| Tihomir | |
|---|---|
| Grand Prince of Serbia | |
| Reign | 1166 |
| Predecessor | Desa |
| Successor | Stefan Nemanja |
| Born | before 1113 Zahumlje |
| Died | 1171 Sitnica |
| Issue | Stefan Prvoslav |
| Dynasty | Vukanović |
| Father | Zavida |
| Religion | Eastern Orthodoxy |
Tihomir of Serbia (Serbian Cyrillic:Тихомир Завидовић,Tikhomir Zavidović; велики жупан Тихомир,veliki župan Tikhomir, "GreatŽupan Tikhomir"; before 1113 – 1171) was theGrand Prince (Serbian Cyrillic:велики жупан /veliki župan) of theGrand Principality of Serbia (1166).[1]
He was the first-born child ofZavida.[2] Tihomir was appointed the Grand Prince of Serbia (1166) by Byzantine EmperorManuel I Comnenus though he ruled jointly with his brothers.[2] The lands were divided:Stracimir ruledWest Morava,Miroslav ruledZahumlje andTravuniaStefan Nemanja was givenToplica,Ibar,Rasina andReke. Nemanja was also a vassal to Manuel I, through hisappanage ofDubočica.[3]
Tihomir's younger brother Nemanja aided the Imperial army against the Hungarians in Srem in 1164. The tie between Nemanja and Manuel I was most likely seen as a threat to Tihomir.[3]
Stefan Nemanja built the Monastery of Saint Nicholas inKuršumlija and the Monastery of the Holy Mother of Christ nearKosanica-Toplica, without the approval of Tihomir.[3] Nemanja had felt that he had the free will of doing so, Tihomir disagreed, Nemanja was, or Tihomir thought that he was trying to assert independence through his relation to Manuel I. Tihomir had Nemanja chained and thrown into jail, his lands were annexed.[3] Nemanja's supporters convinced the Church that Tihomir had done all this because of his disapproval of church building, thus the Church turned against Tihomir, and Nemanja managed to escape the jail and returned to his province.[3]
Stefan Nemanja mobilized an army, possibly with Byzantine help, and headed for the crownland. Manuel I might have been displeased with Tihomir's actions. Nemanja was triumphant; Tihomir andMiroslav andStracimir were expelled toByzantium in 1167.[3] Stefan Nemanja quickly became a powerful figure, and Manuel I subsequently turned to Tihomir and his brothers. The Byzantine Empire wanted to see Serbia divided by several princes to keep it weak.[4]
Manuel I provided Tihomir with an army, coming in fromSkopje. In 1171, Nemanja raised a large army and defeated Tihomir's forces at theBattle of Pantina nearZvečan. Tihomir drowned in the river ofSitnica. Nemanja captured his other brothers and made peace, giving them rule in their former lands by recognizing him as the only ruler of Serbia. TheNemanjić dynasty was named after Stefan Nemanja who ruled Serbia until 1371.
Tihomir of Serbia Died: 1171 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Grand Prince ofSerbia 1166 | Succeeded by |