Maps of Power

Pavlikianov 2001

Properties

ID 123807
System Class Bibliography
Bibliography Book
Case Study Byzantino-Serbian Border Zones in Transition (1282–1355) , Historical Region of Macedonia TIB 16

Description

Cyril Pavlikianov, The Medieval Aristocracy on Mount Athos (Sofia 2001).

Relations

Actors (6)
Name Class Begin End Relation Type Description
Boichnas Person 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.
Isaris Georgios Person Deceased by April 1374. He appears as κῦρ, οἰκεῖος of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan and the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes V. Palaiologos in the sources. He was in charge of Megas Drungarios τοῦ στόλου, 1344. Eparchos, 1348–1350. Megas Primikerios, 1366. Megas Konostaulos, 1367–1374. He was married to Xene Isarina. He had two sons (Michael Angelos Isaris and Theodoros Komnenos Isaris). His son-in-law was Georgios Stanisas. He was a wealthy landowner, who possessed several estates around Thessalonica. He was probably the student of Georgios Akindynos. He also corresponded with him. He was a supporter of the anti-Palamite party. When he turned his coat, he was criticized by Georgios Akindynos as a traitor. He was among the witnesses to the charter of protovestiarites Ioannes Dukas from September 1344, who rejected the claim of the revenue office on the part of the place Diabolokampos, a property of the Docheiariu Monastery. He joined in summer 1345 the proponents of the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos. He was nearly killed during the revolt of the Zealots. He met Gregorios Palamas on Moun Athos between September 1347 and September 1348. The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan donated in April 1348 the dependant peasants in the area of Hermelia, which belonged to Georgios Isaris. The Byzantine Emperor Ioannes V. Palaiologos gave in December 1350 several landed estates to Demetrios Kokalas in addition to his oikonomia. He mandated Georgios Isaris with Manuel Chageres to execute the task. He had a 11 years lasting quarrel with the Hilandar Monastery. He required the sum, which Georgios Stanisas, his son-in-law, paid in order to obtain adelphata. When Stanisas died, Isaris tried to get the money of his son-in-law back. He did not even hesitate to forge documents related to the affair. He was a friend of Makarios Chumnos and probably sponsored his foundation of Nea Moni in Thessalonica.
Kallinikos (2) Person Mentioned in the sources between 1310 and September 1327. He appears as κῦρ in the charters. He was a Hieromonk. He was a native Serbian. He was an experienced diplomat (ὁ πρεσβευτὴς δὲ μοναχὸς ἦν, Καλλίνικος κεκλημένος, τὸ γένος μὲν καὶ αὐτὸς Τριβαλὸς, εὖ δὲ εἰδὼς καιροῖς καὶ πράγμασι πολιτικοῖς χρῆσθαι δι’ ἐμπειρίαν). The Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin sent him as an emissary to the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos before 1318. He was also in the service of the Byzantine Emperor. He asked the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos before January 1318 to award the solder Manuel Garianos with a chrysobull charter. Andronikos II Palaiologos issued a charter for Manuel Garianos, where he guaranted the possession of Garianos at the village Euiane as patrimonial and taxless (Ἐπεὶ ὁ τιμιώτατος ἱερομόναχος κῦρις Καλλίνικος, ἀποσταλεὶς ἀποκρισιάριος εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν μου παρὰ τοῦ περιποθείτου υἱοῦ καὶ γαμβροῦ αὐτῆς τοῦ ὑψηλοτάτου κράλη Σερβείας, καὶ διὸ εὑρίσκεται ἐπιμελούμενος καὶ ἐνεργῶν εἰς τὰς δουλείας τῆς βασιλείας μου καὶ ἔχων ἀναδοχὴν καὶ διάθεσιν παρ’ αὐτῆς, ἐζήτησε καὶ παρεκάλασεν περὶ τοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ Σερριωτικοῦ μεγάλου ἀλλαγίου Μανουὴλ τοῦ Γαριάνου, ἵνα ποριση̣ται χρυσόβουλλον τῆς βασιλείας μου καὶ κατέχη τὴν γονικὴν αὐτοῦ ὑπόστασιν εἰς τὸ χωρίον τὴν Ηὔνιανην). In 1320/1321 he negotiated in Constantinople about a secret alliance between Andronikos III. Palaiologos and the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin against the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos. The Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos ceded Kallinikos in September 1321 the small monastery of Saint Nicholas in Kamenikeia near Serres for use (Ἐπεὶ ὁ τιμιώτατος ἱερομόναχος κῦρ Καλλίνικος εὑρίσκεται ἄνθρωπος καλὸς καὶ τρέφων καθαρωτάτην εὔνοιαν εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν μου καὶ ἐπιμελούμενος εἰς τὰς δουλείας αὐτῆς, παρεκλήτευσεν ἵνα πορίσηται χρυσόβουλλον τῆς βασιλείας μου καὶ ἐπιλάβηται καὶ κατέχῃ τὸ περὶ τὰς Σέρρας εἰς τὴν τοποθεσίαν τῆς Καμενικείας διακείμενον μονύδριον τὸ εἰς ὅνομα τιμώμενον τοῦ παμμάκαρος ἁγίου Νικολάου, καὶ ἐπιμεληθῇ καὶ συστήσῃ καὶ βελτιώσῃ αὐτὸ καὶ ἔχῃ ὡς ἴδιον αὐτοῦ παρ’ ὅλην αὐτοῦ τὴν ζωήν, μετὰ δὲ τὴν ἀποβίωσιν αὐτοῦ). Kallinikos obtained in 1321 one third of the village Mamitzon. In 1322 he received two plots of land near Kamenikeia from the sebastos Athanasios, who was his spiritual son (ἡμεῖς οἱ ἐνταῦθα σιγνογραφήσαντες, ἀποχαριζόμεθα οἰκείᾳ βουλῇ καὶ θελήσει πρὸς σὲ τὸν ἐν μοναχοῖς τιμιώτατον καὶ κατὰ κύριον αὐθέντην καὶ πατέρα ἡμῶν κῦρ Καλλίνικον τὰ ἐκγονικόθεν ἡμῖν περιελθόντα χωράφια, τὰ ἐν τῇ τοποθεσίᾳ τῆς Καμενικείας εὑρισκομενα ἐν δυσὶ τόποις, ἀφ’ ὧν τὸ μὲν ἕν κομμάτιον τὸ πλησίον τοῦ πρωτοψάλτου, τὸ δὲ ἕτερον κομμάτιον πλησίον τοῦ ἀποιχομένου ἐκείνου Ῥάσκομον καλουμένου, τὰ ὅσα καὶ οἱα εἰσί, καθὼς ἐνέμοντο καὶ ἐδεσπόζοντο παρ’ ἡμῶν, καὶ ἔχειν σε ἐπ’ ἐξουσίᾳ τὸν ἐν μοναχοῖς τιμιώτατων κῦρ Καλλίνικον τὸν κατὰ κύριον αὐθέντην καὶ πατέρα ἡμῶν ποιεῖν ἐπ’ αὐτοῖς ὡς δόξει σοι, ἀφιερεῖσθαι ἐν τῇ σεβασμίᾳ μονῇ ἢ ἔνθα βούλει, ἡμῶν ἀποβαλλομένων τὴν τῶν εἰρημένων χωραφίων δεσποτείαν, ποιεῖν δὲ ἐν αὐτοῖς τὸν συνήθη παρ’ ἡμῶν δεφενσίωνα· διὰ γὰρ τοῦτο ἐγεγόνει καὶ τὸ παρὸν ἡμέτερον γράμμα καὶ ἐπεδόθη σοι τῷ εἰρημένῳ μοι αὐθέντῃ καὶ πατρὶ κῦρ Καλλινίκῳ εἰς βεβαίαν ἀσφάλειαν). The Metropolitan of Thessalonike granted the Monastery of Saint George Kanites in Thessalonike to Kallinikos. The Byzantine Emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos confirmed the donation of the Metropolitan of Thessalonike in July 1323 (Ἐπεὶ ὁ ἱερώτατος μητροπολίτης Θεσσαλονίκης ἔξαρχος πάσης Θετταλίας καὶ ὑπέρτιμος δέδωκε διὰ γράμματος αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὸν τιμιώτατον ἱερομόναχον κῦρ Καλλίνικον τὴν ἐντὸς τῆς θεοσώστου πόλεως Θεσσαλονίκης σεβασμίαν μονὴν τὴν ἐπ’ ὀνόματι τετιμημένην τοῦ ἁγίου ἐνδόξου μεγαλομάρτυρος καὶ τροπαιοφόρου Γεωργίου καὶ ἐπικεκλημένην τοῦ Κανίτου μετὰ πάσης τῆς νομῆς καὶ τῶν δικαίων αὐτῆς, προέβη δὲ εἰς τοῦτο καὶ χρυσόβουλλον τοῦ ἁγίου μου αὐθέντου καὶ βασιλέως τοῦ πάππου τῆς βασιλείας μου, καὶ ἐδεήθη ὁ ῥηθεὶς ἱερομόναχος κῦρ Καλλίνικος τυχεῖν καὶ χρυσοβούλλου τῆς βασιλείας μου, ἡ βασιλεία μου τὴν τοιαύτην παράκλησιν αὐτοῦ προσδεξαμένη διὰ τὸν ἀγῶνα καὶ τὴν ἐπιμέλειαν καὶ τὴν σπουδήν, ἣν δεικνύει εἰς τὰς δουλείας τῆς βασιλείας ἡμῶν, καὶ διὰ τὴν εὔνοιαν καὶ τὸν ζῆλον καὶ τὴν πίστιν, ἣν τρέφει ἀκραιφνῆ εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν μου, καὶ ὅτι κατανοεῖ αὐτὸν τῆς αὐτῆς μέλλοντα ἔχεσθαι καὶ ἔτι προθέσεως, τὸν παρόντα χρυσόβουλλον λόγον αὐτῆς προβῆναι εὐδοκεῖ, δι’ οὗ προστάσσει καὶ διορίζεται κατέχειν τὸν τοιοῦτον ἱερομόναχον κῦρ Καλλίνικον τὴν ῥηθεῖσαν μονὴν μετὰ τῶν αὐτῇ προσόντων πάντων ἀναφαιρέτως, ἀνενοχλήτως παντάπασι καὶ ἀδιασείστως, ἐφ’ ὅρῳ τῆς αὐτοῦ βιοτῆς, καὶ ἔχειν ἄδειαν συνιστᾶν καὶ βελτιοῦν καὶ αὔξειν αὐτὴν καθὼς ἂν προαιρῆται καὶ δύνηται). He donated the monastery of Saint Nicholas in Kamenikeia near Serres to the Hilandar Monastery in October 1323. The Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos confirmed his endowment in September 1327.
Radochnas Nikolaos Person 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.
Tzamplakon Arsenios Person 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.
Unklesis Ioannes Person He died on 29th June 1371 during the battle against the Ottomans at Černomen/Marica. The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V bestowed on 9th August 1365 the title of Despot upon him. Ioannes Unklesis enlarged the Simonos Petra-Monydrion and made from it the Simonos Petra-Monastery on the Mount Athos out of gratitude for being awarded with the title. He endowed it with many lands. Ioannes Unklesis issued between 9th August 1365 and October 1368 a chrysobull charter regarding his ktitorial activity in the Simonos Petra-Monastery on Mount Athos, which has been preserved only in the transcription of Kyrillos Lukaris, the Patriarch of Constantinople, from 1622/1623. He designates himself as δεσπότης καὶ αὐτοκράτωρ πάσης Σερβίας καὶ Ῥωμανίας in this charter. He signed the charter in favour of the Zographu-Monastery on the Mount Athos in February 1369 as Ἰωάννης ἐν Χριστῶ τῷ Θεῷ πιστὸς δεσπότης καὶ αὐτοκράτωρ, ὁ Οὔγκλεσης. He designated his reign since March 1368 as βασιλεία. He retained this self-designation till 1371. This self-designation appears in the Slavic documents in the form „carstvo“. He was the groom (ἱπποκόμος) of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan. Ioannes Unklesis, who held the position of grand duke, confirmed in 1358 an endowment of his mother-in-law, the wife of Boichnas, for the Kutlumus Monastery (ὅπερ ἐπροσίλοσεν ἡ ἁγία μου κυρία ἡ Κεσάρισα πρὸς αὐτὴν τὴν μονὴν ἐν τι τοποθεσία τὴ ἐπικεκλημένι ἡ Προυνέα χάριν ψυχηκὴς δωρεὰς αὐτῆς ζευγαρίων τεσσάρον... ἐγὼ Οὔγλεσις μέγας βοεβόδας ἀπὸ τὴς αὐτοῦ ἐλεημοσίνης τοὺ αὐθέντου ἡμῶν τοὺ πανευτυχεστάτου δεσπότου καὶ τοὺ ἀδελφοὺ αὐτοὺ τοὺ [...τ...]ου μου στέργο καὶ βεβεῶ τὰ τιαύτα χωράφια εἰς τὴν Προυνέαν γὴν ζευγαρίων τεσάρον ὅπος νέμωσην οἱ τιαύτοι μοναχοὶ τὴς θείας βασιλεικῆς μονῆς τοὺ Κουτλουμούσι ἀκολείτος). He signed the document as velik vōevoda. His father was Margnaua (Orbini)/ Margna (Luccari), who was a poor nobleman from Livno in Hum. Ioannes Unklesis was the cousin (ἀνεψιός) of Helene, the Serbian Empress. His brother was Demetrios Blukasinos and his sister was Helene. The husband of his sister was Nikolaos Radochnas (Νικόλαος ῾Ραδόχνας, Nikola Radonja). He was married to Euphemia. Ioannes Unklesis was the son-in-law of Boichnas (Voihna). He was the father of Uglješa, who died as a child. The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan took his father and the whole family to the court. The senate of the Ragusan republic (Consilium rogatorum) granted the payment of 50 ducats to Ioannes Unklesis on 22th July 1346 (In consilio rogatorum, in quo interfuerunt 34 consiliarii, captum fuit per omnes, nemine discortante, quod Ugiesse barono huius contrate noviter misso a domino imperatore, pro confirmanda et captanda benivolentia cum ipso ei ut habeat causam bene vivendi cum terra, de avere comunis detur et donetur eidem usque florenos seu ducatos L, prout videbitur d. comiti et suo minori consilio). Ioannes Unklesis governed independently in the are of Serres, Christupolis (Kavala), Philippoi, Drama and Zichnai. He had a good connection to the monks in Mount Athos and acknowledged Sabas, the Protos at the Mount Athos, in 1369 as his spiritual father. The Batopedi Monastery on the Mount Athos obtained at the beginning of the year 1365 from Ioannes Unklesis the Monastery of Theotokos Spelaiotissa in the vicinity of the town Melnik with vineyards and gardens, the village Tzukarades, land near the gate of the Lower Town of Melnik, twelwe subjects within the fortress of Melnik, the village Katunitza, the monydrion Hagios Georgios Aliseres, the village Hagia Kyriake, the village Dempreane, the village Mpusdobos, four mills within the fortress of Melnik, two mills in Katunitza, and other lands in the vicinity of the town Melnik. The Byzantine Emperor Ioannes V Palaiologos issued in September 1365 a chrysobull charter at the request of the Despot Ioannes Unklesis, in which he donated estates in the vicinity of Serres and Kalamaria to the Hilandar Monastery (Ἐπεὶ ὁ περιπόθητος ἀνεψιὸς τῆς ὑψηλοτάτης δεσποίνης Σερβίας καὶ περιποθήτου ἀδελφῆς τῆς βασιλείας μου, εὐτυχέστατος δεσπότης τῆς Σερβίας κῦρ Ἰωάννης ὁ Οὔγκλεσις, ἐζήτησε καὶ παρεκάλεσε τὴν βασιλείαν μου ἵνα γένηται χρυσόβουλλον τοῖς μοναχοῖς τῆς κατὰ τὸ ἅγιον ὄρος τοῦ Ἄθω διακειμένης σεβασμίας μονῆς, τῆς εἰς ὄνομα τιμωμένης τῆς πανυπεράγνου δεσποίνης καὶ θεομήτορος καὶ ἐπικεκλημένης τοῦ Χελανταρίου, καὶ κατέχωσι καὶ εἰς τοεξῆς τὸ περὶ τὰς Σέρρας χωρίον, τὸ καλούμενον τοῦ Ποθολινοῦ, ἔτι τε τὸ ἐν τῇ Καλαμαρίᾳ ἕτερον χωρίον τὸ καλούμενον Λιγνὸν μετὰ τῆς σκάλλας αὐτοῦ). In January 1366 ugodni vlastelin Novakь Mrasorovikь addressed the request to the Serbian Despot Ioannes Unklesis and also to the Serbian King Demetrios Blukasinos to approve his donation of the village Koprivljane to the Monastery Hagios Panteleemon on the Holy Mount Athos. Both of them confirmed the endowment of Novakь Mrasorovikь to the Monastery Hagios Panteleemon on the Holy Mount Athos in a separate chrysobull charter (Sьdrьžeštu mi sia vsa blagověrьnōmu i Bogomь postavlěnnōmu despotu Iōanu Ugleši despotьstvujuštu; blagōvěrьnyi despotь Iōannь Uglešь). The Despot Ioannes Unklesis sponsored the hospital at the Batopedi Monastery and the Esphigmenu Monastery as well. He erected the monydrion of Saint Nicholas at Karyes. He was the ktitor of the small church of Saint Anargyroi at the Batopedi Monastery, where he is portrayed as a patron. The Serbian Despot Ioannes Unklesis confirmed the donation of Kaisar Boichnas (Voihna) for the monk and spiritual father Daniil. He approved all privileges concerning the Church of the Saint Archangels Michael and Gabriel above Gabrovo for him (Kako pride kь carьstvu mi čьstni starьcь duhovьnikь kyrь Daniil…Mihaila i Gabrila više Gabrova, i prinese mi zapisanie gospodina….roditelě mi kesara, i viděhь pročtohь čto jestь zapisalь i….kesarь Voihna, i ini hristoljubivi crьkvi onoizi ljud…..zemle: bystь hotěnije carьstvu mi kudě godě mu se što nahodi……hru….ljud…..vinogradь, perivolja, ili i mlinь, ima hotěnije carьstvo mi kako da je……vь věkomь, i da jestь pace svobodna, nikiimь nepotьknovlenno….). Ioannes Unklesis donated in April 1369 the village Neōhorь on the plain of Mavrovo with all boundaries and rights to the Monastery of Kutlumus. The monastery obtained all estates, which were in possession of Theōdorь Ōduevikь. The community of monks on the Mount Athos received also pronoia helders with people, land parcels and fruit trees, which were in some way dependent upon Kalabaris (Kalavar) (selo u poli Mavrovьskom imenem Neōhorь sь vsemi megami i s pravinami sela togai, sь vsemь što e drьžalь Theōdorь Ōduevikь pri carstvě mi, i pri Kalavari proniari što su drьžali ili ljudi ili vokie sь vsem periorom sela). At the instance of the monk Theodosios and his confreres from the Monastery Batopedi Ioannes Unklesis pledged to grant in November 1369 120 hyperpyra per annum, extracted from the revenues of the lake of Porou, to the monastery. The Serbian Despot Ioannes Unklesis gave between 1369 and 1371 the selište located between the village Akroterion (Akrotirion) and the river Plumiska as a tax-free property to the Monastery of Batopedi with all rights. The selište was a possession of Lanzo (probably Lantzaretos), who lived at the time as Kalabaris or was bonded by a certain contract with Kalabaris (i darova crtvo mi ōbitěli prstie Bce Vatopedu selište megju Akrotiro, i megju Plumsko šte e drьžalь Lanzo pri Kalavari sь vsemi megjami i pravinami sela toga). The Protaton on Mount Athos gathered in December 1370 at the behest of the Serbian Despot Ioannes Unklesis ruled the dispute over the village of Mpresnitza in favour of the Hilandar Monastery. He endowed in 1370/1371 the Hilandar Monastery with the village Akroterion (Akrotirion) and the katun of Vlachs Zarvince. He gave also pastures and hunting grounds in the vicinity of the village Akroterion and the katun of Vlachs Zarvince to the monastery (I priložihь na jezěre, u prěděle rědinьskōmь, selo Akrotirь i s pašišti i sь lovišti i sь v’sěmi megjami i pravinami sela toga. I selo katunь vlahь imenemь Zar’vin’ce sь v’sěmi pašišti i megjami i pravinami sela togo). Ioannes Unklesis donated in or before 1371 a vineyard and a farmland in the place called Koremistes to the monastery complex Theotokos Kataphygion near Melnik (ἕτερον ἀμπέλιον καὶ ζευγηλατεῖον, εὑρισκόμενα περὶ τὸν τόπον τῆς Κορεμίστης, ἅπερ ἔδωκεν ὁ εὐτυχέστατος δεσπότης Σερβίας ὁ Οὔγκλεσης). In January 1371 Sabas, the Protos at the Mount Athos, granted the small monastery of Makrou to Ioannes Unklesis. In April 1371 Ioannes Unklesis donated the fishpond of Saint Theodore in the lake of Porou with all its possessions and rights, including the fishing privileges in the lagoon, to the Batopedi Monastery. Ioannes Unklesis established the contact with Constantinople in 1367/1368 in order to reconcile with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and to overcome the schism. He therefore received Theophanes, the Metropolitan of Nikaia and at the same time emissary of the patriarch of Constantiople, at his residence. He send im March 1368 a letter to the Patriarchate of Constantinople, which has been preserved in the Register of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Ioannes Unklesis proposed in the letter that the metropolises in the territory of his realm, among them the Metropolises of Drama, Christupolis, Serres and Zichna should respect the authority of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Philotheos Kokkinos, the Patriarch of Constantinople, and the Ecumenil synod issued a charter in May 1371, where they officialy proclaimed the Union with the eparchies under the control of Ioannes Unklesis. Philotheos Kokkinos describes him as ὁ εὐτυχέστατος δεσπότης Σερβίας, κῦρις Ἰωάννης ὁ Οὔγκλεσης, τοῦ πλέον τοῖς ἡμετέροις μέρεσιν ἐγγίζοντος τόπου κύριος καταστὰς, ἄνθρωπος ὑπάρχων φρόνιμος καὶ καλὸς καὶ τρόπου καὶ συνειδήσεως ἀγαθῆς καὶ τὸν τοῦ θεοῦ φόβον κεκτημένος, ἠθέλησεν ἐπανασώσασθαι τὰς ἐκκλησίας ταύτας τῇ ἰδίᾳ μετρὶ καὶ κεφαλῇ τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν. Demetrios Blukasinos and his brother Ioannes Unklesis commanded the Serbian forces, which fought against the Ottoman army commanded by the Beglerbeg Lala Şahin Pasha and Evrenos near the village Černomen on 26th September 1371. His name is attested in the brebion (memorial book), which has been preserved at Protaton in Karyes on Mount Athos (Protaton 340 [113], 1v: Ἔτι δεόμεθα ὑπὲρ μακαρίας μνήμης καὶ ἀφέσεως τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν τῶν ἀειμνήστων δούλων τοῦ Θεοῦ Δημητρίου κράλη καὶ Ἰωάννου δεσπότου καὶ τῶν σὺν αὐτοῖς ἀναιρεθέντων ὀρθοδόξων χριστιανῶν).