Maps of Power

Mišić/Subotin-Golubović 2003

Properties

ID 9280
System Class Edition
Case Study Byzantino-Serbian Border Zones in Transition (1282–1355) , Ethnonym of the Vlachs , Historical Region of Macedonia TIB 16
Edition Charter Edition

Description

Siniša Mišić/Tatjana Subotin-Golubović, Svetoarhandjelovska hrisovulja (Izvori za srpsku istoriju 3, Beograd 2003).

Relations

Actors (9)
Name Class Begin End Relation Type Description
Anʼdrijanь Person He lived before summer 1343, maybe even later. He occurs as son-in-law of Pardo in the Vrěviō. It seems clear, that the source refers to Pardo Kosta. He sold the rest of the field called Zlovadnica above Trěboš to bishop Ignatije for a mare and 2 perper. The field bordered on the old furrow and on the road called after the village Poroj (Niva Zlovadnica, što kupi Sava Surkišь u Parʼda Koste nad Trěbošom a ōstalo dokupi piskopь Ignatije u Anʼdrijana, zeta Pardova, za kobilu, za 2 perper).
Gradislavь (1) Person Mentioned in the sources from 1333 to 1379/1380. He was the son of Boril (Gradislauo Borilli). Vojvoda Gradislav (or vexillifer Gradislau, son of Boril in the Latin version of the document) signed along with the Metropolitan of Prizren Arsenije, Kaznac Baldovin, Župan Vratko, Knez Grgur Kurjaković, Stavilac Miloš, Vojvoda Dejan Manjak, Gradislav Sušenica, Nikola Buća, and Archdeacon Marin Baranić in Polog the charter issed by Stefan Uroš IV Dušan from the 22. January 1333 regarding the sale of Ston to the city of Dubrovnik (A tu imь milostь učini kraljevstvo mi u Polozie vь lětoь 6833 měseca ženvara 2 i 2 danь. A tui běhu: sveōsvešni jepiskupь prizrěnski Arsenie, kaznacь Balьdovinь, voevoda Gradisavь, županь Vratkō, knezь Grьgurь Kurjakovićь, stavilacь Miloš, vo(e)voda Deganь Manijaakь, Gradisavь Sušenica, Nikola Bučga, arhidjak Marinь Baraninь/ Actum est hoc datum in Pollogo, presentibus uenerabili patris, domino Arsenio, episcopo Prisirenensis, ac nobilibus viris, casneçio Baldouino, Gradislauo Borilli, uexillifero, çuppano Vratcho, comitate Gregorio Curiaçi, staluileçio Milosio Voyni, uoieuoda Deiano Maniiacho, stauileçio Gradislauo Suseniçe, Nicolao Buchia, archidiacono Antibarensis et Marino Miroslai Antibarensis, et aliis quam pluribus currente anno Domini, millesimo, trecentessimo tercio decimo tercio, mensis Januari uigessimo secundio die, indictione prima). Gradislav bearing the title of tepčija donated the settlement site Běla Vodica with all rights to the Monastery of Treskavec. This donation was confirmed by the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in the second charter for the Monastery in Treskavec (Selište Běla Vodica sь vsěmi pravinami, što priloži tepci Gradislavь). Gradislav figures again in the charter of Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan for the Monastery of the Holy Archangels in Prizren issued probably in August 1347. As tepčija he confirmed the boundary mark of the land Trstena during the reign of the Stefan Uroš III Dečanski (i sь zemlomь na Trьstěnoi što si jestь drьžalь u roditelь carьstva mi, i što mu je utesalь tepʼči Gradislav i igumьnь carьstva mi). In 1352 the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan sent to the Byzantine Emperor John V Palaiologos an auxiliary cavalry force under the command of Borilović, who was in charge of the office of kaznac. They fought together against John VI Kantakuzenos and the horsemen of Orhan I in the battle of Didymoteichon. According to Kantakuzenos almost all 7,000 Serbs fell at the battle and the kaznac could escape only with a small number of troops (γενομένου δὲ ἐκεῖ τοῦ βασιλέως ἀδελφοῦ, ἡ στρατιὰ ἐξεπέμφθη παρασκευασθεῖσα ἑπτακισχίλιοι ἱππεῖς, ὧν ἐστρατήγει Κασνιτζὸς ὁ Μποριλοβίκης προσαγορευόμενος, ἐκ τῶν ἐπιφανεστάτων μάλιστα ὢν τῶν παρὰ Τριβαλοῖς… Κασνιτζὸς δὲ ὁ στρατηγὸς μετά τινων εὐαριθμήτων ἠδυνήθη διαδρᾶναι, τῶν ἄλλων ἁπάντων τῶν μὲν πεσόντων, τῶν δ’ ἑαλωκότων). It is not clear, if Borilović is the same person as Gradislav. Naumov suggests, that Borilović was in fact his brother or close relative. He owned the village Jelašnica. The Serbian Despot Lazar donated in 1379/1380 the village Jelašnica, which belonged previously to Gradislav, with church, boundaries, hamlets and all right to the Hilandar Monastery. The Serbian Patriarch Spiridon confirmed in 1380 the wording of the deed of Lazar (selo Elʼšanica Gradisava tepčije i sь crьkviju i s megami i zaselci, s pravinami sela togo). Gradislav was probably buried in the Treskavec monastery. This was proposed by Gligorijević on the grounds of an inscription under the ktetor composition of a man carrying a church model and his wife preserved on the western facade of the parekklesion of the Treskavec monastery (τοῦ τεπέτζηα καὶ κτήτορος τοῦδε τοῦ ναοῦ). On the sheet 436 of the pomenik of the Church of the Holy Virgin Ljeviška in Prizren, the pomen of Peter kaznac Gradislav is mentioned. It might be suggested that Peter was the monk name of Gradislav. Highly questionable is the suggestion of Branka Ivanić, which identifies Gradislav with the bearer of the goldring in the collection of the National Museum in Belgrade. The inscription along the rim of the goldring reads namely Gradislav čelnik.
Gurguras Person Gregorius Golubich is a central figure in the negotiations between Serbia and Dubrovnik between the years 1362 and 1365, but it is not clear, whether he is the same person as Kaisar Gurguras. Gregorius Golubich strived with his brother Ivan to conclude the peace treaty. Several accounts from the Dubrovnik archive give detail about him and his brother. On the 14th of June 1362 Gregorius and his brother became the citizens of Dubrovnik. Their deposits were under the guarantee of the city of Dubrovnik and obtained the legal position of inviolability in case of the war (Comes Ivan Golubich cum Gregorio fratre suo factus fuit civis Ragusii, et quod possit in omni tempore venire Ragusium, et ibi stare et habitare, et res et bona sua deponere et salvare libere sicut quilibet alius verus ciivis Ragusii. Et si casus ocurreret, quod propter guerram vel propter alium casum prefati comes Ivanus et frater eius Gregorius cum eorum familia, bonis atque rebus aufugerint de Raxia Ragusium, quod libere venire possint et inde recedere cum omnibus bonis suis ad omnem eorum voluntatem sine aliquot impedimento prout quilibet alius civis Ragusii facere possit. Et si aliquot tempore Guerra vel Discordia oriretur inter regnum Raxie et comune Ragusii, quod bona eorum deposita in Ragusio sint salva, et quod impedire non debeat nec intromitti modo aliquo, sed possit libere ipsa facere extrahere et extrahi facere de Ragusio ad omnem ipsorum voluntatem, sicut supra dictum est). In the time between 10th and 15th of July in the year 1362 the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V issued a safe conduct charter for the embassy from Dubrovnik. Grьgurь is mentioned there along with Logothete Dejan as the ambassador of the Serbian ruler (i kako mi ste poručali po logothetě carstva mi po Dejaně i po Grьgurě). On the 6th December 1365 came knez Gregorius Golubich, the deputy of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V, to Dubrovnik in order to collect the Tribute of Ston (Comes Gregorius Golubich, nuncius domini Imperatoris Sclavonie...anni proxime preteriti de mense octobris yperpyros duo mille...Pripchus Murisich et Radoe Posovcich, homines Senchi). Mentioned in the sources between the year 1347 and 1361. He held the title of Kaisar between 1347 and 1361. He received a letter from the pope Clement VI in March 1347. In this document he was asked by the pope to support the intention of the Serbian emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan to join the union with the Latin church (Gregorio Golubie cesari regni Racie). He is mentioned in the chrysobull charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan for the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren, which was issued after august 1347. He gave a moneylender with the name Dabiživ to the monastery. Dabiživ was obliged to donate yearly 18 foxes to the monastery (I sь milostiju i hotěnijemь carьstva mi priloži kesarь Grьgurь crьkvi carьstva mi Arhhaggelu Dabiživa kamatnika, da daje za godište 18 lisicь). He is attested in the forged document of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan for the town Kotor as a witness (i vsego sobora egō i vlastela i sobora carskago Gergura). He appears as a sponsor in the inventory of the crypt in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Bari. He endowed the church with various church vessels. On the 10th of May of the year 1353 the chapter in Bari released an approval for specific church vessels to be sold. The lamps on the list are probably endowments of Gurguras (...Lampas una magna de argento missa ecclesie per Cesarem Sclavonie...; Lampas una magna et suptilis deaurata cum multo labore missa per quemdam Sclav...librarum duarum et unciarum undecim; Lampas una cum catinellis de argento missa per Cesarem Sclavonie...apostolis...duodecim deauratis et cum licteris videlicet Cesar Gregorius me fecit fieri ponderis librarum sex et unciarum decem). According to the inventory from the 5th Februrary of the year 1361 Gurgaras donated to the church also an incense with his coat of arms, mitre with 1008 pearls, stole and maniple (Tumbulum unum de argento deaurato missum per Cesarem Sclavonie ad campanile cum xmaltis quattuor ad aquilas rubeas cum duobus...et cum duobus allis dragonibus et cum cannellis duplis de argento in quibus cannelis sunt...quinque in medio ponderis librarum quattuor et unciarum novem). Mauro Orbini mentions him as a person, which advised the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš V (Li suoi primi consiglieri suorono Gregorio Cesar). The inscription above the entrance door to the Church of the Holy Mother of God Zachlumistisa mentions the circumstances of the endowment in the year 1361. The church was erected at the expense of the kaisar Gurguras. The painted decoration of the monastery was commisioned by Gregory, the Bishop of Devol (Ἀνηγέρθη ἐκ βάθρων ὁ θεῖος καὶ πάνσεπτος ναὸς τῆς ὑπεραγίας Θεοτόκου τῆς Ζαχλουμήστισας διʹ ἐξοδου τοῦ πανευτυχεστάτου καίσαρος Γούργουρα καὶ κτήτωρος ἀνιστορίθη δὲ παρὰ τοῦ πανιεροτάτου ἐπισκόπου Δεαβόλαιως καὶ πρωτοθρόνου κύρ Γρηγορίου καὶ κτῆτωρος ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλείας Στεφάνου τοῦ Οὐροσιοι μηνὶ αὐγούστῳ κεʹ. ͵ϛωξθ ἰνδ. ιδʹ).
Ignatije Person The charter for the monastery in Gračanica does not give a strong support for the identification of Ignatije with his namesake, who was Bishop of Lipljan. Mentioned several times in the Inventory of property of the Holy Virgin Monastery in Htětovo from 1342/1343. In Vrěviō mentioned only as bishop. Ignatije held probably the abbotʼs office of the Monastery of the Holy Virgin in Htětovo before his career as bishop. He purchased a field above a furrow on the right side of the emperorʼs road, which was reaching the road called after the village of Lěška near Jablance, from Gjuro, Radunь and the sons of Polelěj for the horse of Budimirь (Niva tu nad brazdom, i do lěška puti u Jablan᾿ce ō desnu stranu careva puti, što kupi piskopь Ignati za Budimirova konja, što běše dalь za dušu ōtь Polelějevěhь synovь i ōd Raduna i ōd Gjuroja). A certain Anʼdrijanь, son-in-law of Pardo, sold the rest of the field called Zlovadnica above Trěboš to Bishop Ignatije for a mare and 2 perper. The field bordered on the old furrow and on the road called after the village Poroj (Niva Zlovadnica, što kupi Sava Surkišь u Parʼda Koste nad Trěbošom a ōstalo dokupi piskopь Ignatije u Anʼdrijana, zeta Pardova, za kobilu, za 2 perper. A mega nivě toi do stare brazde i do poroiska puti). Bishop Ignatije bought the field called Ilovica under Drěnovec and under a road from Pardo Kosta for 18 perper (Niva Ilovica pod Drěnovcemь pod putemь, što kupi Ignatije piskopь u Parda Koste za 18 perper). He acquired a meadow under Velgošt and under a road from Pardo Kosta for a horse and 30 perper (I livadu kupi Ignatie piskopь pod Velьgoštom pod putemь u Parda Koste za konja, za 30 perper). He obtained a 25 zamet field in Zlovadnica under the churchʼs field, which was reaching the boundary of Drьmanь, inexpensively from Manoil(o) Globica and Globicaʼs brother (Niva na Zlovadnici što kupi piskopь Ignatije u Manoila Globice i u bratije mu; malo uze cěne, a vse priloži crьkvi za svoju dušu, nizь crьkvnu nivu i do Drьmanove mege, na 25 zametь). A certain Gōnь, with his wife Theōdora, sold the field called Gumnište to Ignatije for 8 perper and 9 run of wool (Niva Gumnište što kupi piskopь Ignatije u Gōna i u žene mu Theōdore za 8 perper 9 runь vlьnь). Ignatije bought also the rest of a field in Nikiforovec near the churchʼs field, which belonged to Theōdora and her daughter Jelena, for 10 perper. The bishop was also responsible for the written record of this sale transaction. The act was signed in the presence of the witnesses Kalojan 2 from Lěška and the two sons of Radoslavь Drobnjakь, Argirь and Hranь (Niva u Nikiforovci, uzь crьkvnu nivu što kupi igumьnь Theōktistь u Theōdore i u čtere Jelene za 10 perperь, a dokupi piskopь Ignatije i zapisa. A Tomu svědoci: Kalojanь ōd Lěška, Mihovь šugra, i dva syna Radoslava Drobnjaka, Argirь i Hran).
Kosta Pardo Person Mentioned in the Inventory of property of the Holy Virgin Monastery in Htětovo from 1342/1343. His son-in-law was Anʼdrijanь? He sold the field called Zlovadnica above Trěboš to Sava Surkiš. The field bordered on the old furrow and on the road called after the village Poroj (Niva Zlovadnica, što kupi Sava Surkišь u Parʼda Koste nad Trěbošom a ōstalo dokupi piskopь Ignatije u Anʼdrijana, zeta Pardova, za kobilu, za 2 perper. A mega nivě toi do stare brazde i do poroiska puti). He sold the field called Ilovica under Drěnovec and under a road to the Bishop Ignatije for 18 perper (Niva Ilovica pod Drěnovcemь pod putemь, što kupi Ignatije piskopь u Parda Koste za 18 perper). He vended also a meadow under Velgošt and under a road to Bishop Ignatije for a horse and 30 perper (I livadu kupi Ignatie piskopь pod Velьgoštom pod putemь u Parda Koste za konja, za 30 perper).
Radoslavь (3) Person The identification with Radoslabos Chlapenos (Radoslav Hlapen) is doubtful. Mihailo Dinić identified Radoslav with „Rado(a)sclavus filius de jupan Vratisclavo“, who is attested in the Ragusan archives under the year 1319. Some scholars supposed that he was the same person as „iupan Rodosclauo“, who appears in the charter of Vladislav, the son of the former Serbian King Dragutin, adressed to Ragusan authorities from the 25th October 1323. He is mentioned in the chrysobull charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in favour of the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren. Attested also in the ktitorial inscription and the wall painting in the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in Kučevište. The wall paintings in Kučevište can be dated between 1331 and 1334. He held the position of župan. Apparently the son of Marena. He figures in the inscription of the founders of the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in Kučevište. His portrait has been preserved only in fragments on the northern wall of the narthex in the same church. The Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski donated the village Klьčevišta (Kučevište) to Župan Radoslavь. Župan Radoslavь bestowed the village of Klьčevišta and its church of the Mother of God together with the hamlet Brodcь, vineyards, fruits, bought estates and all rights to the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren. The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan confirmed the gift of Župan Radoslav in the chrysobull charter for the monastery (I ješte priloži carьstvo mi crьkvi carьstva mi Arhaggelu sь hotěnijemь ljubimago vlastelina carьstvu mi Radoslava župana, selo Klьčevišta, sь crьkoviju Svetyje Bogorodice, i sь zaselkomь Brod᾿cemь, s vinogrady, sь ōvoštijemь, i s kupljenicami, i sь vsěmi pravinami, kako piše u hrisovulě Klьčevišt᾿komь što jestь zapisalь roditelь carьstva mi gospodinь kral).
Raděnko Person Mentioned in the charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in favour of the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren from 1347/1348. His mother is attested in the charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in favour of the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren (i sь htěnijemь matere Radeikove). He realised the will of his mother and donated the Church of the Holy Archangels in Veles with people, mills, vineyards and all rights to the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren. The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan confirmed the gift of Raděnko in the charter for the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren (I priloži Raděnko sь htěnijemь i sь milostiju carьstva mi, i sь htěnijemь matere Radeikove, crьkvь u Velesu Arhaggela s ljudmi i s mlini i s vinogradi, i sь vsěmi pravinami crьkve te).
Surkišь Sava Person Mentioned in the inventory of property of the Holy Virgin Monastery in Htětovo from 1342/1343. He bought the field called Zlovadnica above Trěboš from Pardo Kosta. The field bordered on the old furrow and on the road called after the village Poroj (Niva Zlovadnica, što kupi Sava Surkišь u Parʼda Koste nad Trěbošom a ōstalo dokupi piskopь Ignatije u Anʼdrijana, zeta Pardova, za kobilu, za 2 perper. A mega nivě toi do stare brazde i do poroiska puti).
Vladojevikь Mladěnь Person Mentioned in the charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan in favour of the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren from 1347/1348. His mother and his family are attested in the charter. He and his family erected the Church of Holy Saviour (Sveti Spas) in Prizren. The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan donated the Church of Holy Saviour in Prizren with all its possessions to the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren. He offered Mladěnь the Church of Saint Andrew (or the church, which belonged to Andričь) in Ōhrid instead. The property exchange was confirmed in the charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan for the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren in accordance to the law: church for church, village for village, vineyard for vineyard and mill for mill (I simь ōbrazomь zaměnihь crьkvь Spasa u Mladěna Vladojevikja i u matere jego i u vsega rodьstva jego, rek’še h’titorьst’va ego, i za vse sela s ljud’mi i zemlomь i s vinogradi i sь vsěmi pravinami iže se nahoděše crьkve te, ili u gradu ili u župě ili indě gdě ljubo, nihь volomь i nihь hotěnijemь, a ne někoju nuždeju, zaměnihь i dahь zaměnu u Ohridě An’dričju crьkvь za crьkvь, sela za sela, vinograde za vinograde, mline za mline i što jestь imala crьkvь tazi ōt prěžde, vse mu da carьstvo mi, i zapisahь Mladěnu i jegově materi da si drьže vь město segazi u baštinu kako jestь drьžalь Spasa takozi da si drьži Andričju, a Mladěnь ni jegovь rodimь da vekje ne poište onezi baštine, ni crьkve Spasove iže jestь u Prizrěně).
Places (9)
Name Class Begin End Description
Brodcь Place 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).
Glusi Place 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 Glusi is mentioned (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 from the years 1303-1304 (or after 1331) reports that the village of Glusii together with Kalogjurgje Repana, the place Krastavʼcь and a katun of Vlachs 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 dahь...i Glusii. A u Glusěhь Kalogjurʼgja Rěpanu i s městomь Krastavʼcь i katunь Vlahьь ... To vʼse utʼvrьdivь i zapisavь dahь Svetomu Nikitě, a Svetago Nikitu dahь mojemu pirʼgu sь vʼsěmь jego utʼvrьždenijemь). The charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) for the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren dated to 1347/48 refers to the village of Golihovo in the border delimitation of the village of Klьčevišta (A megja Klьčevištemь: do visa us poljanu, megju Pьsi Dolь i megju hlьmь tere pravo na kolovozь, i koi putь ide ōt Banjanь pravo mimo selo Slivovikь, kako izlazi kolnikь na kamenikь na brьdo, i ōt tudu pravo u planinu putemь obь druge strane do crьkvišta pri Kalopetrově lozě, a gorě uz dělь u planinu; a ōt Skopija megja, po srědě Dobroga Dola, u putь u prěky koi grede ōt Čahra, i do mramora putemь koi grede uz Golihovo pravo u Banjane, ōt toga puti pravo u visь, koi ide megju Banjane i megju Klьčevišta). Vassiliki Kravari identifies Glusi and Golihovo with today's village of Gluvo.
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).
Ovče Pole Place The Bulgarian Khan Boris built in the 9th century churches in Ovče Pole according to a Bulgarian chronicle (i na rěcě Brěgalnici, i tu prïemь carьstvo; na Ovči poli sьzda běli crьkvi). The Vita of Saint Prohor Pčinjski (11th century) gives account about Prohor, who came from a village in Ovče Pole (ōt vesї ovčopolskija). The disarmed Pechenegs were, according to Ioannes Skylitzes, settled on the plains of Ovče Pole in the first half of the 11th century (ἀνά τε τὰς πεδιάδας τῆς Σαρδικῆς, τῆς Ναϊσσοῦ καὶ τῆς Εὐτζαπόλεως διασπείρας πάντας καὶ πᾶν ὅπλον ἀφελόμενος διὰ τὸ ἀνεπιβούλευτον). The Nicene Empire conquered in 1246 parts of Macedonia, including Ovče Pole (Νευστάπολίς). Nine years later, in 1255, the Byzantine Emperor Theodoros II. Laskaris led his army through the Ovče Pole (διὰ τῆς Νευσταπόλεως), which was a waterless and houseless area (ἄνυδρος δέ ἐστιν ὁ τόπος καὶ ἄοικος καὶ πλήθει στρατευμάτων δυσβάδιστος). Ephraim (ἅμ’ Εὐτζαπόλει, resp. διὰ Ναυτζαπόλεως ἀνύδρου τόπου) and also Theodoros Skutariotes (Νευστάπολίς, resp. διὰ τῆς Νευσταπόλεως) describe both conquests. Ovče Pole (Ovьče Polje) was incorporated in the Serbian dominion under the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin in 1282/83. A poem in honor of the Byzantine general Michael Dukas Glabas Tarchaneiotes, which is the work of the Byzantine writer Manuel Philes (13th/14th c.), mentions amongst others the Byzantine conquest of Ovče Pole (Εὐτζάπολιν δὲ συλλαβὼν Μοροβίσδου, Σκόπιά τε Σθλάβιτζαν ἐξ εὐανδρίας, Καὶ τὸν Πίαντζον καὶ τὸ περὶ τὸν Στρόμον, Καὶ τὸν περὶ Στρούμμιτζαν ἄφθονον τόπον). The region (strana) of Ovče Pole (i Ōvčepolsku) is attested in the interpolated charter of the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin for the Hilandar Monastery from the year 1303/1304 (or after 1331?). The byzantine-serbian border in Macedonia became the central subject of negotiations in 1308 between the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin and Charles de Valois, when the latter sought to conquer the Byzantine Empire. The area of Ovče Pole (et contrata Ouciepoullie) should remain according to the treaty in the Serbian kingdom. The Serbian annals give account about the miraculous epiphany of the Saint Nicholas to the Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Ovče Pole, where the saint healed the blindness of the king (et cum fuisset in Ovczepolye, in templo S. Nicolai). The same miracle is attested in the Vita of Stefan Dečanski, which was written by Grigorij Camblak (15th century; polje ovčee imenuemo). In 1330 the scribe Stanislav finished a Slavonic manuscript in the domain of Ovče Pole in the region of Zletovo on the mountains of Lěsnovo in the Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael (vь ōblasti ōvčepolьskoi vь horě zletovstěi, vь gorě lěsnovьstěi, vь monastiri stgo arhistratiga Mihaila). The same notice in the manuscript mentions that the Serbian King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski took control over Ovče Pole (i ōvčepolьsko). In the charter of Stefan Dečanski for the Monastery of Saint Nikola Mrački (Pešterski manastir) from the year 1330 appears the term zemli Ovčepolьskoi. From the slavic colophon of the scribe Stanislav in the Menaion of the Serbian Despot Jovan Oliver for the Monastery of the Saint Archangel Michael in Lesnovo from the 1342 results, that Jovan Oliver ruled at that time over the entire area of Ovče Pole (ōblastiju vseju ōvčepolьskoju). The Serbian Emperor mentions Ovče Pole (na Ovči Poli) in his charter for the Monastery of the Saint Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren. The monks of the Hilandar Monastery complained in 1355 to the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan about the border violations by the people, who lived in the villages, which belonged to Karьba (selě zem'li Kar'bin'čkoi), whereupon the governor (kefalija) of Štip named David Mihojević (poslach kjefaliju Štip'skoga Davida Michojevikja) was sent out to determine the boundaries of the monastery in this area. In the boundary description of the Hilandar Monastery near the land of Karьba also Ovče Pole is mentioned (po ōnoi straně odь Ovča Polja). The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan issued on the 2th Mai 1355 the charter for the Hilandar Monastery in Ovče Pole (na Ovči Poli). The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan confirmed on the 17th Mai 1355 at the state council (sabor) in Krupište the tenure of the Monastery of Saint Petar Koriški as metochion for the Hilandar Monastery. The charters in question were written by the Serbian Logothet Gjurg in Ovče Pole (na Ovči Poli, resp. na Ovči Polii). The Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan issued on the 2th July at the state council in Krupište the third charter for the Hilandar Monastery, which was again written by the same Serbian Logothet in Ovče Pole (na Ovči Poli). In the forged charter from the 15th century, previously referred as a document issued by the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin for the settlement Ulijare around 1318, amongst other places also Ovče Pole is mentioned (Ōvče polje). The Serbian Despot Stefan Lazarević granted in 1408/1409 a safe conduct to the ottoman troops from the area of Toplica via Kosovo to Ovče Pole (prohode kь Ovčju polju). In spring and summer of 1413 the two Ottoman pretenders to the throne Mehmed and Musa fought for supremacy on the Balkan Peninsula. Mehmed was supported by the Serbian Despot Stefan Lazarević. In the course of the military operations, Musa initially stayed in the Ovče Pole (in the Ragusan sources called Ovcepogle). Then Mehmed and Stefan Lazarević together with their troops crossed the Črьna Gora (Prěšьdьše že Črьmnu Goru) and reached the Ovče Pole (kь Ovьčju polju), where Djuradj Branković, Stefan's nephew, took command over the Serbian contingents. The Ottoman troops plundered the region of Žegligovo and Ovče Pole in 1512 (to lěto plěniše Turci Žegligovo, Ovče Polě). Ovče Pole is registered in the Defters for the Sanjak Köstendil between the years 1570 and 1572 as a summer pasture. Ovče Pole (Ovče polje is mentioned in the Pomenik from 15th–18th century. The Serbian scribe and copyist Jerotej Račanin travelled through the Ovče Pole on his pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1704. He describes the area of Ovče Pole as beautiful, rich in fields, grain, vineyards and all kinds of fruit, with beautiful rivers and cold, pure sources, with cities and villages.
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).
Poroj Place The boundaries of Zlovadnica, registered as a possession of the Monastery of the Holy Virgin in Htětovo, are marked by the old furrow and the road from Poroj (287, 22: Niva Zlovadnica…nad Trěbošomь…A mega nivě toi do stare brazde i do poroiska puti). The Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan donated the village of Selce in Polog with Veli Vrh, hamlets, vineyard and all rights to the Monastery of the Holy Archangels in Prizren. In the delimitation of Selce the village of Poroj is mentioned (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 [auch Slaveva sic!] uz rěku na Srědnju Planinu, i uz brьdo Planine po dělu na Bělьmužьcь, i planina Ranestьcь).
Slivovikь Place The charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) for the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren dated to 1347/48 refers to the village of Slivovikь in the border delimitation of the village of Klьčevišta (A megja Klьčevištemь: do visa us poljanu, megju Pьsi Dolь i megju hlьmь tere pravo na kolovozь, i koi putь ide ōt Banjanь pravo mimo selo Slivovikь, kako izlazi kolnikь na kamenikь na brьdo, i ōt tudu pravo u planinu putemь obь druge strane do crьkvišta pri Kalopetrově lozě, a gorě uz dělь u planinu; a ōt Skopija megja, po srědě Dobroga Dola, u putь u prěky koi grede ōt Čahra, i do mramora putemь koi grede uz Golihovo pravo u Banjane, ōt toga puti pravo u visь, koi ide megju Banjane i megju Klьčevišta).
Čahra Place In 1348 the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) issued a charter for the Cell of Saint Sava (ca. 1175-1236) in Karyes on the Holy Mount Athos concerning the village of Kosorići, when he stopped at the place called Čahra near Skopje (Sego radi napisa se sii hrisovulь vь ōkrьstnoi st᾿raně grada Skopia, stoještu carstvu mi na Čahri). The charter of Stefan Dušan for the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren dated to 1347/48 refers to the place of Čahra in the border delimitation of the village of Klьčevišta (A megja Klьčevištemь: do visa us poljanu, megju Pьsi Dolь i megju hlьmь tere pravo na kolovozь, i koi putь ide ōt Banjanь pravo mimo selo Slivovikь, kako izlazi kolnikь na kamenikь na brьdo, i ōt tudu pravo u planinu putemь obь druge strane do crьkvišta pri Kalopetrově lozě, a gorě uz dělь u planinu; a ōt Skopija megja, po srědě Dobroga Dola, u putь u prěky koi grede ōt Čahra, i do mramora putemь koi grede uz Golihovo pravo u Banjane, ōt toga puti pravo u visь, koi ide megju Banjane i megju Klьčevišta). Čahra was not a village in medieval times, but a place (topographical entity), which is most probably to be localised in "Čairsko Polje" (cf. the map by Radoslav M. Grujić), which is today Skopje's Northern urban district of Čair.
Čahra, Shortcut, preki put Place The charter of the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) for the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren dated to 1347/48 refers to the place of Čahra in the border delimitation of the village of Klьčevišta. Obviously, there existed a shortcut (u putь u prěky koi grede ōt Čahra) starting from Čahra (A megja Klьčevištemь: do visa us poljanu, megju Pьsi Dolь i megju hlьmь tere pravo na kolovozь, i koi putь ide ōt Banjanь pravo mimo selo Slivovikь, kako izlazi kolnikь na kamenikь na brьdo, i ōt tudu pravo u planinu putemь obь druge strane do crьkvišta pri Kalopetrově lozě, a gorě uz dělь u planinu; a ōt Skopija megja, po srědě Dobroga Dola, u putь u prěky koi grede ōt Čahra, i do mramora putemь koi grede uz Golihovo pravo u Banjane, ōt toga puti pravo u visь, koi ide megju Banjane i megju Klьčevišta).
Sources (1)
Name Class Description
Svetoarhandjelovska hrisovulja Source In or soon after 1347/48 the Serbian Emperor Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (reigned 1331-1355) issued the so-called "Svetoarhandjelovska hrisovulja" in favour of the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel near Prizren. This charter mentions several Vlach and Albanian katuns.