Maps of Power

Lena

Elena, Chiralegna, Еlisaveta.

Description

Mentioned in the sources from 1348 to 1388/1389. The sources refer to her as kyra. She was Serbian queen (kralica). She became nun probably before 1385. She was married to Demetrios Blukasinos (Δημήτριος Βλουκασῖνος). They had together four sons (Marko, the King, Andrěašь, Dmitьrь, Ivaniša) and one daughter (Olivera). She made her testament during the Great Plague at Dubrovnik in 1348 (Item a Chiralegna mare de Peter de Tolen). She is attested along with her sons Marko and 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 Andrějašemь). The executors of the last will of Pavle Barabić from the Ragusan republic contacted on 8th June 1374 her logotet Dabiživь (cum logofeto, misso per consortem condam dicti domini regis et per heredes suos) in order to control the treasury of Demetrios Blukasinos, which the Serbian King had deposited at Pavle Barabić. Dabiživь became 30 ducats for his expenses. Her name appears in the ktitorial inscription above the south door in the interior of the Church of the so-called Marko’ Monastery (Saint Demetrius Monastery in Sušice near Skopje), which was completed in 1376/1377 (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). She is mentioned as the mother of Andrěašь in the ktitorial inscription of the Saint Andreas Monastery by the river Treska from 1388/1389 (trudomь i podvigom hristoljubivago raba božija andrěaša sina ftorago blagověrnago kralě Vlьkašina i kralice Eleni monahini Elisaveti). Her name appears in the Bigorski pomenik (prisnopominaemuju kralicu monahïju Elisavethu).

Relations

Actors (6)
Name Class Begin End Relation Type Description
Andrěašь Person ParentOf(ChildOf) He died between 1394 and 1399. He was killed in the battle of Rovine on 17th May 1395 according to the Dečanski letopis (Va lěto 6902 razbi mirčje voevoda vlaški pajazita na rovinahь i tu pogibie marko kraljevičь i kōnstantïnь, i andrea, i koimenь, oktōbrïa 10 gь). One of the first preserved epic poems about the brothers Marko and Andrijaš from 1556 relates about the murder of Andrěašь by his brother Markos. He appears as kralevikь in the inscription on the edge of the vault of the Saint Andreas Church by the river Treska. He was the son of the Serbian King Demetrios Blukasinos and Lena. His siblings were Markos, Dmitьrь, Ivanišь and Olivera. He is attested along with his mother Lena and his brother Marko 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). After the death of his father in 1371 he remained at the court of his mother Lena. He minted his own coins with the legend blagověrni andreaš. Grubadin, the kefalija of Porěčie district, send him a message about the disobedience of his garrison force (Gospodinu mi Andrejašu ōd Grubadina tvoegō kefalije...tuži mi se ōt [tvoih?] junakь neposluha). Andrěašь appears in the ktitorial inscription above the south door in the interior of the Church of the so-called Marko’ Monastery (Saint Demetrius Monastery in Sušice near Skopje), which was completed in 1376/1377 (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). He together with his mother Lena was the ktitor of the Saint Andreas Monastery by the river Treska. In 1388/1389 he endowed the monastery with villages near the field and beyond the hill: The ktitorial inscription above the entrance on the western wall of the naos gives account about the villages Bukurci and Poviьlno, which were exchanged for the villages Momkovo and Ivanje from the endowment of the Saint Demetrius Monastery near the village Sušica (the so-called Marko’s Monastery) (trudomь i podvigom hristoljubivago raba božija andrěaša sina ftorago blagověrnago kralě Vlьkašina i kralice Eleni monahini Elisaveti i eliko vьzmožno bistь dahomь i priložihomь svetěi crьkьvi sela u poli i u zabrьdi sь metohomь i pravinami jaže pisana sutь izvěstně o vsemь jaže o nihь v vrevi vь hrisovulě. I si dvě selě tamo Bukurci i Povilьno vь zaměnenie crьkьvi sušičkoi z govoromь i dahomь za Momkovo i za Ivane poneže tako priležno bistь ōboimь crьkьvamь imeti tako sija sela bezьsьmušena vь utvrьždenie lěto ·ѕ·ō·č·z· indiktiōn). The list of villages granted to the Saint Andreas Monastery by the river Treska by Andrěašь appears in another inscription on the edge of the vault of the Saint Andreas Church by the river Treska (trudomь i podvigomь raba božia kralevikь andreaša se že priloženie svetě crьkьvi hrisovulě sьvoiomь.....selo Šišoevci i metohь jego sь obě straně rěke i orašie i lovišta. Selo Dučinci s metohomь starimь i lovišta i Kačěpuri s metohomь. Selo Ivane i Lozno s metohomь. Selo Dlьbočica i Uzdolie s metochomь. Selo Lukovica i Krušica s metohomь....Zaselie sa vьsěmi pravinami selь tehь lovišta i planine). He together with his brother Markos marched 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 probably left Macedonia with his brother Dmitьrь following the meeting at Serres in winter 1393/1394, because they refused to serve the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I. He and his brother Dmitьrь came in summer 1394 to Dubrovnik. They received on 10th August 1394 374 perper and 6 grossi from the treasury of their father, which was deposited at the place of the nobleman Pavle Barabić (Paulus de Baraba). The last part of the treasury was reserved for their brother King Markos (denarii quondam regis Volchassini....due partes Andree et Dymitrio, filiis et heredibus condam regis Volcasini, mandato prescripti domini rectoris perperos trecentos septuaginta quatuor et grossos sex, tertia parte dictorum yperperorum reservata pro Marcho rege). Dmitьrь and Andreas were pleasently surprised by the large amount of money, that was paid to them by the Ragusan republic. They migrated afterwards in Hungary according to a later charter of the Ragusan republic to the duke Sandal Hranjić from 1423, where they found their livelihood (trovaron pane).
Dmitьrь Person ParentOf(ChildOf) Vladimir Ćorović suggested that Dmitьrь was the patron of the fresco painting of the Saint Nicholas in the lunette of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Prilep (primi gospodi molenie raba svoego dimitra). Gojko Subotić showed that the corresponding inscription was made in 1477/1478. He is mentioned in the sources from 1376/1377 to 1412. He died after 30th June 1407 and before 1410. A certain terminus ante quem is the charter of the Court judge Simon Rozgonyi from 29th July 1412, where the death of Dmitьrь is attested (tempore mortis condam Demetrij filij Vilkuli, Regis tunc similiter Castellani de Wylagusuar). He appears as kraljevikь, dominus, viro magnifico ac spectabili in the sources. He held the position of the castellanus of the town Világos (now Şiria), 1404–1409/1410? and comes comitatus of the Zaránd (now Arad) county, 1404–1407/1408. He was the son of the Serbian King Demetrios Blukasinos and Lena. His siblings were Markos, Andrěašь, Ivanišь and Olivera. He is attested in the ktitorial inscription above the south door in the interior of the Church of the so-called Marko’ Monastery (Saint Demetrius Monastery in Sušice near Skopje), which was completed in 1376/1377 (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). After the death of his father in 1371 he remained at the court of his mother Lena. He probably left Macedonia with his brother Andrěašь following the meeting at Serres in winter 1393/1394, because they refused to serve the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I. He and his brother Andrěašь came in summer 1394 to Dubrovnik. They received on 10th August 1394 374 perper and 6 grossi from the treasury of their father, which was deposited at the place of the nobleman Pavle Barabić (Paulus de Baraba). The last part of the treasury was reserved for their brother King Markos (denarii quondam regis Volchassini....due partes Andree et Dymitrio, filiis et heredibus condam regis Volcasini, mandato prescripti domini rectoris perperos trecentos septuaginta quatuor et grossos sex, tertia parte dictorum yperperorum reservata pro Marcho rege). Dmitьrь and Andrěašь were pleasently surprised by the large amount of money, that was paid to them by the Ragusan republic. They migrated afterwards in Hungary according to a later charter of the Ragusan republic for the duke Sandal Hranjić from 1423. They found their livelihood in Hungary (trovaron pane). Dmitьrь came again to Dubrovnik 1399. He collected the Hungarian tribute on behalf of the Hungarian King Sigismund (De promittendo ex gracia Dymitrio filio condam regis Volchassini, quod portando literam preceptoriam et expeditoriam a domino nostro regi Hungarie in forma consueta tributi quingentorum ducatorum, quos tenemur dicto domino nostro regi, dandi ipsi Dymitrio, dabimus et solvebimus illud eidem pro tempore hactenus preterito, quod debetur dicto domino nostro regi). He also picked up the last part of the treasury of his father on this occasion. Before he received the money, he had to prove that no legitimate heirs of King Marko exist (partem depositi, quod posuit ipse dominus rex Volchassin, que spectabat Marcho eius fratri, probando ipso Dymitras nobis, quod ipse Marchus non dimisit heredes legitimos). In 1400 Dmitьrь stayed in the town of Dubrovnik as an envoy of the Hungarian King Sigismund according to the charter of the Ragusan Republic for the Grand duke Hrvoje Vukčić. Dmitьrь asked the Ragusians to not relaese the Ottoman embassy to the Sultan (ōvьde se naměri Dmitьrь kraljevikь i tьdi se prigōdiše posli Turačski u našemь grafu da minu prěko mora. Doide k namь Dmitьrь mole da ihь ne propustimo, a mi tozi ništorь ne čusmo propustismo ihь, i prigōše slobodno tolikog je i dьnasь i vьzda mogu vsakōi posli slobodno poki). The Ragusan archives record between 20th and 22th December 1402 that Dmitьrь collected the tribute for the Hungarian King Sigismund. In March 1403 the tribute was given to Rafael Gučetić, who acted on behalf of Dmitьrь (Prima pars est de assignando Ser Raphaeli de Gozijs ad duhanam salis nostri communis cum ordine ducatos quingentos, recipienti nomine domini Dimitrii filii condam regis Vocassini pro tributo domini nostri regis Hungarie millesimi trecentesimi nonagesimi de mense marcii, assignato dicto domino Dimitrio per dominum regem, et hoc pro literis expeditoriis et preceptoriis dicti domini Dimitrii scribenti nobis super hoc literas suas). The Hungarian King Sigismund issued on 30th June 1407 a charter, where he appealed on Dmitьrь to give up the acts of violence towards the possession of Sigismundus, who was the son of Ban Ladislaus, the lord of Lučenec (Losonci) at Pankota (now Pâncota).
Ivanišь Person ParentOf(ChildOf) He died on 18th September 1385. The third son of the Serbian King Demetrios Blukasinos and Lena. His siblings were Marko, Andrěašь, Dimitarь and Olivera. He is attested in the ktitorial inscription above the south door in the interior of the Church of the so-called Marko’ Monastery (Saint Demetrius Monastery in Sušice near Skopje), which was probably completed in 1376/1377 (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). After 1371 he moved to Zeta, where he stayed at the court of Balša II Balšić (Μπάλσας II). He supported the Zetians, who fought against the Ottoman Vizier Hayraddīn. He fell in the battle of Savra (battle of Vjosa) between the Zetians and Ottomans on 18th September 1385 according to the later historian Mauro Orbini.
Markos Person ParentOf(ChildOf) 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.
Olivera Person ParentOf(ChildOf) Mentioned in the charter from 22 May 1444, which has been preserved in the archives of the island Mljet. She appears as domina in the charter. Her father was Demetrios Blukasinos (Δημήτριος Βλουκασῖνος). Her mother was Lena. She had four brothers (Markos, Andrěašь, Dmitьrь and Ivanišь). She was married to Đurađ I. Balšić (Γεώργιος I.). He left her after the battle at Marica in 1371. Her daughter was Jelisanta. She sponsored the construction of the Church of Saint Maria de Lavrendi near Skadar from her own money and the dowry. The church was decorated by the artists, who were brought by Olivera from the area of the realm of her father (domina Olivera filia regis Volcassini per magistros conductos de regno patris sui et cum denariis suis proprios et de dote sua edificari fecit ecclesiam predictam, et illam dotavit de sua propria dote cum licentia mariti sui, et sibi jus patronatus servavit).
Serbian Empire Group QueenKralica