην αὐτομολήσειεν ἔκ τινος αἰτίας). He received Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos, supplied his army in Prosek and allowed him to pass the town.
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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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Mpozikes
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Mentioned for the year 1343 by the Byzantine historian Ioannes Kantakuzenos. He was a commander of the Serbian military troops (ἡ στρατιὰ Τριβαλῶν, ἧς ἡγεῖται Μποζίκης τις προσαγορευόμενος καὶ Στέφανος δεύτερος, ἐκ πεζῶν καὶ ἱππέων ἠθροισμένη, πεμφθείη μὲν παρὰ Κράλη ἐπὶ τῷ βλάπτειν βασιλέα). He and his lieutenant Stephanos led the Serbian army consisting of footmen and horsemen, which stayed for the night at Gaurobon on the right bank of the river Vardar. When the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos with the troops had crossed the river, Mpozikes and Stephanos allegedly without the knowing of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan attacked the troops of Kantakuzenos. The Serbian Stefan Uroš IV Dušan sent him and Stephanos to Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos in order to be exercised by the jurisdiction of the Byzantine Emperor. Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos reprimanded him in Beroia and released him afterwards.
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Mpraianes
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It is doubtful whether he is the same person as Župan Petar Brajan, who founded the Church Bela Crkva in Karan near Užice between the years 1340 and 1342 (Gospodi bože...raba blagorodivogь ktitora petra a zovomь župana braiana i sь podružiemь si sь struōmь i sь čedi svoimi). Mentioned for the year 1350 by the Byzantine historian Ioannes Kantakuzenos. He was the Governor of the town Chrysupolis (Amphipolis), summer 1350. He was a friend of the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos. He promised to persuade other acquitances of emperor willing to support military aid to Ioannes VI. Kantakuzenos (καὶ τὴν νύκτα ἐκείνην ὡρμίσατο ἐπ’ ἀγκυρῶν Ἀμφιπόλεως ἐγγὺς ὑπὸ Τριβαλῶν κατεχομένης. ἧς ἐπετρόπευε Μπραϊάνης, βασιλεῖ ἐς τὰ μάλιστα φίλος ὢν ἐκ τῆς πρὸς αὐτοὺς διατριβῆς· πρὸς ὃν ἀκατίου ἐπιβὰς νυκτὸς, ἀφίκετο εἰς Ἀμφίπολιν ὁ βασιλεὺς κρύφα καὶ διειλέχθη. ὁ δὲ τά τε πρὸς αὐτὸν εὖ διέθετο βασιλεῖ ἐπαγγειλάμενος πάντα ποιήσειν κατὰ γνώμην, καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις βασιλέως φίλοις ὑπέσχετο διαλεχθήσεσθαι, ἵν’ ἐν καιρῷ προσήκοντι χρήσιμοι ὀφθεῖεν βασιλεῖ).
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Mpratilos
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Mentioned for the year 1342 by the Byzantine historian Ioannes Kantakuzenos. Most likely of Slavic origin. He was an emissary to the Empress Eirene Kantakuzene and the inhabitants of the town Didymoteichon, who bore the seal ring of the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos.
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Musachi, Andrea II
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He died before 1373, probably in 1372. The title Despotus regni Albania was bestowed upon him by Louis, the brother of Charles, the Duke of Durazzo (Durrës) on 30th December 1336. His title was confirmed by the Sicilian King Robert of Anjou on 18th July 1337. Sevastocrator. He appears as marescallus (marshal) in the Papal letter from June 1317. His father was Theodor I Musachi. He was married to Etinia, the daughter of Paolo Matarango. Andrea II Musachi was the father of Theodor II Musachi (Theodoros Muzakes), Ghin I Musachi (Amirales Myrsioannes), Stoja Musachi (Stoias), Anna (Kiranna) and Comita. He was an offspring of the noble family Musachi. He controlled the plain in the western Lowlands of Albania called Myseqe. The Historia della casa Musachia records, that he defeated the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan or Blukasinos (Vukašin) at the Pelister Mountain. The Byzantine Emperor gave him the title Despot of Epirus with a golden seal as a reward for his victory over the Serbian king (il titolo de Despoto d’Epiro con privilegio con lo sigillo d’oro, et anco l’invio una sedia despotale, nella quale era de perle racamata detta insegna dell’aquila). He captured the town Kastoria from the Serbian King Marko (Markos). He was buried in the Church of Saint Anthony located at Rodon Cape near Durrës.
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Nestongos Dukas
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Mentioned in the sources between 1352 and 1360. He was designated as κὺρ. He appears as οἰκεῖος of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in the confirmation charter for the Monastery of Saint Anastasia near Zichna. The sources refer to him also as δοῦλος of the Serbian Empress Jelena (Helene). He held the office of Logothetes, since 1352; then of Governor of Serres (Nestegus capitaneus Seren.; Nestegus Zephalia Seren.), 1354 and finally of Megas Papias, 1360. His wife was Eudokia Nestongissa. The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan confirmed in the year 1352 that the village Ostrina belonged to the Monastery of Saint Anastasia near Zichna. He ordered Georgios Dukas Nestongos (οἰκεῖος ὁ αὐτῆ κὺρ Γεώργιος ὁ λογοθέτης) to look after the inviolability of the rights of the monastery. He (Ὀ λογοθέτης Γεώργιος Δούκας ὁ Νεστόγγος) together with his wife (Σίγνον Ευδοκίας Παλαιολογίνης τῆς Νεστογγόνισας) possessed an orchard near Serres, which was partly a dowry and partly acquired by the couple. They donated it in 1353 to Monastery of Saint John Prodromos near Serres, which owned mills in the vicinity of the orchard, for exchange of life annuity payed to them by the monastery. He together with judge Božidar and Damjan from Kotor was sent by the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in 1354 to the papal court in Avignon. He participated in the decision of the ecclesiastical court, which was summoned by Iakobos, the Metropolitan of Serres, concerning the metochion Saint Nicholas in Kamenikaia. He signed also the document issued by Iakobos in November 1360 (ὁ δοῦλος τῆς κραταιᾶς καὶ ἁγίας ἡμῶν κυρίας καὶ δεσποίνης Δούκας ὁ Νεστόγγος ὁ μέγας παπίας).
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Nikolaos (1)
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Mentioned in the sources after 1345. He was Archbishop of Ōhrid after 1345, definitely in 1346 and 1347, and probably till 1350. He donated the Church of Saint Nicholas in Ljuboino near Prespa to the Treskavec Monastery. The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan confirmed the gift in the second charter for the Treskavec Monastery after 1345 (Metohь u Prěspě u Ljuboině, Svety Nikola, što Pridade Nikola arhijepiskupь, sь vsěmi pravinami). He attented the sabor in Skopje on 16th April 1346, where he witnessed the coronation of Stefan Uroš IV Dušan as Emperor of the Greeks and the Serbs by the Serbian Patriarch He is mentioned in the chrysobull charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan from 1346/1347 concerning the founding of the Zletovo episcopate. According to the chrysobull charter the Serbian Emperor asked several high-ranking clerics, among them also Nikola, for permission to found the bishopric of Zletovo (i sь arhïepiskopomь ōhridьskymь Nikolomь). He is portrayed on the south wall of the Church of Saint Nikola Bolnički in Ōhrid with the Serbian ruler’s family. He is depicted within another composition in the Church of Saint Sophia in Ōhrid, where he is painted next to Jovan Oliver and his family in the chapel of the despot, which was erected between the years 1347 and 1350.
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Orestes
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The last mention of his name in the sources is from 1366. He appears in the charters as κῦρ or δοῦλος of the Serbian Empress Jelena (Helene) and of the Serbian Despot Ioan Uglješa (Ioannes Unklesis). He repeatedly judged in a court as καθολικὸς κριτής between 1365 – 1366 in Serres. He held the office of ἐπὶ τοῦ στρατοῦ in Serres (1365 – 1366) and ἐπὶ τοῦ κάστρου in Serres (eventually from 1350 to 1366). He erected the tower at Serres in 1350 at the behest of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (Πύργος Στεφάνου βασιλέως ὅν ἔκτισεν Ὁρέστης Αὐγούστου Δʹ Ινδικτιωνος Γ ΩΝΗ). He participated in the decision over a plot of land in the village Zetinon (Zintzu) and a Church of Saint George (τῶν εὐγενεστάτων καὶ καθολικῶν κριτῶν, τοῦ τε κῦρ Ὀρέστου τοῦ ἐπὶ τοῦ στρατοῦ). He corroborated the document issued by Sabas, the Metropolitan of Serres, by his own signature in August 1365 (ὁ δοῦλος τῆς κραταιᾶς καὶ ἁγίας ἠμῶν κυρίας καὶ δεσποίνης καθολικὸς κριτής, Ὀρέστης † Ὁ ἘΠΙ ΤΟΥ ΣΤΡΑΤΟΥ). He attended the trial between Hilandar Monastery and Georgios Isaris (τοὺς καθολικοὺς κριτάς, τὸν ἐπὶ τοῦ κάστρου κῦριν Ὀρέστην). He together with other members of the court ruled in favor of the Hilandar Monastery and signed the charter issued on this occasion (ὁ δοῦλος τοῦ ἁγίου μου αὐθέντου τοῦ πανευτυχεστάτου δεσπότου καθολικὸς κριτής, Ὀρέστης † ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ στρατοῦ).
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Raiko
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Person
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Maybe identical with the nephew of Momčilo, who was let in to the town of Peritheorion with 50 soldiers by its inhabitants in 1345. Mentioned in the prostagma charter of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan, which was issued between September and December 1345. He appears as οἰκεῖος of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in the prostagma charter. He held the position of kephale (governor) of Trilision and Brontu, 1345. Rajko was asked by the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan to not collect the toll from the 25 nomismata intented for Kyprianos, the Bishop of Pheremai. Rajko should also bring the prostagma, which was issued on this occasion between September and December 1345, to Kyprianos.
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Rajaković Ostoja
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Person
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He was a surodnikь of Markos/Marko Kraljević. The only information about the career of Ostoja Rajaković is known from the sepulchral inscription above the painted portrait composition in the arcosolium of the narthex in the Church of the Holy Mother of God Peribleptos in Ōhrid (Prěstavi se rabь bžii Ōstoja Rajaković po guslomь Ugarčikь. i surodnikь kralja Marka. zetь župana Grōpe. Lěto 1379 msca oktōmbria. i. ind. 3. Vasь že mlju bratija moja ljubimaja pročitajušte prostite raba, jako vy možete byti kako ja. a ja kako vy nikoliže). The hypothesis about his origin in Hercegovina from the family of Ugarčići is higly probable, although even the fact, that he was a Greek, cannot be excluded. With regard to the employed word gusle the presumption of Friedrich Ress is, that Ostoja Rajaković was a gusle player in the circle of Markos/Marko Kraljević. His opinion was not accepted in the literature.
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Stephanos (3)
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Mentioned for the year 1343 by the Byzantine historian Ioannes Kantakuzenos. He was a lieutenant of the Serbian military troops (ἡ στρατιὰ Τριβαλῶν, ἧς ἡγεῖται Μποζίκης τις προσαγορευόμενος καὶ Στέφανος δεύτερος, ἐκ πεζῶν καὶ ἱππέων ἠθροισμένη, πεμφθείη μὲν παρὰ Κράλη ἐπὶ τῷ βλάπτειν βασιλέα). He and his superior commander Mpozikes led the Serbian army consisting of footmen and horsemen, which stayed for the night at Gaurobon on the right bank of the river Vardar. When the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos with the troops had crossed the river, Mpozikes and Stephanos allegedly without the knowing of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan attacked the troops of Kantakuzenos. The Serbian Stefan Uroš IV Dušan sent him and Mpozikes to Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos in order to be exercised by the jurisdiction of the Byzantine Emperor. Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos reprimanded him in Beroia and released him afterwards.
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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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Thodora
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Mentioned in the colophone (170b) of the festal Menaion, which has been preserved in the Chludov collection of the manuscripts at the State Historical Museum in Moscow under the signature 164. The manuscript was written between the years 1371 and 1394. She was the daughter or wife of a certain Grьgurь, probably Grьgurь Branković. Her husband was Radoslabos Chlapenos. King Markos had an affair with her. After the romance 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).
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Tolisthlabos
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Mentioned for the year 1350 by the Byzantine historian Ioannes Kantakuzenos. He was a commander of the Serbian military troops and governor of towns. He defected in 1350 along with Radoslabos Chlapenos from the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan to the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes 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).
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Tzamplakon Arsenios
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Died probably before August 1362. He is mentioned as κῦρ, δοῦλος of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos and Ioannes V. Palaiologos in the sources.He held the position of μέγας παπίας, 1333–1342 and 1352. He is attested as an apographeus (fiscal official) of the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos in 1349 and as archon at Didymoteichon in 1352. He was a monk. Probably the son of μέγας παπίας Alexios Tzamplakon. He was the brother of Asomatianos Tzamplakon, Demetrios Tzamplakon and Tornikina. His sons were Michael Kaballarios Tzamplakon and Alexios Kaballarios Tzamplakon. He was the συμπένθερος of Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos. He accused in the early summer of the year 1333 at Chalkidike Philantropenos Palaiologos Syrgiannes of a high treason before the Emperor Andronikos III. Palaiologos. He came to Constantinople in order to attend the trial with Philantropenos Palaiologos Syrgiannes. He authenticated the deed of sale of the protostrator Theodoros Dukas Palaiologos Komnenos Synadenos in December 1333. He was sent in 1342 together with Konstantinos Palaiologos by Ioannes VI. Kantakuzenos to the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan. He was together with Konstantinos Palaiologos taken into custody by a certain Tzimpanos. Tzimpanos turned Arsenios Tzamplakon in to Alexios Apokaukos in Thessalonike. Arsenios Tzamplakon was insulted by the mob of Thessalonike as the patriarch of Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos. He was arrested and his possession was confiscated. According to the Praktikon issued in January 1342 by Michal Papylas Romanos was Ioannes Margarites the recipient of a confiscated land from Arsenios Tzamplakon located between Serres and Zichna. The possession of Ioannes Margarites at Kato Uska and Rachoba was declared exempt from the 9 nomismata tax and hereditary by the prostagma of the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes V. Palaiologos from October 1342. The former estates of Tzako [...], most probably Arsenios Tzamplakos, consisted of arable land and vineyards. The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan donated in April 1348 the former property of Arsenios Tzamplakon, which was inside the town of Chrysopolis, to the Batopedi Monastery. He drew up before December 1349 the inventory of the property of the Monastery Theotokos Psychosostria in Constantinople, which was used for chrysobull charter of the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos. After 1355 he was residing in the Batopedi Monastery as a monk. He bequeathed in February 1355 his patrimonial estate in Prinarion with als its area and rights, dependent peasants, abandoned land, vineyards, mills, uncultivated land and pasture, a part of land in Vela, winter pasture in Thermopotamos, annual fair of Saint Symeon in Vela and the fortification called Slanesion/Sthlanesion to the Batopedi Monastery. In May 1356 he added houses and the Church of Holy Mother of God Kamariotissa in the Kataphyge quarter at Thessalonike, his part of the patrimonial land in the mouth of the river Galikos including salty soil, some dikaia near the sea till Chenaru and a tower to the endowment, which he donated before to the Batopedi Monastery.
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Unklesis Ioannes
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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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