Jug Bogdan
Encyclopedia
Vratko Nemanjić was a 14th century Serbian medieval warrior and Hero character known as Jug Bogdan (Југ Богдан, jûg bɔ̂gdaːn) in Serbian epic poetry
.
He was born in the early 14th century to Vratislav of the Nemanjić Dynasty
, the son of Dmitar
, and grandson of Prince Vukan (r. 1202-1204). He was a commander of Serb Emperor Stefan Dušan, and was sent with Serbian-Greek
Jovan Oliver
to negotiate with Byzantine
Emperor John VI Kantakouzenos
prior to the Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347
in which the Serbian Empire
would fight on both sides. Vratko and Oliver led the Serbian army to attack Serres
on orders by John VI Kantakouzenos
.
He was the father of Milica who was the wife of Prince Lazar, the ruler of Moravian Serbia
.
The Church of Jug Bogdan in Prokuplje
, known among the locals as "the Latin church" after Venetians
lived in the city briefly, was built by Jug Bogdan in the 14th century on a hill on the previous location of a 5th century church which in turn was at the location of a temple from the 2nd century dedicated to Hercules. Parts and Frescoes of the two previous churches have been found.
(nine Jugović brothers). One of his daughters Anđelija is married to Banović Strahinja, but was kidnapped by Ottoman vassal Vlah Alija. Strahinja asks Jug Bogdan if he and his brothers-in-law (the Jugovići) could rescue her, but Jug Bogdan refused, since Anđelija had slept with the Turk, and brought great shame to the family.
He was killed together with his nine sons by the eight pasha
(the seven before him had been killed) of the Ottoman Empire during the Battle of Kosovo
. Where he is said to have fallen there is today a monument with a large white cross standing and the inscription:
Serbian epic poetry
Serb epic poetry is a form of epic poetry written by Serbs originating in today's Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Montenegro. The main cycles were composed by unknown Serb authors between the 14th and 19th centuries...
.
He was born in the early 14th century to Vratislav of the Nemanjić Dynasty
House of Nemanjic
The Nemanjić was the most important dynasty of Serbia in the Middle Ages, and one of the most important in Southeastern Europe. The royal house produced eleven Serbian monarchs between 1166 and 1371. It's progenitor was Stephen Nemanja, who descended from a cadet line of the Vukanović dynasty...
, the son of Dmitar
Dmitar Nemanjic
Dmitar Nemanjić was a Serbian Prince, the son of Vukan Nemanjić and the nephew of King Stefan II the First-Crowned. He is venerated as Saint David Nemanjić with the title of the Venerable in the Serbian Orthodox Church.-Life:...
, and grandson of Prince Vukan (r. 1202-1204). He was a commander of Serb Emperor Stefan Dušan, and was sent with Serbian-Greek
Greeks in Serbia
The Greeks and Serbs of Greek descent in Serbia is estimated at around 15,000 people, at the 2002 census there was 572 Greeks recognized as a minority by the Serbian government. They are mostly concentrated in four Serbian cities : Belgrade, Smederevo, Niš and Novi Sad...
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...
to negotiate with Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
Emperor John VI Kantakouzenos
John VI Kantakouzenos
John VI Kantakouzenos or Cantacuzenus was the Byzantine emperor from 1347 to 1354.-Early life:Born in Constantinople, John Kantakouzenos was the son of a Michael Kantakouzenos, governor of the Morea. Through his mother Theodora Palaiologina Angelina, he was a descendant of the reigning house of...
prior to the Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347
Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347
The Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347 was a conflict between supporters of designated regent John VI Kantakouzenos and guardians acting for John V Palaiologos, Emperor Andronikos III's nine-year-old son, in the persons of the Empress-dowager Anna of Savoy, the Patriarch of Constantinople John XIV...
in which the Serbian Empire
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...
would fight on both sides. Vratko and Oliver led the Serbian army to attack Serres
Serres
Serres is a city in Greece, seat of the Serres prefecture.Serres may also refer to:Places:* Serres, Germany, a part of Wiernsheim in Baden-WürttembergIn France:* Serres, Aude in the Aude département...
on orders by John VI Kantakouzenos
John VI Kantakouzenos
John VI Kantakouzenos or Cantacuzenus was the Byzantine emperor from 1347 to 1354.-Early life:Born in Constantinople, John Kantakouzenos was the son of a Michael Kantakouzenos, governor of the Morea. Through his mother Theodora Palaiologina Angelina, he was a descendant of the reigning house of...
.
He was the father of Milica who was the wife of Prince Lazar, the ruler of Moravian Serbia
Moravian Serbia
The Moravian Serbia was one of the states that emerged from the collapse of the Serbian Empire in the 14th century. The state was created through political and military activities of its first ruler Prince Lazar Hrebeljanović, who later fought and perished at the Battle of Kosovo.-History:Lazar...
.
The Church of Jug Bogdan in Prokuplje
Prokuplje
Prokuplje is a town and municipality located in Serbia at 43.24° North, 21.59° East. According to 2011 census, the town has a total population of 27,163 inhabitants, while population of municipality is 43,631. It is the administrative center of the Toplica District of Serbia. It is one of the...
, known among the locals as "the Latin church" after Venetians
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
lived in the city briefly, was built by Jug Bogdan in the 14th century on a hill on the previous location of a 5th century church which in turn was at the location of a temple from the 2nd century dedicated to Hercules. Parts and Frescoes of the two previous churches have been found.
Serbian epic poetry
In the Serbian epic poems, Jug Bogdan is the father of the JugovićiJugovići
Lapovo is a village situated in Loznica municipality in Serbia....
(nine Jugović brothers). One of his daughters Anđelija is married to Banović Strahinja, but was kidnapped by Ottoman vassal Vlah Alija. Strahinja asks Jug Bogdan if he and his brothers-in-law (the Jugovići) could rescue her, but Jug Bogdan refused, since Anđelija had slept with the Turk, and brought great shame to the family.
He was killed together with his nine sons by the eight pasha
Pasha
Pasha or pascha, formerly bashaw, was a high rank in the Ottoman Empire political system, typically granted to governors, generals and dignitaries. As an honorary title, Pasha, in one of its various ranks, is equivalent to the British title of Lord, and was also one of the highest titles in...
(the seven before him had been killed) of the Ottoman Empire during the Battle of Kosovo
Battle of Kosovo
The Battle of Kosovo took place on St. Vitus' Day, June 15, 1389, between the army led by Serbian Prince Lazar Hrebeljanović, and the invading army of the Ottoman Empire under the leadership of Sultan Murad I...
. Where he is said to have fallen there is today a monument with a large white cross standing and the inscription:
"Honor to the ancestors who taught us how to create a great fatherland. We will guard it and agree that it is more difficult to guard than to acquire.