Maps of Power

Maps of Power

Ivanović 2018b

Properties

ID	120130
System Class	Bibliography
Bibliography	Article
Case Study	Byzantino-Serbian Border Zones in Transition (1282–1355) , Historical Region of Macedonia TIB 16

Description

Miloš B. Ivanović, "Zaboravljeni" ktitori u srednjovekovnoj Srbiji, in: Initial. A Review of Medieval Studies 6 (2018) 47-72.

Relations

Actors (8)

Name	Class	Begin	End	Relation Type	Description
Ana	Person				Svetislav Mandić proposes, that Ana could be identical with Ana, the wife of Despot Mihael, who was the son of the Bulgarian Tsar Mihail III Šišman. Mentioned in the founding inscription from the years 1314/1315 in the Church of the Virgin Hodegetria in Mušutište. She was the daughter of Jovanь Dragoslavь and Jelena. Her brother was Staniša. In the inscription from the years 1314/1315, which was located above the western entrance of the now destroyed Church of the Virgin Hodegetria in Mušutište, is Jovanь Dragoslavь bearing the title of grand kaznac described as ktetor. He founded the church together with his wife Jelena, son Staniša and daughter Ana (Poče se: i sьzda se: božьstvьni, i vsečstnii hramь prěčistie vladičice naše bogorodice ōdigitrie: is temelna va dan prěvisokago kralě Uroša sь trudomь i sь pospešeniemь Iōvana velikago kaznca Dragoslava sь Elenomь sь podružjemь svoimь i Stanišomь synomь si i sь Anomь dьšteriju si vь lěto 6823 endikta 20).
Dragoje	Person				He was the recipient of the charter issued by the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan on 21th May 1349. He served as dijakь (scribe) and anagnostь (reader or lector). The father of his wife is mentioned in the document (I ōvy dijakь Dragoe sь svoimь tьsninomь). He moved in the place before the field Trěblěgrьmь, which was above Gabrovo and near the Belasica mountain, in order the erect a Church dedicated to the Holy Mother of God and to the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel (izide dijakь anagnostь Dragoje kako estь ulezlь više Gabrova u Belasici predь Trěblěgrьmь zidati hramь prěčistee crьkvь i besplьtnihь silь Mihaila i Gabrila). At the request of Kalinik, the Bishop of Banьska (Velbužd, Kjustendil), made the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan the endowment of Dragoje exempt from various duties and allowed Dragoje live here freely with his father-in-law. Stefan Uroš IV Dušan donated to Dragoje also a field Podь and another field beneath Gabrovo. The Serbian Emperor gave him the permission to settle people near the church.
Dragoslavь Jovanь	Person				Mentioned in several sources from 1288/1289 to 1314/1315 or 1318/1321. Sluga 1288/1289, kaznac 1300, veliki kaznac 1314/1315. He was married to Jelena. His son was Staniša. He had a daughter called Ana. Dragoslav first served the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin as sluga. The charter for the city of Dubrovnik from 1288/1289 was signed by the king in Prizren also in the presence of Dragoslav (A tu imь milostь stvori kralevstvo mi u Prizrene u grade, a stranь kralevstva mi beše sluga Dragoslavь i Budislavь Hvalьčikь). In 1300 Dragoslav appears in the charter of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin for the Monastery of Saint George-Gorg near Skopje bearing the title of kaznac. His mother of law was in possession of the abandoned vineyard Mavrovo in Butelь and gave it to Dragoslav. He donated it to the Monastery of Saint George-Gorg (I Dragoslavь kaznьcь dade ōt tьst᾿nine si vinogradište Mavrovo u Buteli). He is mentioned as kaznac in the area of Sušica between 1300 and 1318/1321 in the colophone of the gospel, which was copied by a certain anagnost Radin from Nagoričino in Žegligovo (Začeše se i sьvrьšiše se sь božijeju pomoštiju v dьni kralě Uroša, i pri klalici Simonidě, i pri kaznьci Dragoslavě i kaznьčici kira Jelelě, ōbladajuštu kaznьcu Sušiceju, jegi se kralь razmiri z grьki, v lěto ōt· i· i· sotno jenьdikto ·le· a drugo i ne uznahь koje bi lěto). In the inscription from the 1314/1315, which was located above the western entrance of the now destroyed Church of the Virgin Hodegetria in Mušutište, is Jovan Dragoslav bearing the title of grand kaznac described as ktetor. He founded the church together with his wife Jelena, son Staniša and daughter Ana (Poče se: i sьzda se: božьstvьni, i vsečstnii hramь prěčistie vladičice naše bogorodice ōdigitrie: is temelna va dan prěvisokago kralě Uroša sь trudomь i sь pospešeniemь Iōvana velikago kaznca Dragoslava sь Elenomь sь podružjemь svoimь i Stanišomь synomь si i sь Anomь dьšteriju si vь lěto 6823 endikta 20).
Dragusinos Ioannes	Person				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.
Jelena (2)	Person				Mentioned in two inscriptions dated in the first twenty years of the 14th century. She appears as kira in the colophone of the so-called Radin gospel. She was married to Jovanь Dragoslavь. Her son was Staniša. She had a daughter called Ana. She is mentioned as the wife of kaznac Jovanь Dragoslavь in the colophone of the gospel, which was copied by a certain anagnost Radin from Nagoričino in Žegligovo between 1300 and 1318/1321 (Začeše se i sьvrьšiše se sь božijeju pomoštiju v dьni kralě Uroša, i pri klalici Simonidě, i pri kaznьci Dragoslavě i kaznьčici kira Jelelě, ōbladajuštu kaznьcu Sušiceju, jegi se kralь razmiri z grьki, v lěto ōt· i· i· sotno jenьdikto ·le· a drugo i ne uznahь koje bi lěto). In the inscription from the years 1314/1315, which was located above the western entrance of the now destroyed Church of the Virgin Hodegetria in Mušutište, is Jovanь Dragoslavь bearing the title of grand kaznac described as ktetor. He founded the church together with his wife Jelena, son Staniša and daughter Ana (Poče se: i sьzda se: božьstvьni, i vsečstnii hramь prěčistie vladičice naše bogorodice ōdigitrie: is temelna va dan prěvisokago kralě Uroša sь trudomь i sь pospešeniemь Iōvana velikago kaznca Dragoslava sь Elenomь sь podružjemь svoimь i Stanišomь synomь si i sь Anomь dьšteriju si vь lěto 6823 endikta 20).
Liberos Ioannes	Person				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).
Staniša (3)	Person				Mentioned in the founding inscription from the years 1314/1315 in the Church of the Virgin Hodegetria in Mušutište. He was the son of Jovanь Dragoslavь and Jelena. His sister was Ana. In the inscription from the years 1314/1315, which was located above the western entrance of the now destroyed Church of the Virgin Hodegetria in Mušutište, is Jovanь Dragoslavь bearing the title of grand kaznac described as ktetor. He founded the church together with his wife Jelena, son Staniša and daughter Ana (Poče se: i sьzda se: božьstvьni, i vsečstnii hramь prěčistie vladičice naše bogorodice ōdigitrie: is temelna va dan prěvisokago kralě Uroša sь trudomь i sь pospešeniemь Iōvana velikago kaznca Dragoslava sь Elenomь sь podružjemь svoimь i Stanišomь synomь si i sь Anomь dьšteriju si vь lěto 6823 endikta 20).
Vladojevikь Mladěnь	Person				Mentioned in the charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in favour of the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren from 1347/1348. His mother and his family are attested in the charter. He and his family erected the Church of Holy Saviour (Sveti Spas) in Prizren. The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan donated the Church of Holy Saviour in Prizren with all its possessions to the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren. He offered Mladěnь the Church of Saint Andrew (or the church, which belonged to Andričь) in Ōhrid instead. The property exchange was confirmed in the charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan for the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren in accordance to the law: church for church, village for village, vineyard for vineyard and mill for mill (I simь ōbrazomь zaměnihь crьkvь Spasa u Mladěna Vladojevikja i u matere jego i u vsega rodьstva jego, rek’še h’titorьst’va ego, i za vse sela s ljud’mi i zemlomь i s vinogradi i sь vsěmi pravinami iže se nahoděše crьkve te, ili u gradu ili u župě ili indě gdě ljubo, nihь volomь i nihь hotěnijemь, a ne někoju nuždeju, zaměnihь i dahь zaměnu u Ohridě An’dričju crьkvь za crьkvь, sela za sela, vinograde za vinograde, mline za mline i što jestь imala crьkvь tazi ōt prěžde, vse mu da carьstvo mi, i zapisahь Mladěnu i jegově materi da si drьže vь město segazi u baštinu kako jestь drьžalь Spasa takozi da si drьži Andričju, a Mladěnь ni jegovь rodimь da vekje ne poište onezi baštine, ni crьkve Spasove iže jestь u Prizrěně).

Places (2)

Name	Class	Begin	End	Description
Lěsnovo (1), Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael	Place			Saint Gavrilo Lesnovski came, according to the detailed Vita of him, from a rich family in Osečko pole (ōt strani Ōsečkōmъ pole, roditelemь bogatu sělo i blagočestivu). After a vision he built the Church of the Nativity of the Holy Mother of God with the funding of his parents on the field of Osiče (na pole Ōsiče). He then departed for the Lěsnovo Monastery (vь monastirь Lesnovskyj), from which he was released after a probationary period with the blessing of the abbot to enter a hermitage near the monastery and Zletovo (za nekoj skïtь blizь prjamo manastirь, vь dolь prjamo Zletovo). The lively influx of people, who were sick and obsessed, caused that the Saint sought solitude in Lukovo (i preide vo stranu Lukovo). The Saint Gavrilo Lesnovski escaped also from Lukovo and found refuge in the mountains, where he stayed on the mountain top Oblovъ until his death (verhъ Ōblovъ). The saint appeared in a dream to a Russian monk named Iosif and entrusted him to transfer his body from Oblovь to the Lěsnovo monastery. Iosif brought the relics of the Saint Gavrilo Lesnovski to the Monastery of Lěsnovo, where numerous miracles occured near the saints relics. In such a way the only daughter of a rich Armenian from Kratovo was healed (Vo gradь Kratovo). According to the Vita, the saint also came to the aid of a local Bulgarian prince named Mihail in the fight against the Pechenegs and Cumans. Mihail had to flee from his opponents to Ratkovica (vo stranu Ratkovicu). He was able with the assistance of the saint to sidle up to the opposing general Mavragan near Rataica in Zletovo (u Slětovo) and to kill him (u Rataicě i ubi Mavragana). Finally, the Vita also mentions the Serbian Despot Jovan Oliver and his erection of a large monastery church in Lěsnovo in honor of the saint, with which he replaced a small church building. The short life of the Saint Gavrilo Lesnovski, on the other hand, reports that the saint himself built the Lěsnovo monastery. The 12th-century Vita of the Saint Joakim Osogovski mentions the Church of the Saint Michael the Archangel in the mountains of Lěsnovo (Lesnovsuju gljemu goru...hram vь ime arhïstratiga Mihaila). The scribe Stanislavь completed in 1330 a Slavic manuscript in the Monastery of Saint Michael the Archangel in the mountains of Lěsnovo, which was in the domain of Ovče Pole and the region of Zletovo (vь ōblasti ōvčepolьskoi vь horě zljętovstěi, v gorě lěsnovьstěi, v monastiri stgo arhistratiga Mihaila). The scribe Stanislavь finished his prologue of the manuscript in the time, when Dragoslavь ruled over the land of Zletovo as Župan (ōbdrьžjaštu horoję Zlętovьskoję županu Dra’goslavu). In the course of the renovation of the monastery (1340/41) a Slavic donor inscription was placed on the stone at the katholikon. The inscription begins on a marble lintel above the entrance door in the west of the katholikon (i.e. on the eastern wall of the narthex), continues outside above the south entrance to the naos, can be dated to the year 1340/41 and mentions the katholikon as "Church of the Great Commander of Heavenly Hosts, Archangel Michael" (hramь velikago vojevode vy`snh silь arhistratiga mihaila). The grand duke (veliki vojvoda) Jovan Oliver with his wife Anna Mara and his son Kraiko, who were living during the reign of "King Stefan" (Stefan Uroš IV Dušan) are mentioned as the founders. According to the Slavic inscription, the following possessions belonged to the monastery at that time: the village near the monastery Lěsnovo, the hamlet Lukovo, the village Bakovo with the Church of Saint Nicholas (Sveti Nikola), the hamlet Globica, the village Dobrěevo, the Church of Holy Prophet Elisha (Sveti Elisei) in the village Drěvěno, the hamlet Peštno, the Church of the Saint Prokopios (Sveti Prokopie), the Katun of the Vlachs Stroi, the Church of Saint Nicholas (Sveti Nikola) of the priest Sïfie, twenty houses in the town of Štip and annually 100 perpers from the revenue of the market in Zletovo. The scribe Stanislavь copied a Menaion at the request of Jovan Oliver destined for the Monastery of the Saint Michael the Archangel in Lěsnovo in 1342 according to the colophon of the manuscript written in Slavic language (rukoju mnogogrěšnago Stanislava). The toponym Lěsnovo appears in this colophone (vь městě rekoměmь Лěsnově), although it is not clear whether this refers to the village or the monastery. Before the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan was able to found the bishopric of Zletovo with its seat in the Lěsnovo Monastery in 1346/47, he sought consensus with church and secular dignitaries. He reached the consensus with the Serbian Patriarch Joanikije II, the Archbishop Nikola of Ōhrid, the Metropolitan Jovan of Skopje and the founder of the monastery, the Serbian despot Jovan Oliver. In the founding charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV. Dušan for the Eparchy of Zletovo with its seat in the Monastery Lěsnovo from the year 1346/47 the erection of the monastery by the Serbian Espot Jovan Oliver is mentioned (sьzdati jemu hramь vь ime velikoslavnyhь i besplьtnyihь činonačelnikьь arhistratiga Mihaila i Gabrïila, vь straně že zletovьscěi rekomōje Lěsnovo...v městě Lěsnově; crьkvi Arhanggelu u Zletovoi; podь crьkvь svetago Arhistratiga lěsnovьskoga). This plot of land gave its name to both the monastery and the neighboring village of Lěsnovo. A Greek inscription on a fresco above the entrance door in the west of the katholikon (i.e. on the eastern wall of the narthex) from 1349 shows that the narthex was erected and painted before 1349 (probably 1347/48) (ὁ θεῖος καὶ πάνσεπτος ναὸς τοῦ ταξιάρχου Μιχαὴλ). A note in the Slavic manuscript Lesnovski parenesis relates that it was written in Zletovo at the place called Lěsnovo in the Monastery of the Holy Archangel Michael in 1353 (vь zemli zljatovsьskoi, vь městě rekoměmь Lěsnovo, vь ōbiteli svetago arhistratiga Mihaila), as Arsenije was the Bishop of Zletovo. The Eparchy of Zletovo was probably abolished around 1370. The Serbian local ruler Konstantin Dragaš donated on the 15th August 1381 the Monastery Lěsnovo with all its possessions to the Hilandar Monastery (crьkvь lěsnovьsku svetagō Arhaaggela; crьkvь Svetagō arhaggela lěsnovьskoga). In 1428, 1429 and 1434 a Slavic Apostolos, a Slavic Mēnaion and a Slavic Oktōēchos were written in Lěsnovo, about which corresponding marginal notes provide information.
Zletovo	Place			The first written reference to Zletovo comes from the charter of the Byzantine Emperor Basileios II for the archiepiscopal see of Ōhrid from the year 1019. Zletovo (καὶ τὴν Σθλετοβὰν) is listed as part of the Bishopric of Morozvizd (Morobisdos). The Saint Gavrilo Lesnovski departed for the Lěsnovo Monastery (vь monastirь Lesnovskyj), from which he was released after a probationary period with the blessing of the abbot to enter a hermitage near the monastery and Zletovo (za nekoj skïtь blizь prjamo manastirь, vь dolь prjamo Zletovo). According to the Vita, the Saint Gavrilo Lesnovski also came to the aid of a local Bulgarian prince named Mihail in the fight against the Pechenegs and Cumans. Mihail had to flee from his opponents to Ratkovica (vo stranu Ratkovicu). He was able with the assistance of the saint to sidle up to the opposing general Mavragan near Rataica in Zletovo (u Slětovo) and to kill him (u Rataicě i ubi Mavragana). Zletovo was withdrawn from the sovereign authority of the Byzantine Empire in 1282/1283 during the reign of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (i Zletovu). Zletovo is mentioned in the charter of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin for the Gračanica Monastery from 1315 (or 1321?) (i po Zletovoi). The scribe Stanislavь completed in 1330 a Slavic manuscript in the Monastery of Saint Michael the Archangel in the mountains of Lěsnovo, which was in the domain of Ovče Pole and the region of Zletovo (vь ōblasti ōvčepolьskoi vь horě zljętovstěi, v gorě lěsnovьstěi, v monastiri stgo arhistratiga Mihaila). The scribe Stanislavь finished his prologue of the manuscript in the time, when Dragoslavь ruled over the land of Zletovo as Župan (ōbdrьžjaštu horoję Zlętovьskoję županu Dra’goslavu). According to the Slavic founding inscription for the Lěsnovo monastery from 1340/41, the monastery received annualy 100 perpers from the revenue of the market in Zletovo (ōd zletovьskago trьga na godine sto perperь). The same inscription mentions the vineyards of the town of Zletovo (nadь gьrdsko lozie). However, Zletovo with its urban metochion was not included in the endowment for the Lěsnovo Monastery in 1340/41, 1346/47, or 1381. The scribe Stanislavь copied a Menaion at the request of Jovan Oliver destined for the Monastery of the Saint Michael the Archangel in Lěsnovo in 1342 in Zletovo according to the colophon of the manuscript written in Slavic language (vь horě Zletovcěi). In the founding charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV. Dušan for the Eparchy of Zletovo with its seat in the Monastery Lěsnovo from the year 1346/47 the erection of the monastery by the Serbian Espot Jovan Oliver is mentioned. Jovan Oliver built a church in honor of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in the Zletovo region in Lěsnovo (sьzdati jemu hramь vь ime velikoslavnyhь i besplьtnyihь činonačelnikьь arhistratiga Mihaila i Gabrïila, vь straně že zletovьscěi rekomōje Lěsnovo; crьkvi Arhanggelu u Zletovoi; crьkvi Arhanggelu u Zletovoi). Zletovo appears in the boundary description of the hamlet/village Globica in the founding charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV. Dušan for the Eparchy of Zletovo with its seat in the Monastery Lěsnovo from the year 1346/47 (i što se kь Zletovoi kami vali tozi Zletovu budi a što se kь Globici vali tozi crьkvьno). In addition, the charter confirms the annual revenue of 100 perpers from the market in Zletovo for the Eparchy of Zletovo with its seat in the Monastery Lěsnovo (ōtь zletovьskago trьga). The Bishopric of Zletovo (episkopi zletovьskoi) owned also possessions in Pianitza according to the same charter. A note in the Slavic manuscript Lesnovski parenesis relates that it was written in Zletovo at the place called Lěsnovo in the Monastery of the Holy Archangel Michael in 1353 (vь zemli zljatovsьskoi, vь městě rekoměmь Lěsnovo, vь ōbiteli svetago arhistratiga Mihaila), as Arsenije was the Bishop of Zletovo. In 1354/55 the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan gave permission to his nobleman Vlatko Paskačić to donate the Church of Sveti Nikola in Psača, which Vlatko had erected on the inherited property of his father, together with the appertaining metochion to the Monastery of Hilandar (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). Stefan Uroš IV Dušan enlarged Vlatko's endowment with land near Krilatica, where a certain Neōr had resided and where the Emperor had moved miners from Zletovo (I na Krilatici zemlja koja jestь ōt Trnov’ca na čimь jestь sědělь Neōrь, posadi rudare koje prěseli ōt Zljetove). The Eparchy of Zletovo was probably abolished around 1370. After 1376/77, the Serbian Despot Jovan Dragaš (Ioannes Dragases) and his brother Konstantin Dragaš (Konstantinos Dragases) confirmed that the Monastery Hagios Panteleemon on the Holy Mount Athos possessed the churches of Saint Dimitrije and Saint Nikola in Zletovo (u Zletove stgo Dimitrïa, i svety Nikola). The Serbian local ruler Konstantin Dragaš confirmed on the 15th August 1381 that the Hilandar Monastery had the right to become the annual revenue of 100 perpers from the market in Zletovo aimed for the Lěsnovo Monastery (I ōd trьga zlětovьskoga da uzima Arhanggelь lěsnovьski na vsako gōdište r. Perьperь, jakože pišetь u hrisovuli carskomь). A forged charter from the 15th century, also known as the charter of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin concerning the settlement site Ulijare settlement from 1318, relates, among other things, about the conquest of Zletovo by the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin between the years 1282 and 1284 (Zletovu). The Lěsnovo Monastery is registered in the Defter for the Sanjak Köstendil from 1570 to 1572 as Arhangel. The Lěsnovo Monastery possessed in Zletovo five watermills. Zletovo appears also in the Defter for the Sanjak Köstendil from 1570 to 1572 as as Izltva.