Uroš I of Rascia
Encyclopedia
Uroš I Vukanović was the Grand Prince (Veliki Župan
) of the Grand Principality of Serbia from ca 1112 to 1145.
, becoming his vassals. Marko, as the subordinate ruler, would have had his appanage in lands north of Rascia, bordering the Kingdom of Hungary
. The name Uroš itself, is most likely derived from the Hungarian word úr meaning "dominus
" or "princeps
", which is translated into the Slavic name 'Prvoslav', or 'Primislav', as seen in the case of Uroš II in Slavic sources. It is a possibility that Marko married a Hungarian wife.
, Skoplje and Tetovo
. In 1094 or 1095, the Emperor once again marched to the Serbs, capturing Lipljan, this time Vukan met with him in his tent and gave him some twenty hostages, including Uroš I and Stefan Vukan, as an oath of peace. Uroš was first mentioned in the contemporary Alexiad
of Anna Komnene
, a written account of the reign of her father Byzantine emperor Alexios I Komnenos
.
Following the death of Vukan in 1112, Uroš succeeds as Grand Prince.
. Duklja at the time was ruled by Prince Đorđe of Duklja
(r. 1118), the son of Constantine Bodin. The Byzantines install Grubeša Branislavljević
after 1118, banishing Đorđe to Rascia. Đorđe claims protection of Uroš, and in the 1125 the two led an army against Grubeša, meeting in the Battle of Antivari
. Grubeša is killed, and Đorđe retains his realm, although not all of it, small parts were ruled by cousins, among them the three brothers of Grubeša, who would soon quarrel with Đorđe. The Byzantines again invaded the coastlands of Duklja, giving the nominal rule to Gradinja, resulting in a guerilla war in the woods. The second expedition captured Đorđe, he was taken to Constantinople where he died. Gradinja strengthened the ties with Serbia.
. Bela II, being blind, relied entirely on Jelena who acted as a co-ruler. Jelena is sourced as having decided to massacre 68 aristocrats at the Arad assembly, who had persuaded Coloman
to blind her husband.
In 1137, Ladislaus II
, the son of Béla II and Jelena, becomes the titular Ban of Bosnia.
When Bela II died on 13 February 1141, the eldest son Géza II ascended the throne, still a child. Therefore, Helena and her brother Beloš Vukanović, whom she had invited to the court, governed the Kingdom of Hungary till September 1146 when he came of age.
Beloš was the Ban of Croatia
1142-1158, under the Hungarian crown, and held the comes palatinus (Count palatine), the highest court title of the Kingdom.
and possibly
Grand Zupan
Grand, Great or Chief Župan is the English rendering of a South Slavic title which relate etymologically to župan like a Russian Grand Prince to a Knyaz .- Bulgaria :A decorated silver cup with a...
) of the Grand Principality of Serbia from ca 1112 to 1145.
Origin
Uroš I was the son of Marko, the brother of Grand Prince Vukan, who had swore an oath of loyalty to Constantine Bodin, the Grand Prince of DukljaDuklja
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....
, becoming his vassals. Marko, as the subordinate ruler, would have had his appanage in lands north of Rascia, bordering the Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
. The name Uroš itself, is most likely derived from the Hungarian word úr meaning "dominus
Dominus
Dominus may refer to:* Christus Dominus, the Second Vatican Council's "Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops".* Dominus Flevit Church, on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem* Dominus , a title of sovereignty, clergy and other uses...
" or "princeps
Princeps
Princeps is a Latin word meaning "first in time or order; the first, chief, the most eminent, distinguished, or noble; the first man, first person."...
", which is translated into the Slavic name 'Prvoslav', or 'Primislav', as seen in the case of Uroš II in Slavic sources. It is a possibility that Marko married a Hungarian wife.
Vukan's war with Byzantines
In 1092, the Serb Army defeated the Byzantine Army led by the governor of Durazzo, sent by Alexius Comnenus. In 1093, Alexius himself led a larger Byzantine Army and marched towards Rascia, but Vukan heard of this and immediately sought peace, Alexius quickly accepted as new problems arose in the east where the Cumans penetrated as far as Adrianople. As soon as the Emperor had departed, Vukan broke the treaty, conquering the Vardar; taking the cities of VranjeVranje
Vranje is a city and municipality located in southern Serbia. In 2011 the city has total population of 82,782, while the urban area has 54,456...
, Skoplje and Tetovo
Tetovo
Tetovo is a city in the northwestern part of Macedonia, built on the foothills of Šar Mountain and divided by the Pena River.The city covers an area of at above sea level, with a population of 86,580 citizens in the municipality. Tetovo is home to the State University of Tetovo and South East...
. In 1094 or 1095, the Emperor once again marched to the Serbs, capturing Lipljan, this time Vukan met with him in his tent and gave him some twenty hostages, including Uroš I and Stefan Vukan, as an oath of peace. Uroš was first mentioned in the contemporary Alexiad
Alexiad
The Alexiad is a medieval biographical text written around the year 1148 by the Byzantine historian Anna Comnena, daughter of Emperor Alexius I....
of Anna Komnene
Anna Komnene
Anna Komnene, Latinized as Comnena was a Greek princess and scholar and the daughter of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos of Byzantium and Irene Doukaina...
, a written account of the reign of her father Byzantine emperor Alexios I Komnenos
Alexios I Komnenos
Alexios I Komnenos, Latinized as Alexius I Comnenus , was Byzantine emperor from 1081 to 1118, and although he was not the founder of the Komnenian dynasty, it was during his reign that the Komnenos family came to full power. The title 'Nobilissimus' was given to senior army commanders,...
.
Following the death of Vukan in 1112, Uroš succeeds as Grand Prince.
Civil War in Duklja
In 1113/4, the Byzantine Army based in Durazzo invades Duklja, capturing the capital of ScutariShkodër
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...
. Duklja at the time was ruled by Prince Đorđe of Duklja
George of Duklja
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 Raškan influence on Duklja. Jaquinta and George had Vladimir fatally poisoned in 1118 and George was crowned king that same year...
(r. 1118), the son of Constantine Bodin. The Byzantines install Grubeša Branislavljević
Prince Grubeša
Grubeša Branislavljević was the prince and ruler of Duklja and Bar from 1118 to 1125. After the Byzantines defeated King George in 1118, Grubeša assumed the Doclean throne as a Byzantine protégé. The Byzantines entitled Grubeša the rule in Duklja, as well as an army that he would command against...
after 1118, banishing Đorđe to Rascia. Đorđe claims protection of Uroš, and in the 1125 the two led an army against Grubeša, meeting in the Battle of Antivari
Battle of Antivari
The Battle of Antivari was a naval engagement between the French, British and Austro-Hungarian navies at the start of World War I. The Austrian light cruiser and the destroyer were bombarding the town of Antivari, today known as Bar, when on 16 August 1914 they were cut off by a large...
. Grubeša is killed, and Đorđe retains his realm, although not all of it, small parts were ruled by cousins, among them the three brothers of Grubeša, who would soon quarrel with Đorđe. The Byzantines again invaded the coastlands of Duklja, giving the nominal rule to Gradinja, resulting in a guerilla war in the woods. The second expedition captured Đorđe, he was taken to Constantinople where he died. Gradinja strengthened the ties with Serbia.
Diplomacy
In around 1130, he married his daughter, Jelena, to King Béla II of HungaryBéla II of Hungary
Béla II the Blind , King of Hungary and Croatia . Still as a child, Béla was blinded by his uncle, King Coloman who wanted to ensure the succession of his own son, the future King Stephen II...
. Bela II, being blind, relied entirely on Jelena who acted as a co-ruler. Jelena is sourced as having decided to massacre 68 aristocrats at the Arad assembly, who had persuaded Coloman
Coloman
Coloman, , , ; )* Coloman I. the Book-lover* Coloman of Galicia-Lodomeria * Saint Coloman of Stockerau * Colomán Trabado Pérez...
to blind her husband.
In 1137, Ladislaus II
Ladislaus II of Hungary
Ladislaus II , King of Hungary. As a younger son, he was able to ascend to the throne only with the assistance of the Byzantine Empire against his nephew, King Stephen III after his brother's death...
, the son of Béla II and Jelena, becomes the titular Ban of Bosnia.
When Bela II died on 13 February 1141, the eldest son Géza II ascended the throne, still a child. Therefore, Helena and her brother Beloš Vukanović, whom she had invited to the court, governed the Kingdom of Hungary till September 1146 when he came of age.
Beloš was the Ban of Croatia
Ban of Croatia
Ban of Croatia was the title of local rulers and after 1102 viceroys of Croatia. From earliest periods of Croatian state, some provinces were ruled by Bans as a rulers representative and supreme military commander. In the 18th century, Croatian bans eventually become chief government officials in...
1142-1158, under the Hungarian crown, and held the comes palatinus (Count palatine), the highest court title of the Kingdom.
Family
Uroš was married to a Byzantine noblewoman named Anna Diogene, who through her father Constantine was a granddaughter of Romanos IV Diogenes. They had the following issue:- Uroš IIUroš II PrvoslavUroš II, also known as Primislav was Serbian Grand Prince from ca. 1145 to 1162, with brief interruptions as ruler by Desa, his brother. His rule was characterized by a period of power struggle, not only of the Serbian throne between the brothers, but between the Byzantine Empire and Hungarian...
- Uroš' successor - Desa - Duke of Serbian Primorje, co-ruled Rascia with Uroš II
- BelošBeloš VukanovićBeloš , a member of the Vukanović dynasty of Serbia, was the Regent of Hungary 1141-1146 alongside his sister Helen, who was married to Béla II with whom she had a son, Géza II, still an infant. He held the title of dux, and was the viceregal of Croatia 1142-1158 and 1163. Beloš, as a member of...
- Ban of Croatia and briefly Prince of Serbia - Jelena - married Béla II the BlindBéla II of HungaryBéla II the Blind , King of Hungary and Croatia . Still as a child, Béla was blinded by his uncle, King Coloman who wanted to ensure the succession of his own son, the future King Stephen II...
, King of Hungary - Marija - married Conrad II, Duke of ZnojmoZnojmoZnojmo is a city in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic, near the border with Lower Austria, connected to Vienna by railway and road . The royal city of Znojmo was founded shortly before 1226 by King Ottokar I on the plains in front of Znojmo Castle...
and possibly
- ZavidaZavidaZavida or Beli Uroš was a 12th-century Serbian royal member who briefly ruled as Župan of Zahumlje and later held the title "Lord of Ribnica"....
- Duke of Zahumlje
| Maria | Helena |
|---|
See also
Sources
- Anna Comnena, The Alexiad, translated by Elizabeth A. Dawes in 1928
- John Kinnamos, The Deeds of John and Manuel Comnenus, trans. C.M. Brand (New York, 1976). ISBN 0231 040806
- Imperii Graeci Historia, ed. Hieronymus WolfHieronymus WolfHieronymus Wolf was a sixteenth-century German historian and humanist, most famous for introducing a system of Byzantine historiography that eventually became the standard in works of medieval Greek history.- His life :...
, 1557, in Greek with parallel Latin translation. (PDF of 1593 reprint) - Андрија Веселиновић, Радош Љушић - Српске династије, Нови Сад - Београд 2001, 32.
- Тибор Живковић, - Портрети српских владара (IX - XII век), Београд 2006, 127-132.
- Živković Tibor, 2005, br. 52, str. 9-22, Jedna hipoteza o poreklu velikog župana Uroša I