Dejan (magnate)

Dejan (Дејан) was a Serbian magnate who served Emperor Stefan Dušan (r. 1331–55) as despot, and Emperor Uroš V (r. 1355–71) as sevastokrator. He was married to Emperor Dušan's sister Teodora, and possessed a large province in the Kumanovo region, east of Skopska Crna Gora. It initially included the old župe (counties) of Žegligovo and Preševo (modern Kumanovo region with Sredorek, Kozjačija and the larger part of Pčinja). Uroš V later gave Dejan the Upper Struma river with Velbužd (Kyustendil). Dejan built the Zemen Monastery, among others, and reconstructed several church buildings throughout his province.

Dejan was one of the prominent figures of Dušan's reign and during the fall of the Serbian Empire after Dušan's death. Dejan is the progenitor of the Dejanović noble family, with his two sons, despot Jovan and gospodin Konstantin, also becoming powerful during the fall of the Serbian Empire and the ensuing Ottoman period.

Origin
Dejan was a Serbian vojvoda (military commander and lord) in the Kumanovo region. He married Teodora, the sister of Emperor Stefan Dušan, and became sevastokrator in 1346. His origin is unknown. Earlier scholars believed that the Dejanović family were relatives of Jovan Oliver, although this is no longer accepted. Konstantin Josef Jireček suggested that he was vojvoda Dejan Manjak.

Stefan Dušan's reign
On Easter, April 16, 1346, Stefan Dušan convoked a massive assembly at Skopje, attended by the Serbian Archbishop Joanikije II, the Archbishop of Ochrid Nikolaj I, the Bulgarian Patriarch Simeon and various religious leaders of Mount Athos. The autocephalous Serbian Archbishopric was raised to the status of a Patriarchate. The new Patriarch, Joanikije II, now solemnly crowned Dušan as "Emperor and autocrat of Serbs and Romans (Greeks)". Dušan had his son Uroš V crowned King of Serbs and Greeks, giving him nominal rule over the Serbian lands, and although Dušan ruled the whole state, he had special responsibility for the "Roman", i.e. Greek lands. A further increase in the Byzantinization of the Serbian court followed, particularly in court ceremonies and titles. As Emperor, Dušan could grant titles only possible as an Emperor. In the years that followed, the Serbian noblemen were elevated, with Dušan's half-brother Simeon Uroš, brother-in-law Jovan Asen and Jovan Oliver granted the title of despot. His brother-in-law Dejan and Branko were granted the title of sevastokrator. The military commanders (voivodes) Preljub, Vojihna and Grgur received the title of ćesar. The raising of the Serbian Patriarchate resulted in bishops becoming metropolitans.

According to Stefan Dušan's charter to the monastery of Arhiljevica dated August 1355, sevastokrator Dejan, whom he called his brother ("брат царства ми севастократор Дејан") possessed a large province east of Skopska Crna Gora. It included the old župe (counties) of Žegligovo and Preševo (modern Kumanovo region with Sredorek, Kozjačija and the larger part of Pčinja). Based on the charter, Arhiljevica was situated where the granted villages (metochion) of Podlešane, Izvor and Rućinci (Kumanovska Crna Gora) lay, in the slopes of Jezer. The fact that Dejan built Arhiljevica rather than renovated it is evidence of his economic strength. Apart from Dejan's granted villages, Dušan also granted, from his side, the church and metochion of Gospoždino Polje and the villages Koznica Kričanovska and Strojkovo.

Dejan was one of the prominent figures of Dušan's reign and during the fall of the Serbian Empire after Dušan's death. Under Emperor Dušan, despot Jovan Oliver, with his brother Bogdan and sevastokrator Dejan, ruled over all of eastern Macedonia. Dejan is not mentioned much in Dušan's military endeavors, although his reputation and that of his successors suggest that he was involved in most of Dušan's successes. His prominence beyond Serbia is also evident from the fact that Pope Innocent VI addressed Dejan in 1355, asking him to support the creation of the union between the Catholic Church and the Serbian Orthodox Church (such letters were sent to the highest nobility and the church).

Uroš V's reign
Dejan received the title of despot sometime after August 1355, either from Emperor Dušan, who died on 20 December 1355, or his heir Uroš V, most likely under the latter. As despot under the rule of Uroš V, Dejan was entrusted with the administration of the territory between the South Morava, Pčinja, Skopska Crna Gora (hereditary lands) and in the east, the Upper Struma river with Velbuzhd, a province then notably larger than it was during Dušan's life. As the only despot, Dejan held the highest title in the Empire (this had earlier been the veliki vojvoda, Jovan Oliver).

Dejan's daughter Teodora was married to Žarko, the Lord of Lower Zeta ("gospodar donje Zete"), in 1356. Together they had a son, Mrkša Žarković, who was born in 1363. Serbian historian M. Blagojević believes there is a possibility that Dejan was also the logotet Dejan, mentioned as the envoy of Emperor Uroš alongside kesar Grgur Golubić in the peace talks with the Republic of Ragusa after their war with Vojislav Vojinović. The peace was concluded on August 22, 1362, in Onogošt (Nikšić), and logotet Dejan was the writer of the Emperor's charter confirming the "old laws" and other laws regarding the Ragusan traders.

Until Vojinović's death in December 1363, the Serbian nobility in the Greek lands showed itself more ambitious, as it held more titles (despots Dejan and Vukašin, sevastokrator Vlatko, kesar Vojihna, etc.) and greater independence (deriving from their more extensive possessions, and therefore, wealth) in relation to the nobility of the old Serbian lands. While Vojislav lived, his influence secured the pre-eminence of the old Serbian nobility, but after his death Vukašin quickly gained a decisive influence on the Emperor. The nobility in the old Serbian lands was not at first alarmed at this, but Vukašin's ambition and his subsequent moves woke up the simmering antagonism between the two groups. It was not only Vukašin's endless ambition that led to his success, as he had plenty of support from other nobles who benefited from him.

It is not known for certain when Dejan died. Alekan Jovanović said that "he died, it seems, not long after Dušan", while Mandić said it was in 1358, and that Vukašin (who until then was veliki vojvoda) took his place as despot, and that Jovan Uglješa became veliki vojvoda. Miodrag Rajičić concluded that it was between 1366 and 1371, as he believed Jovan Oliver to have held his lands at least to 1366, and based on that the Pčinja pomenik said Dejan had died after Jovan Oliver, although this is refuted by Mandić and Jovanović. Mandić also believed that it was unlikely that Dejan took monastic vows before his death, as his children were still young. His wife Teodora took monastic vows as Evdokija and lived in Strumica and Kyustendil, and she would until her death sign as "Empress", being entitled so as a female member of the dynasty.

Possessions
According to Emperor Dušan's Arhiljevica charter (August 1355), sevastokrator Dejan possessed the župe (counties ) of Žegligovo and Preševo (modern Kumanovo region with Sredorek, Kozjačija and the larger part of Pčinja). As despot under the rule of Uroš V, Dejan was entrusted with the administration of the territory between the South Morava, Pčinja, Skopska Crna Gora (hereditary lands) and in the east, the Upper Struma river with Velbužd (Kyustendil), a province notably larger than during Dušan's life. This province was located in the very heart of the Balkans.

The important Via de Zenta, a trade route connecting the Adriatic with Nemanjić's Serbia (see the Serbian Grand Principality, Kingdom, Empire), crossed this region. It started from the mouth of the Bojana, the Skadar port, (alternatively Bar then Cetinje) along the Drin Valley to Prizren, then to Lipljan, then through Novo Brdo to Vranje and Niš. The Republic of Venice and Ragusa used the road for trade with Serbia and Bulgaria. The road ended its use with the conquering of this part of Serbia by the Ottoman Empire.

Dejan built and reconstructed several churches and monasteries throughout his province. These include the Zemen Monastery and the lost Arhiljevica Church.

Aftermath
After the death of Dejan, his province, besides the župe of Žegligovo and Upper Struma, was appropriated to nobleman Vlatko Paskačić. Vukašin Mrnjavčević, of whom there are no notable mentions until 1365, became more powerful (ultimately the most powerful in Macedonia) after the deaths of Vojislav, Dejan and despot Jovan Oliver (whose status in Macedonia was very high), as Vukašin's rise would have been unlikely during the lifetime of these. Vukašin's younger brother Jovan Uglješa is thought to have participated in the dismemberment of Dejan's province, as he used this chance to take the provinces which bordered on the oblast (province) of Ser (Serres), which he de facto held (Empress Jelena de jure). No one looked to the young sons of Dejan who would later become very important. Dejan's death brought benefit to Vukašin and Uglješa, not so much in territorial expansion (which is not so sure), but because Dejan's disappearance ended any stronger candidate to counter the Mrnjavčević family.

Jovan received the title of despot, like his father before, by Emperor Uroš. Most of Jovan Oliver's lands were later given to the brothers. It is not known why Jovan Oliver's sons did not inherit his lands. Serbian historian Vladimir Ćorović considered turmoil and disorder the case, however not knowing the extent it developed to and what the consequences were. Earlier scholars believed that the Dejanović were relatives of Jovan Oliver, although this is no longer accepted. The Dejanović brothers ruled a spacious province in eastern Macedonia, in the southern lands of the Empire, and remained loyal to Uroš V.

Family

 * Dejan and Teodora had three children:
 * Jovan (ca. 1343 – ca. 1378), despot under Emperor Uroš. Vassal of the Ottoman Empire (1373-1378).
 * Konstantin (fl. 1365–95), gospodin under Emperor Uroš. Vassal of the Ottoman Empire (1378–95).
 * Teodora (fl. 1356–71), married firstly gospodin Žarko (in 1356), then Đurađ I Balšić (after 1371).