Dejanović noble family
Encyclopedia
The Dejanović, or Dragaš was a Serbian noble house that served the Serbian Empire
, of Dušan the Mighty (r. 1331-1355) and Uroš the Weak (r. 1355-1371), and during the fall of the Serbian Empire
, after the Battle of Maritsa
(1371), it became an Ottoman vassal. The family held a region roughly centered where the borders of Serbia
, Bulgaria
and Macedonia
meet. The last two Byzantine Emperors were maternal descendants of the house.
The eponymous founder was sevastokrator Dejan, who held the župe of Žegligovo and Preševo
, and was married to Teodora Nemanjić, the sister of Emperor
Dušan. Dejan received the title
of despot during the rule of Emperor Uroš, and after the death of despot Jovan Oliver
, he expanded his fief to the oblasts around Velbužd and Radomir. After the death of Dejan, his sons, despot Jovan
and gospodin Konstantin Dragaš, continued ruling their father's region jointly, and expanded it further; the lands now covered from Vranje
and Preševo to Radomir, in the south to Štip
, Radovište and Strumica
. After the Battle of Maritsa
(1371), they became vassals to the Ottoman Empire
. After the death of Jovan in 1377, Konstantin continues the rule under Ottoman overlordship. Konstantin marries his daughter Jelena to the Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos
(r. 1391-1425), of which marriage John VIII
(r. 1425-1448) and Constantine XI
(r. 1449-1453) are born, the last Byzantine rulers. Constantine XI, who died when defending Constantinople
from the Ottomans in 1453, was known by his mother's surname, in Greek
, Dragáses (Δραγάσης). Konstantin and his provincial neighbour and fellow Ottoman vassal, Prince Marko
, fell in the Battle of Rovine
(1395), when aiding the Ottoman Empire. Jakov, the son of Konstantin, continues to rule the region.
Konstantin Dragaš is attested in Serb epic poetry as "beg Kostadin", as a friend of Prince Marko. Kjustendil, in modern Bulgaria, received its name from Konstantin through Turkish; meaning "Konstantin's bath/spa".
Serbian Empire
The Serbian Empire was a short-lived medieval empire in the Balkans that emerged from the Serbian Kingdom. Stephen Uroš IV Dušan was crowned Emperor of Serbs and Greeks on 16 April, 1346, a title signifying a successorship to the Eastern Roman Empire...
, of Dušan the Mighty (r. 1331-1355) and Uroš the Weak (r. 1355-1371), and during the fall of the Serbian Empire
Fall of the Serbian Empire
Following the death of child-less Uroš the Weak, the Serbian Empire was left without an heir and the military commanders obtained the rule of the past provinces and districts , continuing their offices with titles such as gospodin and despot etc., given to them during the Empire...
, after the Battle of Maritsa
Battle of Maritsa
The Battle of Maritsa, or Battle of Chernomen, took place at the Maritsa River near the village of Chernomen on September 26, 1371 between the forces of the Ottoman sultan Murad I's lieutenant Lala Şâhin Paşa and the...
(1371), it became an Ottoman vassal. The family held a region roughly centered where the borders of Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
and Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
meet. The last two Byzantine Emperors were maternal descendants of the house.
The eponymous founder was sevastokrator Dejan, who held the župe of Žegligovo and Preševo
Preševo
Preševo , is a town and municipality in the Pčinja District of southern Serbia, bordering Republic of Macedonia. It is the largest town of the region known as the Preševo valley, and the cultural center of Albanians in Central Serbia....
, and was married to Teodora Nemanjić, the sister of Emperor
Emperor of Serbia
The Emperor of Serbia or Emperor of the Serbs and Greeks was the imperial title used during the Serbian Empire , by only two monarchs; Stefan Uroš IV Dušan the Mighty and Stefan Uroš V the Weak.-History:...
Dušan. Dejan received the title
Serbian titles
-Archont of Serbia:*Archont of Serbia -Grand Prince of Serbia:*Great/Grand Župan of Serbia-Emperor of Serbia:*Emperor of the Serbs and the Greeks -Stefan:...
of despot during the rule of Emperor Uroš, and after the death of despot Jovan Oliver
Jovan Oliver
Jovan Oliver Grčinić, known as Despot Jovan Oliver was a magnate of the Serbian Emperor Dušan the Mighty , holding the titles of sebastokrator and despotes, and the great voivode-military rank, showing his prominence and status as one of the most important nobles of Dušan...
, he expanded his fief to the oblasts around Velbužd and Radomir. After the death of Dejan, his sons, despot Jovan
Jovan Dragaš
Jovan Dragaš was a 14th-century Serbian noble that held the title of Despot of Kumanovo, Kocani and Strumica under his uncle Stephen Uroš V of Serbia; he later became an Ottoman vassal after the Battle of Maritsa in 1371....
and gospodin Konstantin Dragaš, continued ruling their father's region jointly, and expanded it further; the lands now covered from Vranje
Vranje
Vranje is a city and municipality located in southern Serbia. In 2011 the city has total population of 82,782, while the urban area has 54,456...
and Preševo to Radomir, in the south to Štip
Štip
Štip is the largest urban agglomeration in the eastern part of the Republic of Macedonia, serving as the economic, industrial, entertainment and educational focal point for the surrounding municipalities. As of the 2002 census, the Štip municipality alone had a population of about 47,796...
, Radovište and Strumica
Strumica
Strumica is the largest city in eastern Macedonia, near the Novo Selo-Petrich border crossing with Bulgaria. About 100,000 people live in the region surrounding the city. The city is named after the Strumica River which runs through it...
. After the Battle of Maritsa
Battle of Maritsa
The Battle of Maritsa, or Battle of Chernomen, took place at the Maritsa River near the village of Chernomen on September 26, 1371 between the forces of the Ottoman sultan Murad I's lieutenant Lala Şâhin Paşa and the...
(1371), they became vassals to the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. After the death of Jovan in 1377, Konstantin continues the rule under Ottoman overlordship. Konstantin marries his daughter Jelena to the Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos
Manuel II Palaiologos
Manuel II Palaiologos or Palaeologus was Byzantine Emperor from 1391 to 1425.-Life:...
(r. 1391-1425), of which marriage John VIII
John VIII
John VIII may refer to:* Pope John VIII, Pope from 872 to 882* Antipope John VIII, antipope in 844* Patriarch John VIII of Constantinople, Patriarch from 1064 to 1065* John VIII Palaiologos , Byzantine Emperor...
(r. 1425-1448) and Constantine XI
Constantine XI
Constantine XI Palaiologos, latinized as Palaeologus , Kōnstantinos XI Dragasēs Palaiologos; February 8, 1404 – May 29, 1453) was the last reigning Byzantine Emperor from 1449 to his death as member of the Palaiologos dynasty...
(r. 1449-1453) are born, the last Byzantine rulers. Constantine XI, who died when defending Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
from the Ottomans in 1453, was known by his mother's surname, in Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
, Dragáses (Δραγάσης). Konstantin and his provincial neighbour and fellow Ottoman vassal, Prince Marko
Prince Marko
Marko Mrnjavčević was de jure the Serbian king from 1371 to 1395, while de facto he ruled only over a territory in western Macedonia centered on the town of Prilep...
, fell in the Battle of Rovine
Battle of Rovine
The Battle of Rovine took place on 17 May 1395 between the Wallachian army led by Voivod Mircea cel Bătrân against the Ottoman invasion led by sultan Bayezid I. The Ottoman army, numbering approximately 40,000 men, faced the much smaller Wallachian army, which was about 10,000 men...
(1395), when aiding the Ottoman Empire. Jakov, the son of Konstantin, continues to rule the region.
Konstantin Dragaš is attested in Serb epic poetry as "beg Kostadin", as a friend of Prince Marko. Kjustendil, in modern Bulgaria, received its name from Konstantin through Turkish; meaning "Konstantin's bath/spa".
Family
- Dejan, married Teodora Nemanjić
- Constantine DragašConstantine DragasConstantine Dragaš Dejanović was a Serbian magnate that ruled the area around Kyustendil from 1378, during the fall of the Serbian Empire, until his death on May 17, 1395 at the battle of Rovine...
- Jelena Dragaš, married Manuel II PalaiologosManuel II PalaiologosManuel II Palaiologos or Palaeologus was Byzantine Emperor from 1391 to 1425.-Life:...
- Jakov Dragaš
- Jelena Dragaš, married Manuel II Palaiologos
- Jovan DragašJovan DragašJovan Dragaš was a 14th-century Serbian noble that held the title of Despot of Kumanovo, Kocani and Strumica under his uncle Stephen Uroš V of Serbia; he later became an Ottoman vassal after the Battle of Maritsa in 1371....
- Teodora Dragaš, married firstly gospodin ŽarkoŽarko (nobleman)Žarko was a 14th-century Serbian nobleman who after the death of Serbian Emperor Dušan the Mighty is mentioned as a lord of the coasts of the Zeta region, under the succeeding Emperor Uroš the Weak Žarko (1336—before 1371) was a 14th-century Serbian nobleman who after the death of Serbian Emperor...
, then Đurađ I Balšić- Mrkša Žarković, married Ruđina Balšić
- Constantine Dragaš
Sources
- Fajfric, Sveta loza Stefana Nemanje, chapter X
- The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest, John Van Antwerp Fine, 1987
- М. Шуица, Немирно доба српског Средњег века, Властела српских обласних господара, Београд 2000.