Dejan (despot)

Dejan had married Teodora, the sister of King Stefan Dušan, and received the title of sevastokrator in 1346, upon Stefan Dušan's crowning as Emperor. Dejan's origin is deemed unknown.[2] Earlier scholars believed that Dejan was a relative of Jovan Oliver, another magnate in Macedonia, but this is no longer accepted.[3] K. J. Jireček suggested that he was vojvoda Dejan Manjak (Дејан Мањак),[2] only found mentioned in a 1333 charter, in which Stefan Dušan officially sold Ston and Prevlaka to the Republic of Ragusa.[2][4]

On Easter, 16 April 1346, Stefan Dušan 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 Dušan as "Emperor and autocrat of Serbs and Romans (Greeks)". Dušan had his son Uroš V crowned King, giving him nominal rule over the Serbian lands, and although Dušan 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.[5] From his new position, Dušan could grant titles only possible for an emperor to grant, such as despot, sevastokrator, and ćesar.[5][6][7] Among the Serbian magnates were:[8]

• despot Simeon Uroš, Dušan's half-brother, duke of Epirus and Acarnania
• despot Jovan Asen, Dušan's brother-in-law, governor in southern Albania
• despot Jovan Oliver, Dušan's close associate, vojvoda and governor in Ovče Pole and left Vardar
• sevastokrator Dejan, Dušan's brother-in-law, governor of Pčinja
• sevastokrator Branko, Dušan's relative, governor of Ohrid
• ćesar Preljub, Dušan's son-in-law, vojvoda and governor of Thessaly
• ćesar Vojihna, Dušan's relative, vojvoda and governor of Drama
• ćesar Grgur, Dušan's relative (son of Branko), vojvoda and governor of Polog

The raising of the Serbian Patriarchate resulted in bishops becoming metropolitans.[5] The Serbian ruler had wide autocratic powers, but was surrounded and advised by a permanent council of magnates (velikaši or velmože) and prelates. The court, chancellery and administration were rough copies of those of Constantinople.[5]

Map of the Serbian Empire (1355). Dejan ruled an area roughly starting from the east of Skopje eastwards towards Velbužd.

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).[9] According to Stefan Dušan's charter to Arhiljevica dated 10 August 1354,[9] sevastokrator Dejan, whom he called his brother ("брат царства ми севастократор Дејан"),[10] possessed a large province east of Skopska Crna Gora. It included the old župe (counties) of Žegligovo and Preševo (modern Kumanovo region with Sredorek, Kozjačija and the larger part of Pčinja).[11] The granted villages included: village Podlešane with hamlets, village Arhiljevica at the church with hamlets, village Izvor, village Ruginci (Ruǵince), selište (arable land) Mokra Poljana (Mokro Polje), village Maistorije, selište Maistorije Krupnici, selište Prusci (Rusce), selište Vrdun, selište Prvevo, selište Deikovo (Dejlovce), selište Vrače (Vračevce), selište Sedlar, selište Mekša and village Glaže (Glažnja). A total of 9 villages, 9 selište and a few hamlets.[9] Based on the charter, Arhiljevica was situated where the granted villages of Podlešane, Izvor and Rućinci lay, on the slopes of Jezer (Kumanovska Crna Gora).[12] The fact that Dejan built Arhiljevica rather than renovated it is evidence of his economic strength.[13] Apart from Dejan's granted villages, Dušan also granted, on his behalf as a gift, the church and village of Gospoždino Polje (lost[9]), village Koznica Kričanovska (Gorna- and Dolna Koznitsa) and village Strojkovo (lost[9]), situated in the Velbužd region.[9][13]

Dejan was one of the prominent figures of Dušan's reign and during the subsequent fall of the Serbian Empire, after Dušan's death.[13][14] Under Emperor Dušan, despot Jovan Oliver, with his brother Bogdan and sevastokrator Dejan, ruled over all of eastern Macedonia.[15] Dejan is not mentioned much in Dušan's military endeavors, although his reputation and that of his successors suggest that he was involved in most of Dušan's successes.[14] 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).[14][16]

Map of the Serbian Empire in 1360 with territories of local rulers

Dejan received the title of despot sometime after August 1355, either from Emperor Dušan, who died on 20 December 1355, or from his heir Uroš V,[17] most likely the latter.[13][14] During the rule of Uroš V, Dejan was entrusted with the administration of the territory between South Morava, Pčinja, Skopska Crna Gora (his hereditary lands) and in the east, Upper Struma river with Velbužd (Kyustendil), a province notably larger than he had possessed during Dušan's life.[14][18][19] This province was located in the very heart of the Balkans,[12] 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).[20] Dejan's daughter Teodora married Žarko, the lord of Lower Zeta, in 1356.[21]

Serbian historian M. Blagojević supported the view in historiography that Dejan also served as logotet (fl. 1362–1365), mentioned as the envoy of Emperor Uroš alongside ćesar Grgur in the peace talks with the Republic of Ragusa, which had been at war with Vojislav Vojinović in southern Dalmatia.[22] The peace was concluded on 22 August 1362, in Onogošt (Nikšić), and the Emperor's charter confirmed the "old laws" and other laws regarding the Ragusans.[22][23][24] Dejan and Grgur each received 100 ducats.[24]

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.[25] While Vojislav lived, his influence secured the preeminence of the old Serbian nobility.[25] After Vojislav's death, Vukašin Mrnjavčević, who had previously served Emperor Dušan as a župan (count, holder of a župa, a "county" or "district") of Prilep, quickly gained a decisive influence on Emperor Uroš V. The nobility in the old Serbian lands was not at first alarmed at this, but Vukašin's ambition and his subsequent power moves woke up the simmering antagonism between the two groups.[25] It was not only Vukašin's endless ambition that led to his success, as he had plenty of support from other nobles who benefited from him.[25]

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.[26] S. Mandić said it may have been as early as 1358, and that Vukašin, who until then was veliki vojvoda, took Dejan's place as despot, and in turn Jovan Uglješa became veliki vojvoda.[27] V. Ćorović believed it to have been sometime after the death of Vojislav (1363).[21] M. Rajičić concluded that it was between 1366 and 1371,[12] as he believed Jovan Oliver to have held his lands at least to 1366, and based on that the Pčinja pomenik (memorial book) said that Dejan had died after Jovan Oliver (this is refuted by S. Mandić).[28] S. Mandić also believed that it was unlikely that Dejan took monastic vows before his death, as his children were still young.[28] His wife Teodora took monastic vows as Evdokija and lived in Strumica and Velbužd, and she would until her death sign as basilissa (Empress), as did: Ana-Marija, the wife of Jovan Oliver; Marija, wife of despot Toma Preljubović; and Jefimija, the wife of Uglješa.[29]

Dejan built and reconstructed several churches and monasteries throughout his province,[30] including the rebuilding of the Zemen Monastery[1] and the lost Arhiljevica Church. His two sons Jovan and Konstantin later became rulers of his domain.