Stefan I Crnojevic
Encyclopedia
Stefan a.k.a. Stefanica Crnojević (Serbian Cyrillic: Стефан, Стефаница Црнојевић; 1426-1465) was a medieval lord of the Principality of Zeta
(in Old Montenegro
), from the House of Crnojević
that ruled it from 1451 to 1465.
, but did not agree with the other Crnojević members and pursued his goals on his own, outside the mainstream of the family.
With the temporary Ottoman occupation of the Serbian Despotate
's main continental territories in 1441, Despot Đurađ Branković came to Zeta from the Ragusian Republic to organize resistance and liberate the occupied parts, but the attempt did not come to fruition and resulted with the blinding of the despot's two captured sons in retaliation. With his departure back to Hungary, Stefan aligned with the Bosnian
nobleman Stefan Vukčić Kosača of Hum
.
Stefanica married the oldest daughter of Albanian lord Gjon Kastrioti
, Maria Kastrioti, also called Mamica. This family link became really important when in 1443 John's son and Maria's brother, George Kastrioti Skanderbeg rebelled in Albania against his Turkish sovereign and served as a shield against Ottoman expansion to the Crnojević's lands for decades. In 1444 lord Stefan Crnojević found strong new protectors in the Venetian Republic, but with the restoration of the Serbian Despotate after the Crusade, Stefan gave his loyalty to Despot Đurađ Branković in 1448.
After the disappearance of Stefan's brother Goycinus from political life in 1451, Stefan took over the leadership of the house of Crnojević and became the ruler of a large part of Zeta. Stefanica was never good with his brothers and always led politics on his own. To strengthen his position, he decided to immediately seek foreign protection. In 1452 he gave his loyalty to Venice, and became her hired Captain, subsequently entitled Duke of Upper Zeta. Wisely, he anticipated the downfall of the Serbian Despots, and decided to align with the Venetians. In 1455 the Ottoman Turks invaded Serbia and conquered all of its territories south of the Western Morava river, completely cutting Zeta off from the core of the Despotate. Therefore, Duke Stefan Crnojević along with representatives from all 51 municipalities from Upper Zeta signed an agreement the same year with the Venetians in Vranjina
, by which Upper Zeta accepted Venetian rule. Venice came to rule only the cities, while all internal affairs were left to duke Stefan. The Republic of Venice also bound itself not to mettle with the ecclesiastical authority Serbian Orthodox
Metropolitan of Zeta
in any way.
Montenegro
slowly became the name of Stefan's Zetan realm. He reigned peacefully without the intervention of Venice and the Ottomans until his death in late 1464 or the beginning of 1465, when his son Ivan succeeded him.
Principality of Zeta
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...
(in Old Montenegro
Old Montenegro
Old Montenegro is a geo-historical part of the modern Republic of Montenegro. It refers to the territory of the Principality of Montenegrin prior to its expansion and the proclamation of a kingdom during the Balkan Wars...
), from 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...
that ruled it from 1451 to 1465.
Reign
Stefan was born in 1426 as the third son of the Zetan Duke Đurađ Đurašević Crnojević and the daughter of Albanian nobleman Kojë Zakarija. He became nicknamed "Stefanica". When Stefanica grew up, he became one of the many noblemen who governed parts of Zeta within the Serbian DespotateSerbian Despotate
The Serbian Despotate was a Serbian state, the last to be conquered by the Ottoman Empire. Although the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 is generally considered the end of the medieval Serbian state, the Despotate, a successor of the Serbian Empire and Moravian Serbia survived for 70 more years,...
, but did not agree with the other Crnojević members and pursued his goals on his own, outside the mainstream of the family.
With the temporary Ottoman occupation of the Serbian Despotate
Serbian Despotate
The Serbian Despotate was a Serbian state, the last to be conquered by the Ottoman Empire. Although the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 is generally considered the end of the medieval Serbian state, the Despotate, a successor of the Serbian Empire and Moravian Serbia survived for 70 more years,...
's main continental territories in 1441, Despot Đurađ Branković came to Zeta from the Ragusian Republic to organize resistance and liberate the occupied parts, but the attempt did not come to fruition and resulted with the blinding of the despot's two captured sons in retaliation. With his departure back to Hungary, Stefan aligned with the Bosnian
Bosnians
Bosnians are people who reside in, or come from, Bosnia and Herzegovina. By the modern state definition a Bosnian can be anyone who holds citizenship of the state. This includes, but is not limited to, members of the constituent ethnic groups of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Bosniaks, Bosnian Serbs and...
nobleman Stefan Vukčić Kosača of Hum
Zahumlje
Zachlumia or Zahumlje was a medieval principality located in modern-day regions of Herzegovina and southern Dalmatia...
.
Stefanica married the oldest daughter of Albanian lord 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 :...
, Maria Kastrioti, also called Mamica. This family link became really important when in 1443 John's son and Maria's brother, George Kastrioti Skanderbeg rebelled in Albania against his Turkish sovereign and served as a shield against Ottoman expansion to the Crnojević's lands for decades. In 1444 lord Stefan Crnojević found strong new protectors in the Venetian Republic, but with the restoration of the Serbian Despotate after the Crusade, Stefan gave his loyalty to Despot Đurađ Branković in 1448.
After the disappearance of Stefan's brother Goycinus from political life in 1451, Stefan took over the leadership of the house of Crnojević and became the ruler of a large part of Zeta. Stefanica was never good with his brothers and always led politics on his own. To strengthen his position, he decided to immediately seek foreign protection. In 1452 he gave his loyalty to Venice, and became her hired Captain, subsequently entitled Duke of Upper Zeta. Wisely, he anticipated the downfall of the Serbian Despots, and decided to align with the Venetians. In 1455 the Ottoman Turks invaded Serbia and conquered all of its territories south of the Western Morava river, completely cutting Zeta off from the core of the Despotate. Therefore, Duke Stefan Crnojević along with representatives from all 51 municipalities from Upper Zeta signed an agreement the same year with the Venetians in Vranjina
Vranjina
Vranjina is an island in Skadar Lake in the Montenegrin municipality of Podgorica.-About the island:Created by a delta of the Morača River, the island is in the northern part of the lake...
, by which Upper Zeta accepted Venetian rule. Venice came to rule only the cities, while all internal affairs were left to duke Stefan. The Republic of Venice also bound itself not to mettle with the ecclesiastical authority Serbian Orthodox
Serbian Orthodox Church
The Serbian Orthodox Church is one of the autocephalous Orthodox Christian churches, ranking sixth in order of seniority after Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Russia...
Metropolitan of Zeta
Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral
The Metropolitanate of Montenegro is the largest diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro. Founded in 1219 by Saint Sava, it is now one of the most prominent dioceses in the Serbian Orthodox Church. The current Metropolitan is Amfilohije...
in any way.
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...
slowly became the name of Stefan's Zetan realm. He reigned peacefully without the intervention of Venice and the Ottomans until his death in late 1464 or the beginning of 1465, when his son Ivan succeeded him.