Dejan (; fl. 1346 â c. 1366) was a magnate who served Serbian Emperor Stefan Duà ¡an (r. 1331âÂÂ55) as sevastokrator, and Emperor Uroà ¡ V (r. 1355âÂÂ71) as despot. He was married to Emperor Duà ¡an's sister Teodora, and possessed a large province in the Kumanovo region, east of Skopska Crna Gora. It initially included the old à ¾upe (counties) of à ½egligovo and Preà ¡evo (modern Kumanovo region with Sredorek, KozjaÃÂija and the larger part of PÃÂinja). Uroà ¡ V later gave Dejan the Upper Struma river with Velbuà ¾d (Kyustendil). Dejan rebuilt the Zemen Monastery, one of Dejan's endowments, among others, as he also reconstructed several church buildings throughout his province.
Dejan was one of the prominent figures of Duà ¡an's reign and during the fall of the Serbian Empire after Duà ¡an's death. Dejan is the progenitor of the Dejanoviànoble family, with his two sons, despot Jovan and gospodin Konstantin, also becoming powerful during the fall of the Serbian Empire and the ensuing Ottoman period.
Dejan had married Teodora, the sister of King Stefan Duà ¡an, and received the title of sevastokrator in 1346, upon Stefan Duà ¡an's crowning as Emperor. Dejan's origin is deemed unknown. Earlier scholars believed that Dejan was a relative of Jovan Oliver, another magnate in Macedonia, but this is no longer accepted. K. J. JireÃÂek suggested that he was vojvoda Dejan Manjak (ÃÂõÃÂðý ÃÂðÃÂðú), only found mentioned in a 1333 charter, in which Stefan Duà ¡an officially sold Ston and Prevlaka to the Republic of Ragusa.
On Easter, 16 April 1346, Stefan Duà ¡an convoked a massive assembly at Skopje, attended by the Serbian Archbishop Joanikije II, the Archbishop of Ochrid Nikolaj I, the Bulgarian Patriarch Simeon and various religious leaders of Mount Athos. The autocephalous Serbian Archbishopric was raised to the status of a Patriarchate. The new Patriarch, Joanikije II, now solemnly crowned Duà ¡an as "Emperor and autocrat of Serbs and Romans (Greeks)". Duà ¡an had his son Uroà ¡ V crowned King, giving him nominal rule over the Serbian lands, and although Duà ¡an ruled the whole state, he had special responsibility for the "Roman", i.e. Greek lands, in the south. There was a further increase in the Byzantinization of the Serbian court, especially in court ceremonies and titles. From his new position, Duà ¡an could grant titles only possible for an emperor to grant, such as despot, sevastokrator, and ÃÂesar. Among the Serbian magnates were:
The raising of the Serbian Patriarchate resulted in bishops becoming metropolitans. The Serbian ruler had wide autocratic powers, but was surrounded and advised by a permanent council of magnates (velikaà ¡i or velmoà ¾e) and prelates. The court, chancellery and administration were rough copies of those of Constantinople.
In 1354, when Dejan had finished building the Arhiljevica Church of the Holy Mother of God, his endowment, he asked that some of the villages under his administration be granted to the church (as metochion). According to Stefan Duà ¡an's charter to Arhiljevica dated 10 August 1354, sevastokrator Dejan, whom he called his brother ("ñÃÂðàÃÂðÃÂÃÂÃÂòð üø ÃÂõòðÃÂÃÂþúÃÂðÃÂþàÃÂõÃÂðý"), possessed a large province east of Skopska Crna Gora. It included the old à ¾upe (counties) of à ½egligovo and Preà ¡evo (modern Kumanovo region with Sredorek, KozjaÃÂija and the larger part of PÃÂinja). The granted villages included: village Podleà ¡ane with hamlets, village Arhiljevica at the church with hamlets, village Izvor, village Ruginci (Ruõince), selià ¡te (arable land) Mokra Poljana (Mokro Polje), village Maistorije, selià ¡te Maistorije Krupnici, selià ¡te Prusci (Rusce), selià ¡te Vrdun, selià ¡te Prvevo, selià ¡te Deikovo (Dejlovce), selià ¡te VraÃÂe (VraÃÂevce), selià ¡te Sedlar, selià ¡te Mekà ¡a and village Glaà ¾e (Glaà ¾nja). A total of 9 villages, 9 selià ¡te and a few hamlets. Based on the charter, Arhiljevica was situated where the granted villages of Podleà ¡ane, Izvor and RuÃÂinci lay, on the slopes of Jezer (Kumanovska Crna Gora). The fact that Dejan built Arhiljevica rather than renovated it is evidence of his economic strength. Apart from Dejan's granted villages, Duà ¡an also granted, on his behalf as a gift, the church and village of Gospoà ¾dino Polje (lost), village Koznica KriÃÂanovska (Gorna- and Dolna Koznitsa) and village Strojkovo (lost), situated in the Velbuà ¾d region.
Dejan was one of the prominent figures of Duà ¡an's reign and during the subsequent fall of the Serbian Empire, after Duà ¡an's death. Under Emperor Duà ¡an, despot Jovan Oliver, with his brother Bogdan and sevastokrator Dejan, ruled over all of eastern Macedonia. Dejan is not mentioned much in Duà ¡an's military endeavors, although his reputation and that of his successors suggest that he was involved in most of Duà ¡an's successes. His prominence beyond Serbia is also evident from the fact that Pope Innocent VI addressed Dejan in 1355, asking him to support the creation of the union between the Catholic Church and the Serbian Orthodox Church (such letters were sent to the highest nobility and the church).
Dejan received the title of despot sometime after August 1355, either from Emperor Duà ¡an, who died on 20 December 1355, or from his heir Uroà ¡ V, most likely the latter. During the rule of Uroà ¡ V, Dejan was entrusted with the administration of the territory between South Morava, PÃÂinja, Skopska Crna Gora (his hereditary lands) and in the east, Upper Struma river with Velbuà ¾d (Kyustendil), a province notably larger than he had possessed during Duà ¡an's life. This province was located in the very heart of the Balkans, and the important Via de Zenta, a trade route connecting the Adriatic with the interior of the Balkans, crossed it. As the only despot, Dejan held the highest title in the Empire (this had earlier been the veliki vojvoda, Jovan Oliver). Dejan's daughter Teodora married à ½arko, the lord of Lower Zeta, in 1356.
Serbian historian M. Blagojeviàsupported the view in historiography that Dejan also served as logotet (fl. 1362âÂÂ1365), mentioned as the envoy of Emperor Uroà ¡ alongside ÃÂesar Grgur in the peace talks with the Republic of Ragusa, which had been at war with Vojislav Vojinoviàin southern Dalmatia. The peace was concluded on 22 August 1362, in Onogoà ¡t (Nikà ¡iÃÂ), and the Emperor's charter confirmed the "old laws" and other laws regarding the Ragusans. Dejan and Grgur each received 100 ducats.
Until Vojislav's death in December 1363, the Serbian nobles in the Greek lands showed themselves more ambitious, as they held more titles and greater independence (deriving from their more extensive possessions, and therefore, wealth) in relation to the nobility of the old Serbian lands. While Vojislav lived, his influence secured the preeminence of the old Serbian nobility. After Vojislav's death, Vukaà ¡in MrnjavÃÂeviÃÂ, who had previously served Emperor Duà ¡an as a à ¾upan (count, holder of a à ¾upa, a "county" or "district") of Prilep, quickly gained a decisive influence on Emperor Uroà ¡ V. The nobility in the old Serbian lands was not at first alarmed at this, but Vukaà ¡in's ambition and his subsequent power moves woke up the simmering antagonism between the two groups. It was not only Vukaà ¡in's endless ambition that led to his success, as he had plenty of support from other nobles who benefited from him.
It is not known for certain when Dejan died, as no Serbian or foreign sources have been found with information that could give historians clues to which year he died. S. Mandiàsaid it may have been as early as 1358, and that Vukaà ¡in, who until then was veliki vojvoda, took Dejan's place as despot, and in turn Jovan Ugljeà ¡a became veliki vojvoda. V. ÃÂoroviàbelieved it to have been sometime after the death of Vojislav (1363). M. RajiÃÂiàconcluded that it was between 1366 and 1371, as he believed Jovan Oliver to have held his lands at least to 1366, and based on that the PÃÂinja pomenik (memorial book) said that Dejan had died after Jovan Oliver (this is refuted by S. MandiÃÂ). S. Mandiàalso believed that it was unlikely that Dejan took monastic vows before his death, as his children were still young. His wife Teodora took monastic vows as Evdokija and lived in Strumica and Velbuà ¾d, and she would until her death sign as basilissa (Empress), as did: Ana-Marija, the wife of Jovan Oliver; Marija, wife of despot Toma PreljuboviÃÂ; and Jefimija, the wife of Ugljeà ¡a.
Dejan built and reconstructed several churches and monasteries throughout his province, including the rebuilding of the Zemen Monastery and the lost Arhiljevica Church. His two sons Jovan and Konstantin later became rulers of his domain.
After the death of Dejan, his province, except for the à ¾upe of à ½egligovo and Upper Struma, was appropriated to nobleman Vlatko PaskaÃÂiÃÂ, whose hereditary land was Slavià ¡te directly to the south. Vukaà ¡in MrnjavÃÂeviÃÂ, of whom there are no notable mentions until 1365, became more powerful (ultimately the most powerful nobleman in Macedonia) after the deaths of Vojislav VojinoviÃÂ, Dejan and despot Jovan Oliver (whose status in Macedonia was very high), as Vukaà ¡in's rise would have been unlikely during the lifetime of these men. Vukaà ¡in's younger brother Jovan Ugljeà ¡a is also thought to have participated in the dismemberment of Dejan's province, as he used this chance to take the provinces which bordered on the oblast (province) of Ser (Serres). No one looked to the young sons of Dejan who would later become very important. Dejan's death benefited Vukaà ¡in and Jovan Ugljeà ¡a, not so much in territorial expansion (which is not so sure), but because Dejan's disappearance ended any stronger candidate to counter the MrnjavÃÂeviàfamily.
Like his father before, Dejan's eldest son Jovan received the title of despot from Emperor Uroà ¡. He and his brother later received most of Jovan Oliver's lands. It is not known why Jovan Oliver's sons did not inherit his lands. Serbian historian V. ÃÂoroviàattributed this to turmoil and disorder, though it is not known what extent it developed to and what the consequences were. Earlier scholars believed that the Dejanoviàwere relatives of Jovan Oliver, although this is no longer accepted. The Dejanoviàbrothers ruled a spacious province in eastern Macedonia, in the southern lands of the Empire, and remained loyal to Uroà ¡ V until his death. Emperor Uroà ¡ V died childless on 2/4 December 1371, after many of the Serbian nobility had been killed in the Battle of Maritsa against the Ottomans earlier that year. This marked an end to the once powerful Serbian Empire. Vukaà ¡in's son Marko, who had earlier been crowned Young King, was to inherit his father's royal title, and thus became one in the line of successors to the Serbian throne. Meanwhile, the nobles pursued their own interests, sometimes quarreling with each other. Serbia, without an Emperor, became "a conglomerate of aristocratic territories", and the Empire was thus divided between the provincial lords: Marko MrnjavÃÂeviÃÂ, the Dejanoviàbrothers, ÃÂuraàI Balà ¡iÃÂ, Vuk BrankoviÃÂ, Nikola AltomanoviÃÂ, and Lazar HrebeljanoviÃÂ. In the new redistribution of feudal power, after 1371, the brothers despot Jovan and gospodin (lord) Konstantin greatly expanded their province, not only recreating their father's province, but also at least doubling the territory, on all sides, but chiefly to the south. The brothers ruled on the left riverside of the Vardar, from Kumanovo to Strumica. In 1373, two years after Maritsa, the first mentions are made on the events in the province of the Dejanoviàbrothers, as well as their mutual relation. As Marko had done, also the Dejanoviàbrothers recognized Ottoman sovereignty. Although vassals, they had their own government. Their state symbol was the white double-headed eagle and they minted coins according to the Nemanjiàstyle.
Dejan had two marriages. First with unknown noble called Vladislava, and second with Teodora. Dejan and his first wife Vladislava had four children: