Stefan (honorific)
Encyclopedia
Stefan was a name adopted by all the Nemanjić
rulers of medieval Serbia. The name Stefan is derived from Greek
Stephanos, meaning "crowned with wreath
(stephos)". All Serbian rulers after Stefan Prvovenčani ("the First-Crowned") added the name Stefan (Stephen) before their birth names after ascending the throne as a manner of honoring the earlier rulers of their dynasty Stefan Nemanja
and Stefan Prvovenčani.
Stefan Nemanja, who venerated Saint Stephen
as his patron saint
, was a descendant of the Vojislavljevići
, rulers of Zahumlje
. The House of Nemanjić was named after him and produced eleven Serbian monarchs between 1166 and 1371, each of them using Stefan as part of their regnal name. The House is therefore also known as "Stephanid dynasty". As all subsequent monarchs of the house used it, the name assumed symbolic significance. It became inseparable from the monarchy, and all claimants denoted their royal pretension by adopting the same name. Some rulers reigned with double names: Stefan Nemanja, Stefan Radoslav, Stefan Vladislav, and Stefan Uroš
, while Prvovenčani and Dečanski are epithets, not names. The exact nature of Dragutin and Milutin — names or nicknames — is unclear. However, unlike the names Nemanja, Radoslav, Vladislav, Uroš, and even Dušan, they never appear in the official contemporary sources. Therefore Prvovenčani and Dragutin are most accurately to be simply numbered, since Stefan was their only official name.
In 1345, Stefan Uroš IV Dušan of Serbia assumed the imperial title Tsar
(basileus
and autokrator
).
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...
rulers of medieval Serbia. The name Stefan is derived from 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;...
Stephanos, meaning "crowned with wreath
Wreath
A wreath is an assortment of flowers, leaves, fruits, twigs and/or various materials that is constructed to resemble a ring. They are used typically as Christmas decorations to symbolize the coming of Christ, also known as the Advent season in Christianity. They are also used as festive headdresses...
(stephos)". All Serbian rulers after Stefan Prvovenčani ("the First-Crowned") added the name Stefan (Stephen) before their birth names after ascending the throne as a manner of honoring the earlier rulers of their dynasty 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...
and Stefan Prvovenčani.
Stefan Nemanja, who venerated Saint Stephen
Saint Stephen
Saint Stephen The Protomartyr , the protomartyr of Christianity, is venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox Churches....
as his patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
, was a descendant of the Vojislavljevići
House of Vojislavljevic
The Vojislavljević was the second Serb medieval dynasty, named after archon Stefan Vojislav, who wrestled the region from Byzantine hands in the 1040s...
, rulers of Zahumlje
Zahumlje
Zachlumia or Zahumlje was a medieval principality located in modern-day regions of Herzegovina and southern Dalmatia...
. The House of Nemanjić was named after him and produced eleven Serbian monarchs between 1166 and 1371, each of them using Stefan as part of their regnal name. The House is therefore also known as "Stephanid dynasty". As all subsequent monarchs of the house used it, the name assumed symbolic significance. It became inseparable from the monarchy, and all claimants denoted their royal pretension by adopting the same name. Some rulers reigned with double names: Stefan Nemanja, Stefan Radoslav, Stefan Vladislav, and Stefan Uroš
Stefan Uroš
Stephen Uroš is a Serbian royal name, referring to the following members of the Nemanjić Dynasty :* King Stephen Uroš I of Serbia * King Stephen Uroš II Milutin of Serbia...
, while Prvovenčani and Dečanski are epithets, not names. The exact nature of Dragutin and Milutin — names or nicknames — is unclear. However, unlike the names Nemanja, Radoslav, Vladislav, Uroš, and even Dušan, they never appear in the official contemporary sources. Therefore Prvovenčani and Dragutin are most accurately to be simply numbered, since Stefan was their only official name.
In 1345, Stefan Uroš IV Dušan of Serbia assumed the imperial title Tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
(basileus
Basileus
Basileus is a Greek term and title that has signified various types of monarchs in history. It is perhaps best known in English as a title used by the Byzantine Emperors, but also has a longer history of use for persons of authority and sovereigns in ancient Greece, as well as for the kings of...
and autokrator
Autokrator
Autokratōr is a Greek epithet applied to an individual who exercises absolute power, unrestrained by superiors. In a historical context, it has been applied to military commanders-in-chief, and to Roman and Byzantine emperors as the translation of the Latin title imperator. Its connection with...
).
See also
- io (voievodal title particle)Io (voievodal title particle)Io is a particle of a title used mainly by Romanian royalty from both Moldavia and Walachia, preceding their names and the complete list of titles, in all their documents , since the formation of the respective principalities up to the Hohenzollern dynasty in the 19th century.First used by the...
- Kingdom of Serbia (medieval)
- List of Serbian monarchs