Grand Zupan
Encyclopedia
Grand, Great or Chief Župan (transl.
Grand prince
, ) is the English rendering of a South Slavic title which relate etymologically to župa
n (originally a pater familias
, later the tribal chief of a unit called župa
) like a Russian Grand Prince to a Knyaz
(rendered as Prince or Duke depending on administration).
inscription attests to the use of the title in 9th-century Bulgaria
. The inscription refers to a certain Sivin, who appears to have held that position at the time of Prince Boris I
(852–889). Sivin was among the Bulgarian boyar
s who supported the official Christianization
, as the subsequently added line "May God help" suggests.
, the Serbian Veliki Župan ruled a principality which had several "fiefs", thus the title describes the holder as supreme leader of all lands, with the title of Župan (2nd highest title) being given to brothers or other relatives (appanage
). The most notable Grand Župan was Stefan Nemanja
, the founder of the Nemanjić dynasty, that would continue the rule of Serbia
through the first ruling house; the Vlastimirović dynasty.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
Grand prince
Grand Prince
The title grand prince or great prince ranked in honour below emperor and tsar and above a sovereign prince .Grand duke is the usual and established, though not literal, translation of these terms in English and Romance languages, which do not normally use separate words for a "prince" who reigns...
, ) is the English rendering of a South Slavic title which relate etymologically to župa
Župa
A Župa is a Slavic term, used historically among the Southern and Western branches of the Slavs, originally denoting various territorial and other sub-units, usually a small administrative division, especially a gathering of several villages...
n (originally a pater familias
Pater familias
The pater familias, also written as paterfamilias was the head of a Roman family. The term is Latin for "father of the family" or the "owner of the family estate". The form is irregular and archaic in Latin, preserving the old genitive ending in -as...
, later the tribal chief of a unit called župa
Župa
A Župa is a Slavic term, used historically among the Southern and Western branches of the Slavs, originally denoting various territorial and other sub-units, usually a small administrative division, especially a gathering of several villages...
) like a Russian Grand Prince to a Knyaz
Knyaz
Kniaz, knyaz or knez is a Slavic title found in most Slavic languages, denoting a royal nobility rank. It is usually translated into English as either Prince or less commonly as Duke....
(rendered as Prince or Duke depending on administration).
Bulgaria
A decorated silver cup with a Medieval GreekMedieval Greek
Medieval Greek, also known as Byzantine Greek, is the stage of the Greek language between the beginning of the Middle Ages around 600 and the Ottoman conquest of the city of Constantinople in 1453. The latter date marked the end of the Middle Ages in Southeast Europe...
inscription attests to the use of the title in 9th-century Bulgaria
First Bulgarian Empire
The First Bulgarian Empire was a medieval Bulgarian state founded in the north-eastern Balkans in c. 680 by the Bulgars, uniting with seven South Slavic tribes...
. The inscription refers to a certain Sivin, who appears to have held that position at the time of Prince Boris I
Boris I of Bulgaria
Boris I, also known as Boris-Mihail and Bogoris was the Knyaz of First Bulgarian Empire in 852–889. At the time of his baptism in 864, Boris was named Michael after his godfather, Emperor Michael III...
(852–889). Sivin was among the Bulgarian boyar
Boyar
A boyar, or bolyar , was a member of the highest rank of the feudal Moscovian, Kievan Rus'ian, Bulgarian, Wallachian, and Moldavian aristocracies, second only to the ruling princes , from the 10th century through the 17th century....
s who supported the official Christianization
Christianization of Bulgaria
The Christianization of Bulgaria was the process by which 9th-century medieval Bulgaria converted to Christianity. It was influenced by the khan's shifting political alliances with the kingdom of the East Franks and the Byzantine Empire, as well as his reception by the Pope of the Roman Catholic...
, as the subsequently added line "May God help" suggests.
Serbia
In the Middle AgesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, the Serbian Veliki Župan ruled a principality which had several "fiefs", thus the title describes the holder as supreme leader of all lands, with the title of Župan (2nd highest title) being given to brothers or other relatives (appanage
Appanage
An apanage or appanage or is the grant of an estate, titles, offices, or other things of value to the younger male children of a sovereign, who would otherwise have no inheritance under the system of primogeniture...
). The most notable Grand Župan was Stefan Nemanja
Stefan Nemanja
Stefan Nemanja was the Grand Prince of the Grand Principality of Serbia from 1166 to 1196, a heir of the Vukanović dynasty that marked the beginning of a greater Serbian realm .He is remembered for his contributions to Serbian culture and...
, the founder of the Nemanjić dynasty, that would continue the rule of Serbia
Nemanyid Serbia
The Kingdom of Serbia or Serbian Kingdom was a medieval Serb kingdom ruled by the Nemanjić dynasty, from 1217 to 1346. The Serbian Grand Principality was elevated with the coronation of Stefan Prvovenčani as "King of Serbia" by his brother, bishop Sava, after inheriting all territories unified by...
through the first ruling house; the Vlastimirović dynasty.