Principality of Zeta
Encyclopedia
Zeta was a medieval state
, which territory encompassed parts of present-day Montenegro
and Northernwestern Albania
. From 1360. to 1421. Zeta was independent state administered by local noble family Balšić. From 1185. to 1360. and from 1421. - 1451, Zeta was province
of medieval Serbia. The region and province is named after the Zeta River
.
Zeta was first noted, with its name, as an administrative unit of the Principality and Kingdom of Serbia (Rascia
), ruled by heirs to the Serbian throne from the Nemanjić dynasty. When the principal heir became Grand Župan of Rascia or King of Serbs, the appanage
would be granted to second in line.
During Emperor Stefan Dušan Uroš IV Nemanjić the Mighty (r. 1331–1355) Upper and Lower Zeta were governed by duke
s, who in turn were subordinate to the wife of Dušan.
Lower and Upper Zeta were unified during the rule of the Balšićs. The gradual disintegration of the Serbian Empire
under Emperor Uroš the Weak prompted the forming of several decentralized regions that were held by different Serbian noblemen, the crown being in Moravian Serbia
(where the ruler Lazar
styled himself Tsar, Emperor, after marrying Milica, a Nemanjić) Zeta gained independence in 1360, during the gradual disintegration of the once powerful Serbian Empire
that followed the death of Tsar Stefan Dušan Uroš IV Nemanjić (Dušan the Mighty) in 1355.
In 1296, the Upper Zeta region is mentioned as Crna Gora (15th century Venetian sources: Montenegro
, "Black Mountain")
Serbian Prince Desa Urošević conquered Duklja
and Travunia
in 1148, combining the title as "Prince of Primorje" (the Maritime) and co-ruled Serbia with his brother Uroš II Prvoslav
from 1149 to 1153, and alone until 1162.
In 1190, Grand Župan
of Rascia and Stefan Nemanja
's son, Vukan II, asserted his right to the Dukljan crown. In 1219, the regent of Zeta and King Vukan's oldest son, Đorđe Nemanjić, became king of Duklja/Zeta. He was succeeded by his second oldest son, Uroš I, who built the 'Uspenje Bogorodice' monastery in Morača.
Between 1276 and 1309, Zeta was ruled by Queen Jelena, widow of Serbia
's King Uroš I. She restored around 50 monasteries in the region, most notably Saint Srđ and Vakh on the Bojana River
. The name Crna Gora (Montenegro
) was formally mentioned for the first time in 1296, in the charter of St. Nicholas' monastery in Vranjina. This charter was issued by the Serbian King Stefan Milutin Nemanjić, who was the youngest son of Uroš I and Jelena Kurtene. Crna Gora (Montenegro) was to be understood as the highland region under Mount Lovćen
, within the confines of Zeta. By the beginning of the 14th century, during King Milutin's reign, the Archdiocese in Bar
was the strongest feudal lord in Zeta.
From 1309 to 1321, Zeta was co-ruled by the oldest son of King Milutin, Young King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski. Similarly, from 1321 to 1331, Stefan's young son Stefan Dušan Uroš IV Nemanjić, the future Serbian King and Emperor, co-ruled Zeta with his father.
Dušan the Mighty was crowned Emperor in 1331, and ruled until his death in 1355. Uroš the Weak succeeded him, his epithet was given due to his weak rule of the Empire.
Later Žarko
held the Lower Zeta region: he is mentioned in records from 1356, when he raided some traders from Dubrovnik
, not far from Sveti Srđ at Lake Skadar.
Zeta itself was held by the widow of Dušan, Jelena
, who at the time was in Serres
where she had her court. The next year, in June, Žarko becomes a citizen of the Republic of Venice
, where he was known as "baron lord of the Serbian King, with holdings in the Zeta region and Bojana
of the maritime
".
Đuraš Ilijić
was "Head" (Kefalija, from Greek Cephalus
) of Upper Zeta until his murder in 1362. Đuraš had been killed by the sons of a Balša
, a nobleman that held one village during the reign of Dušan.
According to Mavro Orbin (l. 1563–1614), "A poor Lord Balša", said to be ""kin to Nemanja
"" held only a village located between the Adriatic and Bojana river
during the rule of Serbian Emperor Dušan the Mighty (r. 1331-†1355) but after the death of the Emperor and following years under his son, Uroš, by 1362 taken over Lower Zeta, going on to kill voivode Đuraš Ilijić
(founder of the House of Đurašević-Crnojević
), Duke
of Upper Zeta who had held the position since around 1326 (since King Stefan of Dečani). Balša I, together with his three sons Stracimir
, Đurađ I and Balša II
, conquered Upper Zeta and the towns of Skadar, Kotor
and Bar
. Đurađ I ruled until 1378 and Balša II until 1385.
, but Vukašin Mrnjavčević was killed soon afterwards at the Battle of Maritsa
in 1371. Đurađ I married Vukašin's daughter, Olivera.
Đurađ I ran Zeta as a modern ruler of the time. Zeta's institutions were functioning well, while the coastal towns enjoyed considerable autonomy. Commerce was well developed and enhanced by the existence of Zeta's currency, the dinar
.
Đurađ I allied with his neighbors Prince Lazar Hrebeljanović of Serbia, Ban Tvrtko I Kotromanić of Bosnia
, Prince Nikola I Gorjanski and King Louis I of Hungary, to defeat the ambitious Herzegovina
'a ruler Nikola Altomanović
in 1373. In spite of this, the defeated and blinded Nikola Altomanović found a refuge in Zeta until his death.
While he was battling in the south of Kosovo
, Đurađ's younger brother Balša II, married Komnina, a close cousin of the mighty Tzar Dušan Uroš IV Nemanjić's wife, Jelena. By marrying Komnina, Đurađ II received a generous dowry in land, including Avlona
, Berat
, Kanina
, and some additional strategically important regions.
Upon the division of Herzegovina, the Balšićs took the towns of Trebinje
, Konavle
and Dračevica. Subsequent dispute over these towns led to a conflict between Zeta and Bosnia, led by Ban Tvrtko I. The fight was eventually won by Bosnia, supported by Hungary
, after Đurađ's death in 1378.
.
During his rule, Balša II's could not maintain the control of the feudal lords as his predecessor did. His power was strong only in region around Skadar
, and in the eastern part of Zeta. The most prominent feudal lords who did not recognize Balša's rule was the House of Crnojević
, who were consistent encouraged by the Venetian
s to rebel against him.
Balša II needed four attempts to conquer Drač
, an important commercial and strategic center. Defeated, Karl Thopia
appealed to the Turks
for help. Turkish forces led by Hajrudin Pasha inflicted heavy damage to Balša II's forces and killed him at a major battle at Saurian Field near Berat
, in 1385.
The successor of Balša II, Đurađ II Stracimirović Balšić, ruled Zeta from 1385 to 1403; he was Balša's nephew and son of Stracimir. He also had difficulties controlling the local feudal lords, with no control over the fiefs of the entire Upper Zeta. In addition, the feudal lords around Onogošt (Nikšić
) accepted the Venetian protection. The most prominent of those lords was Radič Crnojević
, who controlled the area between Budva
and Mount Lovćen
. Moreover, a number of Arbanas feudal lords, particularly Lekë Dukagjini
and Paul Dukagjini joined the conspiracy against Đurađ II.
With this in mind as well as the constant danger from the Turks, Đurađ II maintained strong family ties with the Serbia's main lord of the time, Prince Lazar. To help Prince Lazar defend the Serbian lands from Ottoman
invasion, Đurađ II sent his troops along with Ban Tvrtko I Kotromanić's forces (with whom he had a dispute over Kotor
) to meet the Ottoman army at Kosovo Polje
. Despite Sultan Murad I
's death, the Serbian army suffered a defeat at the epic Battle of Kosovo
in 1389. According to the sources, Đurađ II did not participate in the battle, being in Ulcinj
in Southern Zeta.
In later years, Đurađ II played skillful diplomatic games to enhance the rivalry between the Ottomans and the Venetians
. To that purpose, he offered Skadar to both hoping that eventually he would be able to keep it. After two years of fighting, Turks and Venetians agreed to leave it to Đurađ II, who was neutral in the conflict. Similarly, the rivalry between Venetians and Hungarians brought a benefit to him. After a serious defeat of his forces by Turks near Nicopolis
, the Hungarian King Sigismund
gave him the title of Prince of Arbania and the control over the islands of Hvar
and Korčula
.
In the feud between Đurađ Branković and his uncle, Stefan Lazarević
(son of Prince Lazar), who later received the title of Byzantine Despot, Đurađ II sided with Stefan. Due to Đurađ's support, Stefan defeated Turkish forces led by Đurađ Branković in the Battle of Tripolje
on Kosovo Field in November 1402.
, inherited the throne of Zeta after his father died as a consequence of the injuries he suffered in the Battle of Tripolje
. As he was young and inexperienced, his main advisor was his mother Jelena, a sister of the Serbian ruler, Stefan Lazarević
. Under her influence, Balša III declared Montenegrin Orthodox Christianity as the official state religion; however, Catholicism was tolerated.
Balša III continued the policies of his father. In 1418, took Skadar from the Venetians, but lost Budva
. In the following year he made an unsuccessful attempt to recapture Budva. Afterwards he went to Belgrade
to ask for help from Despot Stefan, but never returned to Zeta.
. He fought Venetians and regained Bar
in mid-1423, and in the following year he sent his nephew Đurađ Branković, who regaining Drivast
and Ulcinium (Ulcinj
).
. But far more important roles in establishing this family's rule in Zeta were played by Stefan I Crnojević
(1451–1465) and his son Ivan Crnojević (1465–1490). Ivan's son Đurađ Crnojević (1490–1496) was the last ruler from this dynasty. Beginning with the House of Crnojević rule, Zeta began to be referred to commonly as Crna Gora (Montenegro
).
consolidated his power in Zeta and ruled for 14 years, from 1451 until 1465. During his rule, he saw the Despotate completely subdued by Turkey soon after the death of Despot Đurađ Branković. Under Stefan Crnojević, Montenegro comprised the Lovćen area around Cetinje, 51 municipalities which included Rijeka Crnojevića
(Crnojević River), the valley of the River Zeta
and the clans Bjelopavlići
, Pješivci
, Malonsići, Piperi
, Hoti, Klimenti (Kelmendi)
and others. The population of the territories controlled by Stefan was about 30,000. Total population of Zeta (including regions under the Venetian, Kosača's and Turkish rule), was about 80,000 people.
Capitalising on the weak position of Despot Đurađ, the Venetians and Herzog Stjepan Vukčić Kosača
of St. Sava (the region of Herzegovina
is named after him) conquered parts of his territory. Stefan I Crnojević, who had already established himself as the head of House of Crnojević (around 1451) in Upper Zeta was forced to make territorial concessions. In addition, Kosača took Stefan's son, Ivan a hostage, hoping that this will force Stefan to side with him when needed.
Stefan married Mara, a daughter of a prominent Albanian Gjon Kastrioti
, whose son was the Albanian national hero, Skanderbeg
. In 1455, Stefan entered into an agreement with his ally Venice, stipulating that Zeta would recognize the nominal supremacy of Venice while maintaining its factual independence in virtually every respect. The agreement also stipulated that Zeta would assist Venice militarily on specific occasions in exchange for an annual provision. But in all other respects, Stefan's rule in Zeta was undisputed.
in 1465. His rule lasted until 1490. Immediately after taking the throne, Ivan attacked Venice breaking the alliance his father had forged. He fought Venice in an attempt to capture Kotor
. He had some success, gaining increasing support from the coastal Slavic tribes of Grbalj and Paštrovići
in his quest to assert control over the Bay of Kotor. But when the Ottoman campaign in northern Albania and Bosnia convinced him that the main source of danger to his country was to the East, he sought a compromise with Venice. Ivan fought numerous battles against the Turks.
Zeta and Venice fought against the Ottoman Empire. The war ended with the successful defense of Skadar, where the Venetian and Zetan defenders fought off forces of against Turkish Sultan Mehmed II
and eventually won the war in 1474. However, this victory was short-lived, since the Sultan's forces conquered Skadar in 1479 and signed a peace treaty with Venice. Ivan had aspirations to organise an anti-Turkish alliance consisting of Napolitan
, Venetian, Hungarian
, and Zetan forces. However, his dream could not be fulfilled since the Venetians did not dare to help Ivan after their peace treaty with the Ottoman Empire in 1479. Left on his own, Ivan single-handedly managed to preserve Zeta from frequent Ottoman offensives.
Knowing that the Ottomans would try to punish him for fighting on the Venetian side, and in order to preserve his independence, in 1482 he moved his capital from Žabljak
on Lake Skadar to the mountainous area of Dolac, under Mount Lovćen
. There he built the Orthodox Christian
monastery (Cetinje Monastery
) around which the capital, Cetinje
, would emerge. This event marks the end of the history of Zeta, since the country permanently changed its name to Montenegro
during Đurađ Crnojević's rise to power.
with the lunar calendar
. The books from the Crnojević press were printed in two colors, red and black, and were richly ornamented. They served as models for many books printed in Cyrillic.
After the rule of Zeta was handed to Đurađ, his youngest brother, Staniša, with no chance to succeed his father, Ivan, went to Constantinople
and converted to Islam
. As a loyal servant of the Sultan, Staniša later became the Shkodrian Sanjak-Bey
under the name of Skender. His brothers, Đurađ and Stefan II continued the struggle against Ottomans. The historical facts are unclear and disputed, but it seems that the Venetians, frustrated by their own inability to subdue the House of Crnojević to their own interests, managed to kill Stefan II and deceitfully sent Đurađ to Constantinople. Principally, Đurađ visited Venice to work on the wide anti-Ottoman campaign, but was kept in captivity for some time while Stefan II was defending Zeta against the Ottomans. It is likely that upon his return to Zeta, Đurađ was kidnapped by the Venetian agents and sent to Constantinople under the accusation that he had been organizing a Holy War
against Islam. There are some unreliable claims that Đurađ was given Anatolia
to rule, but in any case the reports about Đurađ's whereabouts ceased after 1503.
, Zeta was a part of the Sanjak of İşkodra (Skadar) from 1499 to 1514. During this period, while Brda and North-West of Montenegro were nominally independent, the part of Zeta under Mount Lovćen remained entirely independent. By the end of the 15th century, Upper Zeta comprised Katunska, fRiječka, Crmnička
, and Lješanska
Nahijas.
In 1514, Zeta was proclaimed as the separate Sanjak of Montenegro, by the order of Sultan Beyazid II. Ivan Crnojević's son Staniša (Skenderbeg), who converted to Islam
was chosen ad the first Sanjak-Bey and governed until 1528. Despite Skenderbeg's emphasized cruelty, Ottomans did not have real power in Zeta. The real power was in the hands of tribal heads. From 1534 onwards, there is no more mention of the Crnojevićs in Zeta. They reappeared in Montenegrin history as Čarnojevićs. Their most prominent member was Archbishop of Peć and Patriarch of Slavs Arsenije III Čarnojević
(1633–1706).
In 1516, there was a shift in the constitution of Zeta. The last member of the House of Crnojević retired to Venice
and married a Venetian. This conferred the succession upon the bishops of Cetinje. In Zeta, the position of vladika, as the prince-bishop
was known, brought stability to that country's leadership. The link between church and state elevated it in the eyes of the peasantry, gave it an institutionalized form of succession that prevented its becoming a matter of contest between minor chieftains, and excluded the possibility of compromising alliances with the Ottomans.
The Principality of Zeta officially ended when it was turned into a theocratic state by the Vladikas
(Prince-Bishops or Prince-Episcopes) when they seized the power in 1516. Zeta became known internationally as "Montenegro
" (meaning black mountain) because the mountain realm, though isolated, was visible to Venetian speaking merchants and seamen operating out of the ports of Cattaro and Dubrovnik
on the Dalmatian coast. Indeed, access to the principality was only possible by way of the perilous Steps of Cattaro that twist their way steeply into the dark, forbidding mountains above the town. The Ottomans had controlled a part of Zeta since 1498, that was known as the Sanjak of Montenegro, the Republic of Venice controlled Cattaro and the Vladikas of Montenegro controlled the rest.
State (polity)
A state is an organized political community, living under a government. States may be sovereign and may enjoy a monopoly on the legal initiation of force and are not dependent on, or subject to any other power or state. Many states are federated states which participate in a federal union...
, which territory encompassed parts of present-day Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
and Northernwestern Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
. From 1360. to 1421. Zeta was independent state administered by local noble family Balšić. From 1185. to 1360. and from 1421. - 1451, Zeta was province
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
of medieval Serbia. The region and province is named after the Zeta River
Zeta River
Zeta is a river in Montenegro. It starts near Nikšić, under the Planinica hill flows eastwards for until it confluences into the Morača River just north of Podgorica....
.
Zeta was first noted, with its name, as an administrative unit of the Principality and Kingdom of Serbia (Rascia
Rascia
Rascia was a medieval region that served as the principal province of the Serbian realm. It was an administrative division under the direct rule of the monarch and sometimes as an appanage. The term has been used to refer to various Serbian states throughout the Middle Ages...
), ruled by heirs to the Serbian throne from the Nemanjić dynasty. When the principal heir became Grand Župan of Rascia or King of Serbs, the appanage
Appanage
An apanage or appanage or is the grant of an estate, titles, offices, or other things of value to the younger male children of a sovereign, who would otherwise have no inheritance under the system of primogeniture...
would be granted to second in line.
During Emperor Stefan Dušan Uroš IV Nemanjić the Mighty (r. 1331–1355) Upper and Lower Zeta were governed by duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
s, who in turn were subordinate to the wife of Dušan.
Lower and Upper Zeta were unified during the rule of the Balšićs. The gradual disintegration of the Serbian Empire
Serbian Empire
The Serbian Empire was a short-lived medieval empire in the Balkans that emerged from the Serbian Kingdom. Stephen Uroš IV Dušan was crowned Emperor of Serbs and Greeks on 16 April, 1346, a title signifying a successorship to the Eastern Roman Empire...
under Emperor Uroš the Weak prompted the forming of several decentralized regions that were held by different Serbian noblemen, the crown being in Moravian Serbia
Moravian Serbia
The Moravian Serbia was one of the states that emerged from the collapse of the Serbian Empire in the 14th century. The state was created through political and military activities of its first ruler Prince Lazar Hrebeljanović, who later fought and perished at the Battle of Kosovo.-History:Lazar...
(where the ruler Lazar
Lazar of Serbia
Lazar Hrebeljanović , was a medieval nobleman that emerged as the most powerful Serbian ruler after the death of the previous, childless, Emperor Uroš the Weak, which resulted in years of instability in the Serbian realm. As Stefan Lazar, he was Prince of Serbia from 1371 to 1389, ruling what is...
styled himself Tsar, Emperor, after marrying Milica, a Nemanjić) Zeta gained independence in 1360, during the gradual disintegration of the once powerful Serbian Empire
Serbian Empire
The Serbian Empire was a short-lived medieval empire in the Balkans that emerged from the Serbian Kingdom. Stephen Uroš IV Dušan was crowned Emperor of Serbs and Greeks on 16 April, 1346, a title signifying a successorship to the Eastern Roman Empire...
that followed the death of Tsar Stefan Dušan Uroš IV Nemanjić (Dušan the Mighty) in 1355.
In 1296, the Upper Zeta region is mentioned as Crna Gora (15th century Venetian sources: Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
, "Black Mountain")
Appanage of Serbia
Duklja
Doclea or Duklja was a medieval state with hereditary lands roughly encompassing the territories of present-day southeastern Montenegro, from Kotor on the west to the river Bojana on the east and to the sources of Zeta and Morača rivers on the north....
and Travunia
Travunia
Travunia was a medieval region, administrative unit and principality, which was part of Medieval Serbia , and in its last years, the Bosnian Kingdom . The county became hereditary in a number of noble houses, often kin to the ruling dynasty. The region came under Ottoman rule in 1482...
in 1148, combining the title as "Prince of Primorje" (the Maritime) and co-ruled Serbia with his brother Uroš II Prvoslav
Uroš II Prvoslav
Uroš II, also known as Primislav was Serbian Grand Prince from ca. 1145 to 1162, with brief interruptions as ruler by Desa, his brother. His rule was characterized by a period of power struggle, not only of the Serbian throne between the brothers, but between the Byzantine Empire and Hungarian...
from 1149 to 1153, and alone until 1162.
In 1190, Grand Župan
Grand Zupan
Grand, Great or Chief Župan is the English rendering of a South Slavic title which relate etymologically to župan like a Russian Grand Prince to a Knyaz .- Bulgaria :A decorated silver cup with a...
of Rascia and Stefan Nemanja
Stefan Nemanja
Stefan Nemanja was the Grand Prince of the Grand Principality of Serbia from 1166 to 1196, a heir of the Vukanović dynasty that marked the beginning of a greater Serbian realm .He is remembered for his contributions to Serbian culture and...
's son, Vukan II, asserted his right to the Dukljan crown. In 1219, the regent of Zeta and King Vukan's oldest son, Đorđe Nemanjić, became king of Duklja/Zeta. He was succeeded by his second oldest son, Uroš I, who built the 'Uspenje Bogorodice' monastery in Morača.
Between 1276 and 1309, Zeta was ruled by Queen Jelena, widow 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...
's King Uroš I. She restored around 50 monasteries in the region, most notably Saint Srđ and Vakh on the Bojana River
Bojana River
The Bojana or Buna , is a 41 km long river in Albania and Montenegro which flows into the Adriatic Sea. An outflow of Lake Skadar, measured from the source of the lake's longest tributary, the Morača, the Morača-Lake Skadar- Bojana system is 183 km long.- The river in Albania :The river...
. The name Crna Gora (Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
) was formally mentioned for the first time in 1296, in the charter of St. Nicholas' monastery in Vranjina. This charter was issued by the Serbian King Stefan Milutin Nemanjić, who was the youngest son of Uroš I and Jelena Kurtene. Crna Gora (Montenegro) was to be understood as the highland region under Mount Lovćen
Mount Lovcen
Lovćen is a mountain and national park in southwestern Montenegro.The Mount Lovćen rises from the borders of the Adriatic basin closing the long ang twisting bays of Boka Kotorska and making the hinterland to the coastal town of Kotor...
, within the confines of Zeta. By the beginning of the 14th century, during King Milutin's reign, the Archdiocese in Bar
Bar, Montenegro
Bar is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has a population of 17,727...
was the strongest feudal lord in Zeta.
From 1309 to 1321, Zeta was co-ruled by the oldest son of King Milutin, Young King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski. Similarly, from 1321 to 1331, Stefan's young son Stefan Dušan Uroš IV Nemanjić, the future Serbian King and Emperor, co-ruled Zeta with his father.
Dušan the Mighty was crowned Emperor in 1331, and ruled until his death in 1355. Uroš the Weak succeeded him, his epithet was given due to his weak rule of the Empire.
Later Žarko
Žarko (nobleman)
Žarko was a 14th-century Serbian nobleman who after the death of Serbian Emperor Dušan the Mighty is mentioned as a lord of the coasts of the Zeta region, under the succeeding Emperor Uroš the Weak Žarko (1336—before 1371) was a 14th-century Serbian nobleman who after the death of Serbian Emperor...
held the Lower Zeta region: he is mentioned in records from 1356, when he raided some traders from Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its total population is 42,641...
, not far from Sveti Srđ at Lake Skadar.
Zeta itself was held by the widow of Dušan, Jelena
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....
, who at the time was in 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...
where she had her court. The next year, in June, Žarko becomes a citizen of the Republic of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
, where he was known as "baron lord of the Serbian King, with holdings in the Zeta region and Bojana
Bojana River
The Bojana or Buna , is a 41 km long river in Albania and Montenegro which flows into the Adriatic Sea. An outflow of Lake Skadar, measured from the source of the lake's longest tributary, the Morača, the Morača-Lake Skadar- Bojana system is 183 km long.- The river in Albania :The river...
of the maritime
Pomorje
Pomorje or Primorje is a term used in historical contexts to describe one of the two geographical divisions that constituted Serbia in the Middle Ages...
".
Đuraš Ilijić
Đuraš Ilijić
Đuraš Ilijić was a Serbian nobleman that held Upper Zeta with the title of čelnik during the rule of Stefan Dečanski , Dušan the Mighty and Uroš the Weak , from 1326 until his death in 1362...
was "Head" (Kefalija, from Greek Cephalus
Cephalus
Cephalus is an Ancient Greek name, used both for the hero-figure in Greek mythology and carried as a theophoric name by historical persons. The word kephalos is Greek for "head", perhaps used here because Cephalus was the founding "head" of a great family that includes Odysseus...
) of Upper Zeta until his murder in 1362. Đuraš had been killed by the sons of a Balša
House of Balšic
The Balšić was a noble house that ruled Zeta and the coastlands , from 1362 to 1421, during the fall of the Serbian Empire. Balša, the eponymous founder, was a petty nobleman that held only one village during the rule of Emperor Dušan the Mighty The Balšić was a noble house that ruled Zeta and...
, a nobleman that held one village during the reign of Dušan.
The House of Balšić
Founding
The Balšići are mentioned as provincial Lords somewhere in between in an 1360 chart issued to the Republic of Dubrovnik by Emperor Uroš the Weak (an epithet due to his weak rule).According to Mavro Orbin (l. 1563–1614), "A poor Lord Balša", said to be ""kin to Nemanja
Stefan Nemanja
Stefan Nemanja was the Grand Prince of the Grand Principality of Serbia from 1166 to 1196, a heir of the Vukanović dynasty that marked the beginning of a greater Serbian realm .He is remembered for his contributions to Serbian culture and...
"" held only a village located between the Adriatic and Bojana river
Bojana River
The Bojana or Buna , is a 41 km long river in Albania and Montenegro which flows into the Adriatic Sea. An outflow of Lake Skadar, measured from the source of the lake's longest tributary, the Morača, the Morača-Lake Skadar- Bojana system is 183 km long.- The river in Albania :The river...
during the rule of Serbian Emperor Dušan the Mighty (r. 1331-†1355) but after the death of the Emperor and following years under his son, Uroš, by 1362 taken over Lower Zeta, going on to kill voivode Đuraš Ilijić
Đuraš Ilijić
Đuraš Ilijić was a Serbian nobleman that held Upper Zeta with the title of čelnik during the rule of Stefan Dečanski , Dušan the Mighty and Uroš the Weak , from 1326 until his death in 1362...
(founder of the House of Đurašević-Crnojević
House of Crnojevic
The Crnojević was a medieval Serb noble house that held Zeta, or parts of it; a region corresponding to north of Lake Skadar , from 1326 to 1362, then 1403 until 1515. The progenitor, Đuraš Ilijić, was head of Upper Zeta in the Serbian Kingdom and Empire The Crnojević was a medieval Serb noble...
), Duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
of Upper Zeta who had held the position since around 1326 (since King Stefan of Dečani). Balša I, together with his three sons Stracimir
Stracimir of Zeta
Stracimir is a Slavic given name. Most famous Stracimir was the prince of Zeta from 1362-1372. He was one of three sons of Balša I, the ruler of Zeta. He was never chosen to become the ruler of Zeta. He married and had a son, Đurađ, who would later become ruler of Zeta after Balša II, Stracimir's...
, Đurađ I and Balša II
Balša II
Balša II Balšić was a 14th-century nobleman, the Lord of Zeta from 1378 to 1385. He managed to expand his borders towards the south; defeating the Albanian Duke Karl Thopia....
, conquered Upper Zeta and the towns of Skadar, Kotor
Kotor
Kotor is a coastal city in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative center of the municipality....
and Bar
Bar, Montenegro
Bar is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has a population of 17,727...
. Đurađ I ruled until 1378 and Balša II until 1385.
Đurađ I
Đurađ I's rule of Zeta extended from around 1362 to 1378. During this time, he forged an alliance with King Vukašin MrnjavčevićVukašin 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...
, but Vukašin Mrnjavčević was killed soon afterwards 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. Đurađ I married Vukašin's daughter, Olivera.
Đurađ I ran Zeta as a modern ruler of the time. Zeta's institutions were functioning well, while the coastal towns enjoyed considerable autonomy. Commerce was well developed and enhanced by the existence of Zeta's currency, the dinar
Dinar
The dinar is the official currency of several countries.The history of the dinar dates to the gold dinar, an early Islamic coin corresponding to the Byzantine denarius auri...
.
Đurađ I allied with his neighbors Prince Lazar Hrebeljanović of Serbia, Ban Tvrtko I Kotromanić of Bosnia
Bosnia (region)
Bosnia is a eponomous region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It lies mainly in the Dinaric Alps, ranging to the southern borders of the Pannonian plain, with the rivers Sava and Drina marking its northern and eastern borders. The other eponomous region, the southern, other half of the country is...
, Prince Nikola I Gorjanski and King Louis I of Hungary, to defeat the ambitious Herzegovina
Herzegovina
Herzegovina is the southern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While there is no official border distinguishing it from the Bosnian region, it is generally accepted that the borders of the region are Croatia to the west, Montenegro to the south, the canton boundaries of the Herzegovina-Neretva...
'a ruler Nikola Altomanović
Nikola Altomanovic
Nikola Altomanović was Serbian župan from 14th century. He ruled vast areas from Rudnik, over Polimlje, Podrinje, east Herzegovina with Trebinje, till Konavle and Dračevica, neighboring the Republic of Dubrovnik...
in 1373. In spite of this, the defeated and blinded Nikola Altomanović found a refuge in Zeta until his death.
While he was battling in the south of Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
, Đurađ's younger brother Balša II, married Komnina, a close cousin of the mighty Tzar Dušan Uroš IV Nemanjić's wife, Jelena. By marrying Komnina, Đurađ II received a generous dowry in land, including Avlona
Vlorë
Vlorë is one of the biggest towns and the second largest port city of Albania, after Durrës, with a population of about 94,000 . It is the city where the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on November 28, 1912...
, Berat
Berat
Berat is a town located in south-central Albania. As of 2009, the town has an estimated population of around 71,000 people. It is the capital of both the District of Berat and the larger County of Berat...
, Kanina
Kaninë
Kaninë is a settlement in the Vlorë District, Vlorë County, southwestern Albania. It is home to the Kaninë Castle....
, and some additional strategically important regions.
Upon the division of Herzegovina, the Balšićs took the towns of Trebinje
Trebinje
Trebinje is the southernmost municipality and town in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is administratively part of the Republika Srpska entity and is located in southeastern Herzegovina, some from the Adriatic Sea....
, Konavle
Konavle
Konavle is a small region and municipality located southeast of Dubrovnik, Croatia.It is administratively part of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County and forms a municipality with its center at Gruda with a total population of 8,250 people split in 32 villages, in which 96.5% are Croats...
and Dračevica. Subsequent dispute over these towns led to a conflict between Zeta and Bosnia, led by Ban Tvrtko I. The fight was eventually won by Bosnia, supported by Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, after Đurađ's death in 1378.
Balša II
In 1378, following Đurađ's death, his brother Balša II became the King of Zeta. In 1382, Ban Tvrtko I conquered Dračevica, and built the town later known as Herceg-Novi. Both Tvrtko I and Balša II aspired to ascend to the throne of the House of NemanjićHouse of Nemanjic
The Nemanjić was the most important dynasty of Serbia in the Middle Ages, and one of the most important in Southeastern Europe. The royal house produced eleven Serbian monarchs between 1166 and 1371. It's progenitor was Stephen Nemanja, who descended from a cadet line of the Vukanović dynasty...
.
During his rule, Balša II's could not maintain the control of the feudal lords as his predecessor did. His power was strong only in region around Skadar
Shkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
, and in the eastern part of Zeta. The most prominent feudal lords who did not recognize Balša's rule was the House of Crnojević
House of Crnojevic
The Crnojević was a medieval Serb noble house that held Zeta, or parts of it; a region corresponding to north of Lake Skadar , from 1326 to 1362, then 1403 until 1515. The progenitor, Đuraš Ilijić, was head of Upper Zeta in the Serbian Kingdom and Empire The Crnojević was a medieval Serb noble...
, who were consistent encouraged by the Venetian
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
s to rebel against him.
Balša II needed four attempts to conquer Drač
Durrës
Durrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari...
, an important commercial and strategic center. Defeated, Karl Thopia
Karl Thopia
Karl Topia was one of the powerful feudal princes and warlord, who between them ruled Albania from the middle of the 14th century until the Ottoman conquest. To the Roman Curia, Karl maintained usually good relations, therefore that could do...
appealed to the Turks
Ottoman 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...
for help. Turkish forces led by Hajrudin Pasha inflicted heavy damage to Balša II's forces and killed him at a major battle at Saurian Field near Berat
Berat
Berat is a town located in south-central Albania. As of 2009, the town has an estimated population of around 71,000 people. It is the capital of both the District of Berat and the larger County of Berat...
, in 1385.
Đurađ II
Nikšić
Nikšić is a city in Montenegro . In 2003 the city had a total population about 75,000.Nikšić is located in Nikšić plain, at the foot of Mount Trebjesa. It is the center of the municipality , which is the largest in Montenegro by area...
) accepted the Venetian protection. The most prominent of those lords was Radič Crnojević
Radic Crnojevic
Radič Crnojević "Lord of the Zeta and Budva and the other parts of Serbia", was a Serbian lord of the Đurašević-Crnojević clan who maintained a domain in Upper Zeta. Radič later expanded his domain to parts of Lower Zeta, including Grbalj, Paštrovići and Budva. Radič was a son of Crnoje...
, who controlled the area between Budva
Budva
Budva is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has around 15,000 inhabitants, and it is the centre of municipality...
and Mount Lovćen
Mount Lovcen
Lovćen is a mountain and national park in southwestern Montenegro.The Mount Lovćen rises from the borders of the Adriatic basin closing the long ang twisting bays of Boka Kotorska and making the hinterland to the coastal town of Kotor...
. Moreover, a number of Arbanas feudal lords, particularly Lekë Dukagjini
Lekë Dukagjini
Lekë III Dukagjini was an Albanian prince who fought against the Ottoman Empire. A contemporary of Skanderbeg, Dukagjini is known for the Kanuni i Lekë Dukagjinit, a code of law instituted in northern Albania.- Biography :...
and Paul Dukagjini joined the conspiracy against Đurađ II.
With this in mind as well as the constant danger from the Turks, Đurađ II maintained strong family ties with the Serbia's main lord of the time, Prince Lazar. To help Prince Lazar defend the Serbian lands from Ottoman
Ottoman 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...
invasion, Đurađ II sent his troops along with Ban Tvrtko I Kotromanić's forces (with whom he had a dispute over Kotor
Kotor
Kotor is a coastal city in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative center of the municipality....
) to meet the Ottoman army at Kosovo Polje
Kosovo Polje
Kosovo Polje or Fushë Kosova is a town and municipality in the Pristina district of central Kosovo, at 42.63° North, 21.12° East, or approximately eight kilometres south-west of the capital Pristina...
. Despite Sultan Murad I
Murad I
Murad I was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from 1361 to 1389...
's death, the Serbian army suffered a defeat at the epic Battle of Kosovo
Battle of Kosovo
The Battle of Kosovo took place on St. Vitus' Day, June 15, 1389, between the army led by Serbian Prince Lazar Hrebeljanović, and the invading army of the Ottoman Empire under the leadership of Sultan Murad I...
in 1389. According to the sources, Đurađ II did not participate in the battle, being in Ulcinj
Ulcinj
Ulcinj is a coastal resort town and municipality in Montenegro. The town of Ulcinj has a population of 10,828 of which the majority are Albanians...
in Southern Zeta.
In later years, Đurađ II played skillful diplomatic games to enhance the rivalry between the Ottomans and the Venetians
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
. To that purpose, he offered Skadar to both hoping that eventually he would be able to keep it. After two years of fighting, Turks and Venetians agreed to leave it to Đurađ II, who was neutral in the conflict. Similarly, the rivalry between Venetians and Hungarians brought a benefit to him. After a serious defeat of his forces by Turks near Nicopolis
Nikopol, Bulgaria
Nikopol is a town in northern Bulgaria, the administrative center of Nikopol municipality, part of Pleven Province, on the right bank of the Danube river, 4 km downstream from the mouth of the Osam river. It spreads at the foot of steep chalk cliffs along the Danube and up a narrow valley...
, the Hungarian King Sigismund
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...
gave him the title of Prince of Arbania and the control over the islands of Hvar
Hvar
- Climate :The climate of Hvar is characterized by mild winters and warm summers. The yearly average air temperature is , 686 mm of precipitation fall on the town of Hvar on average every year and the town has a total of 2800 sunshine hours per year. For comparison Hvar has an average of 7.7...
and Korčula
Korcula
Korčula is an island in the Adriatic Sea, in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County of Croatia. The island has an area of ; long and on average wide — and lies just off the Dalmatian coast. Its 16,182 inhabitants make it the second most populous Adriatic island after Krk...
.
In the feud between Đurađ Branković and his uncle, Stefan Lazarević
Stefan Lazarevic
Stefan Lazarević known also as Stevan the Tall was a Serbian Despot, ruler of the Serbian Despotate between 1389 and 1427. He was the son and heir to Prince Lazar, who died at the Battle of Kosovo against the Turks in 1389, and Princess Milica from the subordinate branch of the Nemanjić dynasty...
(son of Prince Lazar), who later received the title of Byzantine Despot, Đurađ II sided with Stefan. Due to Đurađ's support, Stefan defeated Turkish forces led by Đurađ Branković in the Battle of Tripolje
Battle of Tripolje
The Battle of Tripolje took place in November 1402 between the Serbian Despotate and the Brankovic family. The Brankovic family, who were attempting to seize the Serbian throne for themselves, entered the battle along with Turkish troops given to them by Suleiman, and were decisively defeated by...
on Kosovo Field in November 1402.
Balša III
In 1403, Đurađ II's 17-year old son, Balša IIIBalša III
Balša III was the fifth and last ruler of Zeta from the House of Balša, from April 1403 - May 1421. He was the son of Đurađ II and Jelena Lazarević.- Reign :...
, inherited the throne of Zeta after his father died as a consequence of the injuries he suffered in the Battle of Tripolje
Battle of Tripolje
The Battle of Tripolje took place in November 1402 between the Serbian Despotate and the Brankovic family. The Brankovic family, who were attempting to seize the Serbian throne for themselves, entered the battle along with Turkish troops given to them by Suleiman, and were decisively defeated by...
. As he was young and inexperienced, his main advisor was his mother Jelena, a sister of the Serbian ruler, Stefan Lazarević
Stefan Lazarevic
Stefan Lazarević known also as Stevan the Tall was a Serbian Despot, ruler of the Serbian Despotate between 1389 and 1427. He was the son and heir to Prince Lazar, who died at the Battle of Kosovo against the Turks in 1389, and Princess Milica from the subordinate branch of the Nemanjić dynasty...
. Under her influence, Balša III declared Montenegrin Orthodox Christianity as the official state religion; however, Catholicism was tolerated.
Balša III continued the policies of his father. In 1418, took Skadar from the Venetians, but lost Budva
Budva
Budva is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has around 15,000 inhabitants, and it is the centre of municipality...
. In the following year he made an unsuccessful attempt to recapture Budva. Afterwards he went to Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
to ask for help from Despot Stefan, but never returned to Zeta.
Stefan Lazarević
In 1421, before his death and under the influence of his mother Jelena, Balša III passed the rule of Zeta to Despot Stefan LazarevićStefan Lazarevic
Stefan Lazarević known also as Stevan the Tall was a Serbian Despot, ruler of the Serbian Despotate between 1389 and 1427. He was the son and heir to Prince Lazar, who died at the Battle of Kosovo against the Turks in 1389, and Princess Milica from the subordinate branch of the Nemanjić dynasty...
. He fought Venetians and regained Bar
Bar, Montenegro
Bar is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has a population of 17,727...
in mid-1423, and in the following year he sent his nephew Đurađ Branković, who regaining Drivast
Drivast
Drivast was an important medieval town in contemporary Albania. Today, it is located in the municipality Postribë in the Shkodër District.- History :Drivast is known to have existed before the twelfth century AD...
and Ulcinium (Ulcinj
Ulcinj
Ulcinj is a coastal resort town and municipality in Montenegro. The town of Ulcinj has a population of 10,828 of which the majority are Albanians...
).
Đurađ Branković
In 1427, Despot Stefan died and Serbian was inherited by his nephew, Despot Đurađ Branković who, at the time, needed to confront the more serious threat of the Ottoman Empire, and so could not pay particular attention to Zeta.Ascent to power
The House of Crnojević began with two brothers, Đurađ and Aleksa Đurašević-Crnojević, from the area around Mount LovćenMount Lovcen
Lovćen is a mountain and national park in southwestern Montenegro.The Mount Lovćen rises from the borders of the Adriatic basin closing the long ang twisting bays of Boka Kotorska and making the hinterland to the coastal town of Kotor...
. But far more important roles in establishing this family's rule in Zeta were played by Stefan I Crnojević
Stefan I Crnojevic
Stefan a.k.a. Stefanica Crnojević was a medieval lord of the Principality of Zeta , from the House of Crnojević that ruled it from 1451 to 1465.-Reign:...
(1451–1465) and his son Ivan Crnojević (1465–1490). Ivan's son Đurađ Crnojević (1490–1496) was the last ruler from this dynasty. Beginning with the House of Crnojević rule, Zeta began to be referred to commonly as Crna Gora (Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
).
Stefan I
Stefan I CrnojevićStefan I Crnojevic
Stefan a.k.a. Stefanica Crnojević was a medieval lord of the Principality of Zeta , from the House of Crnojević that ruled it from 1451 to 1465.-Reign:...
consolidated his power in Zeta and ruled for 14 years, from 1451 until 1465. During his rule, he saw the Despotate completely subdued by Turkey soon after the death of Despot Đurađ Branković. Under Stefan Crnojević, Montenegro comprised the Lovćen area around Cetinje, 51 municipalities which included Rijeka Crnojevića
Rijeka Crnojevića
Rijeka Crnojevića is a city settlement in Montenegro beside the river of Crnojević - near the coast of Skadar lake.It is part of Old Royal Capital Cetinje.With 300 citizens, Rijeka Crnojevića is seat of Riječka nahija....
(Crnojević River), the valley of the River Zeta
Zeta River
Zeta is a river in Montenegro. It starts near Nikšić, under the Planinica hill flows eastwards for until it confluences into the Morača River just north of Podgorica....
and the clans Bjelopavlići
Bjelopavlici (clan)
Bjelopavlići is a Serb clan and region in central Montenegro . The clan is situated around Danilovgrad.-History:The Bjelopavlići are first mentioned Serbian documents dated to 1411, when they, together with Malonšići, Ozrinići and Maznići loot a ship from Dubrovnik. The eponymous founder, Bijeli...
, Pješivci
Pješivci
Pješivci are a Montenegrin tribe from Montenegro consisting of numerous fraternities of mutual origin.Pjesivci are firstly mentioned in 1455 in the contract between Stefan Crnojevic and the people from Gornja Zeta with the Venetians...
, Malonsići, Piperi
Piperi clan
The Piperi tribe is a Highland clan of Montenegro. Their land is located in the northeast; between the Morača and Zeta rivers, reaching the northern suburbs of Montenegrin capital Podgorica.-History:...
, Hoti, Klimenti (Kelmendi)
Kelmendi
Kelmend, or Kelmendi mountains is a region and clan in the mountainous borderlands of Albania and Montenegro, of the wider Malësia-region . Part of the region lies within the Kelmend municipality, and is composed of a Roman Catholic majority and Muslim minority...
and others. The population of the territories controlled by Stefan was about 30,000. Total population of Zeta (including regions under the Venetian, Kosača's and Turkish rule), was about 80,000 people.
Capitalising on the weak position of Despot Đurađ, the Venetians and Herzog Stjepan Vukčić Kosača
Stjepan Vukcic Kosaca
Stjepan Vukčić Kosača was a Herzegovina nobleman. He was a member of the House of Kosača, a Grand Duke of Herzegovina, Lord of Zahumlje and Primorje and also Herzog of Serbian Saint Sava...
of St. Sava (the region of Herzegovina
Herzegovina
Herzegovina is the southern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While there is no official border distinguishing it from the Bosnian region, it is generally accepted that the borders of the region are Croatia to the west, Montenegro to the south, the canton boundaries of the Herzegovina-Neretva...
is named after him) conquered parts of his territory. Stefan I Crnojević, who had already established himself as the head of House of Crnojević (around 1451) in Upper Zeta was forced to make territorial concessions. In addition, Kosača took Stefan's son, Ivan a hostage, hoping that this will force Stefan to side with him when needed.
Stefan married Mara, a daughter of a prominent Albanian Gjon Kastrioti
Gjon Kastrioti
Gjon Kastrioti , member of Kastrioti family, son of Pal Kastrioti, was an Albanian lord and the father of Scanderbeg. He was called also Hamza Kastrioti.- Name :...
, whose son was the Albanian national hero, Skanderbeg
Skanderbeg
George Kastrioti Skanderbeg or Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu , widely known as Skanderbeg , was a 15th-century Albanian lord. He was appointed as the governor of the Sanjak of Dibra by the Ottomans in 1440...
. In 1455, Stefan entered into an agreement with his ally Venice, stipulating that Zeta would recognize the nominal supremacy of Venice while maintaining its factual independence in virtually every respect. The agreement also stipulated that Zeta would assist Venice militarily on specific occasions in exchange for an annual provision. But in all other respects, Stefan's rule in Zeta was undisputed.
Ivan
Ivan Crnojević became ruler of Zeta/MontenegroMontenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
in 1465. His rule lasted until 1490. Immediately after taking the throne, Ivan attacked Venice breaking the alliance his father had forged. He fought Venice in an attempt to capture Kotor
Kotor
Kotor is a coastal city in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative center of the municipality....
. He had some success, gaining increasing support from the coastal Slavic tribes of Grbalj and Paštrovići
Paštrovici
The Paštrovići is a coastal clan in Montenegro.- History :The people and land of Paštrovići is mentioned for the first time in 1355, when Serbian emperor Dušan Silni sent his nobleman Nikolica Paštrović in diplomatic mission in Dubrovnik...
in his quest to assert control over the Bay of Kotor. But when the Ottoman campaign in northern Albania and Bosnia convinced him that the main source of danger to his country was to the East, he sought a compromise with Venice. Ivan fought numerous battles against the Turks.
Mehmed II
Mehmed II , was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire for a short time from 1444 to September 1446, and later from...
and eventually won the war in 1474. However, this victory was short-lived, since the Sultan's forces conquered Skadar in 1479 and signed a peace treaty with Venice. Ivan had aspirations to organise an anti-Turkish alliance consisting of Napolitan
Kingdom of Naples
The Kingdom of Naples, comprising the southern part of the Italian peninsula, was the remainder of the old Kingdom of Sicily after secession of the island of Sicily as a result of the Sicilian Vespers rebellion of 1282. Known to contemporaries as the Kingdom of Sicily, it is dubbed Kingdom of...
, Venetian, Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, and Zetan forces. However, his dream could not be fulfilled since the Venetians did not dare to help Ivan after their peace treaty with the Ottoman Empire in 1479. Left on his own, Ivan single-handedly managed to preserve Zeta from frequent Ottoman offensives.
Knowing that the Ottomans would try to punish him for fighting on the Venetian side, and in order to preserve his independence, in 1482 he moved his capital from Žabljak
Žabljak
Žabljak is a small town in northern Montenegro. It has a population of 1,937.Žabljak is the seat of the municipality...
on Lake Skadar to the mountainous area of Dolac, under Mount Lovćen
Mount Lovcen
Lovćen is a mountain and national park in southwestern Montenegro.The Mount Lovćen rises from the borders of the Adriatic basin closing the long ang twisting bays of Boka Kotorska and making the hinterland to the coastal town of Kotor...
. There he built the Orthodox Christian
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
monastery (Cetinje Monastery
Cetinje Monastery
The Cetinje Monastery is the most famous Serb Orthodox monastery in Montenegro. It is located in Cetinje and is the seat of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral and its name derives from Saint Peter of Cetinje...
) around which the capital, Cetinje
Cetinje
Cetinje , Цетиње / Cetinje , Italian: Cettigne, Greek: Κετίγνη, Ketígni) is a town and Old Royal Capital of Montenegro. It is also a historical and the secondary capital of Montenegro , with the official residence of the President of Montenegro...
, would emerge. This event marks the end of the history of Zeta, since the country permanently changed its name to Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
during Đurađ Crnojević's rise to power.
Đurađ IV
Đurađ IV Crnojević became ruler of Zeta in 1490. His rule lasted until 1496. Đurađ, Ivan's oldest son, was an educated ruler. He is most famous for one historical act: he used the printing press brought to Cetinje by his father to print the first books in southeastern Europe, in 1493. The Crnojević printing press marked the beginning of the printed word among South Slavs. The press operated from 1493 through 1496, turning out religious books, five of which have been preserved: Oktoih prvoglasnik, Oktoih petoglasnik, Psaltir, Molitvenik, and Četvorojevanđelje. Đurađ managed the printing of the books, wrote prefaces and afterwords, and developed sophisticated tables of PsalmsPsalms
The Book of Psalms , commonly referred to simply as Psalms, is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible...
with the lunar calendar
Lunar calendar
A lunar calendar is a calendar that is based on cycles of the lunar phase. A common purely lunar calendar is the Islamic calendar or Hijri calendar. A feature of the Islamic calendar is that a year is always 12 months, so the months are not linked with the seasons and drift each solar year by 11 to...
. The books from the Crnojević press were printed in two colors, red and black, and were richly ornamented. They served as models for many books printed in Cyrillic.
After the rule of Zeta was handed to Đurađ, his youngest brother, Staniša, with no chance to succeed his father, Ivan, went to Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
and converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. As a loyal servant of the Sultan, Staniša later became the Shkodrian Sanjak-Bey
Sanjak-bey
Sanjak-bey, Sanjaq-bey or -beg was the Turkish title of the Bey in military and administrative command of a sanjak , answerable to a Wāli or other provincial governor. In a few cases the Sanjak-Bey was himself a governor directly answering to Istanbul....
under the name of Skender. His brothers, Đurađ and Stefan II continued the struggle against Ottomans. The historical facts are unclear and disputed, but it seems that the Venetians, frustrated by their own inability to subdue the House of Crnojević to their own interests, managed to kill Stefan II and deceitfully sent Đurađ to Constantinople. Principally, Đurađ visited Venice to work on the wide anti-Ottoman campaign, but was kept in captivity for some time while Stefan II was defending Zeta against the Ottomans. It is likely that upon his return to Zeta, Đurađ was kidnapped by the Venetian agents and sent to Constantinople under the accusation that he had been organizing a Holy War
Religious war
A religious war; Latin: bellum sacrum; is a war caused by, or justified by, religious differences. It can involve one state with an established religion against another state with a different religion or a different sect within the same religion, or a religiously motivated group attempting to...
against Islam. There are some unreliable claims that Đurađ was given Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
to rule, but in any case the reports about Đurađ's whereabouts ceased after 1503.
End of the principality
After the death of Đurađ Crnojević, Zeta was ruled by his brother Stefan II, as an Ottoman vassal. The end of the 15th century and of Stefan's rule marked the end of the House of Crnojević. In the new administrative division of the BalkansBalkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
, Zeta was a part of the Sanjak of İşkodra (Skadar) from 1499 to 1514. During this period, while Brda and North-West of Montenegro were nominally independent, the part of Zeta under Mount Lovćen remained entirely independent. By the end of the 15th century, Upper Zeta comprised Katunska, fRiječka, Crmnička
Crmnica
Crmnica is a geographical region in southern Montenegro. It is within the municipality of Bar and is considered a division of that municipality. The capital of the region is Virpazar...
, and Lješanska
Lezhë
Lezhë is a city in northwest Albania, in the district and county with the same name. It is located at and has a population of about 27,500...
Nahijas.
In 1514, Zeta was proclaimed as the separate Sanjak of Montenegro, by the order of Sultan Beyazid II. Ivan Crnojević's son Staniša (Skenderbeg), who converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
was chosen ad the first Sanjak-Bey and governed until 1528. Despite Skenderbeg's emphasized cruelty, Ottomans did not have real power in Zeta. The real power was in the hands of tribal heads. From 1534 onwards, there is no more mention of the Crnojevićs in Zeta. They reappeared in Montenegrin history as Čarnojevićs. Their most prominent member was Archbishop of Peć and Patriarch of Slavs Arsenije III Čarnojević
Arsenije III Carnojevic
Arsenije III Čarnojević was the Archbishop of Peć and Patriarch of Serbs from 1674 to 1691 and Metropolitan of Szentendre from 1691 to his death in 1706.-Family:Arsenije was born to the Cetinje clan of Old Montenegro...
(1633–1706).
In 1516, there was a shift in the constitution of Zeta. The last member of the House of Crnojević retired to Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
and married a Venetian. This conferred the succession upon the bishops of Cetinje. In Zeta, the position of vladika, as the prince-bishop
Prince-Bishop
A Prince-Bishop is a bishop who is a territorial Prince of the Church on account of one or more secular principalities, usually pre-existent titles of nobility held concurrently with their inherent clerical office...
was known, brought stability to that country's leadership. The link between church and state elevated it in the eyes of the peasantry, gave it an institutionalized form of succession that prevented its becoming a matter of contest between minor chieftains, and excluded the possibility of compromising alliances with the Ottomans.
The Principality of Zeta officially ended when it was turned into a theocratic state by the Vladikas
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
(Prince-Bishops or Prince-Episcopes) when they seized the power in 1516. Zeta became known internationally as "Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
" (meaning black mountain) because the mountain realm, though isolated, was visible to Venetian speaking merchants and seamen operating out of the ports of Cattaro and Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its total population is 42,641...
on the Dalmatian coast. Indeed, access to the principality was only possible by way of the perilous Steps of Cattaro that twist their way steeply into the dark, forbidding mountains above the town. The Ottomans had controlled a part of Zeta since 1498, that was known as the Sanjak of Montenegro, the Republic of Venice controlled Cattaro and the Vladikas of Montenegro controlled the rest.
House of Nemanjić
- Grand Zhupan Stefan NemanjaStefan NemanjaStefan Nemanja was the Grand Prince of the Grand Principality of Serbia from 1166 to 1196, a heir of the Vukanović dynasty that marked the beginning of a greater Serbian realm .He is remembered for his contributions to Serbian culture and...
(1186–1196) - Vukan II Nemanjić of Duklja/Zeta and Dalmatia (1196–1208)
- King Đorđe Nemanjić 1208-1243
- King Stefan Uroš I 1243-1276
- Queen Helene d'Anjou (Widow of King Stefan Uroš I) (1276–1309)
- King Stefan Milutin Nemanjić (1309–1321)
- King Stefan Uroš III Nemanjić (St. Stefan Dečanski) (1309–1321)
- King Stefan Dečanski|Stefan Uroš III Nemanjić (St. Stefan Dečanski) (1321–1331)
- King Stefan Dušan Uroš IV Nemanjić (1321–1331)
- King and Tsar Stefan Dušan Uroš IV Nemanjić (1331–1355)
House of Balšić
- Balša I (1356–1362)
- Đurađ I (1362–1378)
- Balša IIBalša IIBalša II Balšić was a 14th-century nobleman, the Lord of Zeta from 1378 to 1385. He managed to expand his borders towards the south; defeating the Albanian Duke Karl Thopia....
(1378–1385) - Đurađ II (1385–1403)
- Balša IIIBalša IIIBalša III was the fifth and last ruler of Zeta from the House of Balša, from April 1403 - May 1421. He was the son of Đurađ II and Jelena Lazarević.- Reign :...
(1403–1421)
House of Crnojević
- Gojčin Crnojević (1435–1451)
- Stefan I CrnojevićStefan I CrnojevicStefan a.k.a. Stefanica Crnojević was a medieval lord of the Principality of Zeta , from the House of Crnojević that ruled it from 1451 to 1465.-Reign:...
(1451–1465) - Ivan Crnojević (1465–1490)
- Đurađ Crnojević (1490–1496)
- Stefan II Crnojević (1496–1498)
Sources
- Dr Željko Fajfrić - Sveta loza Stefana Nemanje, 1998
- J. Jovanović, Stvaranje Crnogorske Države i Razvoj Crnogorske Nacionalnosti, 1947, Cetinje pages 18, 28, 36, 43, and 54-55
- D. Živković, Istorija Crnogorskog Naroda, 1989, Cetinje