House of Crnojević

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House of Crnojević
of Zeta/Montenegro
Coat of Arms
Country: Zeta (present-day Montenegro)
Titles: Nobleman (Serbian: Ставилац, Властелин),
Courtier (Serbian: Дворски достојанственик, Челник),
Knight (Serbian: Витез),
Baron (Italian: Baronez),
Duke (Serbian: Војвода),
Lord (Serbian: Господар),
Captain (Serbian: Kaпetaн),
Governor-General (Serbian: Бeг)
Founder: Đuraš Ilijić
Founding year: 1326
Ethnicity: Serb

The House of Crnojević was a dynasty ruling in the Medieval state of Zeta, first struggling with House of Balša for control over Zeta, and then succeeding them as Zeta's supreme overlords throughout the 14th and 15th century. Since the second half of the 15th century, they would play a crucial role in the survival of late Medieval Zeta. All members of the House of Crnoje considered themselves Lords Zetan.

Contents

[edit] History

Legendary Stag of the Crnojevics
Legendary Stag of the Crnojevics

Its origin dates to the family's ancestors, the House of Đuraš, founded by Đuraš Vrančić, son of a Serbian nobleman, Ilija. Đuraš Ilijić was an important figure in the Serbian Kingdom, but his grandson, Đuraš Ilijić, is the one that would climb to the advisor seat of the Serbian King Stefan of Dechani of the House of Nemanja himself in 1326. In 1331, Đuraš supported the Prince Dušan Nemanjić in overthrowing the King. The Croatian Banass and sister of Dušan Nemanjić, Jelena Nemanjić Šubić, was greatly pressed by the Hungarian King that attacked one of her cities in Croatia - Skradin in 1355. Czar Dušan dispatched Đuraš Ilijić to relieve the siege, who left with an Army and his two brothers Nikola and Vladin as well as his sons and nephews. Knight Đuraš successfully kept the city up to January 10, 1356, when the new Emperor ordered him to deliver it to the Venetians. Đuraš was liquidated by Balša I as a competitor in 1362. He was buried in the Church of Saint Michael on Prevlaka, and an inscription in Emperor's Stefan's name a fearsome knight (Serbian: у цара Стефана трети витез.

After this, the House of Đuraš was greatly suppressed by the House of Balša. They were only in the areas of Budva and the Gulf of Kotor. At times, they cooperated with the Balša, but most frequently fought them for control.

The House of Đuraš was transformed into the House of Crnoje at the end of the 14th century by Radič, the successor of Crnoje. Radič emerged, together with his brothers Stefan and Dobrivoje, as the Master of Budva. He maintained close relations with the Republic of Dubrovnik, where he was an Honorary Citizen and bad with the City of Kotor. He frequently jeopordized Kotor and expanded his domain to include Grbalj and Paštrovići. As the Serbian Empire crumbled, the House of Crnoje became virtually independent in Upper Zeta (region around modern Cetinje. Radič was killed in combat in a war against Đurađ I of the House of Balša in 1396.

After the death of Radič, the Crnojevići, under the brothers Dobrivoj and Stefan, suffered a major decline. They suffered territorial losses to the Đuraševići, led by the brothers Đurađ and Aleksa (also called Lješ), both sons of the late Radič. They were first referred to in sources in 1403. They seemed to have been actively supporting Đurađ's campaign against the Crnojevići in the late 1390s. They also played a major role in Sandalj Hranić's expulsion from Zeta through a campaign led by Đurađ. As a reward, Đurađ gave them Budva, as well as Saint Michael's Metohija (Grbalj). The Đuraševići used this period of support of the Balšićs to gain much of the Crnojević possessions in the mountains behind Kotor. Đuraš and Aleksa sided with Venetians and as their vassals ruled the area of Upper Zeta in 1403-1435.

The most important role in establishing this family's rule in Zeta had Stefan I called "Stefanica" (1451-1465). He used the turmoil in which Zeta was contested by Đurađ Branković of Serbia, Venetians and Stefan Vukčić Kosača and managed to become de facto ruler of the region. He secured a leading position in his family and married Maria, Skenderbeg's sister. After the fall of the south part of Serbia under Turks in 1455 Stefan he acknowledged Venetian rule in return for autonomy on internal questions and autonomy of orthodox metropolitan. During his rule the name "Montenegro" (Crna Gora) was used for the first time.

His son Ivan (1465-1490), better known as Ivan-beg, started his rule with a war on Venetians but had to repent later in face of Turkish threat. He was forced to become a Turkish vassal in addition to being a Venetian one already. He was forced by Turks to flee to Italy in 1479 and managed to return only in 1481, again as the Turkish vassal. He moved the seat of Zeta metropolitan from Prevlaka to more secure Cetinje in 1485 and soon it became his capital.

Ivan's son Đurađ (1490-1496) remained consistent to his father's policies although he married a daughter of a Venetian noble. He fostered the printing house of Cetinje monastery in which the first book in Serbian was printed in 1494. When his contacts with King of France on starting anti-Ottoman war became known to the Turks he had to flee Montenegro, which fell under direct Turkish rule. He was an educated man known for his knowledge on many topics.

He was succeeded by his brother Stefan II (1496-1498) who administered Montenegro for the Ottoman Turkish Empire.

Ivan's third son Staniša, now islamized and renamed as Skender-beg, ruled his ancestral lands from 1513 to 1530 and was an obedient servant to the Sultan remembered for his many ill deeds.

The descendants of Đurađ lived in Hungary and Venice where they died out in the mid 17th century.

[edit] Rulers

[edit] House of Đuraš

  • Ilija
  • Đuraš Vrančić
  • Đuraš Ilijić (1326-1362)

[edit] House of Crnoje

[edit] Family Tree

  • Đuraš Vrančić
    • Ilija
      • Đuraš Ilijić
        • Crnoje Đurašević
          • Radič Crnojević
            • Đurađ Đurašević Crnojević
              • Đurašin
              • Kojčin (Gojčin, Goycinus)
              • Stefan (Stefanica) Crnojević
                • Đurađ Crnojević
                  • Unknown Son
                • Ivan Crnojević
                  • Đurađ Crnojević
                    • Solomon
                    • Konstantin
                      • Jovan
                        • Viktor
                          • Jovan
                          • Faustina
                    • Ivan
                    • Antonija
                    • Unknown Daughter
                    • Unknown Daughter
                  • Stefan
                  • Staniša (Skender-beg Crnojević, Sandžak-beg of Montenegro)
                  • Unknown Daughter
                  • Unknown Daughter
              • Unknown Son
            • Aleksa (Lješ, Alexius) Đurašević Crnojević
          • Stefan
          • Dobrovoj
      • Nikola
      • Vladin

[edit] References

  • The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest, John Van Antwerp Fine, 1987

[edit] External links