List of Serbian monarchs

The Vlastimirović dynasty was the first royal dynasty of the Serb people. Byzantine emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus (r. 913–959) mentions that the Serbian throne is inherited by the son, i.e. the first-born,[1] though in his enumeration of Serbian monarchs, on one occasion there was a triumvirate.[2] The Serbs established several polities by the 10th century: Serbia or Zagorje (hinterlands) which consisted of Serbia (known as "Rascia" in historiography of the High Middle Ages), and Bosnia; and Pomorje (maritime) which consisted of Dioclea, Zachlumia, Pagania, Travunia (including Kanalitai). The Serbian ruler was titled knyaz or archon by the Byzantines, "prince".

The history of the dynasty starts with the eponymous founder Vlastimir. This era is marked by the Christianization of Serbs, the many internal and external wars (Bulgars, Magyars), and the power struggle between the First Bulgarian Empire and the Byzantine Empire in which Serbia found itself in the middle. The history of this dynasty ends with the annexation of Serbia in 969.

With the annexation of Rascia, the previous crownland and seat of Serbia, the county around the city of Doclea emerges into a Principality, where the leaders adopt the title archon of Serbs (signifying supreme leadership among Serbs) alongside their given offices under Byzantine overlordship. The first office-holder was Peter of Diokleia, of which we only have a seal found in the 19th century. The next known is Jovan Vladimir, who became a Bulgarian vassal. Stefan Vojislav succeeds in giving the realm independence, he is the eponymous founder of the Vojislavljevići that ruled Duklja from the early 11th century up to the 1120s. The dynasty may have been a cadet branch of the preceding Vlastimirovićs.

Picture	TitleName	Reign	Notes
	Peter		Peter was an archon of Duklja in the 10th or 11th century. The only information on him is from a seal found in the 19th century, which is decorated on the obverse with a bust of the Virgin Mary holding a medallion of Christ and flanked by two cruciform invocative monograms. The text is in Greek letters, saying "Petrou, Archontos Diokleias, Amin" (ΠΕΤΡ(Ο)Υ ΑΡΧΟΝΤΟΣ ΔΙΟΚΛ(Ε)ΙΑ(Σ) ΑΜΗΝ) - Peter, archon of Dioklea, Amen. The seal shows that although Duklja underwent turmoil in the 9th century, the region still continued under Byzantine rule, or if not authority, influence.[8]
	Prince Jovan Vladimir	992–1016	Jovan fought to protect Duklja from Bulgarian expansion, making an alliance with Byzantium; Bulgaria however conquered Doclea in 997 and took Jovan Vladimir prisoner. Jovan ruled Duklja as a vassal of the Bulgarian empire until his murder in 1016.
	Prince Stefan Vojislav	1018–1043	Overthrew the Byzantine supremacy over Serbs in Duklja; founder of the Vojislavljević dynasty; in 1035 rebelled against the Byzantine Empire, but forced to sign an armistice; went to war again in 1040, which would be continued by his heir and son, Mihailo. Except Doclea, his realm included Travunia with Konavli and Zachumlia.
	King ↑Prince Mihailo Vojislavljević	1050–1081	Initially as a Byzantine vassal holding the title of protospatharios, then after 1077 as nominally serving Pope Gregory VII, addressed as "King of the Slavs". He had alienated himself from the Byzantines when he supported a Byzantine Slavic revolt in 1071–72, after which he then sought to gain support in the West. In 1077 he received a royal insignia by Gregory VII in the aftermath of the Church schism of 1054. note: Rascia is liberated from Byzantine rule and restored into the Serbian realm of Doclea, with Duklja being the seat.
	King (titular) Constantine Bodin	1081–1101	Son of Michael. He was crowned 'Tsar of Bulgaria' as Peter III in 1072, after being chosen by Bulgarian nobles through his Cometopuli lineage, he was sent off with an army that would conquer parts of southern Serbia and Macedonia. He was captured and sent to Constantinople, where he spent several years. He was rescued in 1078 by Venetian sailors, and in 1081 he succeeds his father as King. He enlarged his realm, installing his nephews and other family in Bosnia and Rascia. He is captured by the Byzantines in the 1090s, and continues as a mere Byzantine vassal, with his peripheral provinces gaining independence, of which Rascia becomes the most powerful one. note: Rascia breaks out of the state, subsequently becoming the most powerful of the Serbian principalities (1091). Doclea is continued with a number of Byzantine and Rascian vassals (until 1146) - see List of rulers of Duklja.
	King (titular) Dobroslav II	1101–1102	Overthrown by Vukan of Rascia and Kočapar.
	Kočapar	1102–1103	Brought to power by Vukan of Rascia. Killed in battle against Zachlumia.
	Vladimir II	1103–1113	Married daughter of Vukan of Rascia. He was poisoned by his cousin Đorđe I.
	Đorđe I	1113–1118	Son of Constantine Bodin. Đorđe was overthrown by Uroš I of Rascia in 1118.
	Grubeša	1118–1125	Overthrew Đorđe with the help of the Byzantines.
	Đorđe I	1125–1131	Second rule.
	Prince Gradinja	1131–1146	Appointed to Doclean throne by Byzantines after Đorđe's defeat in the second war against Byzantines.
	Prince Radoslav	1145–1148	Byzantine vassal. Only dynastic member to be mentioned as Prince of Doclea.
	Prince Mihailo III	1148–1186	Byzantine vassal.

In the mid-11th century, Mihailo I had liberated Rascia from Byzantine rule, and appointed his son Petrislav to rule as Prince, independently. In 1083, Constantine Bodin appoints brothers Vukan and Marko, sons of Petrislav, as rulers of Rascia. In 1089, the Byzantines capture Bodin, and Vukan retains independence, founding the Vukanović dynasty. The Vukanovići quickly claim the following Serbian domains in the following decades, and by 1148, the maritime possessions are united with the inland. The Byzantine Empire at times intervened in the political scene, and at times Serbia had Hungary as its main ally. The dynasty ruled until 1165, when a dynastic branch is instated by the Byzantines.

After Desa's revolt, in 1165 the Byzantium divided the Serb lands between the four sons of Zavida: Tihomir in Raška, Stracimir in Duklja, Miroslav in Zahumlje and Travunia, and Stefan Nemanja in Toplica (in today's central Serbia). Stefan Nemanja rebelled against his eldest brother Tihomir in 1166, who fled with his brothers Stracimir and Miroslav to Byzantium to seek help. But later on, Stefan Nemanja defeated his Greek army of mercenaries in the same year near the town of Pantino on Kosovo in which poor Tihomir drowned in the River of Sitnica. Nemanja captured his other brothers and made peace with them by giving them rule in their former parts of the land to recognise him as the only ruler of Rashka or Serbia. The Nemanjić dynasty was named after Stefan Nemanja and ruled over Serbia until 1371.

Nemanjić

The Nemanjić dynasty ruled the Serb lands between ca. 1166 up to 1371.

Picture	TitleName	Reign	Notes
	Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja Saint Symeon the Myrrh-streaming	1166–1196	Nemanja is the eponymous founder of the Zoupanic Nemanjić dynasty. He re-established control over the neighbouring territories, including Duklja, Hum and Travunia. In his last years, he joined his son Sava and took monastic vows, later recognized as Saint Symeon after numerous alleged miracles following his death. Note: Duklja, Zahumlje and Travunija is reconquered, Nemanja is proclaimed "Grand Prince of All Serbia"
	Grand Prince Vukan Nemanjić	1202–1204	Eldest son of Stefan Nemanja. He held the appanage of "Duklja, Dalmatia (Zahumlje), Travunija, Toplica and Hvosno" as Grand Prince, by 1190. He was the initial heir presumptive, but his father chose Stefan instead upon the abdication in 1196. With the death of Nemanja, Vukan started plotting against his brother. He found help in Hungary, and together they forced Stefan to flee to Bulgaria. He ruled as a Hungarian vassal, evident in Emeric I's title "King of Serbia". He left the throne in 1204, and continued to rule his appanage, he was later pardoned by the third brother Saint Sava.
	King ↑Grand Prince Stefan Prvovenčani Stefan the First-Crowned	1196–1202 1204–1228	Second son of Stefan Nemanja. He inherited the title of Grand Prince in 1196 when his father retired as a monk. His reign began with a struggle against his brother Vukan, who expelled Stefan to Bulgaria. Kaloyan gave him an army of Cumans in exchange for eastern territories. The crisis ended when Sava negotiated a peace between the brothers and Stefan's power was cemented. He was crowned King in 1217, and then Sava gains autocephaly, becoming the first Archbishop of Serbs in 1219, thus Serbia retained full independence.
	King Stefan Radoslav Stephanos Doukas Jovan	1228–1233	Son of Stefan the First-crowned. He ruled Zahumlje during the reign of his father, and also held a governor status of Zeta. He was the co-founder of the Žiča monastery with his father, who would abdicate in 1227 due to illness, taking monastic vows. Radoslav was crowned by his uncle Sava, the Archbishop of Serbia. His marriage to Anna Angelina Komnene Doukaina would prove unpopular as she undermined his authority, he lost the loyalty of the people and in 1233 a revolt against them prompted the couple to flee to Dubrovnik.
	King Stefan Vladislav	1233–1243	Son of Stefan the First-crowned. He succeeded his brother Radoslav in 1233 and ruled for 10 years, before being overthrown by his younger brother Uroš. He continued to rule Zeta. The first known flag design of Serbia was found in his treasury.
	King Stefan Uroš I Uroš the Great Symeon	1243–1276	Son of Stefan the First-crowned. He succeeded his brother Vladislav. He boosted trade with Dubrovnik and Kotor, marking a beginning of economic prosperity. In 1253 a war was fought against Dubrovnik, peace was signed in 1254, and in the 1260s a second war begun that ended in 1268. Uroš immediately turned towards Hungary, successfully taking Mačva, he was however captured and peace was ensured between the two Kings through marriage of Dragutin and Catherine, the daughter of Stephen V of Hungary. His oldest son Dragutin would have succeeded his rule, but Uroš favored Stefan Milutin, the younger son, as successor. He was overthrown by Stefan Dragutin in 1276.
	King Stefan Dragutin Teoctist	1276–1282 1282–1316	Son of Stefan Uroš I. He overthrew his father with help from the Hungarian royalty (through his marriage to Catherine of Hungary) after the Battle of Gacko. He was injured in 1282, and gave the supreme rule to his younger brother Milutin, but continued to rule what would later become the Kingdom of Srem with the capital at Belgrade. Milutin boosted relations with the Byzantine Emperor, and refused to give the rule to Vladislav II (Dragutin's son), causing a split of the Kingdom. Dragutin continued to rule the northern frontier in Hungarian alliance, but in the last years re-connected with Serbia, acting as a vassal.
	King Stefan Uroš II Milutin	1282–1321	Son of Stefan Uroš I. He succeeded his brother Dragutin. Upon his accession, he immediately turned towards Macedonia, conquering the northern part with Skoplje, which became his capital. He continued deep into Byzantine lands, taking northern Albania and as far as Kavala. He also took Vidin, and later Durres. He was in a succession war with Dragutin after peace was signed with the Byzantines in 1299. Milutin aids the Byzantines against the Turks at the Battle of Gallipoli, which ended in a victory. When Dragutin died he put most of his lands with Belgrade under his rule, in the same year his son Stefan Uroš III tried to overthrow him, resulting in him being exiled to Constantinople. In 1319 the Hungarians took all of Dragutin's lands but Braničevo. Note: Syrmia becomes independent, ruled by the initial heir apparent: King of Srem (King of the Serbs) Stefan Vladislav II 1316–1325 son of Dragutin.
	King Stefan Konstantin	1321–1322	Younger son of Stefan Uroš II, defeated in 1322 by his older brother, Stefan Uroš III.
	King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski Stefan of Dečani	1322–1331	Older brother of Stefan Konstantin
	Emperor ↑King Stefan Uros IV Dušan Dušan the Mighty	1331–1355	Son of Uroš III. He was a very skilled military leader, and defeated Bosnia and Bulgaria at the age of 20. As his father was not an able conqueror, Dušan removed him from the throne. Dušan doubled the size of the realm, taking Byzantine lands as far as the Peloponnese. He was crowned Emperor in 1346. The Serbian Empire flourished, becoming one of the most developed countries and cultures in Europe. He enacted the constitution - Dušan's Code in 1349.
	Emperor Stefan Uroš V Nejaki Uroš the Weak	1355–1371	Son of Stefan Uroš IV Dušan, crowned King of Rascia (1346–1355), succeeds as Emperor after the death of Dušan in 1355. His epithet was given due to his "weak rule". Note: Succession attempts (titular Emperors): Despot of Epirus and Thessaly Simeon Uroš Uncle of Uroš V. He was appointed governor in the southwestern conquered regions in 1348, and ruled until 1355, when his brother-in-law Nikephoros II Orsini returned and rallied support. Nikephoros was killed in 1359, and Simeon continued his rule until his death in 1371. He proclaimed himself "Emperor of Serbs and Greeks" in 1356, however against the wishes of nobility of Serbia proper and Macedonia. After an unsuccessful invasion of Zeta, he gave up the idea of ruling Serbia. Ruler of Epirus and Thessaly Jovan Uroš Son of Simeon Uroš. Succeeded his father as titular "Emperor of Serbs and Greeks" and ruled an area of Epirus and Thessaly 1370–1373 before taking monastic vows. In 1384–1385 he helped his sister Empress Maria Angelina Doukaina Palaiologina govern Epirus (she was the widow of Thomas II Preljubović, the Despot of Epirus 1367–1384).

Lazarević	Mrnjavčević	Dejanović	Branković	Balšić	Crnojević

The crumbling Serbian Empire under Stefan Uroš V (called "the Weak") was to be of little resistance to the powerful Ottoman Empire. In light of conflicts and decentralization of the realm, the Ottomans defeated the Serbs at the Battle of Maritsa in 1371, making vassals of the southern governors, soon thereafter, the Emperor died. As Uroš was childless and the nobility could not agree on the rightful heir, the Empire was ruled by semi-independent provincial lords, who often were in feuds with each other. The most powerful of these, Tsar Lazar, a Duke of present-day central Serbia (which had not yet come under the Ottoman yoke), stood against the Ottomans at the Battle of Kosovo in 1389. The result was indecisive, but it resulted in the subsequent fall of Serbia.

The administration was divided in the following:

• Moravian Serbia: Lazar, a nobleman and close friend of the Nemanjić, would govern modern Central Serbia. He married Milica, a descendant of Stefan Nemanja's eldest son Vukan. He held the title of Lord during the Empire, and Prince after the death of Uroš V. He had a son, Stefan, who would succeed as Prince, and in 1402 he was given the title despot (hence "Serbian Despotate").
  • District of Branković: Vuk Branković, the son of Ohrid deputy Branko, would govern Sjenica, Kosovo and Skopje under the suzerainty of Lazar. He had a son, Đurađ Branković, who would succeed Despot Stefan. Their province continues as part of the Serbian Despotate.
  • Lordship of Zeta: Balša, a nobleman and distant relative of the Nemanjić, held only one town during Dušan, and during Uroš V, he is recognized as "provincial lord" holding Zeta region. He is succeeded by Đurađ, who ruled independently and was in rivalry with Marko. Đurađ II recognizes the overlordship of Lazar in 1386. The Balšić continue ruling Lower Zeta, while in Upper Zeta, Radič Crnojević take the rule, and by 1421 Crnojević held all Zeta under the Serbian Despotate. (see List of rulers of Zeta)
• Lordship of Prilep: King Vukašin, a nobleman and close friend of Uroš V, would govern most of the Macedonia region. He held the title of Lord during Dušan, and under Uroš V, he was crowned King as [subordinate] co-ruler in 1365. Vukašin ruled as "Lord of the Serbian and Greek lands, and of the western provinces." He was succeeded by Prince Marko, who became an Ottoman vassal. Their province is annexed by 1395.
• Domain of the Dejanović family: Dejan, a sebastokrator and brother-in-law of Dušan, would govern eastern regions from Kumanovo to Kyustendil. His sons, despot Jovan Dragaš and lord Constantine Dragaš inherited his domain and become Ottoman vassals in 1371. Their domain was annexed in 1395.

Picture	TitleName	Reign	Overlordship	Notes
District of Pomoravlje/Lordship of Serbia/Serbian Despotate (Lazarević)
	Lord, Prince Lazar Hrebeljanović Tsar Lazar	1371–1389	None	After Uroš V died, the last of the Nemanjić emperors, through a combination of diplomacy, military action, and family alliances, Lazar emerged from the resulting power vacuum as the most powerful Serbian noble not in the Ottomans' service. He acquired dynastic legitimacy by marrying Milica Nemanjić, and despite retaining only the minor title of knez ("prince"), he nevertheless used the imperial name of 'Stefan' as well as the designation "autocrator". Lazar spent his time strengthening the Serbian state, knowing fully well that he would eventually have to face the Ottoman threat. He unified most of Serbia under his rule and managed to gain the loyalty of a majority of the Serbs. He also ceded the title "King of Serbs" to King Tvrtko I of Bosnia (great-grandson of Uroš the Great). His first major military action was at the Battle of Dubravnica where his two subjects, Crep and Vladimir managed to decisively defeat an Ottoman army in southern Serbia. No further recorded hostilities took place until the Battle of Pločnik where Knez Lazar managed to crush an Ottoman force and drive them back to Niš. Serbian troops also took part in the Battle of Bileća where again he defeated the Turks. Lazar was killed during the 1389 Battle of Kosovo along with most of Serbia's political elite.
	Despote ↑Prince Stefan Lazarević Stefan the Tall	1389–1427	Ottoman 1391–1404----Hungarian 1404–1427	Son of Lazar. In 1391, Serbia became an Ottoman vassal, so Stefan was obliged to aid the Ottoman sultan in battles when asked. He did so in the Battle of Rovine in May 1395 against the Wallachian prince Mircea I and the Battle of Nicopolis in 1396 against the Hungarian king Sigismund. After that, Sultan Bayezid awarded Stefan with the Vuk Branković's land on Kosovo, as Branković sided with the Hungarian king at Nicopolis. When Mongols entered the Ottoman realm, Stefan Lazarević participated in the Battle of Angora in 1402 when Ottomans were defeated and sultan Bayezid was captured. Returning to Serbia, Stefan visited Constantinople where the Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos granted him the title of despot. In previous years, title would mean that the despot would rule some vassal state, but as the Byzantine Empire was too weak to assert such a rule and Serbia was not its vassal state, Stefan Lazarević took this title as the personal style of the Serbian monarchs, thus the Principality of Serbia became the Serbian Despotate.
See "Serbian Despotate".
Picture	TitleName	Reign	Overlordship	Notes
Lordship of Prilep (Mrnjavčević)
	King ↑Lord Vukašin Mrnjavčević	1365–1371	None	Killed in the Battle of Maritsa.
	King Marko Mrnjavčević Prince Marko	1371–1395	Ottoman	Son of Vukašin. Killed in the Battle of Rovine.
Picture	TitleName	Reign	Overlordship	Notes
Lordship of the Dejanović family (Dejanović)
	Despot Jovan Dragaš Dejanović	1366–1378	Ottoman
	Magnate Konstantin Dragaš Dejanović	1378–1395	Ottoman	Killed in the Battle of Rovine.
Picture	TitleName	Reign	Overlordship	Notes
Principality of Zeta under the Balšić family (Balšić)
	Lord Balša I	1356–1362
	Lord Đurađ I	1362–1378
	Lord Balša II	1378–1385
	Lord Đurađ II	1385–1403
	Lord Balša III	1403–1421
Picture	TitleName	Reign	Overlordship	Notes
Principality of Zeta under the Crnojević family (Crnojević)
	Lord Radič	end of the 14th century–1396
	Lords Đurađ III and Aleksa	1403–1435		Ruled as vassals of the Venetia
	Lord Gojčin (Gojčin, Goycinus)	1435–1451		Ruled under Đurađ Branković
	Lord Stefan I Stefanica	1451–1465		Ruled under the Despotate 1451–1452, then under Venetian rule
	Lord Ivan I Ivan the Black	1465–1490
	Lord Đurađ IV	1490–1496
	Lord Stefan II	1496–1499
	Lord Ivan II	1499–1515
	Lord Đurađ V	1515–1516

Branković

The Branković family descends from the Nemanjići and the Lazarevići via female line. The family rises to prominence during the time of disintegration of the Serbian Empire under the last Nemanjić. The original family domains were centred around Kosovo region, one of the heartlands of medieval Serbian state. Later members of the house extended their rule over all remaining independent regions of Serbia making them the last suzerain rulers of medieval Serbia. The dynasty ruled the Serbian Despotate from 1427 to 1459.

Picture	TitleName	Reign	Notes
	Despot Đurađ I Branković	1427 – 26 December 1456	Grandson of Lazar I
	Despot Lazar Branković	December 1456 – 20 January 1458	Son of Đurađ I
	Despot Stefan Branković Stefan the Blind	1458 – April 8, 1459	Son of Đurađ I, regent for niece. Serbia proper was annexed by the Ottoman Empire in 1459.
	Despot Stephen Tomašević	1 April 1459 – 20 June 1459	He married Helena Branković, the eldest daughter of Lazar Branković and Helena Palaiologina. Note:
Serbian Despotate is conquered by the Ottoman Empire. The Serbian nobility enters the service of Hungary. The regnal title of despot is given by the Hungarians (titular despot of Serbia).						Vuk Grgurević Branković Vuk the Fiery Dragon	1471–1485	Grandson of Đurađ I. In 1471 a dependent Serbian state was established by the Hungarians mostly on the territory of Vojvodina and Syrmia.
	Đorđe Branković	1486–1496	Son of Stefan Branković, abdicated
	Jovan Branković	1496–1502	Son of Stefan Branković
	Ivaniš Berislavić	1504–1514	Married widow of Jovan Branković
	Stefan Berislavić	1514–1521	Son of Ivaniš and Jelena. Deposed
	Radič Božić	1527	Vassal of John Zapolya.
	Pavle Bakić	1537	Vassal of Ferdinand I. The last titular Despot of Serbia.
	Stefan Štiljanović	1537–1543	Vassal of Ferdinand I. The last prominent Serbian nobleman of the period of Ottoman subjugation of Serbia.

In 1918, Serbia became part of the newly formed Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. Later that state changed name in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (i.e. Kingdom of South Slavs) in 1929. During that interwar period the country was a parliamentary monarchy (except during the period of royal dictatorship 1929–1931), ruled by the Karađorđević dynasty.

Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Rule start	Rule end	Marriages	Succession right	Notes
	Peter I Karađorđević King Peter the Liberator Old King (1844–1921)	1 December 1918	16 August 1921	Princess Zorka of Montenegro in 1883 (5 children)	Previously King of Serbia, proclaimed King by representatives of South Slav states	Held the title "King of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes". Prince Alexander served as regent in his final years.
	Alexander I Karađorđević Alexander the Unifier (1888–1934)	16 August 1921	9 October 1934	Maria of Yugoslavia on 8 June 1922 (3 children)	Son of the preceding	Changed title to "King of Yugoslavia" in 1929. Assassinated in Marseilles.
	Paul Karađorđević (1893–1976)	9 October 1934	27 March 1941	Olga of Greece and Denmark on 22 October 1923 (3 children)	Cousin of the preceding	Prince Paul with Radenko Stanković, Ivo Perović as the regent for King Peter II.
	Peter II Karađorđević (1923–1970)	9 October 1934	29 November 1945	Alexandra of Greece and Denmark on 20 March 1944 (1 child)	Son of the preceding	Prince Paul acted as regent until ousted on 27 March 1941; exiled on 17 April 1941 and deposed on 29 November 1945.

After World War II and the civil war Yugoslavia became a communist state known as the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, ruled by Josip Broz Tito and the League of Communists of Yugoslavia. After Tito's death in 1980, the federation started a process of dissolution which finished in a series of civil wars in the early 1990s. Through the 1990s, constituent republics Serbia and Montenegro comprised the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which was restructured in 2003 into a confederation called Serbia and Montenegro. The state union ended with Montenegro's separation following the 2006 independence referendum. Currently Serbia is a parliamentary republic. There was no referendum of restoration of parliamentary monarchy, although political organizations and certain public in favor of it, do exist.