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(Paskačić) Vladko
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Mentioned in the charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan concerning the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača from 1354/1355 and in the inscription accompanying his painted portrait in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača. The portrait of Vlatko was painted probably between 1365 and 1371. He appears as prěvьzljubljenʼny i pravověrnii vlastelinь carstva mi in the charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan. The inscription describes him as sevastokratorь vse srьpьske zemlie vladko. The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan gave in 1354/1355 permission to his nobleman Vladko (Paskačić) to donate the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača, which Vladko erected on the inherited property of his father Paskačь, together with the appertaining metochion to the Hilandar Monastery (I vьspomenu carstvu mi prěvьzljubljenʼny i pravověrnii vlastelinь carstva mi Vladko ō crьkvy svetago Nikoly jaže jestь sьzdalь na svoōi baštině Pʼsači a sь blagoslovljenijemь carstva mi...i poljubi prěd carstvomʼ mi i priloži svoju baštinu crьkvь svetago Nikoli na Psači prěsvetěi Bogorodici hilandarьskoi sь vsěmь metehōmь). The painted portrait of Vladko is preserved on the southern wall of the narthex in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača. The fresco displays him with his whole family. The representation of Vladko and his father Paskać, who are hoisting the model of the church to the icon of Saint Nicholas, can be described as an act of the joint ktetorship.
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(Vlatković) Ugl(j)eša
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It is estimated that he was born around 1359. His last appeareance in the source is in 1423. He held the title of kesarь (kesarь Ugleša gospodarь Serblemь i Podunaju i vsěhь zapadnihь stranь). He was the son of Vladko (synь sevastokratōrovь Ugleša) and Vladislava. His son Stěfanь was buried in the Monastery of the Holy Virgin in Ljubostinja. An inscription in the naos of the church, which was made between 1402 and 1405, is commemorating his son Stěfanь (A se leži Stěfanь kesara Ugleše). It is likely that the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V. bestowed upon him the title of kesarь. Ugl(j)e)ša was apperently in a subordinate position to Konstantin Dragaš before 1395. After 1395 he became a vasall of the Ottoman sultan. Miloš Blagojević believes that Ugl(j)eša participated in the battle of Ankara in 1402. His role in the battle of Gračanica is described by Konstantin Kostenečki, who wrote the biography of the Despot Stefan Lazarević. He left the Ottomans in the beginning of the battle and defected to the army of Stefan Lazarević. On the side of despot he reconquested the region of Vranje, Inogošt and Preševo, which he inherited from his father (Běše že togda i kesarь Ugleša sь ismaility i tь mnogo služenije sьtvori sь sьlanijemь kь blagočьstivomu izь sihь sьvěty i kovy vьzvěštaje, taže po malě i samь priběgь podь krilě despotu Stefanu i zemlju svoju otьčьskuju Vranju i Inogoštu i Prěševo prějetь i udrьža). He fought in 1410 together with Stefan Lazarević in the battle of Kosmidion, where the Ottoman Prince Musa was defeated. The Byzantines escorted the army of Stefan Lazarević and Ugl(j)eša on their ships back to their homeland via Wallachia. His domains were attacked by the force of Musa in 1412. Musa plundered Vranje and endangered Novo Brdo. He donated in 1423 the Church of Saint Nicholas in Vranja with the village Vranje, all rights, boundaries, watermills, fields and meadows, the church of Saint Nicholas in Lučani with all rights and boundaries and the village Trnovac with all boundaries and rights to the Hilandar Monastery (blagověrni kjesarь Uglješa, imeja želanije i usrьdije i ljubovь kь prěčistyje vladyčice našei Bogomateri iže vь Svetěi Gorě Athona, carskije ōbiteli, domu prěčistyje vladyčice naše Bogorodice velikyje lavri Hiladara, dahь bo i prьvo crьkvu Svetago Nikolu u Vraniju tako i selomь Vranemь sь vsě pravinami sela togo, sь vsemi megjami i vodenicami, i s’ nivami i s livadami, i iněmь sь vsěmь. I crьkvu u Lučanehь Svetago Nikolu sь vsěmi pravinami i megjami sela togo. I selo Trьnovcь, sь vsěmi sinori i megjami i pravinami sela togo). The painted portrait of Ugl(j)eša as a child is preserved on the southern wall of the narthex in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Psača. He is depicted in the front of his grandparents Paskačь and Ozra.
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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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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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Bojko
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He held a possession near the village Matka at the river Treska by the time his mother Dьnica erected the Church of Saint Nicholas in Ljuboten (sьzida se sii božьstvьnyi hramь svetago velikago ōca nikoly podvigomь i trudomь gospožde dьnice vь dьni stefana kralě dušane a drьžaše synь starěi boiko matku a drugi synь zvečanь sitnicomь lěto ѕ. ōm. e.).
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Bulkos
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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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Dmitrь (2)
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Person
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Mentioned in the dedicatory inscription above the western entrance of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Ljuboten from 1336/1337. His mother was Dьnica. His brother was Bojko. The second son of Dьnica held Zvečan by the time his mother erected the Church of Saint Nicholas in Ljuboten (sьzida se sii božьstvьnyi hramь svetago velikago ōca nikoly podvigomь i trudomь gospožde dьnice vь dьni stefana kralě dušane a drьžaše synь starěi boiko matku a drugi synь zvečanь sitnicomь lěto ѕ. ōm. e.). Ivan M. Đorđević discovered a monogram on the lintel of the western entrance of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Ljuboten. He interpreted the monogram as the name Dmitrь and associated it with the second son of Dьnica.
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Dragoslavь Jovanь
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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).
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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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Dьnica (1)
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Mentioned in the dedicatory inscription above the western entrance of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Ljuboten from 1336/1337. She appears as gospožda in the inscription. Her sons were Bojko and Dmitrь. She erected the Church of Saint Nicholas in Ljuboten (sьzida se sii božьstvьnyi hramь svetago velikago ōca nikoly podvigomь i trudomь gospožde dьnice vь dьni stefana kralě dušane a drьžaše synь starěi boiko matku a drugi synь zvečanь sitnicomь lěto ѕ. ōm. e.).
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Eltimeres
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He was probably killed in 1305. He held the title of Despot. The question, who bestowed him with the title of despot, remains unresolved. He ruled almost independently in the region of Krounos (Krŭn) in Rhodope (κατὰ τὸν Κρουνὸν ἐξάρχοντα). He received this territory probably as dowry. He was the brother of the Bulgarian Tsar George Terter I. He was the son-in-law of the Bulgarian Tsar Smilets and his wife Smiltsena Palaiologina (γαμβρόν γε ὄντα Σμιλτζαίνης), since he married their daughter Maria (Marina). His nephew was Theodor Svetoslav. He was the father or the father-in-law of Ioannes Dragusinos (ΕΚΟΙΜΙΘΕΙ Ο ΔΟΥΛΟΣ ΤΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ ΙΩΑΝΝΗΣ Ο ΔΡΑΓΟΥΣΙΝΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΟΙΟΣ ΤΟΥ ΔΕΣΠΟΤΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΑΛΔΙΜΙΡΟΥ). He was apparently of Cuman origin. He acted as a loyal supporter of Smiltsena after the death of her husband. He offered her a place of refuge in the region of Krounos (Krŭn). The Bulgarian Tsar Theodor Svetoslav gained his trust after he donated the fortresses Diampolis (Jambol) and Lardaia to him. Eltimeres defeated and blinded sebastokrator Radoslav, the brother of the Bulgarian Tsar Smilets, who aspired to the Bulgarian throne with the aid of the Byzantines. He handed over Radoslav and the captured byzantine noblemen to the Bulgarian Tsar Theodor Svetoslav. He marched in 1304 with Theodor Svetoslav against the Byzantines, although his mother-in-law and a byzantine embassy tried to dissuade him with gifts and pronoia promises from joining the alliance with the Bulgarian Tsar. Another intercesssion of his mother-in-law ended with success. He switched the sides and fought with the Byzantines against the Bulgarian Tsar. The hostilities led to the reconcquest of the fortresses Diampolis and Lardaia and the capture of the territory of Krounos by the Bulgarian Tsar Theodor Svetoslav.
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Georgios (4)
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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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Gurguras
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Person
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Gregorius Golubich is a central figure in the negotiations between Serbia and Dubrovnik between the years 1362 and 1365, but it is not clear, whether he is the same person as Kaisar Gurguras. Gregorius Golubich strived with his brother Ivan to conclude the peace treaty. Several accounts from the Dubrovnik archive give detail about him and his brother. On the 14th of June 1362 Gregorius and his brother became the citizens of Dubrovnik. Their deposits were under the guarantee of the city of Dubrovnik and obtained the legal position of inviolability in case of the war (Comes Ivan Golubich cum Gregorio fratre suo factus fuit civis Ragusii, et quod possit in omni tempore venire Ragusium, et ibi stare et habitare, et res et bona sua deponere et salvare libere sicut quilibet alius verus ciivis Ragusii. Et si casus ocurreret, quod propter guerram vel propter alium casum prefati comes Ivanus et frater eius Gregorius cum eorum familia, bonis atque rebus aufugerint de Raxia Ragusium, quod libere venire possint et inde recedere cum omnibus bonis suis ad omnem eorum voluntatem sine aliquot impedimento prout quilibet alius civis Ragusii facere possit. Et si aliquot tempore Guerra vel Discordia oriretur inter regnum Raxie et comune Ragusii, quod bona eorum deposita in Ragusio sint salva, et quod impedire non debeat nec intromitti modo aliquo, sed possit libere ipsa facere extrahere et extrahi facere de Ragusio ad omnem ipsorum voluntatem, sicut supra dictum est). In the time between 10th and 15th of July in the year 1362 the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V issued a safe conduct charter for the embassy from Dubrovnik. Grьgurь is mentioned there along with Logothete Dejan as the ambassador of the Serbian ruler (i kako mi ste poručali po logothetě carstva mi po Dejaně i po Grьgurě). On the 6th December 1365 came knez Gregorius Golubich, the deputy of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V, to Dubrovnik in order to collect the Tribute of Ston (Comes Gregorius Golubich, nuncius domini Imperatoris Sclavonie...anni proxime preteriti de mense octobris yperpyros duo mille...Pripchus Murisich et Radoe Posovcich, homines Senchi). Mentioned in the sources between the year 1347 and 1361. He held the title of Kaisar between 1347 and 1361. He received a letter from the pope Clement VI in March 1347. In this document he was asked by the pope to support the intention of the Serbian emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan to join the union with the Latin church (Gregorio Golubie cesari regni Racie). He is mentioned in the chrysobull charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan for the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren, which was issued after august 1347. He gave a moneylender with the name Dabiživ to the monastery. Dabiživ was obliged to donate yearly 18 foxes to the monastery (I sь milostiju i hotěnijemь carьstva mi priloži kesarь Grьgurь crьkvi carьstva mi Arhhaggelu Dabiživa kamatnika, da daje za godište 18 lisicь). He is attested in the forged document of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan for the town Kotor as a witness (i vsego sobora egō i vlastela i sobora carskago Gergura). He appears as a sponsor in the inventory of the crypt in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Bari. He endowed the church with various church vessels. On the 10th of May of the year 1353 the chapter in Bari released an approval for specific church vessels to be sold. The lamps on the list are probably endowments of Gurguras (...Lampas una magna de argento missa ecclesie per Cesarem Sclavonie...; Lampas una magna et suptilis deaurata cum multo labore missa per quemdam Sclav...librarum duarum et unciarum undecim; Lampas una cum catinellis de argento missa per Cesarem Sclavonie...apostolis...duodecim deauratis et cum licteris videlicet Cesar Gregorius me fecit fieri ponderis librarum sex et unciarum decem). According to the inventory from the 5th Februrary of the year 1361 Gurgaras donated to the church also an incense with his coat of arms, mitre with 1008 pearls, stole and maniple (Tumbulum unum de argento deaurato missum per Cesarem Sclavonie ad campanile cum xmaltis quattuor ad aquilas rubeas cum duobus...et cum duobus allis dragonibus et cum cannellis duplis de argento in quibus cannelis sunt...quinque in medio ponderis librarum quattuor et unciarum novem). Mauro Orbini mentions him as a person, which advised the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V (Li suoi primi consiglieri suorono Gregorio Cesar). The inscription above the entrance door to the Church of the Holy Mother of God Zachlumistisa mentions the circumstances of the endowment in the year 1361. The church was erected at the expense of the kaisar Gurguras. The painted decoration of the monastery was commisioned by Gregory, the Bishop of Devol (Ἀνηγέρθη ἐκ βάθρων ὁ θεῖος καὶ πάνσεπτος ναὸς τῆς ὑπεραγίας Θεοτόκου τῆς Ζαχλουμήστισας διʹ ἐξοδου τοῦ πανευτυχεστάτου καίσαρος Γούργουρα καὶ κτήτωρος ἀνιστορίθη δὲ παρὰ τοῦ πανιεροτάτου ἐπισκόπου Δεαβόλαιως καὶ πρωτοθρόνου κύρ Γρηγορίου καὶ κτῆτωρος ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλείας Στεφάνου τοῦ Οὐροσιοι μηνὶ αὐγούστῳ κεʹ. ͵ϛωξθ ἰνδ. ιδʹ).
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Ioannes (7)
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Mentioned in the painted ktitorial inscription running on the cornice of the northern and southern walls of the central aisle of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Manastir in the region of Mariovo and in the inscription on the reverse side of the icon of Saint George from the Church of Saint George in Struga. He was the deacon and refendarios of the Archbishopric of Ōhrid. He sponsored the restoration of the icon of the Saint George, which was kept in the church of Saint George in Struga (δῶρον τοῦ σοῦ οἰκέτου καὶ εὐτελοῦς Ἰωάννου τοῦ διακόνου ῥαιφερενδαρΐου τε ἀξΐαν ἔχων· γράψαντϊ σεπτῶς τὴν σὴν μορφὴν ἁγίαν ἐν χρωματουργήμασϊ ποικϊλοτρόποις ταύτην ἀνιστῶν ἐν Στρούγαις τῆς Ἀχρίδος. Ἰωάννης ἐκ πόθου τὴν δέησϊν ποιεῖται· ἐν ἔτει ςψοε ἰνδικτιῶνος θ ἀνϊστορΐθη διὰ χειρὸς Ἰωάννου ἱστοριογράφου ἐκ Νεαπόλεως). He supervised the fresco decoration of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Manastir, which was finished in 1270/1271 (Ὁ ναὸς γὰρ ἦν σμικρώτατος, σαθρὸς, ῥακοθεὶς δὲ καὶ διατετρωμένος ἀρραγῆς καὶ μὶ φέρων ὁρᾶν τὴν τοῦ ναοῦ σβέσιν ὁ πανοσιώτατος καθηγούμενος τῆς μονῆς ὁ κυρὸς Ἰωαννίκιος, ὁ καὶ διὰ τοῦ ἁγίου σχίματος ἐπωνομασθεὶς Ἀκάκιος καὶ χωρέσας ὑπὲρ χρημάτων ἀναχωρεῖ τοῦτον θεῖαν εὐσεβῆς ἐπιχωρῖν καὶ ἐν ὑπηρεσία ἄγειν ὁ καὶ προκαλέσας τοὺς ἐν Χριστῶ ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ...ἅμα καὶ εὐθὺς χαλάσας τὴν ἐκκλησίαν ἀνήγυρεν ἐκ βάθρων τὸν πάνσεπτον ναὸν τοῦτον καὶ οραΐσας καὶ καλεῖ ἐν αὐτοῖς τὸν ἐν χρωματουργίμασιν πικυλοτρόποις καὶ ἐν βαθεῖ γνόμονας χεῖρας ταπινότατος Ἰωάννης διάκονος καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν κρίσεων τῆς ἁγιωτάτης ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς, καὶ...ἐν ἔτει ἐξακισχιλιστὸ καὶ ἑπτακοσιοστό τε ο δ, ἰνδικτιῶνος θ, ἀνιστορίθι δὲ ἐν ἕτι ς ψ ο θ, ἰνδικτιῶνος ιδ, ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ εὐσεβεστάτου μεγάλου βασλέως καὶ αὐτοκράτωρος Ῥωμαίων Δοῦκα Ἀγγέλου Κομνηνοῦ Μιχαήλ τοῦ Παλαιολόγου καὶ Νέου Κωνσταντίνου).
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Ioannikios (1)
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Mentioned in the painted ktitorial inscription running on the cornice of the northern and southern walls of the central aisle and in another painted ktitorial inscription on the western wall of the northern aisle of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Manastir in the region of Mariovo. He appears as κυρὸς in the inscription on the cornice of the northern and souther walls of the central aisle of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Manastir. He was a priestmonk and hegoumenos of the monastery. He was responsible for the renovation of the Monastery and the Katholikon of Saint Nicholas in Manastir in 1265. He commisioned the painted decoration of the church, which was accomplished by John, a deacon and refendarios, in 1270/1271 (Ὁ ναὸς γὰρ ἦν σμικρώτατος, σαθρὸς, ῥακοθεὶς δὲ καὶ διατετρωμένος ἀρραγῆς καὶ μὶ φέρων ὁρᾶν τὴν τοῦ ναοῦ σβέσιν ὁ πανοσιώτατος καθηγούμενος τῆς μονῆς ὁ κυρὸς Ἰωαννίκιος, ὁ καὶ διὰ τοῦ ἁγίου σχίματος ἐπωνομασθεὶς Ἀκάκιος καὶ χωρέσας ὑπὲρ χρημάτων ἀναχωρεῖ τοῦτον θεῖαν εὐσεβῆς ἐπιχωρῖν καὶ ἐν ὑπηρεσία ἄγειν ὁ καὶ προκαλέσας τοὺς ἐν Χριστῶ ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ...ἅμα καὶ εὐθὺς χαλάσας τὴν ἐκκλησίαν ἀνήγυρεν ἐκ βάθρων τὸν πάνσεπτον ναὸν τοῦτον καὶ οραΐσας καὶ καλεῖ ἐν αὐτοῖς τὸν ἐν χρωματουργίμασιν πικυλοτρόποις καὶ ἐν βαθεῖ γνόμονας χεῖρας ταπινότατος Ἰωάννης διάκονος καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν κρίσεων τῆς ἁγιωτάτης ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς, καὶ...ἐν ἔτει ἐξακισχιλιστὸ καὶ ἑπτακοσιοστό τε ο δ, ἰνδικτιῶνος θ, ἀνιστορίθι δὲ ἐν ἕτι ς ψ ο θ, ἰνδικτιῶνος ιδ, ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ εὐσεβεστάτου μεγάλου βασλέως καὶ αὐτοκράτωρος Ῥωμαίων Δοῦκα Ἀγγέλου Κομνηνοῦ Μιχαήλ τοῦ Παλαιολόγου καὶ Νέου Κωνσταντίνου). He is portrayed with the model of the church on the western wall of the northern aisle of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Manastir. The ktitorial painted composition is accompanied by the inscription, which stresses the role of Ioannikios/Akakios as the second ktetor of the church (δέησις τοῦ δούλου τοῦ θεοῦ Ἀκακίου ἱερομονάχου καὶ καθηγουμένου ...ορεντος. καὶ δευτέρου κτήτωρος).
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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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Kapzas Begos
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Person
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Mentioned in the ktitorial inscription in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Varoš near Prilep from 1298. He had a wife, whose name was Maria. He and his wife commisioned the construction and the fresco decoration of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Varoš near Prilep during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos (ἀνιγέρθει· ἐκ βάθρου· καὶ ἀνιστωρήθει ὁ θῆος καὶ πάνσεπτος ναὸς τοῦ ἐν ἁγίοις πατρὸς ἡμῶν ἀρχηεράρχων καὶ θαυματουργοῦ Νικολάου δηὰ συνδρωμῆς καὶ κόπου Βέγου τοῦ Καπζᾶ καὶ τῆς συμβήου αὐτοῦ Μαρίας· ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλείας Ἀνδρωνίκου τοῦ εὐσεβεστάτου βασιλέος καὶ αὐτωκράτωρος Ῥωμέων Κομνινοῦ τοῦ Παλαεωλόγου καὶ Ἠρήνης τῆς εὐσεβεστάτης αὐγούστης· ἐπῒ ἔτους ςωζ μηνὴ νωεύρηο ιζ ἰνδικτιῶνος ιβ το τουτῶ...θνυτοῦ καὶ ἑτέρῶν τῶν κτήτωρων).
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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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Person
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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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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 (2)
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Mentioned in the ktitorial inscription in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Varoš near Prilep from 1298. She had a husband, whose name was Begos Kapzas. She and her husband commisioned the construction and the fresco decoration of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Varoš near Prilep during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos (ἀνιγέρθει· ἐκ βάθρου· καὶ ἀνιστωρήθει ὁ θῆος καὶ πάνσεπτος ναὸς τοῦ ἐν ἁγίοις πατρὸς ἡμῶν ἀρχηεράρχων καὶ θαυματουργοῦ Νικολάου δηὰ συνδρωμῆς καὶ κόπου Βέγου τοῦ Καπζᾶ καὶ τῆς συμβήου αὐτοῦ Μαρίας· ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλείας Ἀνδρωνίκου τοῦ εὐσεβεστάτου βασιλέος καὶ αὐτωκράτωρος Ῥωμέων Κομνινοῦ τοῦ Παλαεωλόγου καὶ Ἠρήνης τῆς εὐσεβεστάτης αὐγούστης· ἐπῒ ἔτους ςωζ μηνὴ νωεύρηο ιζ ἰνδικτιῶνος ιβ το τουτῶ...θνυτοῦ καὶ ἑτέρῶν τῶν κτήτωρων).
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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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Marina
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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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Markos
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Person
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The fragmentary preserved inscription above the entrance on the south wall of the Church of the Holy Mother of God in Drenovo, which is dated to 1356 or later, refers to a painter Dimitr’, who worked on the decoration of the church Drenovo after the death of the Serbian Emperor Stefan (probably Uroš IV Dušan) at the same time as the dominion was controlled by Nikola (Nikola Stanjevikь?) and Marko (Markos, the King?) (sьzda se hram’ si v’ lě.. ѕ i ō.....i azь Dimitr’ zugraf priloh’ vь hramь sei...lě..z i d i pisah’ pri drž’avě Nikole i Markě po smrьti svetorodnago cara Stefana). The hypothesis about the identity of Marko from the inscription and Markos was refuted by Evgenij P. Naumov. He died on 17th May 1395. He appears in the sources as mladi kralj. He was the co–ruler of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V, 27.9.1371–2. (4.) 12. 1371, since 2. (4). 12. 1371 formal king of the Serbian Empire. He was the son of the Serbian King Demetrios Blukasinos and Lena. His siblings were Andrěašь, Dmitьrь, Ivanišь and Olivera. He was married to Jelena, the daughter of Radoslabos Chlapenos. He divorced her and lived then with Thodora, who was the daughter of a certain Grьgurь, probably Grьgurь Branković. After the romance with Thodora ended, Markos gave Thodora to Radoslabos Chlapenos and remarried Jelena according to dijak Dobre, who wrote about it in a note in the festal Menaion (Pysa se sija knyga u Porěči, u selě zovom Kalugerecь vь dьni blagověrnago kralja Mar’ka, jegda ōdade Thodoru Grьgurovu ženu Hlapenu, a uze ženu svoju prьvověn’čan’nu Jelenu, Hlapenovu dьštere). Markos divorced her again because of her bad behaviour according to Mauro Orbini. The later Greek chronicler Makarios Melissenos relates that Andronikos IV Palaiologos, the son of the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes V Palaiologos, together with his father-in-law Markos, who ruled over the Bulgarian land, sought help at the court of the Ottoman Sultan (καὶ τοῦ πενθεροῦ αὐτοῦ Μάρκου τοῦ τῆς Βουλγαρίας ἔτι μέρος δεσπόζοντος). In July 1361 he was in Dubrovnik as an emissary. The Ragusans gave him back his silver deposit under the condition that he will not trade with it and with the 25 pounds of silver, which belonged to Lena, his mother (Prima pars est de restituendo Marco ambaxiatori argentum suum cum hac conditione, quod non possit emere mercationes cum ipso nisi de libris XXV argenti uxoris Volcassini). Demetrios Blukasinos intended to marry Markos to the daughter of the Croatian nobleman Gregor Pavlović Šubić. Demetrios Blukasinos contacted therefore the Bosnian King Tvrtko at whose court the woman lived as a protégé. The plan of Demetrios Blukasinos failed because of the opposition of Pope Urban V, who did not allow to marry the catholic princess to schismatic Markos. Pope Urban V expressed his point of view to Tvrtko in a letter from April 1370 (quodque tu eandem puellam tradere nuptui filio mangnifici viri Regis Rascie scismatico absque dictorum parentum voluntate procuras, in anime ipsius puelle periculum, eorundem parentum iniuriam et offensam fidei christiane). Markos is attested along with his mother Lena and his brother Andrěašь in the charter of the Serbian King Demetrios Blukasinos for the Ragusan Republic, which was issued on 5th April 1370 (i po vʼse dni veselešti mi se vь zemʼli kraljevstva mi sь prěvьzljubljenʼnomь kraljestva mi kralicomь kyra Lěnom i sь prěvьzʼljubʼljenʼnimi synovi kraljevstva mi Markomь i Anьdrějašemь). The Church of Saint Sunday (Sveta Nedela) in Prizren was renovated under the patronage of Markos in 1370/1371. He is attested as a young king in the ktirorial inscription (izvōljenjemь ōtca i vьplьštenijemь sina i blagodětiju svetago duha. sii svety i božьstvny hramь prěčьstïe vladičice naše bogordice. vьhoda ne sьzda se ï popisa. Pōvělěnïemь ï sь ōtkupōmь gospodina mladago krala marka lěto ·ѕ·ō·o·th· indiktiōn th). Ioannes Unklesis mentioned Markos in the charter for the Monastery Lavra on the Holy Mount Athos from April 1371 as his anepsei. Markos and Demetrios Blukasinos planned a campaign against Nikola Altomanović in the spring 1371. They camped near Skutari, on the territory of their ally Đurađ I Balšić, in July 1371 and were ready to attack Onogošt in the land of Altomanović (Li çintili homini et lo comun di Ragusa reçevi una littera, la qual lor mandasti tu Andrea Pastrovich, dando lor a savere, ca Jura cum misser lo re Volchassin et cum Marco suo fio, cum lor hoste son suta Scutari, et va sovra çuppan Nicola o in Anagast). The attack never took place, because the Ottomans threatened Ioannes Unklesis. Demetrios Blukasinos rushed to help his brother. After Ioannes Unklesis and Demetrios Blukasinos were killed at the battle of Marica on 26th September 1371, Markos became the co–ruler of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V. When the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V. died on 2th (or 4th) December 1371, Markos became the formal king of the Serbian Empire, but his rule was never accepted by the local Serbian aristocrats. Subsequently, the Serbian local aristocrats took advantage of the militarily weakened position of Markos and gradually seized large parts of his lands. Lazar took very early Priština and Novo Brdo, in 1372 Đurađ I Balšić occupied Prizren, later Kastoria, Bulkos (Vlkь Brankovikь) controlled since 1376/1377 the Skopje area and Konstantinos Dragases with his brother Ioannes expanded also their territory at the expense of Markos. Markos ruled since then over the area of Pelagonia and had his stronghold in Prilep. Markos minted his own coins. Markos renovated also the Church of the Saint Archangels in Prilep around 1372. The main entrance to the church is flanked by the painted portrait of Demetrios Blukasinos and Markos, who is depicted in the white sakkos. The portrait of Markos bears an inscription (Vь hrista boga věrenь kralь Marko). Markos became the vassal of the Ottoman sultan following the meeting at Serres in winter 1393/1394. Markos rebuilt the Saint Demetrius Monastery near the village Sušica (the so-called Marko’s Monastery) between 1376/1377 and 1381 (Izvōlenïemь ōtca i voplьšenïem sina i sьšestviemь svetago duha ōbnovi se i popisa si svety i božestavni hramь svetago velikōmučenika Hristova pobědōnosca i myrotočьca Dimitrija sь usrьdïemь i potštanïemь blagověrnago kralja Vlkašina sь blagověrniei kralice Eleny i sь prěvazljublenym eju i prьvorodnimь sinomь blagověrnimь kraljemь Markomь i Andreašemь i Ivanïšemь i Dimïtrom vь lěto ·ѕ·ō·p·e· si že monastirь nače se zdati lěto ·ѕ·ō·n·g· vь dni blagověrnago cara Stefana i hristoljubivago kralja Vlьkašina a sьvrši se vь dьni blagověrnago i hristoljubivago kralja Marka). The lunette of the south door of the monastery church is decorated with his portrait. Markos is shown holding a horn in his right hand and a scroll with the inscription Azь vь Hrista Boga blagověrьni kralь Markos sьzdahь i popisahь sy božestvni hramь. He together with his brother Markos marched in 1389 with the troops of the Ottoman Sultan Murad I against the army of the Serbian Prince Lazaros (Lazar Hrebeljanović) and Bulkos (Vuk Branković) according to the Tronoški rodoslov from the 18th century (Amuratь že ōbrativь voinstvō skoe na deržavu lazarevu, predvodimь markomь i andreemь). He together with Konstantinos Dragases as Ottoman vassals marched on the side of the Sultan Bayazid I. against the Wallachian army led by Mircea the Elder. He perished in the battle of Rovine on 17th May 1395. Markos is the hero of the Serbian epic poetry.
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Mladenes Prankos
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Died probably before 11th March 1365. The chrysobull charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V from 11th March 1365 refers to him as Sebastokrator (Romanь, synь sěvastokratora Bran’ka). He held the position of a Governor of Ōhrid between 1355 – 1365 (ἐπὶ δὲ τῇ ἑτέρᾳ Βοῦλκον τὸν τοῦ Πράγκου τοῦ Μλαδένεω υἱόν, Καστορίας τε καὶ Ὀχρίδος τῆς ἐν Μακεδονίᾳ ἡγεμόνος). His father was Mladen. His sister was Radoslava. He had three sons (Vuk Branković [Bulkos], Radonja [Nikolaos Radochnas], Grgur) and a daughter (Teodora). A psalter, which is now in the collection of the manuscripts in the library of the Romanian Academy of Sciences (Nr. 205), was written in 1346 by a certain Iōanь Bogoslav at the place called Borьčь (Borča) and designed for Branko Mladenović (Prankos Mladenes) (Izvolenijemь božijemь i vьplьštenijemь svetago duha i roždenijemь syna sii psaltirь napisa se pomoštiju božijeju i prěčistyje jego matere vь lěto .ѕōndʹ., jenьdikьto .g., sь potьštanijemь priležnymь i vsesrьdьčnymь jaže u ustavu božьstvьnyhь pisanii, napisa si psaltirь Branьko Mladěnovikь a rukoju mnogogrěšnaago, zavitaago vь sujetii žitiistěmь raba božija Iōana, a zavomь Bogoslava, vь měste rekoměmь Borьčь, vь dьni blagověrьnaago i bogočьtivaago i samodrьžьca vsěhь srьbьskyhь zemlь i pomorьskyhь kralja Stefana i syna mu kralja Uroša, vь to vrěme prěje gospodinь kralь Stěfanь gradь Kosturь, gradь Bělgradь, gradь Kaminu). Two pieces of embroidery, one of which is kept in the Hermitage and the other in the British Museum, belonged to Branko (Prankos Mladenes). The name of the owner and the motif of a lion near the name imply that it was once worn by Branko. His son Radonja/Roman (Nikolaos Radochnas) donated the patrimonial church of Saint Archangel with three villages Trstenik, Bežanići, Tušilo and the selište Hudine, which was granted by the Serbian Emperor to his father Branko, to the Hilandar Monastery. The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V confirmed the endowment of Radonja/Roman (Nikolaos Radochnas) on 11th March 1365 in a chrysobull charter (I kako prihodi kь carьstvu mi v’sečьstni starьcь Svetije Gori Athona, Romanь, synь sěvastokratora Bran’ka, i uspomenu carьstvu mi kako se jestь zgovorilь svoimь bratōmь Grьguromь i Vlьkōmь, i kako da prilože ōdь svoje baštine crьkvi svetoi Bogorodici hilandarskoi, i za uspomenutije v’sčьsthenoga star’ca Romana svoōm bratiōmь darova mu carьstvo mi crьkovь baštinu a svetago arьhangela s trьmi seli: s Trьstěnikomь i z Běžaniki i s Tušilōmь i selištemь, što jestь dalo bilo carьstvo mi sěvastokratoru Bran’ku s Hudinami ō česa jestь žitěje u Bugare poběglь, a pod crьkovь svetu Bogorodicu hilandar’sku).
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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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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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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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Radochnas Nikolaos
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Person
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Died on 3th December 1399. He appears as κῦρ in the sources. He was the Monk of the Hilandar Monastery (I vьz’ljubi žiti vь domu Svetyje Bogorodice Hilan’dar’skye, eže jestь novaa lavra). He was later Monk of the Saint Paul Monastery on Mount Athos. He was the eldest son of Prankos Mladenes. He had two brothers (Vuk Branković [Bulkos], Grьgurь) and a sister (Theodora). His wife, Helena (Elene), was the sister of Ioan Uglješa (Ioannes Unklesis). She and their two daughters died between 1358 and 1364 (Ἐκοιμήθη ἡ περιπόθητος αὐταδέλφη τοῦ πανευτυχεστάτου δεσπότου κῦρ Ἰωάννου τοῦ Οὔγκλεση κυρὰ Ἐλένη, ἡ ὁμόζυγου τοῦ εὐγενεστάτου κῦρ Νικολάου τοῦ Ραδόχνα. Συνετάφησαν δὲ ταύτῃ καὶ αἱ φίλτατοι αὐτῆς δύο θυγατέρες). He founded the chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas between 1358 and 1364, which was situated on the upper floor of the Katholikon of the Saint John Prodromos Monastery near Serres. He donated the patrimonial church of Saint Archangel with three villages Trstenik, Bežanići, Tušilo and the selište Hudine, which was granted by the Serbian Emperor to his father Branko, to the Hilandar Monastery. The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V confirmed the endowment of Radonja/Roman (Nikolaos Radochnas) on 11th March 1365 in a chrysobull charter (I kako prihodi kь carьstvu mi v’sečьstni starьcь Svetije Gori Athona, Romanь, synь sěvastokratora Bran’ka, i uspomenu carьstvu mi kako se jestь zgovorilь svoimь bratōmь Grьguromь i Vlьkōmь, i kako da prilože ōdь svoje baštine crьkvi svetoi Bogorodici hilandarskoi, i za uspomenutije v’sčьsthenoga star’ca Romana svoōm bratiōmь darova mu carьstvo mi crьkovь baštinu a svetago arьhangela s trьmi seli: s Trьstěnikomь i z Běžaniki i s Tušilōmь i selištemь, što jestь dalo bilo carьstvo mi sěvastokratoru Bran’ku s Hudinami ō česa jestь žitěje u Bugare poběglь, a pod crьkovь svetu Bogorodicu hilandar’sku). His brothers gave him the permission to donate the patrimonial church of Saint Archangel with three villages Trstenik, Bežanići, Tušilo and the selište Hudine to the Hilandar Monastery (Togda myi za egovo slad’ko bratoljubïe vьsesrьdьčno i ljubovno prijesmo za egovo hotěnïe i za pomoljenïe bratьsko i priložismo crьkvь svetago Arhaggela i sь selomь Trьstenikomь i sь vsakomь pravinomь crьkve tezi i sela toga i s měgjami sь ōttěsy i s Tušiljemь. I selište Hudin’ce sь megjami i sь vsěmь oprav’danïem ihь prosto rekь sь vsěmь oprav’danïemь što e bylь gospodinь i roditelь našь sevastokratorь priložilь crьkvy toizi. I ešte velikuju ego vьspomenuv’še bratoljubnuju i vsesrьdьčnuju ljubovь. Paky i za egovo umoljennïe priložismo gospodinu i otьcu našemu Rōmanu selo Bežanikje sь vsěmi megjami sela togo). He together with Antonije Bagaš (Antonios Pagases) bought probably before 1366 a ruined monastery complex on Mount Athos dedicated to Saint Paul. The Monastery of Xeropotamu allowed them to restore and found it. The monks of the Xeropotamu Monastery demanded after a few years their former property back. Matthaios, the patriarch of Constantinople, tried to reconcile both monasteries in dispute by issuing a sigillion. The sigillion of Matthaios from October 1403 mentions also Gerasim (Gerasimos) as one of the founders of the Saint Paul Monastery. He was a benefactor of the Kutlumus Monastery on the Mount Athos since 1370. He was in the group of the monks from the Hilandar Monastery, which came to the court of Stefan Lazarević between 1392 and 1396 (I kako prïhōdi kь mně izь Hilandara čьstiěiši vь inōkōhь starьcь kyrь Gjerasimь). The monks requested the donation of the Church of the Presentation of Mary at Ibar, which was a former patrimonial possession of Obrad Dragosaljić, to the Hilandar Monastery. He transferred the body of his deceased brother Vuk Branković [Bulkos] on Mount Athos in 1397.
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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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Raděnko
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Person
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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 is attested 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 (i sь htěnijemь matere Radeikove). He realised the will of his mother and donated the Church of the Holy Archangels in Veles with people, mills, vineyards 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 Raděnko in the charter for the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren (I priloži Raděnko sь htěnijemь i sь milostiju carьstva mi, i sь htěnijemь matere Radeikove, crьkvь u Velesu Arhaggela s ljudmi i s mlini i s vinogradi, i sь vsěmi pravinami crьkve te).
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Sguros Progonos
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Person
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Mentioned in the painted inscription over the west door of the narthex of the Church of the Virgin Peribleptos in Ōhrid (now Church of Saints Clement and Panteleimon) from 1294/1295. He appears as a κῦρ in the inscription. He held the position of Megas hetaireiarches, 1294–1295. Progonos Sguros was of noble Albanian background. He belonged with all probability to the family of Scura (Sgura). His wife was Eudokia. He was the son-in-law of the Byzantine Emperor (probably Michael VIII Palaiologos). According to the painted inscription over the west door of the narthex from 1294/1295 he commisioned together with his wife Eudokia Komnene the Church of the Virgin Peribleptos in Ōhrid (now Church of Saints Clement and Panteleimon), at that time under Byzantine rule. He was holding the rank of megas hetaireiarches and was through his wife related to the family of Byzantine emperor (Ἀνηγέρθει ὁ θεῖος καὶ πάνσεπτος ναὸς οὗτος τῆς πανυπεράγνου δέσποινης ἡμῶν Θεοτόκου τῆς περιβλέπτου διά τε συνδρομῆς καὶ ἐξόδου κυροῦ Προγόνου τοῦ Σγουροῦ τοῦ μεγάλου ἑταιρειάρχου καὶ τῆς συζύγου αὐτοῦ κυρὰς Εὐδοκίας καὶ γαμβροῦ τοῦ κραταιοῦ καὶ ἁγίου ἡμῶν αὐτοκράτορος καὶ βασιλέως· ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ εὐσεβεστάτου βασιλέος καὶ αὐτοκράτωρος Ῥωμαίων Ἀνδρονίκου τοῦ Παλαιολόγου· καὶ Εἰρήνης τῆς εὐσεβεστάτης αὐγούστης· ἀρχιερατεύοντος δὲ Μακαρίου τοῦ παναγιωτάτου ἀρχιεπισκόπου τῆς Πρότης Ἰουστινιανῆς καὶ πάσης Βουλγαρίας· ἐπὶ ἔτους· ϛ ω γ ἰνδικτιῶνος η). An epigram embroidered on an altar cloth in the thirteenth or fourteenth century and now kept in the National Historical Museum at Sofia seems to be a gift of the famous megas hetaireiarches and his wife (Δῶρόν σοι κλεινὸς μέγας ἑταιρειάρχης/ τύπον σῆς σταυρώσεως ἀνατυπῶ σοι/ ἐκ τῆς δοκούσης τάχα τιμίας ὕλης/ σὺν Εὐδοκίᾳ τῇ ὁμοζύγῳ, Λόγε,/ οὔσῃ Κομνηνῇ μητροπαπποπατρόθεν/ ἵνα λύσιν λάβωμεν ἀμπλακημάτων).
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Stanjevikь Nikola
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Person
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Identical with the nobleman Nikola, who is mentioned in the inscription above the southern entrance of the Church of the Holy Virgin in Drenovo? He was the petitioner of the charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V concerning the donation of the Church of Saint Stephen in Konče with all its possessions to the Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos from the 9th May 1366. He appears as "mnogovьzljublenni vlastelinь i brat carьstva mi" in the charter. He was the grand duke (veliki vojevoda). He became a land near the village Konče probably after 1346 from the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan. He erected the Church of Saint Stephen in the village of Konče (priloži i da mu potpiše carьstvo mi materi Bōžijei hilandarьskōi crьkьvь u Kon’či Svetago Stěfana što si jestь sьzidalь svoimь trudōm i ōtkupumь u svojei baštině zapisanoi, što mu jestь zapisalь i utvrьdilь roditelь carьstva mi, u baštinu do věki, svetopočivьši carь). The marble tomb slab, which was kept in the narthex of the Church of Saint Stephen in Konče, bore an inscription mentioning him as the grand duke and founder of the church († Nikola Stanevikь veliki voevoda ktitor). He donated people, vine stocks, fields and fruit trees (dade gospodinь vojevoda podь svetoga Stefana svetogorcemь: ljudi, lozija, nivija, vokija) to the Church of Saint Stephen in the village of Konče. On 9th May 1366 the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V carried out the desire of the grand duke Nikola Stanjević and donated the Church of Saint Stephen in Konče, several villages in the surrounding of the village Konče and other possessions to the Hilandar Monastery (I tuzi crьkьvь prilaga i potpisuje carьstvo mi materi Božijei halandarskōi, vь pomenь brata carьstva mi vojevode Nikole i vsěmi seli crьkve Svetago Stěfana...i sela ina koja se nahode u meteseh kōnčkihь, mala, golěma kude jestь posadilь vojevoda ōtroke svoje. I sijazi sela više pisanna Svetago Stefana da si ima i drži božьstvnnaja crьkьvi mati Božija Hilandarska s ljudmi, s vinogradi, s planinami, s vodeničijem, sь je livadijemь i prosto rekše sь vsěmi megjami i pravinami i sь vsěmь periōrōm selь tehь). His possessions near the village Konče, Lubnica and Trěskavec are mentioned in the land-inventory of the church of Saint Stephen in the village of Konče, which was created after the church became a possession of the Hilandar Monastery. He owned two so-called stlps (vojevodinь stlьpь podь Vodeni Dolь; i podь Ōhrьčevemi kukami stlьpь vojevodinь koi Ōhrьčь drьži i Luka podь vojevodinu vodenicu i stlьpь koi drži Ōhrьčь i Dragina livade), a field (niva vojevodina na brode Prьševьskomь), a mill (trěbežь ōtroka Novakova konь mlina vojevodina), a watermill (vojevodina vodenica) and a vineyard (niva Dodejeva nadь lozijemь vojevodinemь). He donated an illuminated gospel manuscript (Hilandar Nr. 14) written by the monk Theōktistь to the Hilandar Monastery (Azь rabь Hristovь Stanjevikь velikyi voevoda Nikola priložihь sii světii i božьstvьnii tetravan’gelь prěčistoi Bogorodici hilan’darьskoi i molju jegože izvoli Bogь igumena i vsu bratiju vь domu svetije Bogorodice hilan’darьskyje ili gos’podьstvujušta srьbskoju zem’ljeju sije směreno trudoljubije ne ōtneti ōt domu Bogorodice hilan’darьskyje).
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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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Tzamplakon Arsenios
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Person
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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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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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Vladojevikь Mladěnь
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Person
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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).
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