The House of Nemanjià(, ÃÂõüðÃÂøÃÂø; NemanjiÃÂ, NemanjiÃÂi, ) was the most prominent native Serbian dynasty of Serbia in the Middle Ages. This princely, royal and imperial house produced twelve Serbian monarchs, who ruled between 1166 and 1371.
Its progenitor was Stefan Nemanja, scion of a cadet branch of the Vukanoviàdynasty (1101âÂÂ1166). After Nemanja, all monarchs used Stefan as a personal name, or a ruler's name, a tradition adopted for the royal pretensions. The monarchs began as Grand Princes, and with the crowning of Stefan Nemanjiàin 1217, the realm was promoted to a Kingdom, and the Serbian Orthodox Church was established in 1219. In 1346, Stefan Duà ¡an was crowned Emperor of the Serbs and Greeks, and the Archbishopric of Serbia was elevated to a Patriarchate.
The dynasty's rule in Serbia ended in 1371, with the death of childless Stefan Uroà ¡ V (r. 1355âÂÂ1371). This led to the fall of the Serbian Empire. Provincial lords took control of their provinces. The last remaining members of the House of Nemanjiàwere John Uroà ¡, ruler of Thessaly, titular emperor of the Serbians and Greeks, who died c. 1422-23, and his younger brother, Stefan Uroà ¡, ruler of Pharsalos. Nemanjiàdescent survived only through maternal lines in several Serbian houses.
In the 8th century, the VlastimiroviÃÂ Dynasty established the Serbian Principality. The state disintegrated after the death of the last known Vlastimirid ruler ÃÂaslav of Serbia around 940/960s and the Byzantines annexed the region and held it for a century, until 1040 when the Serbs under the VojislavljeviÃÂ Dynasty revolted in Duklja (Pomorje). In the 1090s, the VukanoviÃÂ Dynasty established the Serbian Grand Principality, and since the mid-12th century Stari Ras became undisputably under Serbian control, becoming centre of defence and residency for the Serbian Principality. In 1166, Stefan Nemanja took the throne, marking the beginning of Serbia, henceforth under the rule of the NemanjiÃÂi (VukanoviÃÂ branch).
Serbia reached its height of power during the Nemanjiàdynasty. The Serbian Kingdom was proclaimed in 1217, leading to the establishment of the Serbian Orthodox Church in 1219. In the same year Saint Sava published the first constitution in Serbia: St. Sava's Nomocanon.Tsar Stefan Duà ¡an proclaimed the Serbian Empire in 1346. During Duà ¡an's rule, Serbia reached its territorial, political, and economical peak, proclaiming itself as the successor of the Byzantine Empire, and was the most powerful Balkan state of that time. Duà ¡an enacted an extensive constitution, known as Duà ¡an's Code, opened new trade routes, strengthened the state's economy, but its society's integration was unfinished and not unified enough until Ottoman invasion. Serbian medieval political identity has been profoundly shaped by the rule of this dynasty and its accomplishments, that were supported and cultivated by the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Stefan Duà ¡an attempted to organize a Crusade with the Pope against the threatening Turks, but he died suddenly in December 1355. He was succeeded by his son Uroà ¡, called the Weak, a term that might also apply to the state of the empire, which slowly slid into a feudal fragmentation. This was a period marked by the rise of a new threat: the Ottoman Turk sultanate, which spread from Asia to Europe conquering Byzantium and then the other states in the Balkans.
The NemanjiÃÂ dynasty ruled the Serb lands between ca. 1166 up to 1371.
The NemanjiÃÂ dynasty played a pivotal role in the spread of Eastern Orthodoxy throughout the Balkans. As key patrons of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the NemanjiÃÂ rulers were instrumental in the construction and endowment of numerous monastic complexes, thereby reinforcing both religious and cultural identity in medieval Serbia. Their commitment to Orthodoxy significantly contributed to their status as one of the most influential dynasties in Serbian history.
The architectural and cultural legacy of the Nemanjiàperiod is evident in the extensive network of monasteries that continue to serve as vital historical and religious landmarks. Notable examples include UNESCO World heritage sites like Studenica Monastery, GraÃÂanica Monastery, Hilandar Monastery, ÃÂurÃÂevi Stupovi, SopoÃÂani Monastery, Visoki DeÃÂani Monastery, Patriarchate of Peàand Our Lady of Ljevià ¡.
Other notable monasteries include à ½iÃÂa Monastery, Banjska Monastery, Mileà ¡eva Monastery, Gradac Monastery, MoraÃÂa Monastery, Monastery of the Holy Archangels, MatejÃÂe Monastery, Church of St. Achillius and many others.