Vukašin Mrnjavčević

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vukashin (Влъкашинъ; Serbian: Вукашин Мрњавчевић or Vukašin Mrnjavčević; Bulgarian: Вълкашин) (around 1320-1371) was a Serbian medieval ruler in modern-day central and northwestern Macedonia, who ruled from 1365 to 1371.

He is mentioned in 1350 as župan of Prilep, and later was given title despot by Serbian tsar Stefan Uroš V (or IV?). Since 1365 he was king under Uroš.

He ruled over an area which included Prizren, Skoplje and Prilep, and had good relations with his brother despot Jovan Uglјeša (Јован Угљеша, Iowaн Углеша; Jovan/Ivan Uglješa) who ruled an area around Ser. Later he became strong enough to disobey Uroš.

In 1371, he established a coalition with his brother against the Ottomans. The Serbian-Bulgarian army of the coalition numbering ca. 70,000 men met the Ottoman army led by beylerbey of Rumeli Lala Şâhin Paşa at Battle of Marica on September 26, 1371 where superior Ottoman tactics won over outnumbering coalition army. Vukashin's forces are routed and himself killed during the battle.