Kingdom of Serbia | |||||||||||
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| 1217–1346 | |||||||||||
 Serbia by 1265, during the rule ofStefan Uroš I of Serbia | |||||||||||
| Capital | Various Ras Debrc Belgrade Skopje Prizren | ||||||||||
| Common languages | Old Serbian,Church Slavonic | ||||||||||
| Religion | Serbian Orthodox | ||||||||||
| Demonyms | Serbian,Serb | ||||||||||
| Government | Feudal monarchy | ||||||||||
| King | |||||||||||
• 1196–1228 | Stefan Nemanjić (Grand Prince↑King) | ||||||||||
• 1228–1233 | Stefan Radoslav | ||||||||||
• 1233–1243 | Stefan Vladislav | ||||||||||
• 1243–1276 | Stefan Uroš I | ||||||||||
• 1276–1282 | Stefan Dragutin | ||||||||||
• 1282–1322 | Stefan Milutin | ||||||||||
• 1322–1331 | Stefan Dečanski | ||||||||||
• 1331–1355 | Dušan Nemanjić (King↑Emperor) | ||||||||||
| Legislature | Church-State Assembly | ||||||||||
| Historical era | Medieval | ||||||||||
• Crowning ofStefan NemanjićThe First-crowned | 1217 | ||||||||||
• Autocephaly of theSerbian Church (Saint Sava,Archbishop of Serbs) | 1219 | ||||||||||
• Crowning ofStefan Dušan (Emperor of Serbs and Greeks) | 16 April 1346 | ||||||||||
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| Today part of | Serbia | ||||||||||
TheKingdom of Serbia (Serbian:Краљевина Србија /Kraljevina Srbija, or theSerbian Kingdom (Serbian:Српско краљевство /Srpsko kraljevstvo), also known asKingdom of Serbs (Serbian:Краљевина Срба /Kraljevina Srba);Latin:Regnum Serbiæ;Greek:Βασίλειο της Σερβίας, also known by historicalexonymRascia (Serbian:Рашка /Raška[1]), was amedieval Serbian kingdom inSouthern Europe comprising most of what is todaySerbia (excludingVojvodina),Kosovo, andMontenegro, as well as southeasternBosnia and Herzegovina, parts of coastalCroatia south of theNeretva river (excludingDubrovnik),Albania north of theDrin River,North Macedonia, and a small part of westernBulgaria. The medieval Kingdom of Serbia existed from 1217 to 1346 and was ruled by theNemanjić dynasty. TheGrand Principality of Serbia was elevated with the regal coronation ofStefan Nemanjić as king, after the reunification of Serbian lands. In 1219, theSerbian Orthodox Church was reorganized as anautocephalous archbishopric, headed bySaint Sava. The kingdom was proclaimed anempire in 1346, but kingship was not abolished as an institution, since the title of a king was used as an official designation for a co-ruler of the emperor.[2][3][4]
The regal coronation of Stefan Nemanjić in 1217 was not a novelty in Serbian history, since there had already been a long tradition ofkingship among previous Serbian rulers, centered inDuklja (11th century). During the Nemanjić era, the previous Serbian kingdom in Duklja was referred to as the "Old Kingdom of our forefathers" and such views were also reflected in the royal titles of Stefan Nemanjić and his successors, who styled themselves as kings of all Serbian Lands, including Duklja. Realizing the importance of royal heritage, grand princeStefan Nemanja (1166–1196), father of Stefan Nemanjić, granted his elder sonVukan Nemanjić rule in Duklja, with the title of king.[5]
By that time, the "Old Kingdom" of Duklja and its former rulers from theVojislavljević dynasty (kingsMihajlo andConstantine Bodin) were regarded as royal predecessors to the Nemanjić dynasty, that branched from the previousVukanović dynasty inRaška. Older relations between the two dynasties (Vojislavljević / Vukanović) and the two regions (Duklja / Raška) were very close. In 1083, king Constantine Bodin of Duklja appointed his nephewsVukan and Marko vassals in Raška, one of the inner provinces of his realm.[6] Each province had its own nobility and institutions, and each acquired a member or relative of the Vojislavljević dynasty to govern asžupan.[6] Between 1089 and 1091, theByzantine Empire launched a campaign on Duklja. An internal war broke out in the realm among Bodin's relatives, greatly weakening Duklja. Vukan of Raška took the opportunity to assert himself and broke away, claiming the title ofGrand Prince of Serbia.[7]
Up to the end of the 11th century, Duklja had been the center of the Serbian realm, as well as the main state resisting Byzantium.[7] From that time, Raška became the most powerful of the Serbian states, under the rule of theVukanović dynasty, and it remained so throughout the entire 12th century.[8] Raška also replaced Duklja as the main opponent of the Byzantine Empire.[7] Bodin's heirs were forced to recognize Byzantine overlordship, and now held only the small territories of Duklja and Travunia.[7] During the reign of Vukan's successors, the Byzantines sought to conquer Raška on several occasions, but through resistance, and diplomatic ties withHungary, that Serbian principality kept its independence. By the time whenStefan Nemanja became thegrand župan of Raška (c. 1166), old Duklja was half conquered by the Byzantines reduced to a small principality. Soon after 1180, Stefan Nemanja liberated Duklja thus reuniting Serbian lands,[9] and invested his son Vukan with rule over Duklja with the traditional title of the king. Since Nemanja's second son Stefan becamegrand župan in 1196, rivalry occurred among brothers, culminating in 1202 when Stefan was overthrown.[10]
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In 1204, Stefan Nemanjić regained his rule in Raška and made peace with his brother Vukan of Duklja, who died in 1208. The actual peacemaker was their youngest brother Rastko, former prince ofZahumlje who renounced his rule to become a monk, and took the nameSava, turning all his efforts to spreadingEastern Orthodoxy among his people. Since theRoman Catholic Church already had ambitions to spread its influence to Southeastern Europe as well, Stefan used these circumstances to eventually obtain the recognition of kingship from the Pope, thereby becoming Serbian king in 1217. In Byzantium, Sava managed to secureautocephaly (independence) for theSerbian Church and became the first Serbianarchbishop in 1219. In the same year Sava published the firstconstitution inSerbia –St. Sava's Nomocanon (Serbian:Zakonopravilo).[11][12] The Nomocanon was a compilation ofCivil law, based onRoman Law, andCanon law, based onEcumenical Councils. Its basic purpose was to organize the functions of the young Serbian kingdom and theSerbian church. Thus the Serbs acquired both political and religious independence. In 1220, grand assembly of the realm was held inŽiča, were Stefan was crowned by the Orthodox ritual and coronation was performed by archbishop Sava. That act served as a precedent for all their successors: all Serbian kings of the Nemanjić dynasty were crowned in Žiča, by Serbian archbishops.
The next generation of Serbian rulers – the sons ofStefan Prvovenčani,Radoslav,Vladislav, andUroš I – marked a period of stagnation of the state structure. All three kings were more or less dependent on some of the neighbouring states –Byzantium,Bulgaria, or Hungary. The ties with the Hungarians played a decisive role as Uroš I was succeeded by his sonDragutin, whose wife was a Hungarian princess. Later, when Dragutin abdicated in favour of his younger brotherMilutin, in 1282, the Hungarian kingLadislaus IV gave him lands in northeasternBosnia, the region ofMačva, and the city ofBelgrade, whilst he managed to conquer and annex lands in northeastern Serbia. Thus, some of these territories became part of the Serbian state for the first time. His new state was namedKingdom of Srem. In that time the nameSrem was a designation for two territories:Upper Srem (present daySrem) andLower Srem (present day Mačva). The Kingdom of Srem under the rule of Stefan Dragutin was actually Lower Srem, but some historical sources mention that Stefan Dragutin also ruled over Upper Srem andSlavonia. After Dragutin died in 1316, his son, kingVladislav II, became king and ruled until 1325.
Under Dragutin's younger brother, KingMilutin, Serbia grew stronger despite having to occasionally fight wars on three different fronts. King Milutin was an apt diplomat much inclined to the use of a customary medieval diplomatic and dynastic marriages. He was married five times, with Hungarian, Bulgarian, and Byzantine princesses. He is also famous for building churches, some of which are the finest examples of Medieval Serbian architecture, including theGračanica monastery in Kosovo, the Cathedral inHilandar monastery onMount Athos, and the St. Archangel Church in Jerusalem. Because of his endowments, King Milutin has been proclaimed a saint, in spite of his tumultuous life. He was succeeded on the throne by his son Stefan, later dubbed Stefan Dečanski.
Milutin restored central royal authority in Serbia. After getting into power, he started lengthy attacks on Byzantine Macedonia, winning significant territorial gains, including the city of Skopje, move that had important results. The strategically important region ofMacedonia was disputed for long between Byzantines, Bulgarians and Serbs. The expansion into the area marked the start of Serbian dominance in the Balkans. By this, Serbian policy shifted from its original north-westernAdriatic-Danubian focus, into Byzantine-centered south-central Balkans. By acquiring Skopje, Milutin's kingdom possessed a strategically located, well-fortified city that could serve as capital to a territorially extensive state. Its central geo-strategical position on the importantVardar-Morava commercial route made it a natural new political, economical and cultural center. Skopje's benefits, combined with Serbia's flourishing mining and trade resources, guaranteed Milutin a status as a major player in Balkan affairs.[13]
Although the major events were happening in the South, Milutin also devoted attention in Serbian affairs in the North. With his deposed brother Dragutin governing theBelgrade region, the two brothers acted in concert as military allies, Dragutin helping Milutin in the South and vice versa. By early 1290s Serbia expanded towards the vicinity ofVidin. Threatened by Serbian expansion,Shishman of Vidin failed to repel the brothers forces, and accepted Serbian suzerainty.[13]
In the South, Milutin obtained territorial gains in Macedonia and NorthernAlbania from Byzantine emperorAndronikos II Palaiologos. With Andronikos suffering from both internal and external pressures, he sought peace with Milutin, and a treaty was sealed in 1299. As result, Milutin kept all conquered territories, Skopje became kingdoms capital, and he married Byzantine princessSimonis (Simonida), with the wedding taking place inThessaloniki, that same year. Simonis, aged 5 at time, was kept in the royal nursery for some years before her husband consummated the marriage. Simonis brought a large entourage to Serbia, and with her arrival Serbia received a massive injection of Byzantine culture. Byzantine-style court ceremonials and dress were adopted, Byzantine functional and honorary titles appeared, court offices were renamed, and Byzantine administrative, fiscal and legal institutions were copied. Byzantinization was further expanded by Serbia's newly won populous Greek-speaking regions, in which Milutin retained all former Byzantine political, social and cultural activities.[14]
The final two decades of Milutin reign were marked by civil strife with his brother Dragutin and the regional nobles, and with territorial losses to Hungarians in the north. Milutin also faced problems with his illegitimate son Stefan Dečanski, who was unhappy with his fathers favouritism towards his legitimate younger brotherKonstantin. When Milutin died without leaving a testament, civil war erupted between Dečanski, Konstantin and their cousinVladislav II. Dečanski ended up victorious, and was crowned as Stefan Uroš III Dečanski.[14]
Stefan Uroš III, known as Stefan Dečanski, spread the kingdom to the east by winning the town of Niš and surrounding counties, and to the south by acquiring territories in Macedonia. He built theVisoki Dečani monastery inMetohija, the most monumental example of Serbian Medieval architecture, earning him his nickname "Dečanski" (of Dečani). King Stefan defeated theBulgarians inBattle of Velbazhd in 1330.[14]
However, it started not so well, since already between 1322 and 1326 Serbia lost the region ofHum toBosnia.[15] In the same time, theDespotate of Vidin, underMihail Shishman, got to set free from Serbian suzerainty and returned to that ofBulgaria. Shishman would becomeBulgariantsar in 1323. On the other side, Byzantium was not doing well hard-pressed withstanding periodic Serbian and Bulgarian raids. Civil war erupted in whichBulgarians supportedyoung Andronikos, and Serbs the elder Andronikos side. Despite younger Andronikos win within Byzantine internal struggle for power, by the time Byzantine civil war ended Serbia was the dominant Balkan power. Despite having supported the losing side, Serbia had managed to expand itself into Macedonia, which was the bone of contention between the three sides. As result, Byzantines and Bulgarians viewed Dečanski as a threat, and forged an anti-Serbian treaty which took action in 1330 when both launched an offensive against Serbia. Andronikos attacked Serbian-held parts of Macedonia, while Bulgarians met in a decisive battle near Kyustendil (Velbuzhd) in eastern Macedonia. The Bulgarian army was destroyed in that battle, and Mihail Shishman, Bulgarian Tsar, fatally wounded. When Andronikos heard the news, he quickly withdrew.[14]
TheBattle of Velbazhd had enormous consequences. After the defeat,Bulgaria lay militarily crippled and politically subordinated to Serbia's interests. Sources diverge whether all of Bulgaria, or some parts, or technically officially not, Bulgaria became a vassal of Serbia, but Bulgaria's newtsar,Ivan Alexander, in this new reality, had his ability to conduct independent Bulgarian policies somehow limited.[14]
Dečanski then launched a war of total Macedonian conquest in 1331. Andronikos tried to negotiate peace in 1334, however Byzantines slipped into another civil war, leaving open way for Serbia to gain more power and territory and consolidate its hegemonic position in the Balkans. Serb nobles were eager to deliver a final strike to the Byzantines, but Dečanski decided otherwise. His son,Stefan Dušan took advantage of this alienation of Serb nobility, and lead a coup that deposed his father.[14]
Stefan Dečanski was overthrown in 1331 by his son,Stefan Dušan. Taking advantage of theByzantine civil war of 1341–1347, Dušan doubled the size of his kingdom, seizing territories to the south, southeast, and east at the expense of theByzantine Empire. He conquered almost the entire territory of present-day Greece, except for thePeloponnese and the islands. After he conquered the city ofSerres, he was crowned theEmperor of Serbs and Greeks inSkoplje (formerBulgarian capital) by theSerbian Patriarch, on April 16, 1346. These actions, which the Byzantines received with indignation, appear to have been supported by theBulgarian Empire andtsarIvan Alexander, as thePatriarch of Bulgaria Simeon had participated in both the creation of aSerbian Patriarchate of Peć and the imperial coronation of Stefan Uroš IV Dušan.[16] Dushan made marriage alliance withBulgarian tsarIvan Alexander, marrying his sisterHelena, freeing himself from its concerns over the eastern bordering. The goal of Stefan Dushan was to become the successor of theByzantine Emperors, and he tried to organize a Crusade with the Pope against the threatening Turks. He then turned to the South and pushed the borders towards Thessaloniki where he was stopped by the cities strong walls. Dušan accepted Andronikos peace offer in 1334, however, when Andronikos died, in 1341, there was a renewed civil war in Byzantium.[17] One of the sides,John VI Kantakouzenos, appealed to Dušan for help, and was granted asylum in Serbia. However, when the governor ofThessaly, who also controlled SouthEpirus, recognised Kantakouzenos as emperor, Dušan ceased its support and switched sides. This is when Kantakouzenos turns towardsSeljuk Turks for help and Turks for first time entered European soil.[18]
The Imperial constitution,Dušan's Code (Serbian:Dušanov zakonik), was enacted in 1349 and amended in 1354. The Code was based onRoman-Byzantine law. The legaltransplanting is notable within articles 171 and 172 of Dušan's Code, which regulated the juridical independence. They were taken from the Byzantine codeBasilika (book VII, 1, 16–17). Dušan opened new trade routes and strengthened the economy of the state. Serbia flourished, becoming one of the most developed countries and cultures inEurope, with a high political, economic, and cultural reputation.[19]
Dušan died suddenly in December 1355 at age 47.
| King | Reign | Notes |
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| 1217–1228 |
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| 1228–1233 |
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| 1233–1243 |
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| 1243–1276 |
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| 1276–1282 |
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| 1282–1321 |
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| 1321–1331 |
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the Mighty | 1331–1355 |
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