Nemanjić dynasty

The Nemanjić (Serbian Cyrillic: Немањић, pl. Nemanjići / Немањићи, pronounced [nɛ̌maɲitɕ]) was the most prominent dynasty of Serbia in the Middle Ages. The princely, royal, and imperial house produced twelve Serbian monarchs between 1166 and 1371.

Nemanjić
Немањић
Parent houseVukanović dynasty
CountrySerbia:
Founded1166
FounderStefan Nemanja
Final rulerStefan Uroš V of Serbia
Titles
Estate(s)Rascia, Doclea-Zeta, Travunia, Dalmatia and Zachlumia
Dissolutionafter 1422 (see fall of the Serbian Empire)
Cadet branches
Coat of arms attributed to the Nemanjić dynasty in the Fojnica Armorial, based on the Ohmućević Armorial (late 16th century). The double-headed eagle is attested for the flag of the medieval kingdom of Serbia by Angelino Dulcert (1339).

Its progenitor was Stefan Nemanja, scion of a cadet branch of the Vukanović dynasty (1101–1166). After Nemanja, all monarchs used Stefan as a personal name, or a ruler's name, a tradition adopted for the royal pretensions.[A] The monarchs began as Grand Princes, and with the crowning of Stefan Nemanjić in 1217, the realm was promoted to a Kingdom, and the Serbian Orthodox Church was established in 1219. In 1346, Stefan Dušan was crowned Emperor of the Serbs and Greeks, and the Archbishopric of Serbia was elevated to a Patriarchate.[1]

The dynasty's rule in Serbia ended in 1371, with the death of childless Uroš the Weak (r. 1355–1371). This led to the fall of the Serbian Empire. Provincial lords took control of their provinces. The last remaining members of the House of Nemanjić were John Uroš, ruler of Thessaly, titular emperor of the Serbians and Greeks, who died c. 1422-23, and his younger brother, Stefan Uroš, ruler of Pharsalos. Nemanjić descent survived only through maternal lines in several Serbian houses.[2]

Background

The Serbs, as Slavs in the vicinity of the Byzantine Empire, lived in so-called Sklavinia ("Slav lands"), territories initially out of Byzantine control and independent.[3] In the 8th century, the Vlastimirović Dynasty established the Serbian Principality.

In 822, Serbia "stretched over the greater part of Dalmatia",[3] and Christianity was adopted as state-religion in circa 870.[3]

In the mid-10th century the state had emerged into a tribal confederation that stretched to the shores of the Adriatic Sea by the Neretva, the Sava, the Morava, and Skadar.[3]

The state disintegrated after the death of the last known Vlastimirid ruler – the Byzantines annexed the region and held it for a century, until 1040 when the Serbs under the Vojislavljević Dynasty revolted in Duklja (Pomorje).[3] In 1091, the Vukanović Dynasty established the Serbian Grand Principality, based in Rascia (Zagorje).[3] The two halves were reunited in 1142.[3]

In 1166, Stefan Nemanja took the throne, marking the beginning of Serbia, henceforth under the rule of the Nemanjići (Vukanović branch).[3]

Serbia under the Nemanjić dynasty
Serbian Empire, 1355

Serbia reached its height of power during the Nemanjić dynasty. The Serbian Kingdom was proclaimed in 1217, leading to the establishment of the Serbian Orthodox Church in 1219. In the same year Saint Sava published the first constitution in Serbia: St. Sava's Nomocanon.[4]

Tsar Stefan Dušan proclaimed the Serbian Empire in 1346. During Dušan's rule, Serbia reached its territorial, political, and economical peak,[5][6] proclaiming itself as the successor of the Byzantine Empire, and was the most powerful Balkan state of that time. Dušan enacted an extensive constitution, known as Dušan's Code, opened new trade routes, and strengthened the state's economy. The Serbian identity has been profoundly shaped by the rule of this dynasty and its accomplishments,[7] and the Serbian Orthodox Church has assumed the role of the national spiritual guardian.

Stefan Dušan attempted to organize a Crusade with the Pope against the threatening Turks, but he died suddenly in December 1355 at the age 47.[8] He was succeeded by his son Uroš, called the Weak, a term that might also apply to the state of the empire, which slowly slid into a feudal anarchy.[9] This was a period marked by the rise of a new threat: the Ottoman Turk sultanate, which spread from Asia to Europe conquering Byzantium and then the other states in the Balkans.

Members

Monarchs
Main article: List of Serbian monarchs

The Nemanjić dynasty ruled the Serb lands between ca. 1166 up to 1371.

Picture TitleName Reign Notes
Grand Prince
Stefan Nemanja		1166–1196Nemanja is the eponymous founder of the Nemanjić dynasty. He re-established control over the neighbouring territories, including Duklja, Hum and Travunia. In his last years, he joined his son Sava and took monastic vows, later recognized as Saint Symeon after numerous alleged miracles following his death.
Note: Duklja, Zahumlje and Travunija is reconquered, Nemanja is proclaimed "Grand Prince of All Serbia"
Grand Prince
Vukan		1202–1204Eldest son of Stefan Nemanja. He held the appanage of "Duklja, Dalmatia (Zahumlje), Travunija, Toplica and Hvosno" as Grand Prince, by 1190. He was the initial heir presumptive, but his father chose Stefan instead upon the abdication in 1166. With the death of Nemanja, Vukan started plotting against his brother. He found help in Hungary, and together they forced Stefan to flee to Bulgaria. He ruled as a Hungarian vassal, evident in Emeric I's title "King of Serbia". He left the throne in 1204, and continued to rule his appanage, he was later pardoned by the third brother Saint Sava.
King
Stefan the First-Crowned		1196–1202
1204–1228		Second son of Stefan Nemanja. He inherited the title of Grand Prince in 1196 when his father retired as a monk. His reign began with a struggle against his brother Vukan, who expelled Stefan to Bulgaria. Kaloyan gave him an army of Cumans in exchange for eastern territories. The crisis ended when Sava negotiated a peace between the brothers and Stefan's power was cemented. He was crowned King in 1217, and then Sava gains autocephaly, becoming the first Archbishop of Serbs in 1219, thus Serbia retained full independence.
King
Stefan Radoslav		1228–1233Son of Stefan the First-crowned. He ruled Zahumlje during the reign of his father, and also held a governor status of Zeta. He was the co-founder of the Žiča monastery with his father, who would abdicate in 1227 due to illness, taking monastic vows. Radoslav was crowned by his uncle Sava, the Archbishop of Serbia. His marriage to Anna Doukaina Angelina would prove unpopular as she undermined his authority, he lost the loyalty of the people and in 1233 a revolt against them prompted the couple to flee to Dubrovnik.[10]
King
Stefan Vladislav		1233–1243Son of Stefan the First-crowned. He succeeded his brother Radoslav in 1233 and ruled for 10 years, before being overthrown by his younger brother Uroš. He continued to rule Zeta. The first known flag design of Serbia was found in his treasury.[11]
King
Stefan Uroš I		1243–1276Son of Stefan the First-crowned. He succeeded his brother Vladislav. He boosted trade with Dubrovnik and Kotor, marking a beginning of economic prosperity. In 1253 a war was fought against Dubrovnik, peace was signed in 1254, and in the 1260s a second war begun that ended in 1268. Uroš immediately turned towards Hungary, successfully taking Mačva, he was however captured and peace was ensured between the two Kings through marriage of Dragutin and Catherine, the daughter of Stephen V of Hungary. His oldest son Dragutin would have succeeded his rule, but Uroš favored Stefan Milutin, the younger son, as successor. He was overthrown by Stefan Dragutin in 1276.[12]
King
Stefan Dragutin		1276–1282
1282–1316		Son of Stefan Uroš I. He overthrew his father with help from the Hungarian royalty (through his marriage to Catherine of Hungary) after the Battle of Gacko. He was injured in 1282, and gave the supreme rule to his younger brother Milutin, but continued to rule what would later become the Kingdom of Srem with the capital at Belgrade. Milutin boosted relations with the Byzantine Emperor, and refused to give the rule to Vladislav II (Dragutin's son), causing a split of the Kingdom. Dragutin continued to rule the northern frontier in Hungarian alliance, but in the last years re-connected with Serbia, acting as a vassal.[13]
King
Stefan Milutin		1282–1321Son of Stefan Uroš I. He succeeded his brother Dragutin. Upon his accession, he immediately turned towards Macedonia, conquering the northern part with Skoplje, which became his capital. He continued deep into Bulgarian lands, taking northern Albania and as far as Kavala. He also took Bulgarian Vidin, and later Durres. He was in a succession war with Dragutin after peace was signed with the Byzantines in 1299. Milutin aids the Byzantines against the Ottoman Turks at the Battle of Gallipoli, which ended in a victory. When Dragutin died he put most of his lands with Belgrade under his rule, in the same year his son Stefan Dečanski tried to overthrow him, resulting in him being exiled to Constantinople. In 1319 the Hungarians took all of Dragutin's lands but Braničevo.
Note: Syrmia becomes independent, ruled by the initial heir apparent:
King of Srem (King of the Serbs)
Stefan Vladislav II		1316–1325son of Dragutin.
King
Stefan Konstantin		1321–1322Younger son of Stefan Milutin, defeated in 1322 by his older brother, Stefan Dečanski.
King
Stefan Dečanski
of Dečani		1322–1331Older brother of Stefan Konstantin.
Emperor
↑King
Stefan Dušan
the Mighty		1331–1355Son of Stefan Dečanski. He was a very skilled military leader, and defeated Bosnia and Bulgaria at the age of 20. As his father was not an able conqueror, Dušan removed him from the throne. Dušan doubled the size of the realm, taking Byzantine lands as far as the Peloponnese. He was crowned Emperor in 1346. The Serbian Empire flourished, and he enacted the constitution - Dušan's Code in 1349.
Emperor
Stefan Uroš V
the Weak		1355–1371Son of Stefan Dušan, crowned King of Rascia (1346–1355), succeeds as Emperor after the death of Dušan in 1355. His epithet was given due to his "weak rule".
Note: Succession attempts (titular Emperors):
Despot of Epirus and Thessaly
Simeon Uroš		Uncle of Uroš V. He was appointed governor in the southwestern conquered regions in 1348, and ruled until 1355, when his brother-in-law Nikephoros II Orsini returned and rallied support. Nikephoros was killed in 1359, and Simeon continued his rule until his death in 1371. He proclaimed himself "Emperor of Serbs and Greeks" in 1356, however against the wishes of nobility of Serbia proper and Macedonia. After an unsuccessful invasion of Zeta, he gave up the idea of ruling Serbia.
Ruler of Epirus and Thessaly
Jovan Uroš		Son of Simeon Uroš. Succeeded his father as titular "Emperor of Serbs and Greeks" and ruled an area of Epirus and Thessaly 1370–1373 before taking monastic vows. In 1384–1385 he helped his sister Empress Maria Angelina Doukaina Palaiologina govern Epirus (she was the widow of Thomas II Preljubović, the Despot of Epirus 1367–1384).

Others
Nemanjić dynasty members, fresco from Visoki Dečani

Family tree
See also: Nemanjić family tree

Notes
  1. ^
    Name: The name Stefan in Serbian is derived from Greek Stephanos (Στέφανος, tr. Stéphanos), meaning "crown". All the rulers from family Nemanjić had one, or more other names (Nemanja, Uroš, ...) with the comon name Stefan. That is the main reason why some Serbian historians write, in recent works, that the name Stefan was not personal, but only a common one, or a ruler's name among the rulers from the Nemanjić family.[21]

See also

References
  1. Fine 1994, p. 309.
  2. Beckwith, John; Krautheimer, Richard; Ćurčić, Slobodan (1986). Early Christian and Byzantine Art. ISBN 0300052960.
  3. Ćirković 2004.
  4. Ćirković 2004, p. 28, 40-46.
  5. "Brief History Of Serbia | dr Tijana Prodanovic". Retrieved 2019-10-29.
  6. USA, IBP. Serbia Country Study Guide Volume 1 Strategic Information and Developments. Lulu.com. ISBN 9781438758039.
  7. Degordian (http://www.degordian.com). "ISTORIJSKE OSNOVE SRPSKE POLITIČKE MISLI". Institut za političke studije. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
  8. Christian (2018-02-20). "Tsar Stefan Dusan and The Serbian Empire". About History. Retrieved 2019-10-29.
  9. Venning, Timothy; Frankopan, Peter (2015-05-01). A Chronology of the Crusades. Routledge. ISBN 9781317496434.
  10. Ćirković 2004, p. 38, 44, 46.
  11. Ćirković 2004, p. 38, 46, 58.
  12. Ćirković 2004, p. 47-49, 55.
  13. Ćirković 2004, p. 48-52, 62.
  14. Talija Izdavaštvo, accessed on 15-Apr-17, http://www.talijaizdavastvo.rs/korpa/knjige/34-dr-vladan-dordevic-trilogija-car-dusan.html
  15. Delfi.rs, accessed on 15-Apr-17, http://www.delfi.rs/knjige/49995_stefan_dusan_knjiga_delfi_knjizare.html
  16. Knjižare Vulkan, accessed on 16-Apr-17, https://www.knjizare-vulkan.rs/knjige/dusan-silni-mile-kordic-isbn-9788683583270%5B%5D
  17. Svetosavlj.org, accessed on 16-Apr-17, https://svetosavlje.org/izvori-roman-o-nemanji-i-svetom-savi/9/
  18. Story.rs, accessed on 15-Apr-17, http://www.story.rs/zabava/desavanja/57888/roman-o-svetom-savi-gora-preobrazenja-ljiljane-habjanovic-djurovic-na-beogradskom-sajmu-knjiga
  19. Nedeljnik.rs, accessed on 15-Apr-17, http://www.nedeljnik.rs/magazin/portalnews/vojin-cetkovic-o-seriji-nemanjici-pitace-se-neki-zasto-su-nasi-kraljevi-jeli-zlatnim-viljuskama-i-kasikama/ Archived 2017-11-12 at the Wayback Machine
  20. Blic Online, accessed on 15-Apr-17, http://www.blic.rs/zabava/vesti/blic-na-snimanju-nemanjica-vojin-cetkovic-za-ovu-ulogu-sam-se-spremao-ceo-zivot-video/hgzs8rb
  21. Logos 2017, p. 127-133.

Sources

History of the Serbs

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