Jovan Ugljesa
Encyclopedia
Jovan Uglješa Mrnjavčević was a 14th-century Serbian noble (despot
) and brother of Serbia
n ruler Vukašin Mrnjavčević
.
, a treasurer of Helen of Anjou
, the queen consort of Stephen Uroš I of Serbia.
He held Travunia in 1346, during the rule of Stephen Uroš IV Dušan of Serbia (1331–1355).
Uglješa married Jefimija, daughter of Vojihna
, the Caesar of Drama
. This boosted the power of Uglješa, who would later govern the region alongside his father-in-law. Vojihna died in ca 1360, and his lands were inherited by Uglješa.
He was given the title of despotes by Empress Helena of Bulgaria
in 1365. His province was situated along the lower course of the Struma with Serres
as seat.
He made substantial donations to Mount Athos
. His realm was under the religious jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
since 1368. The Patriarch mentioned the master of Serbia, Uglješa, in a letter from 1371.
threat rising in the Balkans, Uglesha and his brother Vulkashin tried to oppose the Turks. He was killed on 26 September 1371 in the Battle of Maritsa
. Unfortunately their troops were smashed by those of Ottoman commanders Lala Shahin Pasha
and Gazi Evrenos
at the Battle of Maritsa
in 1371. The defeat resulted in big portions of the region of Macedonia
falling under Ottoman power. Additionally, both brothers were killed during the fight. Their courage and self-sacrifice made them heroes of Bulgarian and Serbian epic poetry
.
Despotism
Despotism is a form of government in which a single entity rules with absolute power. That entity may be an individual, as in an autocracy, or it may be a group, as in an oligarchy...
) and brother of Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n ruler Vukašin Mrnjavčević
Vukašin Mrnjavcevic
Vukašin Mrnjavčević was a Serbian ruler in modern-day central and northwestern Macedonia, who ruled from 1365 to 1371. According to 17th-century Ragusan historian Mavro Orbin, his father was a minor noble named Mrnjava from Zachlumia, whose sons Vukašin and Uglješa were born in Livno in western...
.
Life
Uglješa was the son of MrnjavaMrnjava
Mrnja or Mrnjava was a Serbian provincial nobleman and treasurer serving Helen of Anjou at Trebinje , the wife of Stephen Uroš I of Serbia. He was the father of Vukašin Mrnjavčević, the co-ruler of the Serbian Empire and founder of the Mrnjavčević dynasty.He was born in Zahumlje...
, a treasurer of Helen of Anjou
Helen of Anjou
Helen of Anjou or Hélène d'Anjou was the queen consort of the Serbian Kingdom, wife of Stephen Uroš I and mother of kings Dragutin and Milutin.-Life:Helen was a Catholic and was born in ca 1236. Her origins are not known for certain...
, the queen consort of Stephen Uroš I of Serbia.
He held Travunia in 1346, during the rule of Stephen Uroš IV Dušan of Serbia (1331–1355).
Uglješa married Jefimija, daughter of Vojihna
Vojihna
Vojihna or Vojin of Drama , was a Serbian nobleman that rose through the ranks and became one of the most acclaimed military commanders and dukes of Stephen Uroš IV Dušan of Serbia during the Serbian Kingdom and Empire , he was titled Caesar , hence, he is mostly known as Caesar Vojihna...
, the Caesar of Drama
Drama, Greece
Drama , the ancient Drabescus , is a town and municipality in northeastern Greece. Drama is the capital of the peripheral unit of Drama which is part of the East Macedonia and Thrace periphery. The town is the economic center of the municipality , which in turn comprises 53.5 percent of the...
. This boosted the power of Uglješa, who would later govern the region alongside his father-in-law. Vojihna died in ca 1360, and his lands were inherited by Uglješa.
He was given the title of despotes by Empress Helena of Bulgaria
Helena of Bulgaria
Jelena or Helena of Bulgaria was the daughter of Sratsimir of Kran and Keratsa Petritsa and the sister of Tsar Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria....
in 1365. His province was situated along the lower course of the Struma with Serres
Serres
Serres is a city in Greece, seat of the Serres prefecture.Serres may also refer to:Places:* Serres, Germany, a part of Wiernsheim in Baden-WürttembergIn France:* Serres, Aude in the Aude département...
as seat.
He made substantial donations to Mount Athos
Mount Athos
Mount Athos is a mountain and peninsula in Macedonia, Greece. A World Heritage Site, it is home to 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries and forms a self-governed monastic state within the sovereignty of the Hellenic Republic. Spiritually, Mount Athos comes under the direct jurisdiction of the...
. His realm was under the religious jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople , part of the wider Orthodox Church, is one of the fourteen autocephalous churches within the communion of Orthodox Christianity...
since 1368. The Patriarch mentioned the master of Serbia, Uglješa, in a letter from 1371.
Death and legacy
With the OttomanOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
threat rising in the Balkans, Uglesha and his brother Vulkashin tried to oppose the Turks. He was killed on 26 September 1371 in the Battle of Maritsa
Battle of Maritsa
The Battle of Maritsa, or Battle of Chernomen, took place at the Maritsa River near the village of Chernomen on September 26, 1371 between the forces of the Ottoman sultan Murad I's lieutenant Lala Şâhin Paşa and the...
. Unfortunately their troops were smashed by those of Ottoman commanders Lala Shahin Pasha
Lala Shahin Pasha
Lala Shahin Pasha was the first Beylerbey of Rumelia. He was one of commanders in Battle of Maritsa and the leader of the Battle of Bileća ....
and Gazi Evrenos
Gazi Evrenos
Evrenos or Evrenuz was an Ottoman military commander, with an unlikely longevous career and lifetime...
at the Battle of Maritsa
Battle of Maritsa
The Battle of Maritsa, or Battle of Chernomen, took place at the Maritsa River near the village of Chernomen on September 26, 1371 between the forces of the Ottoman sultan Murad I's lieutenant Lala Şâhin Paşa and the...
in 1371. The defeat resulted in big portions of the region of Macedonia
Macedonia (region)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe. Its boundaries have changed considerably over time, but nowadays the region is considered to include parts of five Balkan countries: Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, as...
falling under Ottoman power. Additionally, both brothers were killed during the fight. Their courage and self-sacrifice made them heroes of Bulgarian and Serbian epic poetry
Serbian epic poetry
Serb epic poetry is a form of epic poetry written by Serbs originating in today's Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Montenegro. The main cycles were composed by unknown Serb authors between the 14th and 19th centuries...
.
Sources
- Dr Željko Fajfrić, Sveta loza Stefana Nemanje, p. 5; 41-50. ŠidŠidŠid is a town and municipality in the Srem District of Vojvodina, Serbia. Šid town has a population of 16,301, and Šid municipality 38,921.-Name:...
, 1998 - 1
- Rift within the Dynasty
- Juhas-Georgievska Ljiljana, Književno delo monahinje Jefimije, Zbornik Matice srpske za književnost i jezik, 2002, vol. 50, br. 1-2, str. 57-70, Scindeks document
- Scindeks document
- Mikloshich, F & Muller, J. "Acta et diplomata" I, 1860, pp. 571
- Novakovich, S. "Zakonski spomenici Srpskih drzhava srednjeg veka", 1912, pp. 509