George of Duklja
Encyclopedia
George was a King
of Duklja
in 1113–1118 and again from 1125 to 1131.
With his mother, Jaquinta, he opposed the rule of his cousin, Vladimir
, and Raška
n influence on Duklja. Jaquinta and George had Vladimir fatally poisoned in 1118 and George was crowned king that same year. As king, he planned to liquidate his relatives who were acting as pretenders of his throne.
He unsuccessfully captured the children of knez Branislav, who had escaped to Durrës
, where their uncle, Gojislav, was located. With the help of the Branislavljevići, Byzantium attacked Duklja. Upon hearing this, George was forced to withdraw to his castle, Obliquus
, on the Taraboša. In the meantime, however, the Byzantines has conquered Shkodër
and soon the rest of Duklja. Jaquinta was captured in Kotor
and as a captive was sent to Constantinople where she died.
Defeated, George had escaped to Raška
, marking the end of his first rule. Byzantium had enthroned Grubeša, Branislav's son, as king of Duklja.
Several years later, in 1125, George, with the help of Rascian forces, attacked Duklja. In the ensuing battle in Bar
, Grubeša was killed and George retook his kingdom. George decided to split control of Duklja with Grubeša's two brothers, Draghina and Dragila, with whom he established friendly relations with.
On Dragila's advice, George invaded Rascia and conquered it. George decided to take full control of Duklja and destroy any relative who dared oppose him. He captured Michael, Vladimir's son, and Dragila and had them both imprisoned. Draghina, on the other hand, had escaped with his nephews to Durrës, which was under Byzantine protection. They were joined by Draghina's brother, Gradhina, who was at Zachlumia
at the time.
The Byzantines, with George's relatives, declared war once more on Duklja. Byzantine forces captured all Dukljan territory from Bar
to Podgorica
. However, the Byzantines had to halt all advances because the army's head commander had to return to Constantinople.
George used this to his advantage and unsuccessfully attacked Obliquus, where his relatives were fortified. A Byzantine offensive soon followed suit in which Rascian forces had joined, siding with Byzantium. In the presence of the Byzantine army, George and his forces withdrew to his fortress, Oblon. However, his forces started a rebellion and Oblon was captured. George was taken as a captive to Constantinople, where he was imprisoned, and died.
Gradhina was crowned as king of Duklja by the Byzantines in 1131.
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
of Duklja
Duklja
Doclea or Duklja was a medieval state with hereditary lands roughly encompassing the territories of present-day southeastern Montenegro, from Kotor on the west to the river Bojana on the east and to the sources of Zeta and Morača rivers on the north....
in 1113–1118 and again from 1125 to 1131.
With his mother, Jaquinta, he opposed the rule of his cousin, Vladimir
Vladimir of Duklja
Vladimir was a King of Duklja 1103 - 1113. He was son of Vladimir, who was King Mihailo's son and King Constantin Bodin's oldest brother....
, and Raška
Raška (state)
Principality of Serbia or Serbian Principality was an early medieval state of the Serbs ruled by the Vlastimirović dynasty, that existed from ca 768 to 969 in Southeastern Europe. It was established through an unification of several provincial chiefs under the supreme rule of a certain Višeslav,...
n influence on Duklja. Jaquinta and George had Vladimir fatally poisoned in 1118 and George was crowned king that same year. As king, he planned to liquidate his relatives who were acting as pretenders of his throne.
He unsuccessfully captured the children of knez Branislav, who had escaped to Durrës
Durrës
Durrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari...
, where their uncle, Gojislav, was located. With the help of the Branislavljevići, Byzantium attacked Duklja. Upon hearing this, George was forced to withdraw to his castle, Obliquus
Oblik
Oblik can refer to:*Oblik in southern Serbia*Oblik , medieval city in Montenegro*Stage name of British DJ Jake Williams...
, on the Taraboša. In the meantime, however, the Byzantines has conquered Shkodër
Shkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
and soon the rest of Duklja. Jaquinta was captured in Kotor
Kotor
Kotor is a coastal city in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative center of the municipality....
and as a captive was sent to Constantinople where she died.
Defeated, George had escaped to Raška
Raška (state)
Principality of Serbia or Serbian Principality was an early medieval state of the Serbs ruled by the Vlastimirović dynasty, that existed from ca 768 to 969 in Southeastern Europe. It was established through an unification of several provincial chiefs under the supreme rule of a certain Višeslav,...
, marking the end of his first rule. Byzantium had enthroned Grubeša, Branislav's son, as king of Duklja.
Several years later, in 1125, George, with the help of Rascian forces, attacked Duklja. In the ensuing battle in Bar
Bar, Montenegro
Bar is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has a population of 17,727...
, Grubeša was killed and George retook his kingdom. George decided to split control of Duklja with Grubeša's two brothers, Draghina and Dragila, with whom he established friendly relations with.
On Dragila's advice, George invaded Rascia and conquered it. George decided to take full control of Duklja and destroy any relative who dared oppose him. He captured Michael, Vladimir's son, and Dragila and had them both imprisoned. Draghina, on the other hand, had escaped with his nephews to Durrës, which was under Byzantine protection. They were joined by Draghina's brother, Gradhina, who was at Zachlumia
Zachlumia
Zachlumia or Zahumlje was a medieval principality located in modern-day regions of Herzegovina and southern Dalmatia...
at the time.
The Byzantines, with George's relatives, declared war once more on Duklja. Byzantine forces captured all Dukljan territory from Bar
Bar, Montenegro
Bar is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has a population of 17,727...
to Podgorica
Podgorica
Podgorica , is the capital and largest city of Montenegro.Podgorica's favourable position at the confluence of the Ribnica and Morača rivers and the meeting point of the fertile Zeta Plain and Bjelopavlići Valley has encouraged settlement...
. However, the Byzantines had to halt all advances because the army's head commander had to return to Constantinople.
George used this to his advantage and unsuccessfully attacked Obliquus, where his relatives were fortified. A Byzantine offensive soon followed suit in which Rascian forces had joined, siding with Byzantium. In the presence of the Byzantine army, George and his forces withdrew to his fortress, Oblon. However, his forces started a rebellion and Oblon was captured. George was taken as a captive to Constantinople, where he was imprisoned, and died.
Gradhina was crowned as king of Duklja by the Byzantines in 1131.
See also
- DukljaDukljaDoclea or Duklja was a medieval state with hereditary lands roughly encompassing the territories of present-day southeastern Montenegro, from Kotor on the west to the river Bojana on the east and to the sources of Zeta and Morača rivers on the north....
- List of Serbian monarchs
- List of rulers of Montenegro