Maps of Power

Actes de Chilandar I

Properties

ID 9033
System Class Edition
Case Study Historical Region of Macedonia TIB 16 , Byzantino-Serbian Border Zones in Transition (1282–1355)
Edition Charter Edition

Description

Actes de Chilandar I. Des origines à 1319. Texte (ed. Mirjana Živojinović, Vassiliki Kravari, Christophe Giros, Archives de l’Athos 20, Paris 1998).

Relations

Sources (7)
Name Class Description
Actes de Chilandar I Source The edition "Actes de Chilandar I" contains charters by the Byzantine Emperors in favour of the Monastery of Chilandar on Mount Athos.
Chrysobull Charter of the Byzantine Co-Emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos for the Hilandar Monastery from March 1319 Source The Byzantine Co-Emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos issued in March 1319 a charter for the Monastery of Hilandar with the same wording as the charter of the Byzantine Co-Emperor Michael IX Palaiologos from March 1319.
Chrysobull Charter of the Byzantine Co-Emperor Michael IX Palaiologos for the Hilandar Monastery from March 1319 Source The Byzantine Co-Emperor Michael IX. Palaiologos issued in March 1319 a chrysobull charter with the similar content to the chrysobull charter of Andronikos II. from March 1319.
Chrysobull Charter of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos for Leon Koteanitzes from 1293 Source The Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos issued a charter in 1293, in which he donated the land in in Preasnitza to Leon Koteanitzes in appreciation of his military service.
Chrysobull Charter of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II for the Hilandar Monastery from March 1319 Source At the request of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin, the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II donated and confirmed in March 1319 the possessions of the Hilandar Monastery around the river Strymon and in the Melnik region.
Praktikon of Michael Neokaisareites Source The Apographeus Michael Neokaisareites carried out in September 1318 at the behest of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos a list of possessions and dependant people at the village Leipsochorion and Eunuchu, which belonged to the Hilandar Monastery.
Skopje Sveti Nikita 1 Source In ca. 1299/1300 the Byzantine Co-Emperor Michael IX Palaiologos (reigned 1295-1320) issued a charter for the Tower of Hrusija (Pyrgos Basileiu) of the Monastery of Chilandar on the Holy Mount Athos, through which the possessions of the Monastery of Sveti Nikita in and near Skopje were confirmed.
Actors (8)
Name Class Begin End Relation Type Description
Apokavkos Person Mentioned in the chrysobull charter of the Byzantine Emperor Michael IX Palaiologos from 1299/1300 for the Monastery of Saint Niketas near Skopje, in the Serbian translation of the chrysobull charter of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos for the Tower of Hrusija of the Monastery of Chilandar on the Holy Mount Athos from 1299/1300 (or 1308) and in the chrysobull charter from 1300 issued by the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin for the Monastery of Saint George-Gorg near Skopje. He was the owner of a place near Dol'neje Kuč'kovo before 1299, which was then named after him (καὶ ἕτερον τόπον ἐπονομαζόμενον τοῦ Ἀποκαύκου, διήκοντα μέχρι τοῦ ἐκεῖσε ἱσταμένου τιμίου σταυροῦ/I drugoje město narečenoje Apokavkovo, ōpirajušti do krьsta). He founded a church of Saint George. The Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin donated the church of Saint George, 60 ruined houses around the church and the courtyard of Apokavkos to the Monastery of Saint George-Gorg near Skopje (I prida kraljevstvo mi Apokavʼkovu crьkьvь Svetago Geōrgija i ōkolo njega ks. kukjamь rьpiniie ōdь Careva druma koi grede ōd Serave kь Svetoi Trojeručnici us put koi ide kь Ōbloi pirʼzě, do puta koi ide pod Mōshemь, koi grede Kuklevi i do Golьka. I ōšte dvorь Apokavʼkovь ōd Paskalja do Holevata KE. lakьtь Svetago Nikoli, i ōd Careva puti koi grede kь Ōbloi pirʼzě dolu do grada, do Kapicalja).
Borišica Person Mentioned in the chrysobull charter of the Byzantine Emperor Michael IX Palaiologos from 1299/1300 for the Monastery of Saint Niketas near Skopje and in the Serbian translation of the chrysobull charter of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos for the Tower of Hrusija of the Monastery of Chilandar on the Holy Mount Athos from 1299/1300 (or 1308). She was a landowner in Dobri Dolь before 1299 (ἀλλὰ δὴ καὶ τόπον καλούμενον Τομπρόδολον διήκοντα μέχρι τῆς Ῥαδούσης μετὰ τῶν ἐν αὐτῶ χωραφίων τῶν καὶ ποσουμένων εἰς πεντήκοντα στρέμματα, ἅπερ εἶχεν ἐξ ἀγορασίας ἡ Βορισίνα ἐκείνη/I drugo město Dobri Dolь: ōpirajetь do Raduše, s nivijemь ježe 50 vretenь, eže jestь kupila Borišica) and presumably founder of the Church of the Holy Mother of God in Skopje. The Byzantine Emperor Michael IX Palaiologos gave the church with the people, fields and vineyards to the Monastery of Saint Niketas near Skopje (ἐν ὧ δὴ καὶ προσεκύρωσε μονύδριον διακείμενον μὲν καὶ τοῦτο περὶ τὸν αὐτὸν τόπον τῶν Σκοπίων, εἰς ὄνομα δὲ τιμώμενον τῆς πανυπεράγνου Θεομήτορος καὶ οὕτω πως ἐπιλεγόμενονν τῆ̣ς̣ Β̣ορισίνης, μετὰ τῶν ἐν αὐτῶ προσκαθημένων ἀνθρώπων καὶ τῶν εὐρισκομένων ἀμπελίων καὶ χωραφίων). The Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos donated the churc, the people on it with the fields and vineyards to the Tower of Hrusija of the Monastery of Chilandar on the Holy Mount Athos (U tomь Skopii drugaja crьkvi na ime Svetije Bogorodice, Borišičina, s ljudmi čto se ōbrětaju podь nomь i sь nivami i sь vinogradi).
Bratislavь Person Landowner in Radějevo before 1299. He possessed vineyards, watermills and a court (ἔτι δὲ καὶ τόπον καλούμενον τοῦ Ῥαδέα μετὰ τῶν ἐν αὐτῶ ἀμπελίων καὶ μυλοστασίων καὶ αὐλῆς, ἅπερ κατεῖχε τίς ὁ Βρατίσθλαβος/I drugo město narečeno Radějevo s vinogradi i s voděničijemь i s dvoromь, ježe jestь drьžalь někto Bratislavь).
Kalomenь Person Attested in the chrysobull charter from 1300 issued by the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin for the Monastery of Saint George-Gorg near Skopje. Mentioned also in the chrysobull charter of the Byzantine Emperor Michael IX Palaiologos from 1299/1300 for the Monastery of Saint Niketas near Skopje and in the Serbian translation of the chrysobull charter of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos for the Tower of Hrusija of the Monastery of Chilandar on the Holy Mount Athos from 1299/1300 (or 1308). He founded a church of Saint Ilija. He gave it to the Monastery of Saint George-Gorg near Skopje for the right to have a grave (I dade Kalomenь za grobь svoi crьkvь Svetago Iliju sь nivōmь, ōd puti carьskogo koi grede mimo Svety Theōdōrь i do Gornjego puti koi ide prězь brьdo do narotija putma, i ōbь sije strane brьda do kruše gornice i do smokve, ta dolu do puti do vodovažde). The Byzantine Emperor Michael IX Palaiologos donated some fields near Lisiča to the Monastery of Saint Niketas near Skopje, which were in the vicinity of the propriety of Kalomenь (ὁμοίως περὶ τὸ ἐκεῖσε βάλτον, εἰς τόπον καλούμενον τὴν Λυσίτζιανιν, χωράφια τινὰ πλησίον τῶν δικαίων τοῦ Καλομένου). The Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos donated theses fields to the Tower of Hrusija of the Monastery of Chilandar on the Holy Mount Athos (akožde i u Blatě u Lisičahь, několikō nivija blizь pravinь Kalomenověhь).
Kasandrenos Person Mentioned in the sources from 1300 to 1335. He appears as πανσέβαστος σεβαστός and οἰκεῖος of the Byzantine emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos in the sources. He held the position of λογαριαστὴς τῆς αὐλῆς. He owned some land near Ropalia in 1300. His property near Topolobikos is mentioned in the praktikon of Demetrios Apelmene from March 1301, in the praktikon of Konstantinos Kunales, Demetrios Kontenos and the Prokathemenos Leon Kalognomos from November 1318 and in the praktikon of Konstantinos Pergamenos and Georgios Phariseos from September 1320. He was the addressee of a letter written by Michael Gabras between 1315 and 1319. His name was erased in the letter. He possessed estates in the village Chudena before 1318 (surely long before July 1334). He owned the village τοῦ Γεωργηλᾶ with the hamlet Apidea and the village τοῦ Εὐνούχου with the manor Goreantzes before March 1319. He is mentioned in the decision charter of Esaias, the Patriarch of Constantinople, and the synod concerning the dispute between Sebastos Konstantinos Muzalon and Nikolaos Kephalas from April 1324. He is probably identical with the Kasandrenos, who joined on the 20th March 1326 together with Andronikos Komnenos Dukas Palaiologos Tornikes at Amphipolis the embassy from Constantinople heading to the Serbian king. He unjustly acquired the rights for fishing at Chudena and Neboliane before 1333.
Koteanitzes Leon Person Mentioned in the charter of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II. Palaiologos from 1293. He was κῦρ and an οἰκεῖος of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos. The Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos donated in 1293 the land in Preasnitza with mills and nut trees, which was held by the Vlachs before, to Leon Koteanitzes in appreciation of his military service against the enemies (Ἐπεὶ ὁ οἰκεῖος τ̣ῆ̣ βασιλεία μου κῦρ Λέων ὁ Κοτεανίτζης ἐπέδειξε μὲν τὴ̣ν̣ πρὸς τὴν βασιλείαν μου πίστιν καὶ ὑπόληψιν αὐ̣τοῦ ἀκραιφνῆ καὶ ἐφάνη κατὰ διαφόρους καιρ̣ο̣ὺ̣ς̣ χρή̣σιμος καὶ λυσιτ̣ε̣λὴς ἐξαιρ̣έ̣τ̣ω̣ς̣ εἰς ἐ̣π̣ι̣θέσεις ἐχθρῶν, ἀπειλούντων β̣λάβην μ̣ε̣γ̣άλην καὶ ζημίαν εἰς τὴν χώραν̣ καὶ ε̣ἰ̣ς̣ τὰ κάσ̣τ̣ρα τῆ̣ς̣ βασιλείας μου, ἐζήτησε δὲ καὶ παρε̣κάλεσε χ̣ρ̣υ̣σοβούλλο̣υ̣ τυ̣χεῖν τῆ̣ς βασιλείας μο̣υ̣ ἐπὶ τῶ κατέχειν τ̣ὴ̣ν̣ εἰς τὴν Π̣ρ̣ε̣άσνιτζαν εὑρισκομένην γῆν, ἥτις ἀπεσπάσθη ἀπὸ διαφόρων Βλάχ̣ω̣ν̣, τ̣ὴ̣ν̣ παράκλησιν α̣ὐ̣τοῦ εὐμενῶς προσδεξαμένη ἡ βασιλεία μου̣ τὸ̣ν παρόντα̣ χ̣ρ̣υ̣σόβουλλον ΛΌΓΟΝ ἐπιχορηγεῖ καὶ ἐ̣πιβραβεύει αὐτῶ, δι’ οὗ π̣ροστάσσει καὶ δ̣ι̣ορίζεται κατέχε̣ι̣ν̣ τ̣ὸν τ̣ο̣ιοῦτον οἰκεῖον τῆ βασιλεία̣ μου κῦρ Λέοντα τὸν Κο̣τε̣α̣ν̣ίτζην τὴν ὅλην γῆν καὶ π̣εριο̣χὴν τ̣ῆς Πρεάσνιτζας μετ̣ὰ τῶν ἐκεῖσ̣ε̣ εὑρισκομένων μυλώνων καὶ καρυῶν, ἥ̣τις̣ ἄρχε̣ται ἀπὸ τοῦ συνόρου τοῦ Πέτρου κ̣α̣ὶ̣ ἀνέρχεται τὸ ἀν̣απόταμον δι’ ὅ̣λου τοῦ ποτα̣μοῦ τῆς Πρε̣ασνίτζου).
Repana Georgije Person Identical with Kalogeōrьgija? He was soldier. The Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos donated in 1299/1300 (or 1308?) at the instigation of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin the village of Glusi [Golihovo] under the church with mills, its residual [other] rights and the soldier Georgije Repana to the Tower of Hrusija of the Monastery of Chilandar on the Holy Mount Athos (i drugo selo Glusi pod crьkvomь, sь mlini i sь pročimi pravinami jego. I voinikь koi je tu narekomi Geōrьgije Repana). The forged transcript A of the collective charter of Stefan Uroš II Milutin for the monastery of Chilandar reports that the village of Glusi together with the Kalogjurgje Repana, the place Krastavʼcь and the katun of Vlachs was granted to the monastery of Saint Nikita near Skopje and afterwards to tower of Hrusija in the vicinity of the Chilandar Monastery by the Serbian King (I dahь..i Glusii. A u Glusěh Kalogjurʼgja Rěpanu i s městom Krastavʼcь i katunь Vlahьь... To vʼse utʼvrьdivь i zapisavь dahь Svetomu Nikitě, a Svetago Nikitu dahь mojemu pirʼgu sь vʼsěmь jego utʼvrьždenijemь).
Žegrь Radomirь Person Identical with Žegrь 1 and Žegrь 2? Owner of land near Prěbužda before 1299. He and his brothers possessed gardens, mills and had also other rights at their disposal (ἀλλὰ δὴ καὶ τόπον καλούμενον τὴν Μπρεμποῦσδαν, ἀρχόμενον ἀπὸ τῆς ἐκεῖσε ὁδοῦ τῆς Μπάνιανις καὶ διερχόμενον ἀπὸ τοῦ κάστρου τῶν Σκοπίων καὶ τῶν ἐγχωρίως καλουμένων Πυκνῶν Μαρμάρων, καὶ ἀκουμβίζοντα μέχρι τοῦ ποταμοῦ τῆς Λιπεανίτζης καὶ τῆς πηγῆς τοῦ Γολισέβου καὶ τοῦ τόπου τοῦ καλουμένου Σιδηροῦ, μετὰ τῶν ἐν αὐτῶ περιβολίων καὶ μυλοστασίων καὶ λοιπῶν δικαίων, ὧν προκατεῖχε τίς καλούμενος Ζέγρος ὁ Ῥαδομηρὸς μετὰ τῶν αὐταδέλφων αὐτοῦ/I zemlja narekomaja Prěbužda: i počinajetь ōt puti banjanьskoga i idetь kь gradu Skopьskomu, i do gdě se zove Često Mramōrije, i ōpira se u rěku u Lepenьcь i kladenca Goliševa, i do města narekomago Želěznago, s perivolmi jego i s voděničijemь i s pročimi pravinami, jakože go jes(tь) drьžal drěvlje někto Žegrь Radomirь sь bratijam).
Places (18)
Name Class Begin End Description
Banjane, Local Road, hodos, put Place The local road of Banjane (ἀπὸ τῆς ἐκεῖσε ὁδοῦ τῆς Μπάνιανις; ot puti banjanьskoga) is attested in the years 1299/1300 and/or 1308 (?) in two charters of the Byzantine Emperors Michael IX Palaiologos (reigned 1295-1320) and Andronikos II Palaiologos (reigned 1282-1328).
Breznica Place The Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos donated in 1293 the land in Preasnitza with mills and nut trees, which was held by the Vlachs before, to Leon Koteanitzes in appreciation of his military service against the enemies (Ἐπεὶ ὁ οἰκεῖος τ̣ῆ̣ βασιλεία μου κῦρ Λέων ὁ Κοτεανίτζης ἐπέδειξε μὲν τὴ̣ν̣ πρὸς τὴν βασιλείαν μου πίστιν καὶ ὑπόληψιν αὐ̣τοῦ ἀκραιφνῆ καὶ ἐφάνη κατὰ διαφόρους καιρ̣ο̣ὺ̣ς̣ χρή̣σιμος καὶ λυσιτ̣ε̣λὴς ἐξαιρ̣έ̣τ̣ω̣ς̣ εἰς ἐ̣π̣ι̣θέσεις ἐχθρῶν, ἀπειλούντων β̣λάβην μ̣ε̣γ̣άλην καὶ ζημίαν εἰς τὴν χώραν̣ καὶ ε̣ἰ̣ς̣ τὰ κάσ̣τ̣ρα τῆ̣ς̣ βασιλείας μου, ἐζήτησε δὲ καὶ παρε̣κάλεσε χ̣ρ̣υ̣σοβούλλο̣υ̣ τυ̣χεῖν τῆ̣ς βασιλείας μο̣υ̣ ἐπὶ τῶ κατέχειν τ̣ὴ̣ν̣ εἰς τὴν Π̣ρ̣ε̣άσνιτζαν εὑρισκομένην γῆν, ἥτις ἀπεσπάσθη ἀπὸ διαφόρων Βλάχ̣ω̣ν̣, τ̣ὴ̣ν̣ παράκλησιν α̣ὐ̣τοῦ εὐμενῶς προσδεξαμένη ἡ βασιλεία μου̣ τὸ̣ν παρόντα̣ χ̣ρ̣υ̣σόβουλλον ΛΌΓΟΝ ἐπιχορηγεῖ καὶ ἐ̣πιβραβεύει αὐτῶ, δι’ οὗ π̣ροστάσσει καὶ δ̣ι̣ορίζεται κατέχε̣ι̣ν̣ τ̣ὸν τ̣ο̣ιοῦτον οἰκεῖον τῆ βασιλεία̣ μου κῦρ Λέοντα τὸν Κο̣τε̣α̣ν̣ίτζην τὴν ὅλην γῆν καὶ π̣εριο̣χὴν τ̣ῆς Πρεάσνιτζας μετ̣ὰ τῶν ἐκεῖσ̣ε̣ εὑρισκομένων μυλώνων καὶ καρυῶν, ἥ̣τις̣ ἄρχε̣ται ἀπὸ τοῦ συνόρου τοῦ Πέτρου κ̣α̣ὶ̣ ἀνέρχεται τὸ ἀν̣απόταμον δι’ ὅ̣λου τοῦ ποτα̣μοῦ τῆς Πρε̣ασνίτζου). The Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan confirmed the donation of the mountain Ōgraždeno i Draguljevo with surrounding area, a former land of Stefan Hrelja Dragovol, to the Monastery of Hilandar after May 1343. In the boundary description of the land also the road named after the village Breznica or the river Breznica is attested (na putь brězničʼski i na Bělinь/ na putь brězničʼski i na Bělinь). The road called after the village Breznica is mentioned in the boundary description of a metochion of the Hilandar Monastery above Sekirʼnikь from 1349/1353 (putemь brězničkimь nizь brьdo na Črьvěni bregь). The village Breznica appears in the boundary description of the land in Pačkovo from 1375/1376, which was in possession of the Hilandar Monastery, as Stara Brěznica and also Brěznica (putemь prěkim u Staru Brěznicu, i vse uz Brěznicu u sinorь Hilandarski).
Hagios Demetrios tu Krilatu Place The Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos confirmed in June 1309 the possession of the Monastery of Saint John Prodromos on Mount Menoikeus near Serres over the Metochion Hagios Demetrios tu Krilatu in the plot Platanai in the vicinity of the town Melnik (καὶ ἕτερον εὐκτήριον οἶκον περὶ τὸν Μελένικον ἐν τῆ τοποθεσία τῶν Πλατανῶν διακείμενον καὶ εἰς ὄνομα τιμώμενον τοῦ ἁγίου μεγαλομάρτυρος Δημητρίου καὶ ἐπικεκλημένον τοῦ Κριλάτου). The Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II handed over to the Monastery of Hilandar the summer pasture called Matzista and the Metochion Hagios Demetrios tou Krilatou/Pteratou (Ὡσαύτως ἔχει θέλημα καὶ διορίζεται ἡ βασιλεία μου, ἵνα κατέχηται παρὰ τῆς δηλωθείσης σεβασμίας μονῆς τοῦ Χελανταρίου καὶ ἡ περὶ τὸν Μελενίκον δημοσιακὴ πλανηνὴ ἡ Μάτζιστα σὺν τῆ τοῦ Ἁγίου Δημητρίου τοῦ Πτερωτοῦ καλουμένη). The Byzantine Co-Emperors Michael IX. Palaiologos and Andronikos III Palaiologos confirmed the owner right of the Monastery of Hilandar over the summer pasture Matzista and the Metochion Hagios Demetrios tou Krilatou/Pteratou (καὶ ἡ περὶ τὸν Μελενίκον δημοσιακὴ πλανηνὴ ἡ Μάτζιστα σὺν τῆ τοῦ Ἁγίου Δημητρίου τοῦ Πτερωτοῦ καλουμένη). Probably identical with the Monastery Ajo Demetri mentioned in the Defter for the Sanjak Küstendil in the 16th century.
Klustobista Place In ca. 1299/1300 the Byzantine Co-Emperor Michael IX Palaiologos (reigned 1295-1320) donated half of the village of Klustobistēs to the Monastery of Sveti Nikita (τὸ ἥμισυ τοῦ χωρίου τοῦ καλουμένου τῆς Κλουστοβίστης). In a charter of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos (reigned 1282-1328), at the instigation of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (reigned 1282-1321), in ca. 1299/1300 (or 1308?) for the Tower of Hrusija (Pyrgos Basileiu) of the Monastery of Chilandar on the Holy Mount Athos the donation of half of the respective village is confirmed (I polь sela Klьčevišta). In 1347/48 the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) donated, with the permission of the Župan Radoslav, the village of Klьčevišta and its church of the Mother of God together with the hamlet Brodcь, vineyards, fruits, bought estates and all rights to the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren (I ješte priloži carьstvo mi crьkvi carьstva mi Arhaggelu sь hotěnijemь ljubimago vlastelina carьstvu mi Radoslava župana, selo Klьčevišta, sь crьkoviju Svetyje Bogorodice, i sь zaselkomь Brod᾿cemь, s vinogrady, sь ōvoštijemь, i s kupljenicami, i sь vsěmi pravinami, kako piše u hrisovulě Klьčevišt᾿komь što jestь zapisalь roditelь carьstva mi gospodinь kral).
Lumpotanion Place The village of Λουμποτάνιον (Ljubotěnĭ) is mentioned in a charter of the Byzantine Co-Emperor Michael IX Palaiologos (reigned 1295-1320) for the Monastery of Sveti Nikita in ca. 1299/1300 (πλανηνὴν εἰς τὸ Λουμποτάνιον μετὰ τῆς περιοχῆς αὐτῆς). The toponym is again attested in a charter of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos (reigned 1282-1328), which was issued at the instigation of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (reigned 1282-1321), in ca. 1299/1300 (or 1308?) for the Tower of Hrusija (Pyrgos Basileiu) of the Monastery of Chilandar on the Holy Mount Athos (Planina Ljubotěnĭ sĭ oblastijem si).
Lumpotanion, Summer Pasture Place In ca. 1299/1300 the Byzantine Co-Emperor Michael IX Palaiologos (reigned 1295-1320) donated a summer pasture in the vicinity of the village of Λουμποτάνιον (Ljubotěnĭ) to the Monastery of Sveti Nikita (πλανηνὴν εἰς τὸ Λουμποτάνιον μετὰ τῆς περιοχῆς αὐτῆς). In a charter of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos (reigned 1282-1328), at the instigation of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (reigned 1282-1321), in ca. 1299/1300 (or 1308?) for the Tower of Hrusija (Pyrgos Basileiu) of the Monastery of Chilandar on the Holy Mount Athos the donation of the respective summer pasture is confirmed (Planina Ljubotěnĭ sĭ oblastijem si).
Matzista Place The Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II handed over to the Monastery of Hilandar the summer pasture called Matzista and the Metochion Hagios Demetrios tou Krilatou/Pteratou (Ὡσαύτως ἔχει θέλημα καὶ διορίζεται ἡ βασιλεία μου, ἵνα κατέχηται παρὰ τῆς δηλωθείσης σεβασμίας μονῆς τοῦ Χελανταρίου καὶ ἡ περὶ τὸν Μελενίκον δημοσιακὴ πλανηνὴ ἡ Μάτζιστα σὺν τῆ τοῦ Ἁγίου Δημητρίου τοῦ Πτερωτοῦ καλουμένη). The Byzantine Co-Emperors Michael IX. Palaiologos and Andronikos III Palaiologos confirmed the owner right of the Monastery of Hilandar over the summer pasture Matzista and the Metochion Hagios Demetrios tou Krilatou/Pteratou (καὶ ἡ περὶ τὸν Μελενίκον δημοσιακὴ πλανηνὴ ἡ Μάτζιστα σὺν τῆ τοῦ Ἁγίου Δημητρίου τοῦ Πτερωτοῦ καλουμένη). The Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II addressed in February 1321 the command to the Despot Konstantinos Palaiologos to banish his subordinate Pululon from the summer pasture Matzista, which belonged to the Monastery of Hilandar (ἡ βασιλεία μου ὥρισε προολίγου καὶ ἐδόθη διὰ χρυσοβούλλου αὐτῆς πρὸς τὴν ἐν τῷ ἁγίῳ ὄρει τοῦ Ἄθω διακειμένην σεβασμίαν μονὴν τοῦ Χελανταρίου ἡ περὶ τὸν Μελενίκον πλανηνὴ ἡ Μάτιστα· εὐρίσκει δὲ τὸ μέρος αὐτῆς καταδυναστείαν ἐπὶ ταύτῃ παρὰ ἀνθρώπου σου τοῦ Πούλουλου. περὶ τοῦ τοιούτου γοῦν Πούλουλου παρεδήλωσέ σοι ἡ βασιλεία μου διαφόρως ἵνα ἀποδιώξῃς αὐτόν, ἐπεὶ εὑρίσκεται ἔρημος καὶ ὀχληρὸς καὶ κακός. Πάλιν γοῦν τὸ αὐτὸ παραδηλοῖ σοι ᾗ βασιλεία μου δι’ αὐτόν· καὶ ἀποδίωξον αὐτὸν ὡς τοιοῦτον εὑρισκόμενον, καὶ οἰκονόμησον ἵνα ἔχῃ τὸ μέρος τῆς εἰρημένης μονῆς τοῦ Χελανταρίου τὴν δηλωθεῖσαν πλανηνὴν ἀνενοχλήτως, καθὼς ἐδόθη πρὸς αὐτὴν διὰ τοῦ δηλωθέντος χρυσοβούλλου τῆς βασιλείας μου, καὶ μέλλει γενέσθαι τοῦτο εἰς ἀποδοχὴν αὐτῆς.).
Melnik Place On 8 March 1350 the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) issued a charter in Melnik for the Monastery of the Holy Archangels in Jerusalem.
Melnik, Summer Pastures Place The Byzantine emperors Andronikos II, Michael IX, Andronikos III and Ioannes V Palaiologos donated and confirmed between 1319 and 1342 several summer pastures to the Monasteries of Chilandar and Zographu on Mount Athos. These summer pastures are called Matzista, Hagios Demetrios Pterotos, Lakteba and Tzerkbista in the respective sources (1319: hē peri ton Melenikon dēmosiakē planēnē hē Matzista syn tē tu Hagiu Dēmētriu tu Pterōtu kalumenē; 1321: hē peri ton Melenikon planēnē hē Matista; 1327: tēn peri ton Melenikon eis ta Lestia dēmosiakēn planēnēn tēn Lakteban; 1328: anti tēs planēnēs tēs legomenēs Laktebas tēs katechomenēs para tōn dēlōthentōn monachōn epilabesthai kai katechein to meros autōn tēn peri ton topon tu Meleniku dēmosiakēn heteran planēnēn tēn legomenēn Tzerkbistan; 1342: peri ton Melenikon dēmosiakēs planēnēs tēs hutō kalumenēs Laktebas […] tēn peri ton auton topon ton Melenikon heteran dēmosiakēn planēnēn tēn legomenēn Tzerkbēstan). The Serbian emperor Stefan Uroš V confirmed in 1356 a donation of the church of Saint Nikola and an unnamed summer pasture to the Metropolitan of Melnik (Svetago Nikoli Čudotvor’ca Stožьskoga u Mělnicě u gradu s planinomь).
Mērana Place In ca. 1299/1300 the Byzantine Co-Emperor Michael IX Palaiologos (reigned 1295-1320) donated the village of Mērana in (the župa of) Morava to the Monastery of Sveti Nikita (χωρίον διακείμενον εἰς τὴν Μοράβαν καὶ ἐπονομαζόμενον τὴν Μηράναν). In a charter of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos (reigned 1282-1328), at the instigation of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (reigned 1282-1321), in ca. 1299/1300 (or 1308?) for the Tower of Hrusija (Pyrgos Basileiu) of the Monastery of Chilandar on the Holy Mount Athos the donation of the respective village is confirmed (I selo u Moravě narekomoje Izmira). The forged transcript A of the collective charter of the Serbian King Milutin for the Monastery of Chilandar from the years 1303-1304 (or after 1331) reports that the village of S'mira in Morava was granted to the Monastery of Sveti Nikita near Skopje and afterwards to the Tower of Hrusija (Pyrgos Basileiu) in the vicinity of the Monastery of Chilandar by the Serbian King (i u Moravě selo S'mira ... To vʼse utʼvrьdivь i zapisavь dahь Svetomu Nikitě, a Svetago Nikitu dahь mojemu pirʼgu sь vʼsěmь jego utʼvrьždenijemь).
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).
Prěbužda Place In ca. 1299/1300 the Byzantine Co-Emperor Michael IX Palaiologos (reigned 1295-1320) donated the village (?, uncertain because of the Byzantine term "topos") of Prěbužda to the Monastery of Sveti Nikita (τόπον καλούμενον τὴν Μπρεμποῦσδαν). In a charter of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos (reigned 1282-1328), at the instigation of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (reigned 1282-1321), in ca. 1299/1300 (or 1308?) for the Tower of Hrusija (Pyrgos Basileiu) of the Monastery of Chilandar on the Holy Mount Athos the donation of the respective village (?, uncertain because of the Serbian term "zemlja") is confirmed (I zemlja narekomaja Prěbužda). The forged transcript A of the collective charter of Stefan Uroš II Milutin for the Monastery of Chilandar from the years 1303-1304 (or after 1331) reports that the village of Prěbužda was granted to the Monastery of Sveti Nikita near Skopje and afterwards to the Tower of Hrusija (Pyrgos Basileiu) in the vicinity of the Chilandar Monastery by the Serbian King (i selo Prěbuždu, ... To vʼse utʼvrьdivь i zapisavь dahь Svetomu Nikitě, a Svetago Nikitu dahь mojemu pirʼgu sь vʼsěmь jego utʼvrьždenijemь). According to Vassiliki Kravari the village of Prěbužda was located to the South of the village of Banjane.
Prěbužda, Marble Quarry Place In a charter for the Monastery of Sveti Nikita issued by the Byzantine Co-Emperor Michael IX Palaiologos (reigned 1295-1320) in ca. 1299/1300 a marble quarry is mentioned in the boundary description of the village of Prěbužda (καὶ τῶν ἐγχωρίως καλουμένων Πυκνῶν Μαρμάρων). In a charter of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos (reigned 1282-1328), at the instigation of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (reigned 1282-1321), in ca. 1299/1300 (or 1308?) for the Tower of Hrusija (Pyrgos Basileiu) of the Monastery of Chilandar on the Holy Mount Athos the same marble quarry is mentioned again (I zemlja narekomaja Prěbužda: i počinajetь ōt puti banjanьskoga i idetь kь gradu Skopьskomu, i do gdě se zove Često Mramōrije, i ōpira se u rěku u Lepenьcь i kladenca Goliševa, i do města narekomago Želěznago, s perivolmi jego i s voděničijemь i s pročimi pravinami, jakože go jes(tь) drьžal drěvlje někto Žegrь Radomirь sь bratijam). The name of the microtoponym (Πυκνὰ Μάρμαρα, Често Мрамѡриѥ) suggests that marble was extracted at this very place.
Prěbužda, Watermills Place The Byzantine Co-Emperor Michael IX Palaiologos (reigned 1295-1320) donated in ca. 1299/1300 the watermills near the village of Prěbužda to the Monastery of Sveti Nikita (μετὰ τῶν ἐν αὐτῶ περιβολίων καὶ μυλοστασίων καὶ λοιπῶν δικαίων). In a charter of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos (reigned 1282-1328), at the instigation of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (reigned 1282-1321), in ca. 1299/1300 (or 1308?) for the Tower of Hrusija (Pyrgos Basileiu) of the Monastery of Chilandar on the Holy Mount Athos the donation of the respective watermills is confirmed (I zemlja narekomaja Prěbužda: i počinajetь ōt puti banjanьskoga i idetь kь gradu Skopьskomu, i do gdě se zove Često Mramōrije, i ōpira se u rěku u Lepenьcь i kladenca Goliševa, i do města narekomago Želěznago, s perivolmi jego i s voděničijemь i s pročimi pravinami, jakože go jes(tь) drьžal drěvlje někto Žegrь Radomirь sь bratijami).
Skopje Place The Bulgarian Tsar Constantine I Asen mentioned the town of Skopje in his donation of goods to the Monastery of St. George-Gorg (na brъdě Vir'gině prěmo Skopii grad(a) nadь Serěvǫ, vь grad(ě) Skopьskomъ). The Byzantine Co-Emperor Michael IX Palaiologos mentioned the town of Skopje in his donation to the monastery of Saint Nikita in the years 1299/1300 (πλησίον [τῶν Σκοπίων]). In 1299/1300 or 1308 a Serbian version of a charter by Andronikos II Palaiologos - at the instigation of the Serbian king Stefan Uroš II Milutin - confirmed the donations made by Michael IX (ō priloženi ježe vь Skopi ). In both charters the Upper Town of Skopje is also mentioned (kь gradu Skopьskomu/ἀπὸ τοῦ κάστρου τῶν Σκοπίων). The Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin confirmed the donations by Tsar Constantine I Asen and added new properties to the Monastery of Saint George-Gorg (svetago i velikago mučenika Hristova Gjeōrgiïa prěmo Skopiju gradu na Seravě na brьdě rekoměmь Verьginь). On 1 January 1345 the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan issued a charter in Skopje concerning the Tower of Hrusija on the Holy Mount Athos. In the period from April until August 1346 King Stefan Dušan enacted a series of charters in Skopje for several monasteries on the Holy Mount Athos, for Georgios Phokopoulos and for Dubrovnik. In the year 1346/47 the same King mentioned the town of Skopje in the foundation charter of the episcopal see in Zletovo (такодже и подвигосмо всечьстнѹю Скопию), which he most probably issued in Skopje itself. On 21 May 1349 Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan issued a charter for the anagnost Dragoje in Skopje. In the years 1354/55 the same Emperor enacted a charter in Skopje for the Church of the Presentation of the Theotokos in Arhiljevica. Petančić mentioned it in 1522 as Scopia.
Sōsthnai, Summer Pastures Place The Byzantine Co-Emperor Michael IX Palaiologos (reigned 1295-1320) donated two summer pastures called Sōsthnai to the Monastery of Sveti Nikita in ca. 1299/1300 (ἑτέρας δύο πλανηνὰς καλουμένας Σώσθνας). The source-based context suggests that these summer pastures were located in the mountains to the East of the village of Λουμποτάνιον. In a charter of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos (reigned 1282-1328), at the instigation of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (reigned 1282-1321), in ca. 1299/1300 (or 1308?) for the Tower of Hrusija (Pyrgos Basileiu) of the Monastery of Chilandar on the Holy Mount Athos the donation of the respective summer pastures is confirmed (Druzě dvě planině narekoměi Soštně).
Vlach Katun near Klьčevišta Place In ca. 1299/1300 the Byzantine Co-Emperor Michael IX Palaiologos (reigned 1295-1320) donated a Vlach katun (κατοῦναν βλαχικήν) near the village of Klustobista to the Monastery of Sveti Nikita. The topography and the context suggest that the katun has to be localised to the North of the contemporary villages of Banjane, Kučevište and Pobožje. In a charter of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos (reigned 1282-1328), at the instigation of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (reigned 1282-1321), in ca. 1299/1300 (or 1308?) for the Tower of Hrusija (Pyrgos Basileiu) of the Monastery of Chilandar on the Holy Mount Athos the donation of the respective katun is confirmed (i katunь Vlahь Svetago Nikite).
Župa of Morava Place In ca. 1189/90 the Serbian Grand Župan Stefan Nemanja (reigned 1166/68-1196) incorporated Morava into his realm (Priloži že kĭ zemli otčĭstvïa svojego oblastĭ nyševĭskuju do konca, Lypljanĭ že i Moravu i glagoljemy Vrani, prizrěnĭsku že oblastĭ i Pologa oba do konca sĭ megami svoimi.). In ca. 1299/1300 the Byzantine Co-Emperor Michael IX Palaiologos (reigned 1295-1320) donated the village of Mērana in (the župa of) Morava to the Monastery of Sveti Nikita (χωρίον διακείμενον εἰς τὴν Μοράβαν καὶ ἐπονομαζόμενον τὴν Μηράναν). In a charter of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos (reigned 1282-1328), at the instigation of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (reigned 1282-1321), in ca. 1299/1300 (or 1308?) for the Tower of Hrusija (Pyrgos Basileiu) of the Monastery of Chilandar on the Holy Mount Athos the donation of the village of Izmira in Morava is confirmed (I selo u Moravě narekomoje Izmira). In the first quarter of the 14th century Morava was part of the Bishopric of Lipljan (po Moravě). The forged transcript A of the collective charter of the Serbian King Milutin for the Monastery of Chilandar from the years 1303-1304 (or after 1331) reports that the village of S'mira in Morava was granted to the Monastery of Sveti Nikita near Skopje and afterwards to the Tower of Hrusija (Pyrgos Basileiu) in the vicinity of the Monastery of Chilandar by the Serbian King (i u Moravě selo S'mira ... To vʼse utʼvrьdivь i zapisavь dahь Svetomu Nikitě, a Svetago Nikitu dahь mojemu pirʼgu sь vʼsěmь jego utʼvrьždenijemь). In 1342 the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) issued a charter in favour of the starec Ioanĭ in Morava donating to him the Monastery of Sveti Nikola Mrački for lifelong subsistence (u Moravě). According to Siniša Mišić the medieval Serbian župa of Morava is to be localised along the river Binačka Morava.