Jelena Gruba
Encyclopedia
Helen Gruba was the Queen regnant of Bosnia from 1395 to 1398. She was the only female ruler of Bosnia
.
Helen came from the noble House of Nikolić
, which ruled a part of Zachlumia
.
. Their only surviving child was a daughter called Stana. Stana's daughter Vladika married Juraj Radivojević during Stephen Dabiša's lifetime and reign. This is confirmed by a charter by which Stephen Dabiša gave his daughter an area to govern. The charter also says that the area is to be inherited by the King and Queen's granddaughter Vladika and grandson-in-law Juraj.
, as his successor. The Bosnian nobility refused to recognize Sigismund as king and installed Helen as the new monarch. Helen was a great-grandmother by then, as her daughter's daughter had already had children at that point.
As Helen was brought to power by the large Bosnian nobility, it is during her reign that the Bosnian nobility grows in power independently from the crown. Amongst them were the famous Duke
s Sandalj Hranić and Hrvoje Vukčić
and Prince
Pavle Radenović that ruled their own demesnes independently from the Queen. The Queen's demesne was a small territory in central Bosnia
, while she lost the suzeiranity over the territories of Usora in the valley of the river of Sava. Though she lost some territory and control over nobility, Helen's reign saw successful trade with the Republic of Dubrovnik.
She continued to reside at the court as queen dowager
. Sources refer to her after her deposition as the most serene and mighty lady Gruba.
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History of Bosnia and Herzegovina
-Pre-Slavic Period :Bosnia has been inhabited at least since Neolithic times. In the late Bronze Age, the Neolithic population was replaced by more warlike Indo-European tribes known as the Illyrians. Celtic migrations in the 4th and 3rd century BCE displaced many Illyrian tribes from their former...
.
Helen came from the noble House of Nikolić
House of Nikolic
The House of Nikolić was a Serbian medieval noble family from Hum . The family's main estate was Popovo Polje.-Lords of Popovo Polje:Župan Nikola, the great-grandson of Knez Miroslav , had two sons: Vladimir and Bogiša...
, which ruled a part of Zachlumia
Zachlumia
Zachlumia or Zahumlje was a medieval principality located in modern-day regions of Herzegovina and southern Dalmatia...
.
Queen consort
Helen first became Queen of Bosnia as consort to King Stephen Dabiša. He ascended in 1391, on the death of his relative, King Stephen Tvrtko I of BosniaTvrtko I of Bosnia
Stjepan Tvrtko I was a ruler of medieval Bosnia. He ruled in 1353–1366 and again in 1367–1377 as Ban and in 1377–1391 as the first Bosnian King....
. Their only surviving child was a daughter called Stana. Stana's daughter Vladika married Juraj Radivojević during Stephen Dabiša's lifetime and reign. This is confirmed by a charter by which Stephen Dabiša gave his daughter an area to govern. The charter also says that the area is to be inherited by the King and Queen's granddaughter Vladika and grandson-in-law Juraj.
Queen regnant
When Stephen Dabiša died in 1395, Helen ceased to be Queen consort of Bosnia. Her husband had designated King Sigismund of Hungary, the husband of his relative, Queen Mary of HungaryMary of Hungary
Mary of Anjou was queen regnant of Hungary from 1382 until her death in 1395.-Childhood:...
, as his successor. The Bosnian nobility refused to recognize Sigismund as king and installed Helen as the new monarch. Helen was a great-grandmother by then, as her daughter's daughter had already had children at that point.
As Helen was brought to power by the large Bosnian nobility, it is during her reign that the Bosnian nobility grows in power independently from the crown. Amongst them were the famous Duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
s Sandalj Hranić and Hrvoje Vukčić
Hrvoje Vukcic
Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić was a Ban of Croatia, Grand Duke of Bosnia and a Herzog of Split. He was the most prominent member of the Croatian noble House of Hrvatinić and the strongest of the three main large feudalists of early feudal medieval Bosnia...
and Prince
Prince
Prince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
Pavle Radenović that ruled their own demesnes independently from the Queen. The Queen's demesne was a small territory in central Bosnia
Bosnia (region)
Bosnia is a eponomous region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It lies mainly in the Dinaric Alps, ranging to the southern borders of the Pannonian plain, with the rivers Sava and Drina marking its northern and eastern borders. The other eponomous region, the southern, other half of the country is...
, while she lost the suzeiranity over the territories of Usora in the valley of the river of Sava. Though she lost some territory and control over nobility, Helen's reign saw successful trade with the Republic of Dubrovnik.
Queen dowager
In 1398 she was replaced with Stephen Ostoja. It is unclear why she was replaced. It is possible that her brothers were gaining too much wealth and influence during her reign and the rest of the nobility didn't like it.She continued to reside at the court as queen dowager
Queen Dowager
A queen dowager or dowager queen is a title or status generally held by the widow of a deceased king. In the case of the widow of a deceased emperor, the title of empress dowager is used...
. Sources refer to her after her deposition as the most serene and mighty lady Gruba.
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