Radoslav Hlapen
Encyclopedia
Radoslav Hlapen was a Serbian voivode (military commander) in the service of Emperor
Dušan the Mighty (r. 1331-1355). He took part in the operations into the south, Macedonia
, and was given a region north of Thessaly (including Edessa
and Veria
) to govern in the early 1350s.
, Radoslav was "truly among the most notable [of Serb nobility], a relative of Dušan". He was a military commander of the Serbian Empire
under Stephen Uroš IV Dušan of Serbia, and participated in the expansional operations in the 1350s. He was appointed governor of Voden and Veria, just north of Thessaly
.
Emperor Dušan died in Devoll
, on 20 December 1355. Dušan was succeeded by his son Stephen Uroš V of Serbia, "the Weak". After the violent death of the governor of Thessaly Caesar
Preljub
(1356), Preljub's son Thomas claim to the region was asserted by the widow Irene. The Preljubović family was forced to flee to Serbia after the advance of Nikephoros II Orsini
in 1356. Irene married Radoslav Hlapen, who adopted Thomas.
Despot Simeon Uroš
, the brother of Dušan, was appointed governor of Epirus and Acarnania in 1348. Following the death of Dušan and subsequent invasion of Nikephoros II, Simeon Uroš retreated to Kastoria, where he proclaimed himself "Emperor of Serbs, Greeks and Albanians". Simeon Uroš acquired the support of John Komnenos Asen
(the brother-in-law of Dušan). In response, the Serbian nobility held a council in April 1357 at Skopje
, in which they vowed to support Emperor Uroš, according to Dušan's will. In the summer of 1358, Simeon Uroš advance on Zeta was stopped at Skadar, where his army of 5,000 men was defeated by the Serbian nobility. Simeon Uroš returned to Kastoria, and never again tried to acquire Serbia. During the absence of Simeon Uroš in Epirus (1359), Hlapen invaded Thessaly on behalf of his stepson Thomas. Simeon Uroš was forced to cut his losses by recognizing Radoslav Hlapen's conquests, turning over Kastoria to him, and marrying his daughter Maria to Thomas. Hlapen continued to recognize Uroš' suzerainty, and provided a buffer between Uroš V and Simeon Uroš. After the treaty between Hlapen and Simeon Uroš, the latter settled in Thessaly.
He retired as a monk in the Vodoča monastery where he also was buried, a votive ring was found at the site. He also founded a church in Kučevište, Skopje
.
, and had three children:
Emperor of Serbia
The Emperor of Serbia or Emperor of the Serbs and Greeks was the imperial title used during the Serbian Empire , by only two monarchs; Stefan Uroš IV Dušan the Mighty and Stefan Uroš V the Weak.-History:...
Dušan the Mighty (r. 1331-1355). He took part in the operations into the south, 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...
, and was given a region north of Thessaly (including Edessa
Edessa
Edessa may refer to:*Edessa, Greece*Edessa, Mesopotamia, now Şanlıurfa, Turkey*County of Edessa, a crusader state*Osroene, an ancient kingdom and province of the Roman Empire...
and Veria
Veria
Veria is a city built at the foot of Vermion Mountains in Greece. It is a commercial center of Macedonia, the capital of the prefecture of Imathia, the province of Imathia and the seat of a bishop of the Greek Orthodox Church...
) to govern in the early 1350s.
Life
Radoslav was born around 1322. According to John VI KantakouzenosJohn VI Kantakouzenos
John VI Kantakouzenos or Cantacuzenus was the Byzantine emperor from 1347 to 1354.-Early life:Born in Constantinople, John Kantakouzenos was the son of a Michael Kantakouzenos, governor of the Morea. Through his mother Theodora Palaiologina Angelina, he was a descendant of the reigning house of...
, Radoslav was "truly among the most notable [of Serb nobility], a relative of Dušan". He was a military commander 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 Stephen Uroš IV Dušan of Serbia, and participated in the expansional operations in the 1350s. He was appointed governor of Voden and Veria, just north of Thessaly
Thessaly
Thessaly is a traditional geographical region and an administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thessaly was known as Aeolia, and appears thus in Homer's Odyssey....
.
Emperor Dušan died in Devoll
Devoll
Devoll may refer to*Devoll District, in the Korçë County of south-eastern Albania.*Devoll Hydro Power Plant, a proposed power plant on the Devoll River, in Albania.*Devoll , in southern Albania....
, on 20 December 1355. Dušan was succeeded by his son Stephen Uroš V of Serbia, "the Weak". After the violent death of the governor of Thessaly Caesar
Caesar (title)
Caesar is a title of imperial character. It derives from the cognomen of Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator...
Preljub
Preljub
Gregory Preljub or simply Preljub was a 14th-century Serbian noble and voivode who conquered and ruled Thessaly with the rank of Caesar in 1348–1356 under Emperor Stephen IV Dushan...
(1356), Preljub's son Thomas claim to the region was asserted by the widow Irene. The Preljubović family was forced to flee to Serbia after the advance of Nikephoros II Orsini
Nikephoros II Orsini
Nikephoros II Orsini - Doukas , was the ruler of Epirus from 1335 to 1338 and from 1356 until his death in 1359.-Life:...
in 1356. Irene married Radoslav Hlapen, who adopted Thomas.
Despot Simeon Uroš
Simeon Uroš
Simeon Uroš Nemanjić, nicknamed Siniša , also known in Greek as Symeōn Ouresēs Palaiologos , was the Despot of Epirus from 1359 to 1366, and of Thessaly from 1359 until his death in 1370. He governed Epirus and Acarnania under his half-brother Emperor Dušan the Mighty Simeon Uroš Nemanjić,...
, the brother of Dušan, was appointed governor of Epirus and Acarnania in 1348. Following the death of Dušan and subsequent invasion of Nikephoros II, Simeon Uroš retreated to Kastoria, where he proclaimed himself "Emperor of Serbs, Greeks and Albanians". Simeon Uroš acquired the support of John Komnenos Asen
John Komnenos Asen
John Komnenos Asen was the ruler of the Principality of Valona from circa 1345 to 1363, initially as a Serbian vassal and after 1355 as a largely independent lord. Descended from high-ranking Bulgarian nobility, John was a brother of both Tsar Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria and Helena of Bulgaria, the...
(the brother-in-law of Dušan). In response, the Serbian nobility held a council in April 1357 at Skopje
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
, in which they vowed to support Emperor Uroš, according to Dušan's will. In the summer of 1358, Simeon Uroš advance on Zeta was stopped at Skadar, where his army of 5,000 men was defeated by the Serbian nobility. Simeon Uroš returned to Kastoria, and never again tried to acquire Serbia. During the absence of Simeon Uroš in Epirus (1359), Hlapen invaded Thessaly on behalf of his stepson Thomas. Simeon Uroš was forced to cut his losses by recognizing Radoslav Hlapen's conquests, turning over Kastoria to him, and marrying his daughter Maria to Thomas. Hlapen continued to recognize Uroš' suzerainty, and provided a buffer between Uroš V and Simeon Uroš. After the treaty between Hlapen and Simeon Uroš, the latter settled in Thessaly.
He retired as a monk in the Vodoča monastery where he also was buried, a votive ring was found at the site. He also founded a church in Kučevište, Skopje
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
.
Family
He married Irene, the widow of PreljubPreljub
Gregory Preljub or simply Preljub was a 14th-century Serbian noble and voivode who conquered and ruled Thessaly with the rank of Caesar in 1348–1356 under Emperor Stephen IV Dushan...
, and had three children:
- Maria Angelina Radoslava, married Alexios Angelos PhilanthropenosAlexios Angelos PhilanthropenosAlexios Angelos Philanthropenos was a Byzantine Greek nobleman who ruled Thessaly from 1373 until ca. 1390 with the title of Caesar....
- Jelena, married Prince MarkoPrince MarkoMarko Mrnjavčević was de jure the Serbian king from 1371 to 1395, while de facto he ruled only over a territory in western Macedonia centered on the town of Prilep...
- Unnamed, married Nicholas Pagases (Nikola Bagaš)