Wikipedia

Stefan Milutin

For the Serb Grand Prince (1140–1161), seeUroš II, Grand Prince of Serbia.

StefanUroš II Milutin(Serbian Cyrillic:Стефан Урош II Милутин,romanized:Stefan Uroš II Milutin;c.1253 – 29 October 1321), known asSaintKing,was theKingofSerbiabetween 1282–1321, a member of theNemanjić dynasty.He was one of the most powerful rulers ofSerbia in the Middle Agesand one of the most prominent European monarchs of his time. Milutin is credited with strongly resisting the efforts ofByzantineEmperorMichael VIII Palaiologosto imposeRoman Catholicismon the Balkans after theUnion of Lyonsin 1274. During his reign, Serbian economic power grew rapidly, mostly due to the development of mining. He foundedNovo Brdo,which became an internationally importantsilver miningsite. As most of the Nemanjić monarchs, he was proclaimed asaintby theSerbian Orthodox Churchwith afeast dayon October 30.[1][2][3][4]

Saint

Stefan Uroš II Milutin
Стефан Урош II Милутин
King Milutin, founder's portrait (fresco) in King's Church of theStudenica Monastery,painted during his lifetime, around 1314
Milutin theKtetor
Born1253
Died29 October 1321(1321-10-29)(aged 68)
Venerated inEastern Orthodox Church
King of all Serbian and Maritime lands
Reign1282–1321
Coronation1282
PredecessorStefan Dragutin
SuccessorStefan Dečanski
BornUroš II Milutin Nemanjić
Burial
St. Nedelya CathedralinSofia(relocated in 1460)
SpouseJelena
Helena Doukaina Angelina
Elizabeth of Hungary
Anna Terter of Bulgaria
Simonis Palaiologina
IssueStefan Konstantin
Stefan Uroš III Dečanski
HouseNemanjić dynasty
FatherStefan Uroš I
MotherHelen of Anjou
ReligionSerbian Orthodox
Signature

Early life

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Young Milutin, fresco atSopoćani

He was the youngest son of KingStefan Uroš Iand his wife,Helen of Anjou.Unexpectedly he became king of Serbia after the abdication of his brotherStefan Dragutin.He was around 29. Immediately upon his accession to the throne he attacked Byzantine lands in Macedonia. In 1282, he conquered the northern parts of Macedonia including the city ofSkoplje,which became his capital. Byzantine EmperorMichael VIII Palaiologosbegan preparations for war but he died before their completion. The next year Milutin advanced with his brother deep into Byzantine territory all the way toKavala.

In 1284, Milutin also gained control of northern Albania and the city ofDyrrachion(Durrës). For the next 15 years there were no changes in the war. Peace was concluded in 1299 when Milutin kept the conquered lands as the dowry ofSimonis,daughter of EmperorAndronikos II Palaiologoswho became his fourth wife. In Nerodimlje župa Milutin had three courts, in Nerodimlje (protected byPetrič),Svrčinand Pauni.[5]

Wars with the Bulgarians and Mongols

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Victory of King Milutin over the Tatars (Mongols)(1853) byAnastas Jovanović
Main article:Serbian conflict with the Nogai Horde

At the end of the 13th centuryBulgarianfeudal lordsDarman and Kudelinwere jointly ruling theregion of Braničevo(in modern Serbia) as independent or semi-independent lords. They regularly attacked Stefan Dragutin's Syrmian Kingdom, in Mačva, an area previously under the sovereignty of Elizabeth of Hungary. The Hungarian queen had sent troops to claim Braničevo in 1282–1284, but her forces had been repelled and her vassal lands plundered in retaliation.

Novo Brdo Fortresswas built by Stefan Milutin in 1285.

Another campaign, this time organized by both Dragutin and Elizabeth, failed to conquer Darman and Kudelin's domains in 1285 and suffered another counter-raid by the brothers. It was not until 1291 when a joint force of Dragutin and the Serbian King Stefan Milutin managed to defeat the brothers and, for the first time ever, the region came under the rule of a Serb, as it was annexed by Dragutin. Responding to Dragutin's annexation of Braničevo the Bulgarian prince namedShishmanthat came to rule the semi-independentprincipality of Vidinaround 1280, began to attack the Serbian domains to his west.

Shishman was a vassal ofNogai Khan,Khanof theGolden Hordeand sought to expand his territories to the west, invading Serbia coming as far asHvosno,theBulgariansfailed to captureZdrelo(nearPeć) and were pursued back toVidinby the Serbs. Milutin devastated Vidin and the rest of Shishman's dominion, making Shishman take refuge on the other side of theDanube.The two however became allies after Milutin married Serbian županDragošto the daughter of Shishman, later Milutin would give his daughterNeda (with title Anna)to Shishman's sonMichaelwho would become the Tsar of Bulgaria in 1323.

Milutin andNogai Khanwould soon come into conflict because of the war with the Tsardom of Vidin. Nogai launched a campaign against Serbia but Milutin offered peace sending his sonStefan Dečanskito Nogai's court. Stefan stayed with his entourage there until 1296 orNogai Khan's death in 1299.

Feud of the brothers

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Disputes began between Milutin and his brother Stefan Dragutin after a peace treaty with the Byzantine Empire was signed in 1299. Dragutin in the meantime held lands from Braničevo in the east to the Bosna river in the west. His capital wasBelgrade.War broke out between the brothers and lasted, with sporadic cease-fires, until Dragutin's death in 1314. By 1309, Milutin appointed his son, future kingStefan Dečanski,as governor ofZeta.[6]This meant thatStefan Dečanskiwas to be heir to the throne in Serbia and not Dragutin's sonStefan Vladislav II.[7]In order to gain an edge in his feud with Dragutin, Milutin sought support from thePapal States,even offering to convert himself and Serbs collectivly to Catholicism.[8]

Battles and supreme leadership

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1. Milutin's state; 2. Stefan Dragutin's state; 3. Milutin's acquisitions up to 1299; 4. Temporary loss of land in Hum.

He capturedDurrësin 1296.[9]TheBattle of Gallipoli (1312)was fought by Serbian troops sent by Stefan Milutin to aid Byzantine Emperor Andronikos in the defense of his lands against the Turks. After numerous attempts in subduing the Turks, the rapidly crumbling Byzantine Empire was forced to enlist the help of Serbia. The Turks were looting and pillaging the countryside and the two armies converged at the Gallipolipeninsulawhere the Turks were decisively defeated. Out of gratitude to Serbia, the town ofKucovowas donated.

UponStefan Dragutin's death in 1316, Milutin conquered most of his lands includingBelgrade.That was not acceptable for kingCharles I of Hungary,who started to seek allies against Serbia, including those among Albanian nobles, who were also receiving support from PopeJohn XXII.Milutin started to persecute Catholics which led to the crusade started by Pope John XXII.[10][11]

In 1318, there was an open revolt of Albanian nobles against the rule of Stefan Milutin, which is sometimes credited to be incited by PrincePhilip I of TarantoandPope John XXIIin order to weaken Stefan Milutin's rule. Milutin suppressed the rebels without much difficulty.[10]In 1319,Charles I of Hungaryregained control over Belgrade and the region ofMačvawhile Milutin held control in Braničevo. In the year 1314 Milutin's son Stefan Dečanski rebelled against his father, but was captured, blinded and sent to exile inConstantinople.For the rest of Milutin's reign his youngest son Stefan Constantine was considered as heir to the throne, but in the spring of 1321 Stefan Dečanski returned to Serbia and was pardoned by his father.

Serbia's economic power grew rapidly in the 14th century, and Milutin's power was based on new mines, mostly in Kosovo territory. During his regin,Novo Brdowas the richest silver mine in the Balkans, while another important mines wereTrepčaandJanjevo.He produced imitations ofVenetiancoins, which contained seven-eighths of silver compared to their coins. They were banned by the Republic of Venice, but Milutin used them to wage civil war against Dragutin. Later, Novo Brdo became an internationally importantsilver miningsite and significant strategic position, while in the 15th century, Serbia and Bosnia combined produced over 20% of European silver.[12][13]

Time of his reign was marked hostility toCatholicism,particularly in coastal regions, inhabited by religiously mixed population, that included Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians.[10][11]

Family

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Stefan Uroš II Milutin was married five times.

By his first wife, Jelena, a Serbian noblewoman, he had:

By his second wife,Helena,daughter ofsebastokratōrJohn I Doukas of Thessaly,he possibly had:

By his third wife,Elizabeth,daughter of KingStephen V of HungaryandElizabeth the Cuman,he had:

By his fourth wife,Anna,the daughter ofGeorge Terter I of Bulgariaand Maria of Bulgaria, he probably had no children.

By his fifth wifeSimonis,the daughter of EmperorAndronikos II PalaiologosandIrene of Montferrat,he had no children.

Aftermath and legacy

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The HolyShroudofSerbian kingMilutin, 13-14th century
Hilandar Monastery
Tower of king Milutin,Hilandar Monastery
Church of St. George
Relics of Milutin in theSt Nedelya Church,Sofia

At the end of Milutin's life Serbia was second in strength inSoutheast Europeafter Hungary. During his reign many court ceremonials were taken over from the Byzantine court and Byzantine culture overflowed into Serbia. After his death a short civil war followed, after which the Serbian throne was ascended by his eldest son,Stefan Dečanski.Around 1460, the remains of the king were carried to Bulgaria from theHilandar monasteryand were stored in various churches and monasteries until being transferred toSt Nedelya Churchafter it became a bishop's residence in the 18th century. With some interruptions, the remains have been preserved in the church ever since and the church acquired another name, Holy King („Свети Крал “, „Sveti Kral “), in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Stefan Milutin is mentioned in theDante Alighieri's narrative poemDivine Comedywith the characteristics of counterfeiters due to the copying of Venetian money.[16][12]

He is included inThe 100 most prominent Serbslist.

Gračanica Monastery,today aUNESCO World Heritage Site

Foundations

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King Stefan Milutin founded a hospital inConstantinopole,which later became amedical school.[17]He also erected many churches and monasteries in Serbian lands.[18][19][20]As aktetor,he was praised in works ofDanilo II,Serbian Archbishop(1324–1337) and other medieval sources.[21][22]

Reconstructions

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See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related toStefan Uroš II Milutin of Serbia.

References

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  1. ^Dvornik 1962,p. 110-111, 119.
  2. ^Fine 1994,p. 217-224, 255-270.
  3. ^Ćirković 2004,p. 49-52, 61-62.
  4. ^Curta 2019,p. 668-667.
  5. ^Ćirković 2004,p. 50.
  6. ^Fine 1994,p. 221, 259.
  7. ^Krstić 2016,p. 33–51.
  8. ^Krstić 2016,p. 41.
  9. ^Fine 1994,p. 219.
  10. ^abcFine 1994,p. 262.
  11. ^abŽivković & Kunčer 2008,p. 203.
  12. ^abVuković & Weinstein 2002,p. 21–24.
  13. ^Ćirković 2004,p. 54.
  14. ^Nicol 1984,p. 254.
  15. ^Mladjov 2011: 613-614.
  16. ^Fine 1994,p. 257.
  17. ^Todić 1999,p. 29, 347.
  18. ^Ćurčić 1979,p. 5-11.
  19. ^Mileusnić 1998,p. 18, 54, 168.
  20. ^Ćirković 2004,p. 60.
  21. ^Thomson 1993,p. 103-134.
  22. ^Ivanović 2019,p. 103–129.
  23. ^The Sabaite heritage in the Orthodox Church from the fifth century to the present.J. Patrich. Leuven: Uitgeverij Peeters rn Departement Oosterse Studies. 2001. p. 404.ISBN90-429-0976-5.OCLC49333502.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: others (link)

Sources

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Stefan Milutin
Born:1253Died:29 October 1321
Regnal titles
Preceded by King of Serbia
1282–1321 		Succeeded by
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