Prosek, North Macedonia

Prosek(Macedonian alphabet:Просек), also known asStenae(inGreek:Στεναίnarrow), is an archaeological site of a former city inNorth Macedonia.It was capital city of the independent rulersDobromir Chrysos(from the 1190s to 1202) andStrez(from 1208 to 1214).

Plan of Prosek fortress

TheDemir Kapijagorge of the Vardar: high above is the site of Prosek.

Its ruins were discovered in 1948, about 1 km south of the town ofDemir Kapija.There were found 4 towers, many ceramic objects, jewelry, coins, acropolis and necropolis.

This settlement had an excellent strategical war position. The site is located on a limestone plateau surrounded by a curve ofVardarriver. The sheer cliffs and the river make the area suitable for defense. A narrow gap between the rocks leads to the only entrance to the fortress.

During last years of the 12th century and the first years of the 13th century, Prosek was the center of a rebelByzantineprovince and later independent domain led by the nobleman (according toNiketas Choniates) Dobromir Chrysos. In 1202 the lands of Dobromir Chrysos were conquered by theSecond Bulgarian Empireunder tsarKaloyan.Later in 1208,sebastokratorStrez,claimed Chrysos' lands and was ruler until 1214 when he died, killed by a conspiracy inspired by Sava (later canonized asSt. Sava).

See also

• List of castles in North Macedonia

External links

• (in English)PROSEK (STENAE)
• (in Bulgarian)Томов, Т. "Добромир Хриз, който владееше Просек и Струмица". Анамнеза, Т. 6 (2008), 97-114
• (in Macedonian)Микулчич, Ив. "Средновековни градови и тврдини во Македонија". Скопије, 1996