Properties
| ID | 15000 |
|---|---|
| System Class | Edition |
| Case Study | Byzantino-Serbian Border Zones in Transition (1282–1355) , Historical Region of Macedonia TIB 16 |
| Edition | Inscriptions |
Description
Gordana Tomović, Morfologija ćiriličkih natpisa na Balkanu (Istorijski institut, Posebna izdanja 16, Beograd 1974).
Relations
Actors (20)
| Name | Class | Begin | End | Relation Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Vlatković) Ugl(j)eša | Person | 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. | |||
| (Čihorić [Drugović]) Dabiživь | Person | He was a member of the noble family of Čihorić in Trebinje. He had three brothers (župan Vratko, župan Nenac and tepčija Stepko). He served as a sluga for the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan 1334–1345. He was the Cupbearer (enohijarь) of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V in 1362. Dabiseus Drugouich bought in 1334 at Brskovo a horse from the inhabitant of Ragusa Miloš Hlapović for 30 perper. He came in 1343 to the župa Žrnovnica with Marcus Maurocenus in order to see the property of Sorento from Ragusa, which was near the boundary between the realm of the Serbian Kingdom and the Republic of Ragusa (ad uidendum confines Rusci de Sorento cum Dabiseo sluga). His name appears from 1343 to 1345 in the Liber omnium reformationum. According to it did the people of him cause frequently harm to the Ragusians in the župa Žrnovnica. The emissaries of the Republic of Ragusa complained before the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in October 1345 that Dabiživь established a fair in Trebinje and imposed a tax for the goods exported and imported by the Ragusans. The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan accepted the complaints of the Ragusans and forbade Dabiživь to collect any taxes from the Ragusans (Piše kraljevstvo mi da jestь bědomo vsakomu, kako pridōše poklisarie, vlasteli dubrovьčьci, kraljevstvu mi pod Serь – Piro Grubešikь Marьtolь Črěvikь i Paske Gučetikь – i govoriše kraljevstvu mi na slugu Dabiživa, kako e učinilь trьgь na Trěbini i uzima ōd tovara dinarь kto grede i u Dubrovьnikь izь Dubrovnika, i ōd dobitka koi grede u Dubrov’nikь. i govorěe Dabiživь prědь kraljevstvomь mi: „uzimano e i prěžde, ōnazi carina ōnьdězii.“ A govorěke poklisarie dubrovьč’ci: „Tazi carina ne uzimana ōd veka, ōdkole světь stalь.“ I kraljevstvo mi iz’nage erě ne uzimana tazi carina i u moihь dědь i pradědь i u rodietelja kraljevstva mi i u kraljevstva mi. I sьtvori milostь kraljevstvo mi vsemь vlastelomь dubrovьč’cimь, vělimь i malimь, da ne ōnogazi trьga na Trěbini, kagō ga i prěžde ne bilo. I po sema sega da ne uzima Dabiživь Dubrovьčanomь ni carine da ni koega dohodьka, ni trьgov’cu dubrovьč’komu, ni vlahu, ni srьbinu, da nikōmu i k’to grede Dubrovьnikь, izь Dubrovьnika. I vsaci vlasteli koi te stagati po Dabiživě da ne uzima carine tezi do veka věk, ni u syna kraljevstva mi da ni u koga nastoeštago kralja u Srьblihь). In October 1349 he received together 10 perper from the Ragusans (In minori consilio, sono campane solito congregatio, captum fuit et firmatum de donando de havere communis Dabisco yppos X). He was probably buried in the Monastery Church of the Holy Mother of God at Treskavec near Prilep. His tombstone with an inscription has been preserved on the northern wall of the monastery church (měseca genara: uspe rabь božiei dabiživь: enohijarь: cara uroša: vьse srьbьskyi zemьle: grьčьskje: i pomorьskje vь leto: ѕ: ō: o: enьdikta). | |||
| Ana | Person | Svetislav Mandić proposes, that Ana could be identical with Ana, the wife of Despot Mihael, who was the son of the Bulgarian Tsar Mihail III Šišman. Mentioned in the founding inscription from the years 1314/1315 in the Church of the Virgin Hodegetria in Mušutište. She was the daughter of Jovanь Dragoslavь and Jelena. Her brother was Staniša. In the inscription from the years 1314/1315, which was located above the western entrance of the now destroyed Church of the Virgin Hodegetria in Mušutište, is Jovanь Dragoslavь bearing the title of grand kaznac described as ktetor. He founded the church together with his wife Jelena, son Staniša and daughter Ana (Poče se: i sьzda se: božьstvьni, i vsečstnii hramь prěčistie vladičice naše bogorodice ōdigitrie: is temelna va dan prěvisokago kralě Uroša sь trudomь i sь pospešeniemь Iōvana velikago kaznca Dragoslava sь Elenomь sь podružjemь svoimь i Stanišomь synomь si i sь Anomь dьšteriju si vь lěto 6823 endikta 20). | |||
| Bojko | Person | 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.). | |||
| Damianos (1) | Person | It is very unlikely that he is the same person as Damijan, the Bishop of Prizren. The latter is attested in the collective charter of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin and Stefan Uroš IV Dušan for the Tower of Hrusija of the Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos (jepiskupomь prizrěnskymь Damijanomь). Before 1307 he together with the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin took the fields near the Church of Holy Mother of God at Trhalě not far from Trěboš in Polog from Žegrь and they set his houses on fire (I u Trěboši pri crьkvi svetyje bogorodice pri Trьhalě nivije crьkovno što bylo ōt věka. I uzeli jesu byli Položani, i iznašьlь je roditelь kraljevьstva mi sь jepiskopomь Damijanomь i sь iepiskopomь Iliōmь, i ōtjelь ōt Žegra, i kušte mu popalilь). He was still alive in 1307 according to the ktitorial inscription of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin, which is preserved in the apse of the Church Bogorodica Ljeviška in Prizren (Stefan Urošь kralь hristě bozě blagověrьnь kralь srьbskyh i pomorskihь prěvnukь svetago simeōna nemane i zetь cara grьčkago kirь andronika paleōloga ponovihь hramь svetie bogorodice lěviške ot samogo ōsnovanija i ja směreni popь prizrěnьsky damijanь trudyhь se vь lěto ѕ ѱ ei). Damianos is mentioned in the sermon of the Byzantine writer Theodoros Metochites, who undertook the task to arrange the marriage of the Byzantine princess Simonis with the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin. He was a Monk. He accompanied Dukaites around 1298 at the request of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš Milutin to Constantinople (κἀγὼ μὲν αὐτίκα τὸν καλὸν Δουκαίτην ἐς βασιλέα· καὶ αὐτὸς δὲ οὕστινας οἶσθα, σὺν αὐτῷ πέμπομεν, Δαμιανόν τινα αὐτὸν οἶμαι ὄνομα μοναχὸν). | |||
| Dmitrь (2) | Person | 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. | |||
| Dragoslavь Jovanь | Person | Mentioned in several sources from 1288/1289 to 1314/1315 or 1318/1321. Sluga 1288/1289, kaznac 1300, veliki kaznac 1314/1315. He was married to Jelena. His son was Staniša. He had a daughter called Ana. Dragoslav first served the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin as sluga. The charter for the city of Dubrovnik from 1288/1289 was signed by the king in Prizren also in the presence of Dragoslav (A tu imь milostь stvori kralevstvo mi u Prizrene u grade, a stranь kralevstva mi beše sluga Dragoslavь i Budislavь Hvalьčikь). In 1300 Dragoslav appears in the charter of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin for the Monastery of Saint George-Gorg near Skopje bearing the title of kaznac. His mother of law was in possession of the abandoned vineyard Mavrovo in Butelь and gave it to Dragoslav. He donated it to the Monastery of Saint George-Gorg (I Dragoslavь kaznьcь dade ōt tьst᾿nine si vinogradište Mavrovo u Buteli). He is mentioned as kaznac in the area of Sušica between 1300 and 1318/1321 in the colophone of the gospel, which was copied by a certain anagnost Radin from Nagoričino in Žegligovo (Začeše se i sьvrьšiše se sь božijeju pomoštiju v dьni kralě Uroša, i pri klalici Simonidě, i pri kaznьci Dragoslavě i kaznьčici kira Jelelě, ōbladajuštu kaznьcu Sušiceju, jegi se kralь razmiri z grьki, v lěto ōt· i· i· sotno jenьdikto ·le· a drugo i ne uznahь koje bi lěto). In the inscription from the 1314/1315, which was located above the western entrance of the now destroyed Church of the Virgin Hodegetria in Mušutište, is Jovan Dragoslav bearing the title of grand kaznac described as ktetor. He founded the church together with his wife Jelena, son Staniša and daughter Ana (Poče se: i sьzda se: božьstvьni, i vsečstnii hramь prěčistie vladičice naše bogorodice ōdigitrie: is temelna va dan prěvisokago kralě Uroša sь trudomь i sь pospešeniemь Iōvana velikago kaznca Dragoslava sь Elenomь sь podružjemь svoimь i Stanišomь synomь si i sь Anomь dьšteriju si vь lěto 6823 endikta 20). | |||
| Dьnica (1) | Person | 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.). | |||
| Eirene | Person | She lived before 28 July 1362. Her father was probably Michael Palaiologos Komnenos Asanes. She was buried in the Church of Saint Elijah at Dojran. A marble slab in the narthex of the church dedicated to her bears three inscriptions. The monogram is written in Greek and describes the slab as her tombstone (Τάφος Εἰρῄνης θυγατρός Μιχαήλ Κριβαβατζιτζ?). The slavic inscription contains the details concerning the death of Eirene (měseca julě ki dьnь prěstavi se raba božija erina kьki mahaila krьvavčiikě? ѕ ō o ie). The last Greek inscription in four dodecasyllables gives an account of her old and noble descent (Σὺ δ’ εἰπὲ, λίθε τίνα κρατεὶς νεκρόν κόρην τρίφεραν τοῦ Μιχαὴλ πάλαι γόνῳ τρισευκλεῦ μεγίστῃ ἐκ βασιλέων ἐρρεύσεν εἰς τὴν ἀλλὰ παπαῖ τῆς τύχης). | |||
| Iōanikie | Person | Mentioned in the inscription on his own tomb, which was kept in the Church of Saint Athanasius in Lešok. He was a priestmonk (Anthonije/Anьtonije), then Bishop of the region Lower Polog (Iōanikie). After the year 1308 the Church of Saint Athanasius in Lešok was found by the Priestmonk Antonije (Izvoleniemь ōca i vьplьšteniemь sina i pospěšeniemь svetago duha azь eriomonaahь Anthonie pridohъ vь sie město i rastiždahь i raskopahь gabryi i uravnihь bregove i načehь si hramь zidati svetago athanasija vь dni kralja milutina i vtorago kralja sina mu stefana i tretiego kralja sina mu dušane). Between the years 1346 and 1355 Antonije was appointed Bishop of Lower Polog by the Serbian Patriarch Joanikije II, who has given him the name Iōanikie (i prizva patriarha blьgarskago i arhiepiskupa srьbskago iōanikija i stvori zborь u skopi i blagosloviše ego na carьski sanь i bystь prvonastolny carь srbskoi zemli i grčkoi i pomorskoi arhiepiskupa iōanikija blagosloviše na patriarhiju srbskoi zemli vь to carstvo blagosloviše anьtonija na episkupstvo dolnemu pologu prvonastolna po izvoleniju božiju prětvoriše ime jemu iōanikie poneže něe bilo prěge episkupь polozě). | |||
| Jelena (2) | Person | Mentioned in two inscriptions dated in the first twenty years of the 14th century. She appears as kira in the colophone of the so-called Radin gospel. She was married to Jovanь Dragoslavь. Her son was Staniša. She had a daughter called Ana. She is mentioned as the wife of kaznac Jovanь Dragoslavь in the colophone of the gospel, which was copied by a certain anagnost Radin from Nagoričino in Žegligovo between 1300 and 1318/1321 (Začeše se i sьvrьšiše se sь božijeju pomoštiju v dьni kralě Uroša, i pri klalici Simonidě, i pri kaznьci Dragoslavě i kaznьčici kira Jelelě, ōbladajuštu kaznьcu Sušiceju, jegi se kralь razmiri z grьki, v lěto ōt· i· i· sotno jenьdikto ·le· a drugo i ne uznahь koje bi lěto). In the inscription from the years 1314/1315, which was located above the western entrance of the now destroyed Church of the Virgin Hodegetria in Mušutište, is Jovanь Dragoslavь bearing the title of grand kaznac described as ktetor. He founded the church together with his wife Jelena, son Staniša and daughter Ana (Poče se: i sьzda se: božьstvьni, i vsečstnii hramь prěčistie vladičice naše bogorodice ōdigitrie: is temelna va dan prěvisokago kralě Uroša sь trudomь i sь pospešeniemь Iōvana velikago kaznca Dragoslava sь Elenomь sь podružjemь svoimь i Stanišomь synomь si i sь Anomь dьšteriju si vь lěto 6823 endikta 20). | |||
| Kraikos | Person | 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). | |||
| Liberissa Maria | Person | 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). | |||
| Liberos Ioannes | Person | Mentioned in several sources between 1336 and 1354. The inscription placed next to the portrait of Ioannes Liberos on the north wall of the naos in the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo lists all dignities, which were granted to him during his career (azь rabь hristovь iōanь ōliverь po milosti božiei i gospodina mi krala stefana bihь u srьblemь veliky čelnikь potom veliki sulga potomь veliki voevoda potomь veliky sevastokratorь i/a za věrnoe emu porabotanije po milosti božiei i veliki despotь vseja srьbskije zemle i pomorьskije i učestnikь grьkomь). Srdjan Pirivatrić presumes that the titles of grand sebastrokrator, grand despot and učestnik, were bestowed upon Ioannes Liberos by Byzantine imperial authorities before coronation of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in 1346. He held the position of veliki čelnik, before 1341. veliki sluga (megas domestikos), 1332–1341 (ja sluga veli Ōliverь/Iōanь veliki sluga Ōliverь vьse srpskie zemlie i pomorskie). veliki vojvoda (megas dux) 1341/1342 (sь trudomь i podanijemь raba božija ioana velikago voevode olivera; Veliki voevoda Ōlïver povelě pisati, a Stanislavь pisa; ōbьdrьžeštu ōblastiju vseju ōvčepolьskoju velikomu vojevodě Ōliveru, vь horě Zletovcěi; jegože velikyi vojevoda Ōliverь sьzda is temelja; povelěnijemь gospodina velikago vojevode Ōlivera; Bogь da prostitь velikago vojevodu Ōlivera). He was the son-in-law of Georgios Karabides (Γεώργιος Καραβίδης). His brother was Mpogdanos (Μπογδάνος, Bogdan). He was married to Maria Liberissa (Μαρία Λιβέρισσα, Ana Marija). He had six sons (Kraikos [Κράϊκος, Krajko], Damianos [Δαμιανός, Damjan], Vidoslavь, Dabiživь, Rusinь, Oliverь) and one daughter (Danica). Already in 1334 he got acquainted with Ioannes Kantakuzenos during the meeting between the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos and Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in Rhadobosdion (Radovište). They became friends. Jovan Oliver entrusted before 1341 his subordinate Todorь with the task to settle the deserted settlement site Sveti Dimitrije in Jastrebnica, which was in possession of the Monastery of Saint Demetrius in Kočane. Jovan Oliver issued between 1332 and 1341 a charter, in which were listed the rights and duties of Todorь at Sveti Dimitrije in Jastrebnica (Naidohь selište pusto Svetago Dimitrija u Jastrebnicě i podahь moga člověka Todora, koi mi se prěda izь Grьkь, po ruce da naseli ōmozi selo). Ioannes Liberos, the son-in-law of Georgios Karabides, stated on 28th June 1336 in the presence of Nikola Falletro, the comes of the town of Ragusa, that he received the former treasury of Karabides from Junije Lukarević. Ioannes Liberos swore that he will give the treasury to the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan and request a charter for Junije Lukarević from the king, which will confirm the receipt of treasury and ruled out the possibility of demand by the king, Liberos or the children of Karabides (Oliuer Gherchinich, baro domini Regis Raxie et gener Charauide, constitutes ante presentiam nobilis et potentis viri domini Nicolai Falletro, honorabilis comitis Ragusii, contentus e confessus fuit habuisse et recepisse et apud se habere a Junio de Lucarom de Ragusio unam centuram de argento et unam ladicam de argento, ponderis inter ambas librarum tredecim et unciarum V, et centum nonaginta quinque ducatos de auro, que centura et ladica et ducati acomandati fuerunt per dictum Carauidam, socerum olim dicti Oliueri, eidem Junio, ut idem Junius confessus fuit. Et similiter idem Oliverius confessus fuit tantas fuisse res et ducatos, accomandatas eidem Junio per dictum Charauidam et non plures, cum infrascriptis pactis et condictionibus, uidelicet quod ipse Oliuerius teneatur et debeat predictam centuram et ladicam et ducatos dare in manibus domini Regis Raxie in presentia Petri de Ribica et Marini filii Junii de Uolcasso de Ragusio et fieri facere ab ipso Rege eidem Junio de Lucaro unam apouiliam, sigillatam suo sigillo, continentem, qualiter ipse dominus Rex uel suus successor nec frater, filii seu filia dicti Charauidi seu aliqua alia persona de dicta centura et ladica et ducatis non possint facere uel mouere aliquam litem uel questionem in regno Raxie et Slauonie seu in aliquo loco, in curia uel extra, eidem Junio). Ioannes Liberos owned and received from the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan landed estates in the region of Ovče Pole, Zletovo and Tikveš for his service. According to the stone inscription above the Western Entrance of the Katholikon in the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo from 1340/1341, he, his wife and his son Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) sponsored the reconstruction and the painted decoration of the monastery. He, his wife and his Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) endowed the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo with lands in the surrounding area (sьzda se světlyi i čьs(t)nъï.hramь.velikago vojevode vьïšnih silь. Arhistratiga Mihaila. Sьzda se i sьvrьši se. Vь dni Stefan(a) kral(a). Sь trudomь. Ï podanijemь raba B(ož)ija Ïōan(a) veikago voevode Ōlivera. I podružija ego rabu B(o)žiju Annu. Maru i vьzljublennago emu s(y)na Kraika. V(ь) lět(o). ƺ.ō.m.ḟ. se že sela i metohïe. Selo konь crkve Lěsnovo. Sь zaselkomъ Lukovu i u Bakově crkvь S(ve)t(o)ga Nikole sь selomь. Ï na rěcě zaselьkь Globica i selo Dobrьevo i u Drěvěnoi. S(ve)tьï Elisei i zaslьk Peštno i S(ve)ty Prokopije. I katunь Vlah(a) na Stroi i u Štipě S(ve)ty Nikola pop Sïfievь. i. k. kukei). He supplied the monastery with the Menaion. The scribe Stanislavь, who wrote the menaion, recorded, that Ioannes Liberos donated also frames for the screen icons and church vessels to the monastery with the intention to grant the monastery to the Hilandar Monastery (velikyi vojevoda ōliverь sьzda is temelija i sьvrьšivь i popisa i vsakimi dorotami ukrasivь, sьsudï zlatьïmi i srebrьnьïmi pokova velikyje ikony srebromь i zlatomь, jakože jestь lěpo domь božii ukrašati, podavь sela i metohije i pašišta i livade i planine milostiōvь kralevovь utvrьdivь vse sinore i zapisavь zlatopečatnymь hrisovulomь i prědastь ju u svetu goru stoi bogorodici hilandarьskoi sь vsakymь utvrьždenijemь). As a Grand Duke, Ioannes Liberos, ordered the fabrication of a metal polycandilion with an inscribed medallion for the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo (voevoda oliver anna marija). When the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos had proceeded in 1342 with his army along the right bank of the river Vardar, he discovered the forces of Ioannes Liberos near Belesos (Veles). The Byzantine emperor sent an envoy to Liberos in order to remind him of the friendly contacts they had before. Very short after the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos had crossed the river, Ioannes Liberos hosted him and his troops for three days. The Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos, who placed reliance on Liberos, even proposed a marriage between his son Manuel and Danica, the daughter of Liberos. Ioannes Liberos provided accomodation for the Byzatine emperor and his troops in Skopje. In the meantime Liberos visited the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in the area of Morava. Liberos persuaded the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan to receive the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos favourably. The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan then sent Mpogdanos (Μπογδάνος, Bogdan), the brother of Ioannes Liberos, to the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos in order to let him know about his soon arrival in Tao (Pauni) near Pristenon (Priština). In July/August 1342 the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan formed an alliance with the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos. Ioannes Liberos brought the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan to convince the Byzantine Emperor Ioannes VI Kantakuzenos in regard of the engagment beween Danica and Manuel. Ioannes Liberos then accompanied the Byzantine Emperor with the Serbian auxiliary forces on the campaign to the town Serres. He fell ill before the gates of town of Serres. As sebastokrator Ioannes Liberos donated another medallion with monogramms for the polycandilion in the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo. The monastic endowment of Ioannes Liberos became a seat of new founded Episcopy of Zletovo between 1346 and 1347, which is documented in the charter of confirmation issued by the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (v’seljubimomu vlastelinu svetago carьsva mi despotu Ōliveru, iže jestь sьzdalь svetyi hramь ōnь ōtь osnovanija, iže vь městě Lěsnově, i ukrasivь v’sěkymi lěpotami crьkьvnymi, i udarovavь sel’mi i sь zaselьci, i sь planinami, i sь pročïimi ōtesy zemlje te). Ioannes Liberos together with his wife and his sons Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) were the patrons of the parecclesion of the Saint John the Baptist in the Church of Saint Sophia in Ōhrid. The chapel was erected between the years 1347–1350. Ioannes Liberos together with his wife and his son Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) are depicted within the ktitorial composition on the western wall of the chapel. The portrait of Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) is situated on the northern wall of the chapel. Ioannes Liberos and his family sponsored a new narthex as a addition to the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael and Holy Father Gabriel in Lěsnovo. The painted ktitorial composition with Ioannes Liberos, Maria Liberissa (Μαρία Λιβέρισσα, Ana Marija), Kraikos (Κράϊκος, Krajko) and Damianos (Δαμιανός, Damjan) is on the northern wall of the narthex. The fresco inscription above the entrance from the narthex to the naos gives details about the donors and the date 1349, when the narthex was decorated (Ἀνηγέρθη ἐκ βάθρων, καὶ ἀνηστορίθη ὁ θεῖος καὶ πάνσεπτος ναὸς τοῦ ταξιαρχου Μιχ δι’ ἐξόδου τοῦ πανευτυχεστάτου δεσπότου Ιωάννου τοῦ Λύβερί. καὶ τῆς πανευτυχεστάτης βασιλείσης Μαρίας τῆς Λυβερίσης καὶ τῶν τέκνων αὐτῶν, Κραίκου καὶ Δαμιανοῦ. ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλεί Στεφάνου καὶ Ἐλένης, καὶ τοῦ ύιοῦ αὐτῶν κράλη τοῦ Οὐροσι μηνὶ αὐγύστῳ ѕʹ ἔτους ϛωνζ ἰνδ β). Ioannes Liberos appears for the last time in the papal letter from May 1354, in which Innocent VI. sent the identical instructions for the most powerful nobles in the Serbian empire, who contributed to the possibility of an union between the Serbian and Roman churches (Oliverio despoto Serviae). | |||
| Marina | Person | 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). | |||
| Markos | Person | 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. | |||
| Sifievь | Person | Mentioned in the ktitorial inscription of Jovan Oliver for the Monastery of Saint Archangels in Lesnovo from 1341 and in the chrysobull charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan concerning the foundation of the bishopric of Zletovo from 1346/1347. He was a priest (pop Sifievь). The grand duke Jovan Oliver donated the Church of Saint Nicholas in Štip with the priest Sifievь (u štipě svety nikola pop sifievь). The Serbian Emperor confirmed the endowment of Jovan Oliver and enlarged it for the bishopric of Zletovo. It consisted of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Štip, the priest Sifievь with all patrimonial estate, land, field, vineyard and 20 čьbьrь (I šte priloži svetoje carьstvo mi episkopïi crьkvi Arhaggelu u Zletovoi, u gradu Štipu crьkvь svetago Nikoly pop Sifievu sь vsomь baštinomь i sь zemlomь i s niviemь i s vinogradi, i k. čьbьrь, i sь vsěmь ōtьtesomь crьkve te). | |||
| Staniša (3) | Person | Mentioned in the founding inscription from the years 1314/1315 in the Church of the Virgin Hodegetria in Mušutište. He was the son of Jovanь Dragoslavь and Jelena. His sister was Ana. In the inscription from the years 1314/1315, which was located above the western entrance of the now destroyed Church of the Virgin Hodegetria in Mušutište, is Jovanь Dragoslavь bearing the title of grand kaznac described as ktetor. He founded the church together with his wife Jelena, son Staniša and daughter Ana (Poče se: i sьzda se: božьstvьni, i vsečstnii hramь prěčistie vladičice naše bogorodice ōdigitrie: is temelna va dan prěvisokago kralě Uroša sь trudomь i sь pospešeniemь Iōvana velikago kaznca Dragoslava sь Elenomь sь podružjemь svoimь i Stanišomь synomь si i sь Anomь dьšteriju si vь lěto 6823 endikta 20). | |||
| Stanjevikь Nikola | Person | 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). | |||
| Velislava Marija | Person | Mentioned in the epitaph from 28th September 1372 in the Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Matka near Treska. She was probably one of the patrons of the church. An epitaph dedicated to her is in the front of the altar of the church (počto divyte se ō človeci zrešte mene v grobě vědïte jako i takožde vy hoštete biti nь pomnušte mi s vami ljubo pomenuïte i mene rabu božyju mariju a zovōm velislavu prěstavi se měseca septebra ki vь lěto ѕ.ō.pa). |
Places (15)
| Name | Class | Begin | End | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakovo | Place | The village Bakovo with its Church of the Saint Nicholas is mentioned in the Slavic donor inscription of the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) from the year 1340/41 as a monastic property (u bakově crkvь svetoga nikole sь selomь). Bakovo is also attested in the boundary description of the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) in the same Slavic donor inscription (ta niz reku po bakovo). Furthermore, the village Bakovo appears in the founding charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV. Dušan for the Eparchy of Zletovo with its seat in the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) from the year 1346/47 (Selo Bakovo i sь crьkvijzňu svetago Nikoli; niže Bakova). The Serbian local ruler Konstantin Dragaš donated on the 15th August 1381 the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) with all its possessions, including the village Bakovo with its Church of Saint Nicholas and the hamlet Globica (selo Bakovo i sь crьkoviju Svetago Nikoli i sь zaselkōmь Globicōmь), to the Hilandar Monastery. | ||
| Bakovo, Church of Sveti Nikola | Place | The Church of Saint Nicholas in the village Bakovo is mentioned in the Slavic donor inscription of the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) from the year 1340/41 as a monastic property (u bakově crkvь svetoga nikole sь selomь). Furthermore, The Church of Saint Nicholas in the village Bakovo appears in the founding charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV. Dušan for the Eparchy of Zletovo with its seat in the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) from the year 1346/47 (Selo Bakovo i sь crьkvijzňu svetago Nikoli; niže Bakova). The Serbian local ruler Konstantin Dragaš donated on the 15th August 1381 the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) with all its possessions, including the village Bakovo with its Church of Saint Nicholas and the hamlet Globica (selo Bakovo i sь crьkoviju Svetago Nikoli i sь zaselkōmь Globicōmь), to the Hilandar Monastery. | ||
| Blagaj, Church of Sts. Cosmas and Damian | Place | The Church of Sts. Cosmas and Damian is situated in Blagaj in Zachlumia, near the city of Mostar. It was built by Župan Djordje, in the time of Stefan Nemanja, as was written on the dedicatory inscription. The Church has been demolished and torn down but the remains of other Churches built in the Ponikve region (Church of St. George in Sparagovići and Church of Sts. Cosmas and Damian in Metohija), in the late 12th century, we can reconstruct how this edifice looked like. It was a single nave edifice with three bays and an apse which consists of three niches in the Eastern wall (the one in the middle was rectangular on the outside). | ||
| Bunašь | Place | The village Bunašь is mentioned in the boundary description of the hamlet Globica, which is attested in the Slavic donor inscription of the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) from the year 1340/41 as a monastic property (ta do bunašь; kь bunašu). The village Bunašь also appears in the boundary description of the village Globica, which has been preserved in the founding charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV. Dušan for the Eparchy of Zletovo with its seat in the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) from the year 1346/47 (ōtь Novoseljanь drumomь na Vrьbicu i po kolniku na Gabrovo k Raičanomь i kolnikomь nad Bunašь, i ōsugje Bunaša). The Serbian local ruler Konstantin Dragaš donated on the 15th August 1381 the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) with all its possessions, including the settlement site Bunašь (selište Bunašь i konь njega selište Gabrovo), to the Hilandar Monastery. | ||
| Church of Sveti Elisei | Place | The Church of Sveti Elisei (the Holy Prophet Elisha) in Drěvěno is mentioned in the Slavic donor inscription of the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) from the year 1340/41 as a monastic property (i u drěvěnoi svety elisei). Furthermore, the Church of Sveti Elisei appears together with the village Drěvěno and the hamlet Peštno in the founding charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV. Dušan for the Eparchy of Zletovo with its seat in the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) from the year 1346/47 (Selo Drěvěno sь crьkviju svetago Eliseja i sь zaselkomь Peštnymь). | ||
| Church of Sveti Prokopie | Place | The Church of Sveti Prokopie (the Saint Prokopios) is mentioned in the Slavic donor inscription of the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) from the year 1340/41 as a monastic property (i svety prokopie). In the founding charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV. Dušan for the Eparchy of Zletovo with its seat in the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) from the year 1346/47 is specified that the Church of Sveti Prokopie was located in Drěnovь dolь (I u Drěnově dolě crьkvь svetago Prokopija). The Serbian local ruler Konstantin Dragaš donated on the 15th August 1381 the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) with all its possessions, including the Church of Sveti Prokopie in Drěnovь dolь (I u Drěnove Dolě crьkvь Svetago Prokopija sь naměstijemь i sь baštinoju crьkve te), to the Hilandar Monastery. | ||
| Dobrěevo | Place | The village Dobrěevo is mentioned in the Slavic donor inscription of the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) from the year 1340/41 as a monastic property (i selo dobrěevo). Furthermore, the village Dobrěevo appears in the founding charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV. Dušan for the Eparchy of Zletovo with its seat in the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) from the year 1346/47 (Selo Dobrějevo). The Serbian local ruler Konstantin Dragaš donated on the 15th August 1381 the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) with all its possessions, including the village Dobrěevo (selo Dobrějevo i sь vsěmi pravinami sela togo), to the Hilandar Monastery. | ||
| Drěvěno | Place | The Church of Sveti Elisei (the Holy Prophet Elisha) in the village Drěvěno is mentioned in the Slavic donor inscription of the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) from the year 1340/41 as a monastic property (i u drěvěnoi svety elisei). Furthermore, the village Drěvěno appears together with the Church of Sveti Elisei and the hamlet Peštno in the founding charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV. Dušan for the Eparchy of Zletovo with its seat in the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) from the year 1346/47 (Selo Drěvěno sь crьkviju svetago Eliseja i sь zaselkomь Peštnymь). The Serbian local ruler Konstantin Dragaš donated on the 15th August 1381 the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) with all its possessions, including the village Drěvěno and the hamlet Peštno (selo Drěvěno i sь zaselkomь Peštnōmь), to the Hilandar Monastery. | ||
| Globica (2) | Place | The hamlet Globica at the Zletovska Reka is mentioned in the Slavic donor inscription of the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) from the year 1340/41 as a monastic property (i na rěcě zaselьkь globica). The hamlet demarcation (globničky sinorь) is described in detail in the same Slavic donor inscription. The hamlet/village Globica appears in the founding charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV. Dušan for the Eparchy of Zletovo with its seat in the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) from the year 1346/47 (sь zaselkomь Globicomь; selo Globica; i što se kь Zletovoi kami vali tozi Zletovu budi a što se kь Globici vali tozi crьkvьno). In the same boundary description of the hamlet/village of Globica a katun is also mentioned (podь katun). The Serbian local ruler Konstantin Dragaš donated on the 15th August 1381 the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) with all its possessions, including the village Bakovo with its Church of Saint Nicholas and the hamlet Globica (selo Bakovo i sь crьkoviju Svetago Nikoli i sь zaselkōmь Globicōmь), to the Hilandar Monastery. | ||
| Lukovo (1) | Place | Saint Gabriel of Lesnovo entered a hermitage near the Monastery of Lesnovo and the place of Zletovo (skitъ blizъ prjamo manastirъ, vъ dolъ prjamo Zletovo). The lively influx of people, who were sick and obsessed, caused that the Saint sought solitude in Lukovo (i preide vo stranu Lukovo). The hamlet Lukovo is mentioned in the Slavic donor inscription of the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) from the year 1340/41 as a monastic property (sь zaselkomь lukovu). Furthermore, the hamlet Lukovo appears in the founding charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV. Dušan for the Eparchy of Zletovo with its seat in the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) from the year 1346/47 (sь zaselkomь Lukovu vyše crьkve). The Serbian local ruler Konstantin Dragaš donated on the 15th August 1381 the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) with all its possessions, including the village Lěsnovo (2) with its hamlet Lukovo (selo Lěsnovo i sь zaselkomь Lukovōmь), to the Hilandar Monastery. | ||
| Lěsnovo (1), Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael | Place | Saint Gavrilo Lesnovski came, according to the detailed Vita of him, from a rich family in Osečko pole (ōt strani Ōsečkōmъ pole, roditelemь bogatu sělo i blagočestivu). After a vision he built the Church of the Nativity of the Holy Mother of God with the funding of his parents on the field of Osiče (na pole Ōsiče). He then departed for the Lěsnovo Monastery (vь monastirь Lesnovskyj), from which he was released after a probationary period with the blessing of the abbot to enter a hermitage near the monastery and Zletovo (za nekoj skïtь blizь prjamo manastirь, vь dolь prjamo Zletovo). The lively influx of people, who were sick and obsessed, caused that the Saint sought solitude in Lukovo (i preide vo stranu Lukovo). The Saint Gavrilo Lesnovski escaped also from Lukovo and found refuge in the mountains, where he stayed on the mountain top Oblovъ until his death (verhъ Ōblovъ). The saint appeared in a dream to a Russian monk named Iosif and entrusted him to transfer his body from Oblovь to the Lěsnovo monastery. Iosif brought the relics of the Saint Gavrilo Lesnovski to the Monastery of Lěsnovo, where numerous miracles occured near the saints relics. In such a way the only daughter of a rich Armenian from Kratovo was healed (Vo gradь Kratovo). According to the Vita, the saint also came to the aid of a local Bulgarian prince named Mihail in the fight against the Pechenegs and Cumans. Mihail had to flee from his opponents to Ratkovica (vo stranu Ratkovicu). He was able with the assistance of the saint to sidle up to the opposing general Mavragan near Rataica in Zletovo (u Slětovo) and to kill him (u Rataicě i ubi Mavragana). Finally, the Vita also mentions the Serbian Despot Jovan Oliver and his erection of a large monastery church in Lěsnovo in honor of the saint, with which he replaced a small church building. The short life of the Saint Gavrilo Lesnovski, on the other hand, reports that the saint himself built the Lěsnovo monastery. The 12th-century Vita of the Saint Joakim Osogovski mentions the Church of the Saint Michael the Archangel in the mountains of Lěsnovo (Lesnovsuju gljemu goru...hram vь ime arhïstratiga Mihaila). The scribe Stanislavь completed in 1330 a Slavic manuscript in the Monastery of Saint Michael the Archangel in the mountains of Lěsnovo, which was in the domain of Ovče Pole and the region of Zletovo (vь ōblasti ōvčepolьskoi vь horě zljętovstěi, v gorě lěsnovьstěi, v monastiri stgo arhistratiga Mihaila). The scribe Stanislavь finished his prologue of the manuscript in the time, when Dragoslavь ruled over the land of Zletovo as Župan (ōbdrьžjaštu horoję Zlętovьskoję županu Dra’goslavu). In the course of the renovation of the monastery (1340/41) a Slavic donor inscription was placed on the stone at the katholikon. The inscription begins on a marble lintel above the entrance door in the west of the katholikon (i.e. on the eastern wall of the narthex), continues outside above the south entrance to the naos, can be dated to the year 1340/41 and mentions the katholikon as "Church of the Great Commander of Heavenly Hosts, Archangel Michael" (hramь velikago vojevode vy`snh silь arhistratiga mihaila). The grand duke (veliki vojvoda) Jovan Oliver with his wife Anna Mara and his son Kraiko, who were living during the reign of "King Stefan" (Stefan Uroš IV Dušan) are mentioned as the founders. According to the Slavic inscription, the following possessions belonged to the monastery at that time: the village near the monastery Lěsnovo, the hamlet Lukovo, the village Bakovo with the Church of Saint Nicholas (Sveti Nikola), the hamlet Globica, the village Dobrěevo, the Church of Holy Prophet Elisha (Sveti Elisei) in the village Drěvěno, the hamlet Peštno, the Church of the Saint Prokopios (Sveti Prokopie), the Katun of the Vlachs Stroi, the Church of Saint Nicholas (Sveti Nikola) of the priest Sïfie, twenty houses in the town of Štip and annually 100 perpers from the revenue of the market in Zletovo. The scribe Stanislavь copied a Menaion at the request of Jovan Oliver destined for the Monastery of the Saint Michael the Archangel in Lěsnovo in 1342 according to the colophon of the manuscript written in Slavic language (rukoju mnogogrěšnago Stanislava). The toponym Lěsnovo appears in this colophone (vь městě rekoměmь Лěsnově), although it is not clear whether this refers to the village or the monastery. Before the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan was able to found the bishopric of Zletovo with its seat in the Lěsnovo Monastery in 1346/47, he sought consensus with church and secular dignitaries. He reached the consensus with the Serbian Patriarch Joanikije II, the Archbishop Nikola of Ōhrid, the Metropolitan Jovan of Skopje and the founder of the monastery, the Serbian despot Jovan Oliver. In the founding charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV. Dušan for the Eparchy of Zletovo with its seat in the Monastery Lěsnovo from the year 1346/47 the erection of the monastery by the Serbian Espot Jovan Oliver is mentioned (sьzdati jemu hramь vь ime velikoslavnyhь i besplьtnyihь činonačelnikьь arhistratiga Mihaila i Gabrïila, vь straně že zletovьscěi rekomōje Lěsnovo...v městě Lěsnově; crьkvi Arhanggelu u Zletovoi; podь crьkvь svetago Arhistratiga lěsnovьskoga). This plot of land gave its name to both the monastery and the neighboring village of Lěsnovo. A Greek inscription on a fresco above the entrance door in the west of the katholikon (i.e. on the eastern wall of the narthex) from 1349 shows that the narthex was erected and painted before 1349 (probably 1347/48) (ὁ θεῖος καὶ πάνσεπτος ναὸς τοῦ ταξιάρχου Μιχαὴλ). A note in the Slavic manuscript Lesnovski parenesis relates that it was written in Zletovo at the place called Lěsnovo in the Monastery of the Holy Archangel Michael in 1353 (vь zemli zljatovsьskoi, vь městě rekoměmь Lěsnovo, vь ōbiteli svetago arhistratiga Mihaila), as Arsenije was the Bishop of Zletovo. The Eparchy of Zletovo was probably abolished around 1370. The Serbian local ruler Konstantin Dragaš donated on the 15th August 1381 the Monastery Lěsnovo with all its possessions to the Hilandar Monastery (crьkvь lěsnovьsku svetagō Arhaaggela; crьkvь Svetagō arhaggela lěsnovьskoga). In 1428, 1429 and 1434 a Slavic Apostolos, a Slavic Mēnaion and a Slavic Oktōēchos were written in Lěsnovo, about which corresponding marginal notes provide information. | ||
| Lěsnovo (2) | Place | There is a brook called Štona in Lěsnovo (2). The name Štona indicates that there was a mining activity of the Saxons at Lěsnovo (2) in the Middle Ages. The scribe Stanislavь completed in 1330 a Slavic manuscript in the Monastery of Saint Michael the Archangel in the mountains of Lěsnovo, which was in the domain of Ovče Pole and the region of Zletovo (vь ōblasti ōvčepolьskoi vь horě zljętovstěi, v gorě lěsnovьstěi, v monastiri stgo arhistratiga Mihaila). The scribe Stanislavь finished his prologue of the manuscript in the time, when Dragoslavь ruled over the land of Zletovo as župan (ōbdrьžjaštu horoję Zlętovьskoję županu Dra’goslavu). The village Lěsnovo (2) is mentioned in the Slavic donor inscription of the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) from the year 1340/41 as a monastic property. The scribe Stanislavь copied a Menaion at the request of Jovan Oliver destined for the Monastery of the Saint Michael the Archangel in Lěsnovo in 1342 according to the colophon of the manuscript written in Slavic language (rukoju mnogogrěšnago Stanislava). The toponym Lěsnovo appears in this colophone (vь městě rekoměmь Лěsnově), although it is not clear whether this refers to the village or the monastery. Furthermore, the village Lesnovo (2) appears in the founding charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV. Dušan for the Eparchy of Zletovo with its seat in the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) from the year 1346/47 (selo blizь crьkve Лěsnovo). The Serbian local ruler Konstantin Dragaš donated on the 15th August 1381 the Monastery Lěsnovo (1) with all its possessions, including the village Lěsnovo (2) with its hamlet Lukovo (selo Lěsnovo I sь zaselkomь Lukovōmь), to the Hilandar Monastery. | ||
| Polog | Place | The Byzantine historian Anna Komnene relates that the Norman general Raoul of Pontoise conquered Skopje and Peter of Aulps took probably Lower und Upper Polog in 1082 (ἔνθέν τοι καὶ τοὺς μὲν δύο Πολόβους εὐθὺς ὁ Πέτρος τοῦ Ἀλίφα κατέσχε, τὰ δὲ Σκόπια ὁ προρρηθεὶς Πουντέσης). She reports also that Peter von Aulps was able to defend both Polog territories, despite the fact that the Bohemond's payment of soldier’s pay was delayed and the commanders received offers from the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos (καὶ τὸν τοὺς Πολόβους φυλάσσοντα Πέτρον τοῦ Ἀλίφα). As a result of Kastoria's capitulation, even Peter of Aulps, was left alone and could not hold the two Polog areas for long. He offered his services to the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos and the Byzantines became rulers of the two Polog areas again. The whole region of Polog is mentioned in a letter of Archbishop Theophylaktos of Ohrid to the governor of Dyrrhachion Ioannes Komnenos, probably written in 1090. The archbishop complains to the governor about the situation of the clergy in Polog. The Byzantine Emperor previously issued a document granting the clerics of the city of Ōhrid and its surroundings freedom from all tax burdens except the ζευγολόγιον (tax imposed on the draught cattle). According to Theophylaktos the imperial officials ignored the decree. He therefore asked the governor to write a pittakion to confirm the tax exemption. He also asked him to renew the required payments of the ἀερικόν and the ὀτρωτζίνα. The second epistle, probably written by the Archbishop between the years 1092-1097, shows that even after the governor issued his pittakion, the clerics of Polog were still forced to perform various duties and taxes. The Serbian Grand Prince (Veliki Župan) Vukan devastated in 1092 the area in the vicinity of Skopje and even conquered Polog (κᾷθ’ οὕτως τεθαρρηκὼς ὁ Βολκάνος ὡς μή τινος τοῦ ἀντικαθισταμένου περιλειφθέντος ἐληίζετο τὰς παρακειμένας πόλεις καὶ χώρας, καὶ τῶν Σκοπίων τὴν ἔξω χώραν τελείως ἠρίπωσε, τὸ δέ τι καὶ κατέκαυσεν. οὐ μέχρι δὲ τούτου, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸν Πόλοβον καταλαβὼν καὶ ἄχρι Βρανέας φθάσας καὶ δῃώσας ἅπαντα πολλὴν τὲ λείαν ἐκεῖθεν ἀφελόμενος εἰς τὴν οἰκείαν ὑπέστρεψε χώραν). The Arab geographer al-Idrisi mentions in 1153/1154 a city bearing the name of Būluġū in a description of the route from Dyrrhachion to the city of Chrysopolis in his work ῾Kitab al-Rujar. According to al-Idrisi, it was two days' journey from Ōhrid. It was on a large mountain and was said to have been beautiful. According to al-Idrisi, between Būluġū and the city of Skopje, which was located north-east of Būluġū, the traveller had to reckon with a distance of a day's journey. Although Būluġū has often been identified with some towns in Polog, the sparse data for exact localization do not suffice and it seems that al-Idrisi describes rather an administrative unit. The Serbian Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja, actually a loyal vassal of the Byzantine Empire since his deditio in 1172, risked an uprising in 1183 and was able to invade the city of Sofia/Serdica and devastate the surrounding territory with the help of the Hungarian King Béla III. Then he went alone, only with his forces and destroyed the strongholds in Velbužd, Žitomisk, Skopje, Lěšok in the lower Polog and the town of Gradac (Prišьdь bo prěpodobʼni sevty Symeōn sь ugьrьskymь kralemь i donde grada do Srědʼca rekomago i vь sʼkrušenije postavi jego i vь ōpustěnije konьčʼnoje. Vьzvraštьšou že se rizě ugьrьskomu vь svoje njemu vladičьstvo, ōn že svety ōtvraštь se ōt nego ide sь siloju svojeju na gradь Pernikь i tьь skrušivь svojeju i vь ōpustěnije i i gradь Stobь i gradь Zemlьnь i gradь Velьbluždь i gradь Žitomitьskь i gradь Skьplь i gradь Lěšьskь u Dolnemь Polozě i gradь Gradьcь). According to the Vita of him, which was written by his son Stefan the First-Crowned, Stefan Nemanja fully included not only the Lower Polog with Lěšok and Gradac, but also the Upper Polog with border areas in his dominion (Priloži že kь zemli ōtčьstvija svoigo ōblastь nyševьskuju do konca, Lypljanь že i Moravu i glagoljemy Vrani, prizrěnsku že ōblastь i Pologa ōba do konca sь megami svoimi). The area of Polog appears again several times in the document corpus of Demetrios Chomatenos. These charters give account about the situation in this administrative entity shortly after the successful conquest of Macedonia up to the city of Skopje in 1217–1219 by the Epirote ruler Theodoros I Komnenos Dukas. The widow Maria from Polog addressed the archbishop's synod due to an inheritance matter (Παρέστη ἡ ἀπὸ τοῦ Πολόγου ὁρμωμένη χήρα γυνή, ἧς τοὔνομα Μαρία). The monk Gerasimos from the Monastery of the Holy Theotokos in Htětovo and the priest Dobros, both from the village of Banista in the Upper Polog, argued over a property that was illegally confiscated in the past (Ὁ γὰρ ἀπὸ τοῦ Ἄνω Πολόγου ὁρμώμενος καὶ ἐν τῇ σεβασμίᾳ μονῇ τῆς ὑπεραγίας δεσποίνης ἡμῶν Θεοτόκου τῇ ἐν Κτεατόβῃ ἀσκούμενος μοναχὸς Γεράσιμος μετὰ τοῦ παρ’ αὐτοῦ ἐναγομένου καὶ ἐκεῖθεν ὁρμωμένου καὶ ἐν τῷ χωρίῳ Βανίστῃ οἰκοῦντος Δόβρου ἱερέως τῷ παναγιωτάτῳ ἡμῶν δεσπότῃ, τῷ ἀρχιεπισκόπῳ πάσης Βουλγαρίας, παραστάς, κατὰ τοῦ τοιούτου ἱερέως ἐνῆγε λέγων). In this context, Polog is described as χώρα. The term was used to denote the administrative unit or even a province at the time. In a bizarre divorce trial, Georgios' former wife is briefly mentioned. Georgios wanted to live with her again. Her name was Omprada and she was the daughter of a certain Radoslav from Lower Polog (Λαβὼν γυναῖκα νομίμως ἐκ πρώτου συνοικεσίου τὴν θυγατέρα τοῦ Ῥαδοσλάβου τοῦ οἰκοῦντος ἐν τῷ Κάτω Πολόγῳ, τὴν καλουμένην Ὀμπράδα). The Bulgarian Tsar Konstantin I Asen, who reigned between the years 1257-1277, confirmed in the fragmentary preserved chrysobull charter the previous possessions of the Monastery of Saint George-Gorg near Skopje, which was erected by the Byzantine emperor Romanos III. Argyros. Beside the area around Skopje and Prilep, the document also explicitly mentions the dominion (oblast) of Polog. A list of donated villages in this territory follows, which included the village of Rěčice, the so-called Krajište of Lisec, the village of Lěskovljani and also the furrow near Htětovo. Then the possessions of the monastery in Upper Polog are mentioned. Unfortunately, the name of the first village has not survived, but it possessed vineyards and mills. Two other villages, Tōčilь and the village of Banica with vineyards and mills, are easily readable (Vь Položkoi ōblasti selo Rěčici, i to darovan’noje svetoïmь Romanomъ carjemь Svetōmu Geōrgiju sъ vinogradi, sь nivijemъ, i sъ žrъnъkami, sъ perivolmi, sь sěnokosi, sь zaběloï, sь planinami, sь lovištemъ zvěrnoïmъ, i sь vsěmi dohodkoï i sь vsěmi pravinami, i da ne meteha nikoi kefalija, nikōtori vladalecь carьstva mi ni vladalʼci gospodstvujaštih po carьstvu mi, da ne ima vьlěsti vь seko Rěčici, ni sjaditi, ni svjazati, ni globja vьzjati, nikōi dohodokь vьzjati, vsakoi dohōdokь i birokь zakōnʼnoii da si vʼzima crьkva· A sinor selu tōmu: ōt izvora Rěčickjaja rěkja na desnō vьzdolь..nizь brьdo na Ōslьnikь, ta na Ivanovь dolь, ta pō rovčišta, ta meždu Prěslopь a meždu Ōgraždenikь prěz brьdo na na izvorь Palʼčiškja rěkja, i nizь rěkja do Katafigь, ta vъzь brьdo na kraište kako slazi Lisecь vьs kraište Lisečkō, niz gvozdъ na studenʼčec, ta na Glьbokoi dolь, i ōt Glьboka dola.....a ōt sěverьnja...strana prězь ljagь prěko Velikja rěkja, ta nizь Velikja do Htětovьskja brazdja..... .......o na Točilь koi laz....ad...Lěskovijane......vьz brьdō do gor.... desno ..... pjatemь.. Suhja.. planinja..št.nizь gvozdь na Rěčičkja rěkja do izvora jeja, i tō vse paričkō městō. I vь Gornemь Polozě selo...nivijemь sь vinogradi, sь žrъnьkami, sь vsěmi pravinami ih. Selo Tōčilъ i planina rekōma sъ vseja pravinoja. Selo Banici sъ nivijemъ sъ vinōgradi , s žrъnkami, i sъ vsěmi pravinami). Immediately after the ruler of Nicaea, Michael Palaiologos, was elevated to the rank of Despot, he sent his brother Ioannes with a small army, which was reinforced after the Battle of Pelagonia in 1259, to reconquer the territories of Macedonia. The Byzantine historian Georgios Pachymeres describes that Ioannes also captured fortresses in Polog. Ioannes achieved this success more with his diplomatic skills than militarily, because he fought only occasionally (Τοῖς δὲ δυτικοῖς καὶ προσετετήκει· ὅθεν καὶ τὸν οἰκεῖον ἀδελφὸν Ἰωάννην, μέγαν ἔτι δομέστικον ὄντα, συνάμα πλείσταις δυνάμεσι πέμπει, ὅς, τοῖς δυτικοῖς ἐπιστάς, φοβερὸν ἔδοξε πνέειν ἐκείνοις, ἅμα μὲν τῷ θερμῷ τῆς νεότητος, ἅμα δὲ καὶ τῷ περὶ ἐκεῖνον στρατεύματι κουφιζόμενος. Καὶ ἀπτέρῳ τάχει αἱρεῖ μὲν τὸ περὶ τὰ Κάνινα φρούριον, αἱρεῖ δὲ καὶ τὸ περὶ τὰ Βελλάγραδα καὶ Πόλογον καὶ Κολώνειαν, χειροῦται δὲ καὶ Καστορίαν καὶ Πελαγονίαν καὶ Δεύρας, Τζέρνικόν τε καὶ Διάβολιν καὶ τὴν Πρίλαπον, Βοδεεινά τε καὶ Βόστρον, ἔλλιμνον νῆσον, Πέτραν, Πρέσπαν τε καὶ Στερίδολα καὶ Ἀχρίδαν καὶ τὰ Ἰλλυριῶν ὀχυρώματα, καὶ ἕως Δυρραχίου φθάνει τὸ δόρυ κινῶν· προσβάλλει δὲ καὶ Πάτρᾳ καὶ Τρίκκῃ. Καὶ τὰ κύκλῳ κατὰ συνθήκας κρατήσας, καὶ ἀμαχεὶ τὰ πλεῖστα, εἰς φόβον μέγαν καθίστησι τὸν δεσπότην καὶ ἐν στενῷ κομιδῇ. Τότε καὶ ἐγγίονος ἀξιῶν τύχης αὐτὸν πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ ὁ κρατῶν, πέμψας τὰ σύμβολα, σεβαστοκράτορα καθιστᾷ). The sources give almost no information about the Byzantine administration of Polog, except for the later Byzantine Emperor and historian Ioannes Kantakuzenos. He gives a longer account on Theodoros Synadenos, who was born around 1280. He mentions also his father, the Megas Stratopedarches Ioannes Synadenos, who administered Polog as Toparch. However, Ioannes Kantakuzenos localized Polog in the macro-region of Dalmatia, because he probably confused the broader regional designation Illyrikon with Dalmatia (ὁ δέ γε πατὴρ τοῦ πρὸς ἑσπέραν κατὰ τὴν Δαλματίαν λεγομένου Πολόγου τοπάρχης ἦν. ὁ δέ γε πατὴρ τοῦ πρὸς ἑσπέραν κατὰ τὴν Δαλματίαν λεγομένου Πολόγου τοπάρχης ἦν· ἣν δὴ τοπαρχίαν σὺν ἑαυτῷ τῷ πρώτῳ τῶν βασιλέων προσαγαγὼν Παλαιολόγῳ τῷ Μιχαὴλ καὶ ὑποχείριον ἀποδείξας αὐτῷ, τιμῶν τε ἠξιώθη μεγάλων παρὰ Ῥωμαίοις καὶ γάμου κοινωνίας ἐπιφανοῦς, τῇ βασιλέως ἀνεψιᾷ συναφθείς). Probably in 1268 or 1269 an embassy to the Serbs, consisting of the Metropolitan of Traianupolis Ioannes Kondumnes, the Patriarch of Constantinople Joseph I and the Chartophylax of Hagia Sophia Ioannes Bekkos, failed to arrange a marriage between Anna, the daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII. Palaiologos and Milutin, the second son of the Serbian King. Georgios Pachymeres relates that the embassy also passed through Polog and gives his explanation of the Slavic name to his audience (Τῇ Πολόγῳ δὲ παραγγειλάντων, ἣν δὴ ἄλσος Θεοῦ ἐκεῖνοι κατὰ γλῶσσαν εἴπειαν). Polog was withdrawn from the sovereign authority of the Byzantine Empire in 1282/1283 during the reign of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (Prьvěje prijetь oba Pologa sь gradovy ihь i sь oblastiju, i gradь slavьnyi Skopije, po sihь že Ovьče Polje i Zletovu i Pijanьc. Takovyje vьse zemlje prijetь vь prьvoje prišьstvije jego, i priloži ihь kь drьžavě otьčьstvija svojego). In 1300, Polog is mentioned for the first time as Župa in the charter of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin for the Monastery of Saint George Gorg near Skopje. The word župa is attested in connection with the village of Rěčice. Firstly, the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II. Milutin, as the issuer, refers to the older privileges for the monastery, including the charter of the Bulgarian Tsar Konstantin I Asen, which he confirms and therefore repeats the phrase vь ōblasti položьkoi. Only later, when he comes to the privileges of the village of Rěčice, the Serbian King mentions Župa. He freed the village of Rěčice from all works, taxes and duties, which the villagers were obliged to pay to the Governor of the Polog Župa (Selo vь ōblasti položьkoi Rěčice s popovlïani, iže jestь priložilь svety Romanь carь, prьvi ktitorь. I vidě kraljevstvo mi jako podano jestь svetymь Romanomь caremь, i svetimь kyrь-Aleksiemь caremь, i zapisano i utvrьždeno kyrь-Manoilemь caremь, kyrь-Asanōmь caremь i svetimi pravověrnimi cari i krali višepisanimi, i osvoboždeno ōtь vsěhь rabotь carьskihь i ōtь vsěhь podanьkь malihь i velikihь. Po tomužde ōbrazu i kraljevstvo mi ōsvobodi selo Rěčice ōt vsěhь rabotь carьskihь i ōt vsěhь podanьkь malihь i velikyhь. I komu se dastь župa Položʼka na državu milostiju kralievstva mi, Rěčicamь da ne ima zapovědati ni na iednu rabotu, ni na voinsku poiti, grada ne zidati ni bljusti, vinograda ne kopati, ni glasa nositi, ni provoda, ni ponosa. I do nema ulěsti u selo to Rěčice nikoi vladalcь kralievьstva mi, ni vladacь drьžeščago župu tu, ni uzeti kojega dohodka ni mala ni velika: ni sevastь, ni prahtorь, ni knezь, ni vinarь, ni pozobь, ni konjuhь, ni piscь, ni gerakarь, ni pьsь hraniti, ni desetka pčelna, ni ōvčega, ni žitnoga, ni vinnoga, ni travnine, ni torovnine, ni komota, ni mitate, ni košarьštine, ni pisa, ni dimnine, ni voloberʼštine platiti, ni priselice, ni nametkь žitni ni vinni, ni člověka garepsati, ni konja, ni vola, ni ōsla, ni carinu da dajutь, ni suditi člověku Svetago Geōrgija posilijemь, ni potku da uzima na njemь, ni ruku ni ōdboi, ni koju globu, ili potku, ili ruku, i vsaky birьkь zakonny da uzima crьkьvь. Sije zapisanije i utvrьždenije ōbrěte kraljevstvo mi vь hrisovulehь svetihь pravověrnih carьь i kralʼь, takožde i kraljevstvo mi po tomužde ōbrazu potvrьdihь zapisanija i hrisovule, da si drьži selo Rěčice s vinogradi, s perivoli, s nivijemь, s mlini, sь sěnokosi, sь zaběli, i sь planinomь, i sь vsěmi pravinami sela togo). The Byzantine Emperor Michael IX Palaiologos confirmed at the request of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin the possessions of the monastery of Saint Nicetas near Skopje in a chrysobull charter. The document must have been created after 1299, because the emperor addressed Stefan Uroš II Milutin as his brother and brother-in-law. The monastery owned in the region of Polog the village of Nerašta with all rights and a place called Radějevo with vineyards, mills and the courtyard, which at that time was in the hands of a certain Vratislav (ὡσαύτως δέδωκε καὶ χωρίον διακείμενον περὶ τὸν Πόλογον καὶ ἐπιλεγόμενον Νεράσταν μετὰ πάντων τῶν δικαίων αὐτοῦ, ἔτι δὲ καὶ τόπον καλούμενον τοῦ Ῥαδέα μετὰ τῶν ἐν αὐτῶ ἀμπελίων καὶ μυλοστασίων καὶ αὐλῆς, ἅπερ κατεῖχε τίς ὁ Βρατίσθλαβος). The Byzantine emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos issued in 1308 at the request of the Serbian king Stefan Uroš II Milutin a charter, in which he approved the endowment of the monastery of Saint Nicetas near Skopje to the Hrusija tower at the Hilandar monastery. The Greek original has not been preserved, only a Church Slavonic translation of the authentic document is known. The village of Nerašta and a place called Radějevo in the region Polog are attested there again (I u Polozě selo Nerašta s pravinami jegō. I drugo město narečeno Radějevo s vinogradi i s voděničijemь i s dvoromь, ježe jestь drьžalь někto Bratislavь). The Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin confirmed probably in 1303 or 1304 the possessions of the Hrusija tower at the Hilandar monastery. The authentic document is lost, the text has been preserved in four transcripts. One of the transcripts (AHS 144/146), certainly transcribed in the king’ chancery between 1310 and 1340, describes the southward expansion of the Serbian king. Polog is mentioned there as a strana (area) (I pospěšьstvovanijemь svetyju mi gdnu Simeōna i Savy, prějeh po měju Skopsku stranu i Ōvčepolsku i Položsku i Dьbrьsku i pročeje ine strane. I potomь byhь zetь blagověrnomu i samodržavnomu caru grьčьskomu kur Androniku Paleōlogu, i da mi ōnuzi zemlju u prikiju). The Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin donated in 1321 the village of Odri in Polog with the church of Sveti Dmitrij, people, summer pasture, all boundaries and rights, the place of Borko near Podbrezi with a court, people and also everything, which belonged to Borko in Ljašcje to the Monastery of Gračanica. These properties in Polog were given to the monastery within the scope of an exchange of property between Gračanica and the Bishopric of Debar (I Bane u Suhogrьlě koi běhu takožde upisani vь ōtčině mi hrisovulě, i vzehь i dahь Svetomu Nikolě jepiskuplii dьbrьskoi, a za ne dahь zaměnu Svety Bogorodici gradčanьskoi u Polozě Ōdri crьkьovь Svetago Dmitrija sь ljudmi i sь planinomь, i sь vse mi megjami pravi mi koako si je imalo se to ōd iskoni). The Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski confirmed between May 1324 and August 1331 the donation of his father Stefan Uroš II Milutin. The latter granted the church of Sveti Vrač(i) (the Saint Cosmas and Damian) near Potoča, located in Upper Polog, with vineyards, fields, bought estates, smallholdings given for the sake of salvation and retinue to the Bishopric of Prizren (U Gornemь Polozě crkьvь Svetyju Vračju u Potočahь, što jestь pridalь roditeь kraljevьstva mi, i s vinogradi, i s nivijemь, i s kupljenicami i zadušninami i z dvorani). Milutin granted also the property of a priest near Gjurgjevište with people, which lived there, to the Bishopric of Prizren (I stasь popovska u Gjurjevištih i s ljudmi koi sěde na njei, što jestь pridalь roditelь kraljevьstva mi sь arhiepiskopomь Savomь i sь arhiepiskopomь svetymь Nikodimomь, da su crьkovny). The Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski donated the Church of the Holy Mother of God located in Lower Polog near Lešok and and three estates of the priest not far away, which were known as bishop’s court since time immemorial, to the bishopric of Prizren (I tako i u Dolnijemь Polozě u Lěšcě crkьvь svetyje bogorodice i pri njei tri stasi popovske što se zove dvorь piskopovь ōtь věka, da jestь svobodno ōt vsěhь rabotь kraljevьstva mi i podanьkь, kako je i ōtь isprьva bylo). The Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski confirmed the possession of fields near the Church of Holy Mother of God at Trhalě not far from Treboš, which had previously been taken by the people of Polog, to the Bishopric of Prizren. His father, King Milutin, together with the Bishops Damjan and Ilija took the fields from Žegr and they set his houses on fire. But the situation was resolved in its entirety only in the time of King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski. Stefan Uroš III Dečanski engaged the royal court and sent his royal representatives (Despot Dragoslav and Bishop Arsenij) personally to this area. After their inspection the Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski reinstated the situation „as it was before“ (I u Trěboši pri crьkvi svetyje bogorodice pri Trьhalě nivije crьkovno što bylo ōt věka. I uzeli jesu byli Položani, i iznašьlь je roditelь kraljevьstva mi sь jepiskopomь Damijanomь i sь iepiskopomь Iliōmь, i ōtjelь ōt Žegra, i kušte mu popalilь; i pakь posla kraljevьstvo mi despota Dragoslava sь jepiskopomь Arsenijemь da ihь iznadju, da si je ima sveta crьkvi kako je isprьva bylo). The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan issued on 22 January 1333 a charter for Dubrovnik in the region of Polog (A tu imь milostь učini kraljevstvo mi u Polozie vь lětoь 6833 měseca ženvara 22 danь). The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan confirmed in 1334/1335 the donation of his grandfather to the Treskavec Monastery regarding the village Krьpenь in the Region of Polog probably with the Metochion of Saint Nicholas, vineyards, field, summer pastures and all rights (U Polozě metohь Krьpenь sь voděničjemь i sь vinogradi i sь nivijemь i sь planinami i sь vsěmi pravinami jego, što priloži svetopočivšii kralь za dušu si). The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan together with his son, the Young King Uroš, issued most likely in the summer of 1343 a charter for the Monastery of Holy Mother of God in Htětovo, after he had found it devastated and without possessions. The explicit choice of words in the arenga suggests that the Serbian king was personally present in the region of Polog. The administrative unit Polog is denotated in the charter as zemlja (country) and is perceived as an integral part of the Serbian kingdom (prědaju vь ōblasti kraljevʼstva mi zemlju Položʼkuju). The Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan donated in 1347 the village of Selce in Polog with Veli Vrh, hamlets, vineyards and all rights to the Monastery of the Holy Archangels in Prizren (selo u Polozě Selce, i s Velimь Vrьhomь, i sь zaselki, i s vinogrady, i sь vsěmi pravinami, a megja mu sь Htětovomь na Črьni Dolь i prěko za Veli Vrьhь na Stražišta, i ōtь tudu prěko do Dola Velijega na Bajevь Kamy, i megja s Porojemь po dělu uzь Vlaku tere na Planincu, a s Hraštani ōtь Sopotca uz brьdo na Dupnii Kamy; i megja z Garani po vodovagi na Dobri Studen᾿cь ta na Uši, i na Črьni Vrьhь, i niz brьdo na rěku, i niz řeku gdě se obě rěcě stajeta pod Brodcem, i megja Světcomь uz rěku na Srědnju Planinu, i uz brьdo Planine po dělu na Bělьmužьcь, i planina Ranestьcь). The charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan for the Monastery of the Holy Archangels reveals also details about Polog's western border. The border between Krstac and Polog is mentioned in the boundary description of the summer pasture in Sinjavica (I planina Sinjavica i z Bilijanicom, i niže Sinjavice Romanь Dolь, kako pohodi nadь krai, i ōt kraja pravo u vrьhь Ranetьcь: dotezi megja Krьstьcu ōt Pologa). The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan confirmed in 1348 the possessions of the Hilandar Monastery. His deed distinguishes between possessions of the monastery in Serbian land and in Romania (also zemlja grečečska). The estates in Polog are the last in the list of the mentioned possessions, which belonged to the Hilandar Monastery in in the Serbian land. Among them are the former properties of the Monastery of the Holy Mother of God Htětovo in Broděc, Drěnovec, Hraštany, Htětovo, Jadovarce, Mlačice, Sedlarevo, Staro Želynje, Štenče, Sedlarevo and a new endowment in Izbice. The Serbian emperor donated the village Štenče with Vlьkovnō in the Upper Polog, that appears in this document for the first time, to the Hilandar Monastery (U Polozě crьkvь Mati Božia Htětovska i sь seli. I vь Jadovarcehь crьkvь Svety Nikolae, što priloži carьstvo mi Bogorodici Htětovskoi popa Draju i sь rodōmь i sь městomь i sь megjami i sь vsěmi pravinami. Mlačice sь zemlomь, što je dalь svety kralь; a mega zemli toi ōdь Nikiforca kako grede putь na ōpogorь prěz livadu u Kraljevu pekь i u Bivolь Brodь. I Staroga Želina polovina sь megjami i sь crьkoviju. Selo Htětovo i Hraštani, Mlačice i sь zemlōmь. Selo Drěnovьcь, Brodьcь, Sedlarevo i sь Izbicami. I u Gornjemь Polozě selo Štenʼče, i sь Vlьkovnōmь). The founder and funerary inscription of Abbot Ioanikij, probably made between the years 1346 and 1355, gives account about the appointment of Ioanikij as Bishop of the Lower Polog after the Skopje assembly in 1346. Although the inscription mentions only one bishop of the Lower Polog , sources from the 16th century suggest that Polog was a singular church district, not divided in two units (i prizva patriarha blьgarskago i arhiepiskupa srьbskago iōanikija i stvori zborь u skopi i blagosloviše ego na carьski sanь i bystь prvonastolny carь srbskoi zemli i grčkoi i pomorskoi arhiepiskupa iōanikija blagosloviše na patriarhiju srbskoi zemli vь to carstvo blagosloviše anьtonija na episkupstvo dolnemu pologu prvonastolna po izvoleniju božiju prětvoriše ime jemu iōanikie poneže něe bilo prěge episkupь polozě). | ||
| Zletovo | Place | The first written reference to Zletovo comes from the charter of the Byzantine Emperor Basileios II for the archiepiscopal see of Ōhrid from the year 1019. Zletovo (καὶ τὴν Σθλετοβὰν) is listed as part of the Bishopric of Morozvizd (Morobisdos). The Saint Gavrilo Lesnovski departed for the Lěsnovo Monastery (vь monastirь Lesnovskyj), from which he was released after a probationary period with the blessing of the abbot to enter a hermitage near the monastery and Zletovo (za nekoj skïtь blizь prjamo manastirь, vь dolь prjamo Zletovo). According to the Vita, the Saint Gavrilo Lesnovski also came to the aid of a local Bulgarian prince named Mihail in the fight against the Pechenegs and Cumans. Mihail had to flee from his opponents to Ratkovica (vo stranu Ratkovicu). He was able with the assistance of the saint to sidle up to the opposing general Mavragan near Rataica in Zletovo (u Slětovo) and to kill him (u Rataicě i ubi Mavragana). Zletovo was withdrawn from the sovereign authority of the Byzantine Empire in 1282/1283 during the reign of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (i Zletovu). Zletovo is mentioned in the charter of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin for the Gračanica Monastery from 1315 (or 1321?) (i po Zletovoi). The scribe Stanislavь completed in 1330 a Slavic manuscript in the Monastery of Saint Michael the Archangel in the mountains of Lěsnovo, which was in the domain of Ovče Pole and the region of Zletovo (vь ōblasti ōvčepolьskoi vь horě zljętovstěi, v gorě lěsnovьstěi, v monastiri stgo arhistratiga Mihaila). The scribe Stanislavь finished his prologue of the manuscript in the time, when Dragoslavь ruled over the land of Zletovo as Župan (ōbdrьžjaštu horoję Zlętovьskoję županu Dra’goslavu). According to the Slavic founding inscription for the Lěsnovo monastery from 1340/41, the monastery received annualy 100 perpers from the revenue of the market in Zletovo (ōd zletovьskago trьga na godine sto perperь). The same inscription mentions the vineyards of the town of Zletovo (nadь gьrdsko lozie). However, Zletovo with its urban metochion was not included in the endowment for the Lěsnovo Monastery in 1340/41, 1346/47, or 1381. The scribe Stanislavь copied a Menaion at the request of Jovan Oliver destined for the Monastery of the Saint Michael the Archangel in Lěsnovo in 1342 in Zletovo according to the colophon of the manuscript written in Slavic language (vь horě Zletovcěi). In the founding charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV. Dušan for the Eparchy of Zletovo with its seat in the Monastery Lěsnovo from the year 1346/47 the erection of the monastery by the Serbian Espot Jovan Oliver is mentioned. Jovan Oliver built a church in honor of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in the Zletovo region in Lěsnovo (sьzdati jemu hramь vь ime velikoslavnyhь i besplьtnyihь činonačelnikьь arhistratiga Mihaila i Gabrïila, vь straně že zletovьscěi rekomōje Lěsnovo; crьkvi Arhanggelu u Zletovoi; crьkvi Arhanggelu u Zletovoi). Zletovo appears in the boundary description of the hamlet/village Globica in the founding charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV. Dušan for the Eparchy of Zletovo with its seat in the Monastery Lěsnovo from the year 1346/47 (i što se kь Zletovoi kami vali tozi Zletovu budi a što se kь Globici vali tozi crьkvьno). In addition, the charter confirms the annual revenue of 100 perpers from the market in Zletovo for the Eparchy of Zletovo with its seat in the Monastery Lěsnovo (ōtь zletovьskago trьga). The Bishopric of Zletovo (episkopi zletovьskoi) owned also possessions in Pianitza according to the same charter. A note in the Slavic manuscript Lesnovski parenesis relates that it was written in Zletovo at the place called Lěsnovo in the Monastery of the Holy Archangel Michael in 1353 (vь zemli zljatovsьskoi, vь městě rekoměmь Lěsnovo, vь ōbiteli svetago arhistratiga Mihaila), as Arsenije was the Bishop of Zletovo. In 1354/55 the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan gave permission to his nobleman Vlatko Paskačić to donate the Church of Sveti Nikola in Psača, which Vlatko had erected on the inherited property of his father, together with the appertaining metochion to the Monastery of Hilandar (I vьspomenu carstvu mi prěvьzljubljenʼny i pravověrnii vlastelinь carstva mi Vladko ō crьkvy svetago Nikoly jaže jestь sьzdalь na svoōi baštině Pʼsači a sь blagoslovljenijemь carstva mi...i poljubi prěd carstvomʼ mi i priloži svoju baštinu crьkvь svetago Nikoli na Psači prěsvetěi Bogorodici hilandarьskoi sь vsěmь metehōmь). Stefan Uroš IV Dušan enlarged Vlatko's endowment with land near Krilatica, where a certain Neōr had resided and where the Emperor had moved miners from Zletovo (I na Krilatici zemlja koja jestь ōt Trnov’ca na čimь jestь sědělь Neōrь, posadi rudare koje prěseli ōt Zljetove). The Eparchy of Zletovo was probably abolished around 1370. After 1376/77, the Serbian Despot Jovan Dragaš (Ioannes Dragases) and his brother Konstantin Dragaš (Konstantinos Dragases) confirmed that the Monastery Hagios Panteleemon on the Holy Mount Athos possessed the churches of Saint Dimitrije and Saint Nikola in Zletovo (u Zletove stgo Dimitrïa, i svety Nikola). The Serbian local ruler Konstantin Dragaš confirmed on the 15th August 1381 that the Hilandar Monastery had the right to become the annual revenue of 100 perpers from the market in Zletovo aimed for the Lěsnovo Monastery (I ōd trьga zlětovьskoga da uzima Arhanggelь lěsnovьski na vsako gōdište r. Perьperь, jakože pišetь u hrisovuli carskomь). A forged charter from the 15th century, also known as the charter of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin concerning the settlement site Ulijare settlement from 1318, relates, among other things, about the conquest of Zletovo by the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin between the years 1282 and 1284 (Zletovu). The Lěsnovo Monastery is registered in the Defter for the Sanjak Köstendil from 1570 to 1572 as Arhangel. The Lěsnovo Monastery possessed in Zletovo five watermills. Zletovo appears also in the Defter for the Sanjak Köstendil from 1570 to 1572 as as Izltva. | ||
| Štip, The Church od Saint Nicholas | Place | The grand duke Jovan Oliver donated the Church of Saint Nicholas in Štip with the priest Sifievь (u štipě svety nikola pop sifievь). The Serbian Emperor confirmed the endowment of Jovan Oliver and enlarged it for the bishopric of Zletovo. It consisted of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Štip, the priest Sifievь with all patrimonial estate, land, field, vineyard and 20 čьbьrь (I šte priloži svetoje carьstvo mi episkopïi crьkvi Arhaggelu u Zletovoi, u gradu Štipu crьkvь svetago Nikoly pop Sifievu sь vsomь baštinomь i sь zemlomь i s niviemь i s vinogradi, i k. čьbьrь, i sь vsěmь ōtьtesomь crьkve te). |
Sources (3)
| Name | Class | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Epitaph of the abbot Ioanikij | Source | The ktitor epitaph of the Abbot Ioanikij was probably created between the years 1346 and 1355 and inscribed on a sarcophagus in the church of St. Athanasius in Lešok. |
| Founder's inscription of kaznac Jovan Dragoslav | Source | The inscription was located above the western entrance of the now destroyed Church of the Virgin Hodegetria in Mušutište gives the name of the ktetor and the year in which the church was built. The temple was erected in 1314/1315 by grand kaznac Jovan Dragoslav with his wife Jelena, son Staniša and the daughter Anna. |
| Lesnovo 1 | Source | The foundation charter of the Monastery of Lesnovo consists of a donation inscription in three parts on stone, of which two parts are in Slavonic and one part in Greek language. The Slavonic inscription starts on a marble architrave above the Western entrance of the katholikon (i.e. on the Eastern wall of the narthex) and continues outside above the Southern entrance to the naos. This inscription is dated to the years 1340/41 and calls the katholikon a "Church of the High Commander of the Heavenly Armies the Archistratigos Michael" (храмь великаго воѥводе вьїшних силь Aрхистратіга Mихаіла). The donors were the Serbian Great Vojvode (Veliki Vojvoda) Jovan Oliver with his wife Anna Mara (Ana Marija) and his son Kraiko (Krajko) during the reign of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355). |