ÃÂuraàII Balà ¡ià(; ) or George II Balsha 1385 – April 1403), was the Lord of Zeta from 1385 to 1403, as a member of the Balà ¡iànoble family. He was the son of Stracimir Balà ¡iÃÂ, and succeeded his paternal uncle Balà ¡a II in ruling Zeta. He reigned from 1386 up to 1389 in the still officially undissolved Serbian Empire in the form of a family alliance, then up to 1395 as an Ottoman vassal. He ruled until his death in 1403, when he was succeeded by his only son, Balà ¡a III. According to some historians, Serbian epic poetry identifies ÃÂuraàII with Strahinja BanoviÃÂ.
His father was Stracimir, one of the three Balà ¡iàbrothers who came to rule Zeta in the 1360s. His mother was Princess Milica MrnjavÃÂevià(Jerina), the daughter of Serbian King Vukaà ¡in MrnjavÃÂeviÃÂ.
On 18 September 1385, ÃÂuraÃÂ's uncle Balà ¡a II was killed at the Battle of Savra, while fighting the Ottomans. Following the temporary rule under Balà ¡a II's widow Comita and daughter RuÃÂina, ÃÂuraàII inherited parts of Zeta and northern Albania, including the cities of Scutari, Drivast and Lezhë, as per the Balà ¡iÃÂs' traditional rule of seniority, as "self-holder to the Zeta and Coast land". ÃÂuraàII had his seat at Ulcinj, which also became the family seat. The remainder of the Balà ¡iàpossessions, in southern Albania, passed in 1396 from RuÃÂina to her spouse Mrkà ¡a à ½arkoviÃÂ, the son of à ½arko, Emperor Duà ¡an's nobleman. The protovestijar Philip Bareli, the Venetian trader that handled Balà ¡a's financing, who was succeeded by ÃÂuraÃÂ, is also mentioned as holding estates.
According to Mavro Orbini, when ÃÂuraÃÂ II started his rule, "the tribes of Upper Zeta and the CrnojeviÃÂ did not want to recognize him, answering that they were under the Bosnian King Tvrtko".
ÃÂuraàhad succeeded leadership in the heats of disarray. Pal Dukagjini broke off allegiance to ÃÂuraÃÂ, taking Lezhë and the Drin area. Finally the Jonima family seceded with their own lands between Durrës and the Drin, causing ÃÂuraàto lose his very last possessions in Albania. Before even consolidating rule, Karlo Thopia conquered Durrës and assigned it to his son George, Nikola Sakat, the castellan of Budva, and his brother Andrija seceded the city after 1386 and Vuk Brankoviàtook Peàand Prizren. ÃÂuraàasked Dukagjini for an advice, and according to it, he had the Sakat brothers imprisoned and blinded. In the Zeta plains themselves under LovÃÂen, ÃÂuraàhad constant conflicts with the opposing ruler of Upper Zeta, RadiàCrnojeviÃÂ, whose family had just come to prominence. The area of Onogoà ¡t (Nikà ¡iÃÂ) seceded to the Venetians. In a short time, ÃÂuraÃÂ's demesne had diminished into a small strip of land between Lake Skadar and the Adriatic Sea. Upon proclaiming himself the sole head of the Balà ¡iàfamily, he issued an official edict on 28 January 1386 in Scutari, calling his reign's strength upon "..the prayers and martyrs of my holy forefathers Symeon, the Nemanya, the first Serbian Myhrr-flowing, and Sava the Saint" of his kin. In it he also stated that the laws of the Serbian lords, his predecessors Stracimir, ÃÂuraàand Balà ¡a, and in specific of Emperor Duà ¡an, shall remain and be valid for his reign. It was a standard remark of the ruler's calling upon divine right and inspired by the heritage of the Serbian Medieval state, now in feudal disarray. Mladen IliÃÂ, logotet Butko and vojvoda Nikola were witnesses in the edict.
From the start of his reign, ÃÂuraàfaced the potential threat from the powerful expansionist Ottoman Empire. To strengthen political links, he married Jelena Lazarevià(b. 1368), daughter of the Serbian Moravian lord Lazar HrebeljanoviÃÂ, after recognizing Lazar as his sovereign in 1386. The folklore has recorded that ÃÂuraàwas at war with Prince Lazar for three times before a peaceful union was achieved, although there is no historical confirmation. Prince Lazar aimed at maintaining the heritage of the dispersing Serbian Empire. ÃÂuraÃÂ, Lazar, and Lord Vuk Brankoviàof Kosovo formed a family alliance to govern the renewed Serbian realm, presided over by Lazar. The three also shared the annual tax paid to Serbian lords by the Republic of Ragusa. Each member retained some autonomy, however, as can be seen through ÃÂuraÃÂ's styling of himself as "I, Balà ¡iàin Christ the Lord, ÃÂuraÃÂ, pious and autocratic lord of the lands of Zeta and the coast." Edicts for the realm were issued commonly by all three lords, extending Serbia to some form of a level of a Triarchy, or even Diarchy, considering Vuk's considerably subordinate status to Lazar.
ÃÂuraàalso maintained diplomatic relations with the Ottoman Empire. ÃÂuraàowes his position and everlasting presence on the scene to his political cunningness. He succeeded the traditional rivalry between his family and Bosnian-Serbian King Tvrtko I KotromaniÃÂ, whose Serbian crown the Balà ¡iÃÂs did not recognize, most probably because of their own claims to the Serbian throne. On his diplomatic initiative, the Ottomans invaded Bosnia in 1386. During a second attack, ÃÂuraàeven sent his own troops to support the Ottoman Beylerbey of Rumelia Lala à Ââhin Paà Âa at the Battle of BileÃÂa on 27 August 1388, where he suffered a defeat to the hands of Bosnian Duke Vlatko VukoviàKosaÃÂa. This led to the suspicion that ÃÂuraàwas an Ottoman vassal. The Ragusan Republic was weary of this Ottoman expansion, so they wanted to negotiate with ÃÂuraàsome military protection. On 23 August 1388 ÃÂuraàsent his envoy à ½anin Bareli, Filip's son.
Legends record ÃÂuraàrunning with his forces to join the Serbian allied forces at the 1389 Battle of Kosovo and returning after he heard the news about the fall; however this is very improbable if his links to the Ottomans in that period are accounted for. The Epic telling records "Baoà ¡" coming late on the 3rd day to the Kosovo Field after the battle and how he was furious at the alleged traitor "Duke Vukan BrankoviÃÂ". Also the wrong daughter of "Emperor Lazar", Olivera Despina, was remembered as married to ÃÂuraÃÂ. Most historians and scholars identify him as the Serbian Epic hero BanoviàStrahinja, due to the close similarities in name and characteristics. In any case, after the Battle of Kosovo, the Serbian Alliance crumbled and the last remains of the Serbian Empire dispersed, leaving ÃÂuraàcompletely on his own.
In 1390 Vuk BrankoviÃÂ sent envoys to Zeta and offered 500 liters of silver to Philip Bareli to hand over last ÃÂuraÃÂ's bastion, the City of Ulcinj. Fearing the occasion, ÃÂuraÃÂ had him immediately imprisoned together with his children.
During his rule, ÃÂuraÃÂ, like his predecessors, tried to find an effective modus vivendi for extending his rule over the City of Kotor. As the richest and most economically developed city on the southern Adriatic coast close to Zeta, it fueled the rivalry between King Tvrtko and ÃÂuraÃÂ. For these reasons no friendship between the two was created, even after peaceful relations were concluded in early 1389 on mediation of the Republic of Ragusa. When Tvrtko died in the beginning of March 1391, the opportunity arose for ÃÂuraÃÂ and he subsequently seized Kotor.
From the start of ÃÂuraÃÂ's reign he had to face with the outlaw of his cousin Konstantin, administrator of the lands in the rivers of Bojana and Drin, who didn't accept his supremacy in the Balà ¡iÃÂs' lands. It is believed that Filip Bareli had connections with Konstantin, so he was convicted for committing the highest felony, a "crime against ÃÂuraÃÂ's authority" and all of his plentiful property was confiscated by ÃÂuraÃÂ. Konstantin went into Ottoman service and since 1390 under protection of Sultan Bayezid I actively worked to seize power as the Head Balà ¡iÃÂ. As a result, ÃÂuraàcame into fierce opposition to the Ottomans in 1391, converted to Catholicism from Serbian Orthodoxy, and promised his lands in heritage to Pope Boniface IX in the case of no heir apparent. Clearly siding with the Christian coalition under the legal Papal States in conflict with the Avignonese Antipope Clement VII, ÃÂuraàtook the side of Louis II of Anjou in his war against Ladislaus of Naples. But the broader plans for organizing a crusade against Turks have remained but a dream.
ÃÂuraàreceived a border with the Ottoman Empire as they took the lands of Vuk Brankoviàin 1392. For opposition to Turkish influence in the region, the Sultan sent an army to invade his lands in May 1392. At the same time in the heat of fighting his competitors RadiàCrnojeviàand Konstantin Balà ¡iÃÂ, ÃÂuraàwas forced to negotiate with the Ottomans for peace terms. In order to protect his wife Jelena from the Ottoman danger ÃÂuraàdecided to send her to Dubrovnik in June 1392. He negotiated with Pasha YiÃÂit Bey, sanjakbey of the Sanjak of Skopje, but the talks were fruitless as the Ottoman demanded half of all his territories around Zeta, including his seat of Ulcinj. In addition to that, in late 1392 the bey managed to capture ÃÂuraàin a battle and released him only after the ransom was paid. When ÃÂuraàwas in captivity RadiàCrnojeviàcaptured his lands around Kotor and proclaimed himself Lord of Zeta and Budva. His wife Jelena Lazareviàwas making moves to free him, with the help of the Venetian Republic, but they all reached a moot end. One of the main reasons for that was that his opponent RadiàCrnojeviàexpanded his reign vastly and became a Venetian vassal in November 1392. The possibility of this was ÃÂuraÃÂ's reluctance to release Philip Bareli, a Venetian citizen, despite many pleas from the Republic. In the heat of struggle amongst feudal lords in Zeta, Philip managed in 1392 to flee from his prison to Durrës, coming into John Thopia's service. On the other side King Stjepan Dabià ¡a dispatched Bosnian Duke Sandalj Hraniàfrom the Hum to take over ÃÂuraÃÂ's lands and further agitate RadiàCrnojeviÃÂ.
Having no other choice, ÃÂuraàhanded over to bey à Ââhin the cities of Scutari and Drivast and the Forum of Sveti Sràon the Bojana River to the Turks, as well as agreed to pay annual taxes in exchange for his release. Ottoman squadrons occupied the locations in early 1393. The same year he tried to claim his old Lezhë which was just handed over by the Dukagjinis to the Venetians, but RadiÃÂ's support of Venetian control proved crucial. Seeing the necessity of Venetian support, he managed to get accepted into its citizenry in May 1395. ÃÂuraàdid not rest for long, and already in October 1395 he broke the deal while the Ottomans were at war against the Hungarians and Wallachians, restored Scutari and Sveti Sràand even defeated his rival Konstantin by seizing his stronghold of Danj, with Venetian assistance. To keep his cities safe, ÃÂuraàrelied upon the rivalry between Turkey and Venice. He handed over the cities into Venetian administration. When Ottoman advances obviously came to a halt, the Venetians decided to negotiate the deal. In April 1396 a contract was signed. ÃÂuraàhanded over Scutari, the Skadar Lake with all its islands and Sveti Sràto Venetian administration, as well as agreed to channel the income from tolls in Danj, in exchange for 1,000 ducats every year. He also promised to give the cities support in case of a Turkish attack and was accepted into Venetian nobility. The whole act was typical for weak lords facing the mighty Ottoman Empire in the coastline of the western Balkans. ÃÂuraàremained to rule directly just a small territory west of the Bojana river with Bar and Ulcinj as the only cities.
In 1396 Koja Zakarija from the Sakat family came to power in northern Albania centered in Danj, independently from ÃÂuraÃÂ.
At the end of April 1396, Radiàand his brother Dobrivoje Crnojeviàhad made a significant move against ÃÂuraÃÂ. They took Grbalj and laid siege to Kotor. ÃÂuraàbecame disliked by the Orthodox Serb commonfolk, so the excessively Orthodox religious CrnojeviÃÂs' takeover was looked upon nicely by the people, resulting in Paà ¡troviÃÂs' cross to RadiÃÂ's side. In May 1396 they moved to battle ÃÂuraàhimself, however ÃÂuraàcompletely defeated the CrnojeviÃÂs and killed RadiÃÂ, managing to get a hold over a part of the Crnojeviàdomain. Soon a new enemy arose at the west; Bosnian nobleman Sandalj HraniàKosaÃÂa seized large parts of land quickly and conquered Budva and Kotor, made a deal with the Paà ¡troviÃÂs, also managing to win Venetian protection, who proclaimed him the legitimate ruler of Budva and Zeta itself. In Upper Zeta the ÃÂuraà ¡eviàsubgroup of the CrnojeviÃÂs came to prominence, though they made an agreement and joined ÃÂuraÃÂ, seeing a common enemy in Duke Sandalj. They aided him in the wars against Sandalj, taking the first fronts by retaking all the lands from Budva to Spiàas well as the Churchland of Saint Miholj in the Bay of Kotor, the Serbian Orthodox religious center in Zeta. On 25 September 1396, the Hungarian King Sigismund lost the Battle of Nicopolis. During his return across the sea, he stayed in ÃÂuraÃÂ's lands. To honor ÃÂuraàfor his fights against the Ottomans, Sigismund made him Prince of his Dalmatian islands of Hvar and KorÃÂula.
The Most Serene Republic of Venice led an economic policy that soon introduced Venetian monetary domination in the region, fully replacing that of the Balà ¡iÃÂs', and ever since Spring 1396 clearly showed pretensions to take the remaining lands of ÃÂuraÃÂ. The Venetian monopoly introduced by lowering customs and other taxes in Scutari and Drivast greatly diminished the Balà ¡iÃÂs' income so the relations between the two deteriorated. It is so that in 1399 when in the Venetian-administered Balà ¡iàlands the oppressed peasants raised a rebellion, all the guilt was attributed to ÃÂuraÃÂ. As a result, in early 1401 Venice ceased paying the annual thousand ducat tribute for the lands. Another reason claimed were the frequent robberies by suspects from ÃÂuraÃÂ's domain of Venetian storehouses of salt in the region, a crucial resource in that time. This caused ÃÂuraàto renew links with the Ottoman Turks again, but wars in Asia Minor have made them impossible to intervene, which finally forced ÃÂuraàto succumb to Venetian demands. As per the new deal, he paid for all the damage done by the robbers and agreed to give free passage and special privileges to Venetian traders, while Venice continued to pay the tribute for the cities. These acts introduced Venetian presence in the region, which would henceforth remain as an important local political factor. In 1402 his long-term Balà ¡iàrival Konstantin was killed by Venetian agents in Dyrrhachium under unknown circumstances.
Returning from the Battle of Angora, ÃÂuraÃÂ's brother-in-law, the newly crowned Despot Stefan LazareviÃÂ, stayed at his court in the late Summer of 1402. ÃÂuraàprepared him and organized an army to battle his rival ÃÂuraàBrankoviàin Ottoman service at the Battle of Tripolje near GraÃÂanica in November 1402, to help his cousin with all means possible, ending in full victory. In April 1403, ÃÂuraàII Stracimiroviàdied of the injuries suffered in the battle. He was buried in the Church of Saint Catherine in his hometown of Ulcinj, where he still remains. Seventeen-year-old Balà ¡a, ÃÂuraàII's only child, inherited his lands. He ruled with his mother as Chief adviser until she remarried in 1411, to Bosnian Duke Sandalj Hraniàfrom Herzegovina. She gave a significant impact to Zetan foreign policy, tying it strongly with the newly created Serbian Despotate as a former important part of the Empire.
ÃÂuraàcontinued using the currency of his predecessors, coins forged with the wolf, chest, and shield symbols of the Balà ¡iÃÂs, Dinars, used in the lands of the Serbian Empire, though he didn't mint many new coins, similar to his predecessor, due to continuous weakening of the Balà ¡iÃÂs' economic power. One of the two versions featured heads of wolves and the Balà ¡iÃÂs' coat of arms, each with a surrounding inscription: "M.D. GORGI STRACIMIR" on one side, and "S.STEFAN SCUTARI" on the other. The other version had the character "M" next to the coat of arms and the presentations of Balà ¡iÃÂs' patron Saint Lawrence along with an inscription below him "S LAVRENCIUS M". According to some sources, he also issued several coins inscribed in Cyrillic; however, later sources attribute these to ÃÂuraàI Balà ¡iÃÂ.
ÃÂuraàfounded for the Serbian Orthodox Church a Church of Saint George and the Beà ¡ka Monastery on the island of Beà ¡ka in Lake Skadar, near StarÃÂevo. After his death, his wife Jelena Lazareviàexpanded it in 1438/1439 with another church, the St Mary's Church, where she was buried in 1443. The monastery became a significant cultural and spiritual center of the Serbian Church, actively working in scribing and nourishing the Nemanjiàheritage. ÃÂuraÃÂ's wife Jelena became a deeply religious and talented poet, writing the opus of then's Old Serb-Slavic language.