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(Paskačić) Vladko
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Mentioned in the charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan concerning the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača from 1354/1355 and in the inscription accompanying his painted portrait in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača. The portrait of Vlatko was painted probably between 1365 and 1371. He appears as prěvьzljubljenʼny i pravověrnii vlastelinь carstva mi in the charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan. The inscription describes him as sevastokratorь vse srьpьske zemlie vladko. The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan gave in 1354/1355 permission to his nobleman Vladko (Paskačić) to donate the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača, which Vladko erected on the inherited property of his father Paskačь, together with the appertaining metochion to the Hilandar Monastery (I vьspomenu carstvu mi prěvьzljubljenʼny i pravověrnii vlastelinь carstva mi Vladko ō crьkvy svetago Nikoly jaže jestь sьzdalь na svoōi baštině Pʼsači a sь blagoslovljenijemь carstva mi...i poljubi prěd carstvomʼ mi i priloži svoju baštinu crьkvь svetago Nikoli na Psači prěsvetěi Bogorodici hilandarьskoi sь vsěmь metehōmь). The painted portrait of Vladko is preserved on the southern wall of the narthex in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača. The fresco displays him with his whole family. The representation of Vladko and his father Paskać, who are hoisting the model of the church to the icon of Saint Nicholas, can be described as an act of the joint ktetorship.
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(Vlatković) Ugl(j)eša
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Person
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It is estimated that he was born around 1359. His last appeareance in the source is in 1423. He held the title of kesarь (kesarь Ugleša gospodarь Serblemь i Podunaju i vsěhь zapadnihь stranь). He was the son of Vladko (synь sevastokratōrovь Ugleša) and Vladislava. His son Stěfanь was buried in the Monastery of the Holy Virgin in Ljubostinja. An inscription in the naos of the church, which was made between 1402 and 1405, is commemorating his son Stěfanь (A se leži Stěfanь kesara Ugleše). It is likely that the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V. bestowed upon him the title of kesarь. Ugl(j)e)ša was apperently in a subordinate position to Konstantin Dragaš before 1395. After 1395 he became a vasall of the Ottoman sultan. Miloš Blagojević believes that Ugl(j)eša participated in the battle of Ankara in 1402. His role in the battle of Gračanica is described by Konstantin Kostenečki, who wrote the biography of the Despot Stefan Lazarević. He left the Ottomans in the beginning of the battle and defected to the army of Stefan Lazarević. On the side of despot he reconquested the region of Vranje, Inogošt and Preševo, which he inherited from his father (Běše že togda i kesarь Ugleša sь ismaility i tь mnogo služenije sьtvori sь sьlanijemь kь blagočьstivomu izь sihь sьvěty i kovy vьzvěštaje, taže po malě i samь priběgь podь krilě despotu Stefanu i zemlju svoju otьčьskuju Vranju i Inogoštu i Prěševo prějetь i udrьža). He fought in 1410 together with Stefan Lazarević in the battle of Kosmidion, where the Ottoman Prince Musa was defeated. The Byzantines escorted the army of Stefan Lazarević and Ugl(j)eša on their ships back to their homeland via Wallachia. His domains were attacked by the force of Musa in 1412. Musa plundered Vranje and endangered Novo Brdo. He donated in 1423 the Church of Saint Nicholas in Vranja with the village Vranje, all rights, boundaries, watermills, fields and meadows, the church of Saint Nicholas in Lučani with all rights and boundaries and the village Trnovac with all boundaries and rights to the Hilandar Monastery (blagověrni kjesarь Uglješa, imeja želanije i usrьdije i ljubovь kь prěčistyje vladyčice našei Bogomateri iže vь Svetěi Gorě Athona, carskije ōbiteli, domu prěčistyje vladyčice naše Bogorodice velikyje lavri Hiladara, dahь bo i prьvo crьkvu Svetago Nikolu u Vraniju tako i selomь Vranemь sь vsě pravinami sela togo, sь vsemi megjami i vodenicami, i s’ nivami i s livadami, i iněmь sь vsěmь. I crьkvu u Lučanehь Svetago Nikolu sь vsěmi pravinami i megjami sela togo. I selo Trьnovcь, sь vsěmi sinori i megjami i pravinami sela togo). The painted portrait of Ugl(j)eša as a child is preserved on the southern wall of the narthex in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača. He is depicted in the front of his grandparents Paskačь and Ozra.
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Amerales
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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. 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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Bulkos
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Person
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He was born around 1345. He died on the 6th October 1397 in the Ottoman prison. His body was transferred by his brother Nikolaos Radochnas (Monk Gerasim) to the Mount Athos. He appears as a gospodinь in the slavic sources and as a dominus in the latin sources. He administered the region of Kastoria and Ōhrid according the Byzantine historians Ducas and Laonikos Chalkokondyles (ἐπὶ δὲ τῇ ἑτέρᾳ Βοῦλκον τὸν τοῦ Πράγκου τοῦ Μλαδένεω υἱόν, Καστορίας τε καὶ Ὀχρίδος τῆς ἐν Μακεδονίᾳ ἡγεμόνος; καὶ τὴν ἄλλην τὴν εἶχε δοσμένη τοῦ ἀφεντὸς τοῦ Μπούλκου ὁποὺ ὥριζε τὴν Καστορία καὶ τὴν Ὄχριδα). Laonikos Chalkokondyles calls him wrongly Ἐλεάζαρος and relates about the lands by the Danube as his dwelling place (τὰ μέντοι περὶ τὸν Ἴστρον Βούλκῳ τῷ Ἐλεαζάρῳ τοῦ Πράγκου ἐπέτρεψε). He controlled the larger part of today’s Kosovo. His dominion reached the eastern parts of Raška, the Polimlje in Montenegro and since 1376/1377 Skopje in the east. After the death of Đurađ I Balšić (13th January 1378) he seized the town of Prizren, Peć and the area of Metohija. He minted his own coins and issued charters. He was the son of Prankos Mladenes (ja Grьgurь i bratь mi Vlьkь, synove velikago sevastokratora Bran’ka gospodina že gradu Ohridu). He had two brothers (Nikolaos Radochnas, Grьgurь) and a sister (Theodora). He was married Mara, the daughter of the Serbian Prince Lazar Hrebeljanović, since 1371. They had together three sons (Georgios Bulkos [Đurađ Branković] - ἦν γὰρ Γεώργιος, υἱὸς Βούλκου καὶ γαμβρὸς Λαζάρου, Prankos Bunko [Lazar Branković], Grьgurь [† 1408]). He and his brother Grьgurь gave Nikolaos Radochnas in 1365 the permission to donate the patrimonial church of Saint Archangel with three villages Trstenik, Bežanići, Tušilo and the selište Hudine to the Hilandar Monastery. He added between 1372 and 1396 the villages Banica, Vrьbovьcь, Štučince, Mučivarě near Trьstenik to the endowment of his brother for the Hilandar Monastery (Po sem’ že jaa blagočьsitivi Vlьkь, synь velikago sevastokratora Branьka raspaljaemь božьstvnyim želanïem velikuju věru i ljubovь iměje kь svetěi matery Hrista moego, priložihь domu ei čьstiomu monastiru bišerečen’nye lavry Hilandaru sela priležeštaa Trьsteniku: Banicu, Vrьbovьcь, Štučince, Mučivarě, sь vsěmi megjami i pravinami i sь ōttěsy selь těhь). He was a benefactor of the Kutlumus Monastery on the Mount Athos since 1370. He granted between 1376 and 1377 at the request of the Monk Gerasim, his brother, the Monastery of Saint George-Gorg near Skopje with all possessions to the Hilandar Monastery (Azь, rabь Hristu Vlьkь, vьspominaju vь sьvědenije vsemь, kako pride brat mi Gerasimь poslanijemь monastirьskimь Svetije Gori Athōna, Svetije Bogorodice Hilandarьskije igumnōmь i vsega sьbora hilandarьskoga, i prosiše mi keliju u Skopju, ponježe ne imahu priběžišta ni kelije u Skopiju. I videvь nihь usrьdije i prošenije, i dah monastirь Svetago Geōrьgija s metohōmь i sь seli i sь vsemi pravinami gde se nahodi metohь Svetago Geōrgija ili u gradu ili na dvoru što jestь Svetago Geōrgija, vse priložihь Hilandaru). He is mentioned as a addressee of the embassy sent by the Ragusan republic in 1380 regarding the release of two citizens of Dubrovnik. He confirmed on the 20th January 1387 the privileges and rights of the Ragusan republic concerning the representation of the citizens of town Dubrovnik in the court assembly. He asked in August 1388 the representatives of the Ragusan republic to clear the old debt and to pay the new Tribute of Ston to the Monks in Jerusalem. He participated in the battle of Kosovo along with his father-in-law Lazar and the Bosnian King Tvrtko I. in 1389. The folk epic poetry portrays him in a bad light as a traitor. The fact is that he withdrew his troops from the battlefield. Between 1389 and 1396 he confirmed the privileges of the Ragusan republic. The Ottomans captured in 1391/1392 Skopje. Bulkos was forced by them to become their vassal. He exempted the Hilandar Monastery from paying the tax to the Ottomans on 21th November 1392. The Venetian republic granted him on 9th April 1394 the citizenship. His Čelnik Smilь deposited gold and silver for Bulkos at Dubrovnik in January 1395. He was captured and imprisoned by the Ottomans not long after the battle of Nicopolis. He is portrayed on the western facade of the chapel of Saint George in the Church of the Holy Mother of God Peribleptos at Ōhrid. There is an inscription next to his image (VELIK...GNБ VLБKБ SNБ SEVASTOKRATORA BRANKA). He commisioned a slavic translation of the chronicle of Georgios Monachos (Hamartolos) in 1387 (Pisa se povelěnyjemь gospodina Vlьka).
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Damianos (2)
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He was born after 1340/1341. Mentioned in the sources from 1347 to 1349/1350. He was the son of Ioannes Liberos (᾿Ιωάννης Λίβερος, Jovan Oliver) and Maria Liberissa (Μαρία Λιβέρισσα, Ana Marija,). His uncle was Mpogdanos (Μπογδάνος, Bogdan). He was the brother of Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko), Vidoslavь, Dabiživь, Rusinь, Oliverь and Danica. Ioannes Liberos together with his wife and their 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 their son Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) are depicted within the ktitorial composition on the western wall of the chapel. Ioannes Liberos, Maria Liberissa, Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) 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).
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Dejanь
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The identification with the duke (vojvoda) Dejanь Manijaakь (Deianus Maniiachus), known from the charter of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan concerning the town Ston, which was issued on the 22th January 1333, is doubtful. It was also suggested that he is the same person as Dejanь Dragaš. He is mentioned in the fragmentary inscription from the Church of Saint Nicholas in the village Kalotina, which was made during the reign of the Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Alexander. He is also attested in the ktitorial composition from the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in Kučevište, which bears an identifying inscription. The wall paintings in Kučevište can be dated between 1331 and 1334. He appears as sevastь in the dedicatory inscription from Kalotina. He held the position of voivoda (duke). His wife was Vladislava. The names of their sons were Iōanь and Dmitarь?. He together with his wife Vladislava erected the Church of Saint Nicholas in the village Kalotina. His effort is praised in the dedicatory inscription in the naos of the church. He and his wife are portrayed on the southern wall of the narthex in the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in the village Kučevište. On the right side of his painting an inscription is bearing his name and his function (voivoda Deanь). He and his noble family apparently changed sides and supported the Serbian king Stefan Uroš IV. Dušan.
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Doja
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Person
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Mentioned in the inscription next to the portrait of a woman on the south wall of the Church of Saint John the Theologian at the Zemen Monastery. The depiction is part of the ktitorial composition. The wall painting of Doja can be dated around 1360. She was the spouse of Dejanь? She was the mother of Vitomirь and Stajo. She was a sponsor of the Church of Saint John the Theologian at the Zemen Monastery. She is portrayed on the southern wall of the naos in the church next to her husband. On the right side of the painting of Doja is an inscription (i podružie ego doja i čǫda imь).
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Dragusinos Ioannes
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He died before 1340. He appears as istin’ny i vsesrьdčny bratь kraljev’stva mi in the chrysobull charter of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan concerning the Church of Saint George at Pološko. He is mentioned as ΑΥΤΑΔΕΛΦΟΣ ΤΟΥ ΙΨΙΛΟΤΑΤΟΥ ΚΡΑΛΙ ΚΑΙ ΑΥΘΕΝΤΟΥ ΗΜΩΝ in the inscription next to his portrait. Most of the scholars believe that he was the son of the Despot Eltimeres and the βασίλισσα Marina. The wording of the inscription next to the portrait of his wife implies that he could be the son-in-law of Eltimeres (ΔΕΗΣΙΣ ΤΗΣ ΔΟΥΛΙΣ ΤΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ ΑΝ... ΣΙΝΒΙΟΥ ΑΥΤΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΘΥΓΑΤΡΟΣ ΤΟΥ ΔΕΣΠΟΤΟΥ). He had a son (ΔΕΗΣΙΣ ΤΟΥ ΔΟΥΛΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ ΔΡΑΓ...ΤΟΥ ΥΙΟΥ ΚΑΙ Ο ΘΕΟΣ ΣΟΣΙ ΑΥΤΟΝ ΗΣ ΕΤ Η ΠΟΛΑ). He was buried in the Church of Saint George at Pološko (ΕΚΟΙΜΙΘΕΙ Ο ΔΟΥΛΟΣ ΤΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ ΙΩΑΝΝΗΣ Ο ΔΡΑΓΟΥΣΙΝΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΟΙΟΣ ΤΟΥ ΔΕΣΠΟΤΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΑΛΔΙΜΙΡΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΑΥΤΑΔΕΛΦΟΣ ΤΟΥ ΙΨΙΛΟΤΑΤΟΥ ΚΡΑΛΙ ΚΑΙ ΑΥΘΕΝΤΟΥ ΗΜΩΝ ΓΕΓΟΝΕΝ ΔΕ Ο ΝΑΟΣ ΟΥΤΟΣ ΗΣ ΜΝΙΜΟΣΙΝΟΝ ΑΥΤΟΥ ΚΑΙ Ο ΘΕΟΣ ΣΟΣΙ ΑΥΤΟΝ). He is depicted together with his wife below the portrait of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in the northern section of the western façade of the church.
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Georgios (4)
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Person
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Mentioned in the Greek inscription next to his portrait on the wall in the Church of Saint George in Gorni Kozjak. The wall painting can be dated around 1340. His wife was Tehoslaba (Tihoslava). He had a son. He is portrayed with the model of the church on the western wall of the narthex in the Church of Saint George in Chonuche (Gorni Kozjak). The greek ktitorial inscription has been preserved between the painting of Georgios and the depiction of his son. According to the proposed reconstruction it probably mentions Georgios (ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΣ ΚΕ Η ΣΙΝΕΥΝΟΣ ΤΟΥ ΑΥΤΟΥ ΤΗΧΟΣΛΑΒΑΣ ΚΤΗΤΟΡΙΣΑΣ).
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Grьgurь (2)
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The identification with Grьgurь, the governor of the region of Polog, and kaisar Grьgurь (Gurguras) is doubtful. Died before 16th July 1398. He appears as dominus in charter from the archives of the Ragusan republic. He was the son of Prankos Mladenes (ja Grьgurь i bratь mi Vlьkь, synove velikago sevastokratora Bran’ka gospodina že gradu Ohridu). He had two brothers (Nikolaos Radochnas, Bulkos) and a sister (Theodora). He was married to Theodora (uxor quondam domini Gregorii Brancovich fratris sepedicti domini Volch). He and his brother Bulkos gave Nikolaos Radochnas in 1365 the permission to donate the patrimonial church of Saint Archangel with three villages Trstenik, Bežanići, Tušilo and the selište Hudine to the Hilandar Monastery. He is portrayed on the western facade of the chapel of Saint George in the Church of the Holy Mother of God Peribleptos at Ōhrid. There is an inscription next to his image (VELIK...SEVASTOKRATORA BRANKA).
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Iō(v)anь (1)
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Attested on the painting from the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in Kučevište, which bears an identifying inscription. The wall paintings in Kučevište can be dated between 1331 and 1334. Mentioned also in the supplicant inscription on the facade above the southern door of the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in Kučevište. His parents were Dejanь and Vladislava. His brother was Dmitarь. He is portrayed as a young man on the northern wall of the narthex in the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in the village Kučevište. His identity is confirmed by an inscription bearing his name (Iōanь). On the facade above the southern door of the church there is supplicant inscription of Vladislava and her sons (Primi gdi moleniie rabe svoie Vladislave i čěda eie Iōvana i Dmitra bg da ihь pomene v carstva svoemь).
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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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Kraikos
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Person
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Mentioned in the sources from 1340/1341 to 1381. He was the son of Ioannes Liberos (᾿Ιωάννης Λίβερος, Jovan Oliver) and Maria Liberissa (Μαρία Λιβέρισσα, Ana Marija,). His uncle was Mpogdanos (Μπογδάνος, Bogdan). He was the brother of Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan), Vidoslavь, Dabiživь, Rusinь, Oliverь and Danica. 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, his father Ioannes Liberos, his mother Maria Liberissa and he sponsored the reconstruction and the painted decoration of the monastery. Ioannes Liberos, Maria Liberissa and 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). 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 their 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, Maria Liberissa, Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) 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). According to the charter of the Serbian Despot Konstantin Dragaš for the Hilandar Monastery from 15th August 1381 Maria Liberissa expressed short before her death the will that the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo should devolve after her death on the Hilandar Monastery. Her sons Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Rusinь confirmed that their mother wanted to donate the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo to the Hilandar Monastery (I kako je i despotica Ōlivera despota na sьmrьti rekla i sь synōma svoima Kraikōmь i Rusinomь da je paki tai crьkvь Hilandaru).
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Liberissa Maria
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The hypothesis of J. Radonić that Maria Liberissa was identical with Maria Palaiologina (Μαρία Παλαιολογίνα) was refuted by M. Laskaris. Mentioned in the sources between 1340/1341 and 1349. She is mentioned as a deceased person in the charter of the Serbian Despot Konstantin Dragaš for the Hilandar Monastery from the 15th August 1381. She appears as Despotica (1347–1350, before 1381) and βασίλισσα (1349). It is not clear, if her father was Georgios Karabides (Γεώργιος Καραβίδης). She was married to Ioannes Liberos (᾿Ιωάννης Λίβερος, Jovan Oliver). They had together six sons (Kraikos [Κράϊκος, Krajko], Damianos [Δαμιανός, Damjan], Vidoslavь, Dabiživь, Rusinь, Oliverь) and one daughter (Danica). 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, she, her husband Ioannes Liberos (Ioan Oliver) and her son Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) sponsored the reconstruction and the painted decoration of the monastery. She, her husband and her son 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). Her name appears on a metal polycandilion with an inscribed medallion, which was ordered for the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo by Ioannes Liberos, when he held the position of the Grand Duke (voevoda oliver anna marija). Maria Liberissa together with her husband and her 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. Maria Liberissa together with her husband and her 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. Maria Liberissa and her 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). According to the charter of the Serbian Despot Konstantin Dragaš for the Hilandar Monastery from 15th August 1381 Maria Liberissa expressed short before her death the will that the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo should devolve after her death on the Hilandar Monastery. (I kako je i despotica Ōlivera despota na sьmrьti rekla i sь synōma svoima Kraikōmь i Rusinomь da je paki tai crьkvь Hilandaru).
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Liberos Ioannes
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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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Marena
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Person
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Attested in the ktitorial inscription and the wall painting in the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in Kučevište. The wall paintings in Kučevište can be dated between 1331 and 1334. Apparently the mother of Radoslavь. She is mentioned in the inscription of the founders of the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in Kučevište (sьzda se i popisa se hramь prěblagosslovenju bogorodice i s mukomь i sticaniemь ... ktitorice Marene i Radoslavь i Vladislava). She is a prominent figure of the fragmentary ktitorial composition on the northern wall of the narthex in the same church. Zagorka Rasolkoska-Nikolovska proposed a reconstruction, in which Marena holds together with Vladislava the model of the church. According to the scholar they are displaying in this way their joint-patronage of the sacral building.
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Maria (3)
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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 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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Marina
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Person
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The wording of the greek inscription in the Church of Saint George at Pološko may support the assumption that she accepted the name Maria as a nun. Some authors think that her monk’s name was Marina. Mostly Bulgarian scholars tend to identify her with Marija († 7. 4. 1355) from the epitaph in the Church of Saint Demetrius in Skopje. She lived before 1343/1345 and maybe after it. She appears as βασίλισσα in the greek inscription. She was married to Despot Eltimeres (despotica). It is not clear, whether Ioannes Dragusinos was her son or son-in-law. She was the daughter of the Bulgarian Tsar Smilets. The marriage with Eltimeres took place before 1299. She emigrated to Serbia with her family after the death of her husband probably in 1305. She founded the Church of Saint George at Pološko as the burial place for Ioannes Dragusinos. She commissioned the fresco decoration of the church. Her portrait on the western facade near the entrance of the church is accompanied by a greek inscription (ΔΕΙΣΙΣ ΤΗΣ ΔΟΥΛΗΣ ΤΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ ΜΑΡΙΑΣ ΤΗΣ ... ΤΗΣ ΒΑΣΕΙΛΙΣΑΣ ΤΗΣ ΟΝΟΜΑΣΘΕΙΣΗΣ ΜΑΡΙΝΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΚΤΙΤΟΡΙΣΑΣ ΤΟΥ ΝΑΟΥ). She is depicted as a nun wearing the model of the church. The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan donated the Church of Saint George at Pološko with endowment at the request of Marina (Maria) to the Monastery of Hilandar (da jestь tazi crьkvь i s těmizi selami Bogorodice hilan’dar’ske do dьni i do věka u pomenь kraljevstva mi i bratu kraljevstva mi Dragušinu i u večnu pametь, s volomь i sь hotěnijemь kraljevstva mi despotice).
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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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Nikolaos (1)
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Person
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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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Nobakos
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Person
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Probably identical with Novakь Mrasorovikь. In January 1366 ugodni vlastelin Novakь Mrasorovikь addressed the request to the Serbian Despot Ioan Uglješa (Ioannes Unklesis) and also the Serbian King Vukašin (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. Nobakos is mentioned in the dedicatory inscription found on the western wall of the Virgin Maryʼs Church in Mali Grad from 1368–1369. He appears as πανευτυχέστατος in the dedicatory inscription. He was kaisar. He was married to Kale. He had a son Amirales and a daughter named Maria. He sponsored the renovation and decoration of the Virgin Maryʼs Church in Mali Grad in the year 1368–1369. The dedicatory inscription on the western wall relates about the ktetor Nobakos, who built the church from the ground, which is apparently not true, because Mpoeikos together with Eudokia and her son sponsored already in 1344/1345 the first painted decoration of the church (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. Nobakos is portrayed with a halo.
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Ozra
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Person
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She was probably already dead before 1354/1355. She was married to Paskačь and therefore held the title of knegyna. Her son was Vladko. The painted portrait of Ozra is preserved on the southern wall of the narthex in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača next to the image of Paskačь.
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Paskačь
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Person
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He was already dead before 1354/1355. He held the title of knezь. He and his son Vladko founded together the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača. The painted portrait of Paskač is preserved on the southern wall of the narthex in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača. The fresco displays him with his whole family. The representation of Paskač and his son Vladko, who are hoisting the model of the church to the icon of Saint Nicholas, can be described as an act of the joint ktetorship.
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Prosenikos Ioannes
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Person
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Probably mentioned in the first charter (1334/1336) of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan for the Monastery of Treskavec and in the inscription near the donor portrait in the Church of Saint Sophia in Ōhrid from 1350/1360. He was according to the inscription honoured with the titles κύρου τοῦ σεβάστου. His donor portrait and inscription are preserved on the pilaster of the west wall of narthex in the Church of Saint Sophia in Ōhrid (Μνήσθητι Κύριε τὴν ψυχὴν τοῦ δούλου Ἰωάννου κύρου τοῦ σεβάστου τοῦ Πρωσενικοῦ). He might also donated the abandoned settlement site Lepьče to the Treskavec Monastery. The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan confirmed his gift in the first charter for the Treskavec Monastery (Selište pusto Lepьče, što priloži Prosenikь, sь ōblastiju i sь vьsěmi pravinami).
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Radoslavь (3)
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Person
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The identification with Radoslabos Chlapenos (Radoslav Hlapen) is doubtful. Mihailo Dinić identified Radoslav with „Rado(a)sclavus filius de jupan Vratisclavo“, who is attested in the Ragusan archives under the year 1319. Some scholars supposed that he was the same person as „iupan Rodosclauo“, who appears in the charter of Vladislav, the son of the former Serbian King Dragutin, adressed to Ragusan authorities from the 25th October 1323. He is mentioned in the chrysobull charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in favour of the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren. Attested also in the ktitorial inscription and the wall painting in the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in Kučevište. The wall paintings in Kučevište can be dated between 1331 and 1334. He held the position of župan. Apparently the son of Marena. He figures in the inscription of the founders of the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in Kučevište. His portrait has been preserved only in fragments on the northern wall of the narthex in the same church. The Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski donated the village Klьčevišta (Kučevište) to Župan Radoslavь. Župan Radoslavь bestowed the village of Klьčevišta and its church of the Mother of God together with the hamlet Brodcь, vineyards, fruits, bought estates and all rights to the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren. The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan confirmed the gift of Župan Radoslav in the chrysobull charter for the monastery (I ješte priloži carьstvo mi crьkvi carьstva mi Arhaggelu sь hotěnijemь ljubimago vlastelina carьstvu mi Radoslava župana, selo Klьčevišta, sь crьkoviju Svetyje Bogorodice, i sь zaselkomь Brod᾿cemь, s vinogrady, sь ōvoštijemь, i s kupljenicami, i sь vsěmi pravinami, kako piše u hrisovulě Klьčevišt᾿komь što jestь zapisalь roditelь carьstva mi gospodinь kral).
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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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Stajo
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Person
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Identical with Staniša 2? Mentioned in the inscription next to the portrait of a child on the west wall of the Church of Saint John the Theologian at the Zemen Monastery. The depiction is part of the ktitorial composition. The wall painting of Stajo can be dated around 1360. His parents were Despot Dejanь? and Doja. His brother was Vitomirь. He was a member of a family, which sponsored the Church of Saint John the Theologian at the Zemen Monastery. He is depicted as a child. His portrait is on the west wall of the naos. The wording of the inscription can be interpreted as follows (molba raba božija staja).
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Stefanь (1)
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Person
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Mentioned in the inscription accompanying his painted portrait in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača. The portrait of Stefan was painted probably between 1365 and 1371. He was the son of sevastokratorь Vladko (synь sevastokratora Vlatka). The painted portrait of a young adult Stefanь is preserved on the southern wall of the narthex in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača next to Vladislava.
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Tehoslaba (Tihoslava)
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Person
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Mentioned in the Greek inscription on the wall in the Church of Saint George in Gorni Kozjak. Her wall painting can be dated around 1340. Her husband was Georgios. She had a son. She is portrayed on the western wall of the narthex in the Church of Saint George in Chonuche (Gorni Kozjak). The greek ktitorial inscription has been preserved between the painting of her husband Georgios and the depiction of her son. According to the proposed reconstruction it attests that Tehoslaba (Tihoslava) was the founder of the church (ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΣ ΚΕ Η ΣΙΝΕΥΝΟΣ ΤΟΥ ΑΥΤΟΥ ΤΗΧΟΣΛΑΒΑΣ ΚΤΗΤΟΡΙΣΑΣ).
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Vitomirь (2)
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Person
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Identical with Vitomirь 3? Mentioned in the inscription next to the portrait of a young man on the west wall of the Church of Saint John the Theologian at the Zemen Monastery. The depiction is part of the ktitorial composition. The wall painting of Vitomirь can be dated around 1360. His parents were Despot Dejanь? and Doja. His brother was Stajo. He was a member of a family, which sponsored the Church of Saint John the Theologian at the Zemen Monastery. He is depicted as a young man. His portrait is on the west wall of the naos. The wording of the inscription can be interpreted as follows (molba raba božija vitomira).
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Vladislava (1)
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Person
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Mentioned in the fragmentary inscription from the Church of Saint Nicholas in the village Kalotina, which was made during the reign of the Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Alexander. Attested also in the ktitorial composition from the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in Kučevište, which bears an identifying inscription. The wall paintings in Kučevište can be dated between 1331 and 1334. She appears as sevasьtica in the inscription from the Church of Saint Nicholas. She was married to the duke (voivoda) Dejanь. The names of their sons were Iōanь and Dmitarь?. She together with her husband Dejanь erected the Church of Saint Nicholas in the village Kalotina. Their effort is praised in the dedicatory inscription in the naos of the church. She and her husband are portrayed next to the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan and her wife Jelena on the southern wall of the narthex in the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in the village Kučevište. Her identity is confirmed by an inscription bearing her name (voivodica Vladislava). Her noble family apparently changed sides and supported the Serbian king Stefan Uroš IV. Dušan. On the facade above the south door of the church there is supplicant inscription of Vladislava and her sons (Primi gdi moleniie rabe svoie Vladislave i čěda eie Iōvana i Dmitra bg da ihь pomene v carstva svoemь).
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Vladislava (2)
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Person
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Mentioned in the inscription accompanying her painted portrait in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača. The portrait of Vladislava was painted probably between 1365 and 1371. She was married to sevastokratorь Vladko and therefore held the title sevastokratorica. Her sons were Stefanь and Ugleša. The painted portrait of Vladislava is preserved on the southern wall of the narthex in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača next to the image of Vladko.
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