Ancient Serbian History

[knindza87]

Ya we kinda started from WW1 then went on pre-historic cultures,Great-Schism,Christianity,Slavic migration,conflicts on Balkans,we messed up whole topic  Maybe we can start debating on that theme on new topic from fresh start and chronically for a change  I'm not very best for discussing historic themes,but I will try consult someone more eligible.Or link some topics from other forums on that theme.But tomorrow,because I'm off to sleep now,good night.

[Jasmina]

  I split the topic on Pescarii's request, I apologize for the delay!

[Pescarii]

Thank you.

[knindza87]

***Ancient Serbian History(until the rule of Nemanja)***


     The territory of the Balkan peninsula, which the Serbs - a Slavic tribe - were to settle and in it create their states, was inhabited from time immemorial. Scientists believe that today's Western and Central European countries were inhabited already in the first period of the Pleistocene (Diluvial, Ice Age), and the man appeared in the Balkans in the period of the last glaciation (Alp glaciation - Wuerm) During those cold climates, 40.000 years ago, perpetual ice descended on 1.500 meters above sea-level.

      The first communities at the time inhabited caves. Research on these caves, in particular the one under the Jerinini hill in the villages of Gradac and Risovace on Vencac, allows us to recreate their lifestyle. The communities had 10-15 members each, from one to three biological families, who lived chiefly off hunting and fruit gathering. The man, already a Homo sapiens, shaped stone and bones into implements and weapons. He first hunted large herbivores (huge deer, wild horses, and cattle), but when climatic conditions changed (when the prearctic climate prevailed) he hunted mammoths, rhinoceroses, lions and hyenas. Owing to an extremely cold spell, (glaciation Wuerm 3) around 25.000 years B.C., caves were abandoned and human life ceased. The first chapter in the history in human life in communities on the territory of Serbia is thus closed.

      The next phase began in changed climatic conditions, at the close of the Ice Age (a new geological epoch - the Holocene). Research conducted on archeological sites in Djerdap has confirmed that one of the most complex cultures of the pre-historic era developed there, named the culture of the Lepen Whirl (7000-5500 years B.C.) after a large whirlpool in the Danube river. The oldest people lived in settlements, in communities of two to four biological families. Subsequently, as the population expanded, settlements were built on an established pattern. Burial places were outside the settlements. The quality of implements and weaponry improved. Many finds point to the existence of private ownership, social hierarchy, religion, art. In the field of production they retained traditional methods in obtaining food and never became farmers or stockbreeders.

      Communities on Serbian soil dating from the second period of the Stone Age (Paleolithic) developed cultures of the latest period of the Stone Age (Neolithic) which, besides the hunting-gathering economy, cultivated farming and stockbreeding. This was certainly the result of a warmer climate. The Neolithic culture expanded north and south of the Sava and Danube rivers, from 5300 to 3200 B.C., and the most important sites are at Starcevo and Vinca. Based on archeological excavation, it can be assumed that these communities built their houses in juxtaposition, pasting them with a mixture of mud and weed. Floors were made of pressed earth, and roofs from brushwood and thatch. Households had a variety of dishes. Implements and weaponry were made of polished stone, and ornaments from shells. The communities, which formed the cultures of Starcevo and Vinca, were subject to migrations for internal, but also external motives. Thus, with the arrival of people from Anatolia and Pannonia, the ethnic and cultural picture changed and the Vinca communities disappeared, their place taken by others who employed metal, marking the beginning of a new epoch in human history.

      Around 1900 B.C. the first centers of culture in the Bronze Age were set up in Banat (moriska), Srem (vinkovacka), northwestern Serbia (Belotic-Bela Crkva), the southern Morava River basin (Bubanj-Hum III Slatina). Communities of Bronze Age, inhabiting expanses north and south of the Sava and Danube lived in peace for centuries. Their life was upset around 1425 B.C. with the penetration of people from the north (the culture of grave mounds) who had bronze weapons - swords, daggers, axes/ Those movements continued in the following centuries, reaching as far as Egypt. Archeological finds dating from 1125 to 750 B.C. lead to the conclusion that a new culture was developing - the Iron Age - together with the formation of the first ethnic groups known in history within the Balkan peninsula> Dardanians, Tribals, Illyrians and Thracians.

      From 1200 to 1000 B.C. in Kosovo, the Morava River basin, Srem, Backa and Banat uniform settlements were built, the dishes were the same, and the burial custom identical. Farming was already developed, wheat and barley were grown, and cattle, pigs and horses were largely kept, much less sheep and goats. The Iron Age on Serbian soil was linked with the arrival of Thrako-Kimercis from the Caucasus-Pont regions about 750 B.C. They brought with them cultural goods, such as weapons and ornaments made of iron. Over the next 200 years the Iron Age culture grew stable and clear distinctions were drawn between ethnic groups. In time active trade was established between ethnic and cultural groups that started undergoing stratification. Archeological sites uncovering luxury items produced in Greece provide evidence of this. Rich finds testify to the Hellenization of the Tribals and Dardanians. They did not disappear since in the coming centuries they waged wars against Macedonian kings. From 300-100 B.C., the Dardanians, historical sources say, retained their individuality and self-awareness, as witness the extraordinary dating from the 3rd century A.D.

      The arrival of Celts and the breakthrough of the Hellenic civilization marked the later period of the Iron Age on Serbian soil. Celtic emissaries met Alexander the Great by the Danube in 335 B.C., and after his death crossed the Sava and Danube. Their devastation throughout Dardani, Macedonia and central Greece were cut short after a Greek victory at the Delphi in 279 B.C. During their retreat, and in the following decades, the Celts conquered Tribal and part of the Autariat territory, together forming a powerful tribe called Skordiska. They were the first to build a settlement on the territory of Belgrade. At the beginning of the new era the Romans took all the lands of the Balkan peninsula, conquered both the Dardanians and Skordiskans, but did not destroy their culture. The old Balkan tribes, nearly three hundred years old, lived autochthonously, though under Roman rule, and nurtured their traditional culture. Only subsequently did they become part of the political and cultural history of the Roman Empire.

      By the Roman administrative division, the largest part of the present-day Serbia was a province called Gornja Mezija. This province served as a platform for Emperor Trayan to cross the Danube at Ram and Tekija with his army, conquer Decane and establish the Dakija province. At the close of the first century A.D., the Roman Empire boasted the greatest territory. New cities were founded and old ones strengthened in Mezija and Pannonia. Cities at the Danube became important defense posts when the Romans withdrew from Dakija (about 272 A.D.) and fortified themselves on the right bank of the Danube. Regardless of the organization of the Romans and the strength of their boundaries (limites), barbarian tribes continually raided the border provinces, which permanently weakened the Empire.

      After the division of the Roman Empire in 395 A.D. into the Western and Eastern (Byzantium), the latter inherited the continual struggle with barbarians at the Danube. During the reign of Justinian (527-565), the situation settled, but then an onslaught of Avars and Slavs followed, whose plundering were stopped only after their defeat at Constantinopole in 626. Among the Slavic tribes were the Serbs. According to a Byzantine source, Tsar Traklije (610-641) allowed them to settle around Salonika, which they did, subsequently withdrawing from it to the north. The same source also testifies that the first Serbian princes (arhonti) were called Viseslav, Radoslav, Prosigoj and Vlastimir.

      The ancient history of Serbia, until the rule of Nemanja, was marked by continual fighting either with Bulgaria or with Byzantium, and internal struggles for power among Serbian princes - members of the same family. The supreme rule in Byzantium was conducive to the Hristianization of Serbs in the second half of the 9th century, mainly the work of Cyril and Methodius, From the third decade of the 12th century; Hungary became the third state to affect the history of Serbs. In the Hungarian-Byzantine struggles from 1165-1167, the name of Stefan Nemanja was mentioned for the first time. In the first years of his reign, Nemanja ruled over Toplice, Ibar, Rasina and Reka. After a conflict with his brother Tihomir, he became the grand zupan of Raska, probably in 1166. Nemanja`s attempts to achieve independence resulted in a conflict with Tsar Manojlo I Komnin of Byzantium. The Tsar won; Nemanja was taken prisoner to Constantinople, but returned to Serbia remaining loyal, as vassal, to Tsar Manojlo I until his death in 1180.

      During 1180-1190, Nemanja succeeded, with an offensive policy and making avail of Byzantium`s troubles (the Bulgarian uprising, the Crusades), to considerably expand the Serbian state. He conquered Metohija and Kosovo in the south. Further expansion came with the annexation of the Nis region, Dubocica, Vranje, Binicka Morava, land to the east of Juzna Morava and Reka. Regions between Zapadna and Velika Morava (Levac, Belica, Lepenica) were also adjoined. To the west, Nemanja took Duklja with the coastal cities (Ulcinj, Bar, Kotor) and entrusted his son Vukan to rule over them, The attempts of Nemanja and his brothers, Miroslav and Stracimir, to conquer Dubrovnik, bore no fruits. Thus, Nemanja established and consolidated his rule in lands from Kotor to Sofia, with the center in Ras where Serbian Bishops Jevtimije and Kalinik had their seat. During his reign, Nemanja generously assisted the clergy, and left behind large endowments.

[knindza87]

***The Arrival of Slavs, the Adoption of Christianity and the Serbian State of Stefan Nemanja***



     Barbarian raids into the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium) lasted throughout the 5th century. Science has yet to establish to which tribes these barbarians belonged. Old sources mentioned Scythes, Bulgarians, and Goths. At the beginning of the 6th century, during the reign of Justin I (518-527), a raid of Slavs, i.e. Antis, who lived in steppes north of the outflow of the Danube, was mentioned for the first time. During the first part of his reign (527-565), Tsar Justinian of Byzantium waged successful wars against the Antis and Sclavinis on the left bank of the Danube where the old Roman limes still stood, at least on some points. As Byzantine mercenaries, the Antis waged wars even against the Goths in Italy. In the mid 6th century, the Sclavinis fiercely plundered Byzantium, reaching in their campaigns as far as Constantinopole and Dalmatia. At about the same time, the Avars appeared as new enemies to Byzantium. The fifteen-year Avar-Byzantine war was waged around Singidunum and Viminacium. In the second half of the 6th century, joint Avar-Sclavini troops plundered across Thrace and Macedonia, imperiling Salonika. At the opening of the 7th century, Byzantine sources note, Slavic people, comprising Draguvitis, Sagudatis, Velegezitis, Vajunitis and Verzitis, devastated Thessaly, Hellada, Achaea, Epirus, crossing even into Asia. These Slavs were defeated at Salonika, where they remained and settled.
      During the reign of Tsar Heraclius (610-641), the Serbs settled in the vicinity of Salonika (as penned by Tsar C. Porphyrogenitus) and the region was called Servia after them. An Avar-Slav attack on Constantinopole in 626 was fatal for the Avars, because after that they disappeared from the historical stage, while Slavic tribes settled and strengthened themselves within Byzantium. Lands inhabited by the Slavs were called Sclaviniae in Byzantine sources. These wer Ăe most probably the beginnings of the Slavic principalities.

       The arrival of the Bulgarians to the Balkan peninsula had permanent historical effect on the life of Byzantium and on the Serbs. Bulgarian ancestors, named by science Protobulgarians - nomads and horsemen - crossed the Danube in 680, settled on the territory between the Danube and the Balkan mountains, and imposed themselves as rulers of the Slavic population which lived in eight tribal regions. The assimilation of the Slavic and Protobulgarian population was quick, without formidable obstacles.

       Their state swooped southwards in the second half of the 8th century, striving to expand over the Slavic population inhabiting Thrace. The 50-year Bulgarian-Byzantine war, waged with variable fortune, settled the border between these two states. After that, Bulgarian expansion turned westward and at the opening of the 9th century, the Bulgarians came in contact with the Serbs.

  &nbs    Little is known about the life and state of the Serbs in the central regions of the Balkan peninsula. According to Tsar C. Porpyrogenitus, the ruler's son who had brought the Serbs died before the arrival of the Bulgarians (i.e. before 680). Succeeding him were his son, grandson and so on - arohonti (princes) of the same clan. The earlier known Serbian princes belonged to that clan or family: Viseslav, Radoslav, Prosigoj and Vlastimir. According to the same source, the Bulgarians and Serbs lived in peace, submitting to Byzantine tsars, until Bulgarian Khan Presijam attacked Prince Vlastimir of Serbia.

       The war lasted for three years, probably between 836 and 852, and in it the Bulgarian Khan lost the "largest part of his army". This bespeaks of the strength of Vlastimir's state, which is known to have stretched over parts of present-day Herzegovina.

       His sons Mutimir, Strojimir and Gojnik succeeded Vlastimir. They, too, were to withstand a Bulgarian attack. Vladimir, son of Khan Boris, apparently, headed the Bulgarian army though unsuccessfully. The Serbs took prisoners him and twelve Bulgarian velmozas (boyars). The Serbian ruler released them and after this peace prevailed. Knez Mutimir ruled until 891/892. At the time Byzantium was still strong and held the entire western Adriatic coast. Serbian princes still recognized the rule of the Byzantine tsar. Testifying to this is that the Serbs waged wars in southern Italy as Byzantine soldiers.

       At the end of the 9th century the Serbs adopted Christianity. To argument this, science has taken the appearance of the first Christian holy names with the Serbs. It is known that Vlastimir's grandsons were named Stefan (Mutimir's son) and Petar (Gojnik's son). Presumably, they were born between 870-874. Little is known about the early phase of the Christianization of Serbs. Most probably the first missionaries were Methodius' disciples and priests of the archbishopric in Split, who spoke in Latin. Apparently the upper layers of Serbian society first embraced Christianity, while the majority of the population retained its old Slavic pagan religion. It is assumed that the origin and celebration of the Serbian family's patron day - the slava - was, in fact, a modification of the old respect for ancestry (the cult of the ancestor). The conciliation of pagan belief and the new Christian faith was probably adopted completely during the time of St. Sava. This referred to the believers of the autocephalus Serbian Archbishopric founded in 1219. The bicentennial of the history of the Serbian state (from the close of the 11th century) was marked by struggles for power among Mutimir's sons ¬ (Pribislav, Bran, Stefan), his nephew Petar (Gojnik's son), Klonimir (Stojimir's son) and his grandson Pavle (Bran's son), Zaharije (Pribislav's son) and Caslav (Klonimir's son). Bulgaria and Byzantium invariably took part in those struggles. The consolidation, expansion and growth of the Serbian state in the nmid-10th century were the work of Caslav, a protege of Tsar C. Porphyrogenitus of Byzantium. The western border of Caslav's state was drawn on the Pliva, Livno and Imota, and the northern on the Sava river. It has not been established whether the east border was on the Zapadna Morava. Caslav was killed in a battle against the Hungarians in the north of his state c. 950. He was the last member of the oldest Serbian dynasty.

       At the opening of the 11th century, after the fall of Samuil's state, the Serbian states Raska, Zahumlje and Duklja were vassals to Byzantium. This lasted throughout the 11th century, even though the zupan of Raska, Vukan, warred against Tsar Alexius I Comnenus of Byzaium. His successors attempted to free themselves during the Byzantine-Hungarian war (1127-1129) and later, but failed. Serbian zupan Uros, Vukan's grandson, waged a full-scale war against Tsar Manuel I Comnenus. Having won a fierce battle on the Tara (1150), the Byzantine tsar imposed on the Serbian zupan "the yoke of submission twice as much as before", a Byzantine chronicler penned. Uros's successor, his brother Desa, also attempted to free himself of vassal tribute to Byzantium. To that aim he sought help from the Hungarian and German rulers, precisely which cost him the throne; he was taken prisoner to Constantinople by the Byzantines, though he contrived his return to the country.

       There is evidence of his dying in Trebinje and being buried in the St. Petar's monastery in Polje.

       After Desa, the name Stefan Nemanja appeared for the first time in connection with the Byzantine-Hungarian war at Zemun in 1165. He was most likely related to the zupans of Raska. He was born in Ribnica (Zeta), to where his parents had fled. Nemanja was baptized by Latin priests first, and then after his arrival to Ras, by Orthodox priests in the church of Sts. Petar and Pavle.

       When Nemanja's eldest brother Tihomir was the zupan of Raska, Nemanja was a regional lord. He ruled over Toplice, Ibar, Rasina and Reka. After meeting with Tsar Manuel I Comnenus of Byzantium, Nemanja received as a gift Dubocica (a region near Leskovac).

       As an established custom, the brothers did not get along as regional lords. Nemanja aspired to become grand zupan, and in fact became so in 1166. To achieve this, he had to defeat Tihomir's army.

       As grand zupan, Nemanja, like his predecessors, endeavored to free himself from Byzantine submission. He saw suitable opportunity for this in the 1171-1172 Byzantine-Venetian war. However, the war ended happily for Byzantium, and Tsar Manuel waged a campaign against Serbia. Nemanja evaded war, negotiating with the tsar, and was taken to Constantinopole from where he returned as vassal to Byzantine, remaining loyal to Tsar Manuel until his death in 1180.

       After the death of Manuel I, Byzantium met with internal difficulties, of which the northern neighbors, including Nemanja, sought to take advantage. From 1183, Nemanja began the expansion of his state. First he conquered Duklja with the coastal towns Danj, Sarda, Drivast, Skadar, Svac, Ulcinj, Bar and Kotor. From 1184-1185 Nemanja's brothers Miroslav and Stracimir at Ćtempted to conquer Dubrovnik.

       The conflict ended with the signing of a peace accord settling the questions of territories and trade. Nemanja directed the further expansion of his state southward. By 1190 he took Metohia (Patkovo, Hvosno, Podrimlje, Kostrc, Draskovina) with the region of Prizren, then Kosovo (Lab, Lipljan, Sitnica), Skoplje and territory on the upper course of the Vardar (Gornji and Donji Polog). To the east, Nemanja annexed lands around Djunis (Zagrlat), Nis, Dubocica, Vranje and Morava (Binacka Morava). His rule also included territories between Zapadna and Velika Morava (Velac, Belica, and Lepenica). Nemanja's state was open to the Adriatic Sea from present-day Omis in the north and Ljies in the south. Nemanja's biographer, Stefan Prvovencani (the First Crowned) wrote that Nemanja had conquered the Byzantine cities of Pernik, Zemln (Zemen), Velbuzd (Custendil), Zitominsk and Stob.

       Tsar Isaac II Angelus of Byzantium attempted to retrieve the seized lands, but despite victory, he failed to do so. Thankto the strength of his state, Nemanja succeeded in winning independence and marrying his son Stefan to a Byzantine princess, which considerably raised his reputation. Nemanja ended his reign by willingly stepping down from the ruler's throne for the benefit of his son Stefan. He became a monk and took the monastic name Simeon.

       Even at the beginning of his reign Nemanja had a benevolent attitude toward the church. He erected the St. Nikola monastery near present-day Kursumlija and the church of the Holy Mother of God at the mouth of the Kosanica river. Subsequently, as a part of his endowment, he built Djurdje's Columns, Studenica and Chilandar on Mt Athos together with his son Rastko (St. Sava).

[knindza87]

Stefan Nemanja and his first fortification monastery Djurdje's Column  around town of Ras.

[Americanhero1]

Stefan Nemanja and his first fortification monastery Djurdje's Column  around town of Ras.

[knindza87]

Thanks for enlarging that picture hehe.I don't know what am doing wrong there.

[Americanhero1]

Thanks for enlarging that picture hehe.I don't know what am doing wrong there.

Look above the dancing man right under the slanted I is the image button click it and past the picture link in it

[knindza87]

***The Serbian state of Nemanjice's 1199-1321***


      Serbia's grand zupan Stefan Nemanja, founder of the Nemanjic dynasty, died in 1199. He left behind the foundations of the Serbian state and three sons -- Vukan, Stevan, and Rastko -- to preserve and consolidate his ruler's work.

      Nemanja's heritage was neither easy nor simple. Power struggles between the two elder brothers escalated into a conflict. The dispute smoldered until the early years of the 13th century, sometimes breaking out into an open intolerance. First Vukan managed to maintain rule in Serbia for a while, governing from his safe refuge in Zeta, which he had inherited from his father. The youngest son, Rastko, better known by his monastic name Sava, arbitrated from the very beginning who between the elder brothers should rule Serbia.

      Even though Nemanja had chosen Stevan as his successor, Vukan grew predominant in Serbia and banished Stevan in 1202. Thus he became the grand zupan. A few years later, in 1204 or 1205, Stevan succeeded, by gradually conquering Serbian lands, to take over rule in Serbia. Nemanja had fulfilled his wish at last: that Stevan rule the lands and Vukan be the "grand prince" of one region. The transfer of Stefan Nemanja's relics from Chilandar to the Studenica monastery brought reconciliation between the two brothers. Sava played the key role in their reconciliation.

      Stevan's final inauguration as head of the Serbian state marked the beginning of a new era not only in the Serbian history, but in the history of the entire Balkan peninsula. The destruction of the Byzantium by the Crusades (the Fourth Crusade) and the creation of several new states on the soil of the old empire changed the balance of power in southeastern Europe. The Balkans divided into two worlds with states that belonged to the Byzantine spirit (Serbia, Bulgaria, and others) standing on the one side of the divide and new states of the Latin crusades or small Greek states, on the other. Therefrom Stevan's pro-western policy developed. The most important step Stevan took as part of this commitment was marrying, for the second time, the Venetian princess Ana Dandolo in 1207 or 1208. His first wife was the Byzantine princess Evdokia. Both his marriages were of political convenience. The second one indicated clearly which path Stevan intended to take.

      Stevan's first attempt at obtaining the regal crown from Pope Innocent III failed, but his persistence paid off in 1217. That year Sava sent to Rome his disciple Methodius, who won Pope Honorius' blessing for the coronation. At an assembly in the monastery of Zica, Sava crowned his brother Stevan with the crown he had brought from Rome. In 1217 Stevan became the first king of Serbia -- therefrom his name Stevan the First Crowned -- and Serbia became the kingdom.

      An event even more crucial than the inauguration of Serbia as a kingdom was the creation of the Serbian autocephalus (independent) Orthodox Church. Sava Nemanjic played the key role in this, perhaps most far-reaching decision in the Serbian history. In 1219, Sava traveled to Nicaea. He succeeded to obtain the act on the independence of the Serbian church from Emperor Theodore I Lascaris and Patriarch Manuel Saranten Haritopul. This meant that Serbian arch priests achieved the right to elect their own archbishops themselves. Sava became the first Serbian archbishop in 1219. Immediately after that, he undertook the onerous task of consolidating the internal and external organization of the Serbian church. He was the one to lay the foundations of the Serbian Orthodoxy -- the one we know and recognize today -- both in the spiritual and organizational senses. After the death of the first Serbian king, Stevan the First Crowned, in 1228, his elder son Radoslav succeeded to the throne according to the explicit wish of his father. His short reign (1228-1233) was full of internal misunderstandings and struggles. Radoslav married the daughter of John I Angelus, the governor of Epirus. An unexpected shift in Serbia's foreign policy under the new king -- from the West to the East -- probably disturbed the stability of Stevan's former state.

      The Serbian feudal landlords could not accept King Radoslav's probyzantine policy. Their discontent culminated in toppling Radoslav and replacing him with Stevan's younger son Vladislav. Radoslav subsequently became a monk, and Sava had him buried in the monastery of Studenica.

      The change on Serbia's throne shifted its external policy once again. Vladislav sought -- and found -- support in Bulgaria. He married Bulgarian princess Beloslava, the daughter of John Asen II. Soon Sava withdrew from the position of Serbian archbishop. He retired at an assembly in Zica, leaving the vacancy to his disciple Arsenije. Then he left Serbia and set out to the East again, visiting Palestine, Alexandria and Nicaea. He died in Trnovo on January 14, 1236. Despite many difficulties and the opposition from his father-in-law, Vladislav managed to bring Sava's relics back to Serbia and had them buried in the royal monastery of Mileseva in 1237.

      The reign of King Vladislav lasted ten years precisely. Relying on Bulgaria, Vladislav lasted as long as his main ally. With the penetration of the Mongols into Hungary and Serbia, his power grew weak. Once again the Serbian feudal landlords decided the destiny of the throne. Rising against Vladislav, they toppled him and brought the third son of Stevan the First Crowned, Uros I, to the throne. All this took place in 1243.

      Uros remained at the helm of the Serbian kingdom for more than thirty years. Throughout his reign he witnessed the fundamental change in the situation in the Balkans. Byzantium was restored in 1261, while Hungary rapidly grew into a first-rate power. Despite being under pressures from both north and south, Serbia was large enough a state to feel imminently threatened. Uros I conducted ostensibly a reconciliatory policy with his neighbors, but actually a calculated one.

      In the first period of his rule he secured the borders of the Serbian state. His relations with Dubrovnik were particularly important. They deteriorated repeatedly only to be restored again. Twice did he mount attacks on the city, thus forcing the residents of Dubrovnik to respect their ancient duties towards the Serbian ruler. Uros was adroit enough to maintain friendly relations with the Nicaean Empire, though the Nicaean Emperor was never quite sure of his true intentions.

      In the mid-13th century, the greatest threat to Serbia came from Bulgaria, but it did not escalate into an open conflict. Pressures came from the north and southwest, but eased gradually after the death of Tsar Michael Asen of Bulgaria.

      However, Uros was not successful in all his efforts. His biggest failure was the attack on Macva in 1267-68, when the lord of Macva, with the help of King Bela IV of Hungary, defeated him and took him as a prisoner. The Serbian king had to pay ransom to return to his land. After this, as a sign of reconciliation, Uros's son Dragutin married the Hungarian Princess Catalina around 1270.

      In 1275, Uros entered yet another war with Dubrovnik. Even though he won, peace was only restored on the insistence of the Venetian doge.

      Uros was dethroned by his son Dragutin, who was deeply dissatisfied with his father's distrust. Dragutin persistently demanded that he rule one of the Serbian regions. As his demands went unanswered, Dragutin warred against his father and defeated him. Pardoned by his mother, he became the king of Serbia in 1276. His ousted father became a monk and died one year later.

      Dragutin, however, did not hold the power for long. He was unfortunate to fall off a horse in Jelaca in 1282 and the accident left him crippled. Discouraged both physically and morally, he soon left the throne to his younger brother Milutin. The change on the Serbian throne took place at an assembly in Dezevo.

      The longest reigning ruler in Serbia's medieval history was Milutin. He remained in power for almost forty years (1282-1321).

      Milutin early on came into conflict with his brother Dragutin. It lasted throughout the 13th century and continued into the 14th. The precise date of their reconciliation is unclear though we know that they acted together in 1313. However, Dragutin died not long after that, leaving his lands to his son Vladislav. Milutin took advantage of it, mounted an attack on his nephew, defeated him, threw him in captivity and conquered Rudnik, the mining village of Lipnik, the city of Macva and, probably, Belgrade. This caused the deterioration of relations between Milutin and King Charles Robert of Hungary. First the Hungarian army penetrated into Serbia in 1319, occupying all Dragutin's former lands and advancing through the Kolubara River valley. However, the success of the Hungarian campaign was short-lived. In a counterattack, Milutin won back some of the conquered lands. By 1320, however, Charles Robert still held Macva under his control.

      Milutin too had trouble with Dubrovnik. He warred against the city in 1317, but the provisions of the subsequent peace agreement remained unclear. One thing is certain, though: Milutin owed about 4,000 perpers to the Dubrovnik merchants and extended his debt payments until 1318, when Dubrovnik obtained permission for free trade in Serbia.

      The Serbian King also had to withstand onslaughts from Albanian catholic landlords, who obeyed the Pope's order to overthrow him in 1319. The outcome of that action, however, remains unclear, though it is highly unlikely that the putsch ended successfully. Once again Milutin managed to save his life, this time with the help of Despot Thomas of Epirus.

      The most important legacy of King Milutin's long reign is the large number of endowments and churches he erected. No other king of the Nemanjic dynasty did leave such an opulent architectural and artistic legacy as Milutin.

      However, the Serbian state Milutin left behind after forty years of rule had neither the internal glitter nor the eternity of the buildings he erected. The Serbian state under the rule of Nemanjic dynasty would see its true rise in the mid-14th century.


   Nemanjic dynasty

          tyvm Americanhero for the tip.

[knindza87]

Thats it for now,I will continue tomorrow.Pescarii I've noticed that you are especially interested in this topic,I'm trying to make this shorter as I can,so If you are interested in some other part of history and  you want it discussed,tell me please .

[Jasmina]

   Hey, I am interested in it too!! 

[Pescarii]

I am very interested in it. Length doesn't matter as much as details and sources. I can read it.

[Kerber]

The first period,so called "ancient history of Balkan peninsula" isn't correct,because it is based on the lies and theory of evolution.There are no 10s of thousands of years and so called "Ice Age"!

The national history can begin from Noah and the end of big flood(maximum about 4300 years B.C.) and,more precisely,after God mixed up the languages in Babylon.
This conventional ,anti God,satanic,evolutionist science and their so called "history",does not represent the truth and it is not based on the facts.

The goal of the conventional science and history isn't the truth,but ATHEISM.

[Kerber]

Considering our history,we should fallow the example of Tzar Dusan(1308-1355) how to organize our country and our society.
Dusan's Code(as first European "constitution") was based on theocracy and G-d's laws,morality and Mouses'(Moshe's) books.

The law of the true-believing Tsar Stephan.
In the Year 6857, Indiction 2, at the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord,
on the 21st Day of the Month of May
http://www.dusanov-zakonik.co.yu/indexe.html

-Timeline of Serbian medieval history(with early centuries) >> http://www.suc.org/culture/history/Serb_History/Timeline.html