Dabiživ Čihorić

Dabiživ Čihorić (Serbian Cyrillic: Дабижив Чихорић; fl. 1334 – died January 1362) was a Serbian nobleman who served king and emperor Stefan Dušan (r. 1331–55) and emperor Uroš V (r. 1355–71), with the title of sluga.[1] He was not a usual sluga (a cup-bearer[2]), but had the same responsibilities as those with kaznac or tepčija titles.[1] A member of the Čihorić family (also called Drugović), a powerful family in the Trebinje region,[3] his brothers Vratko and Nenac held the title of župan (count), while Stepko held the title of tepčija.[1] Dabiživ was present in the hinterland of Dubrovnik between 1334 and 1349, but was first mentioned with the title of sluga in 1343 (Dabiseo sluga).[4] That mention is of him together with the Ragusan rector Marco Mauroceno[5] and "elders" (starce), establishing boundaries between the territories of the Republic of Ragusa and Trebinje, by extension with the Kingdom of Serbia.[1] In 1345 the Ragusan ministers complained to Stefan Dušan that Dabiživ had imposed a customs tax at Trebinje, one dinar per each goods load that passed by.[1] Stefan Dušan abolished this tax, as known from a letter dated 26 October 1346, sent from Serres.[6] Dabiživ's competences are explained by the fact, that he acted as the royal deputy in Trebinje and Konavle.[1] Earlier, in 1330, the governor of Konavle and the wider area of Trebinje was župan Hlapen.[7] It is assumed that Dabiživ was part of the preparations of organizing a special court for "young king" Uroš V, that while he governed Trebinje he was chosen to be the sluga of Uroš V.[8] In 1346, Uglješa Mrnjavčević became the deputy in Trebinje and Konavle.[1] After the coronation of Stefan Dušan as emperor (1346), when Uroš V became king and co-ruler, Dabiživ left Trebinje to be in the nearest circle of Uroš V, whom he served faithfully until his death in January 1362.[8] Dabiživ was buried at the Treskavac monastery near Prilep, his grave inscription mentioning him as the enohijar (which according to S. Novaković was the brewer or cellarer, that is, a cup-bearer[9]) of emperor Uroš V.[8]

Dabiživ Čihorić "the younger" (fl. 1383–1402), a nobleman in Popovo, was Dabiživ's relative, likely nephew (as the son of Nenac).[10]