Petrislav of Duklja and Travunia
Encyclopedia
Petrislav was ruler of Duklja
(or Diokleia), the most powerful Serbian
principality of the time, until his death in around 1000. It is unknown when his reign started. The only preserved medieval source that mentions Petrislav is the Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja
. Historians identify him with Peter of Diokleia
whose seal was found in the 19th century, which makes Petrislav the earliest Duklja's ruler whose existence is confirmed by primary historical sources
.
According to the chronicle, after his father's death, the rule was divided among his three sons: Petrislav ruled Zeta, while Dragimir ruled Travunia
and Zachumlia (to the west), and Miroslav ruled Podgoria
(to the north). After the youngest brother Miroslav died, Petrislav, as the oldest, inherited his land, thus bringing the whole of Duklja (Zeta and Podgoria) under his rule.
Petrislav was buried in the Church of the Holy Virgin Mary in Krajina
. He was succeeded by his son Jovan Vladimir
.
Duklja
Doclea or Duklja was a medieval state with hereditary lands roughly encompassing the territories of present-day southeastern Montenegro, from Kotor on the west to the river Bojana on the east and to the sources of Zeta and Morača rivers on the north....
(or Diokleia), the most powerful Serbian
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
principality of the time, until his death in around 1000. It is unknown when his reign started. The only preserved medieval source that mentions Petrislav is the Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja
Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja
The Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja is a medieval chronicle originally written by a Catholic monk of the Cistercian order by the name of Roger for the Croatian Ban Paul Šubić because an order form by Ban Šubić and a quote of Catholic monk have been discovered...
. Historians identify him with Peter of Diokleia
Peter of Diokleia
Peter of Diokleia or Petar was an archon of Duklja in the 10th or 11th century. The only information on him is from a seal found in the 19th century, which is decorated on the observe with a bust of the Virgin Mary holding a medallion of Christ and flanked by two cruciform invocative monograms...
whose seal was found in the 19th century, which makes Petrislav the earliest Duklja's ruler whose existence is confirmed by primary historical sources
Primary source
Primary source is a term used in a number of disciplines to describe source material that is closest to the person, information, period, or idea being studied....
.
According to the chronicle, after his father's death, the rule was divided among his three sons: Petrislav ruled Zeta, while Dragimir ruled Travunia
Travunia
Travunia was a medieval region, administrative unit and principality, which was part of Medieval Serbia , and in its last years, the Bosnian Kingdom . The county became hereditary in a number of noble houses, often kin to the ruling dynasty. The region came under Ottoman rule in 1482...
and Zachumlia (to the west), and Miroslav ruled Podgoria
Podgoria
Podgoria is a commune in Buzău County, Romania. It is composed of five villages: Coţatcu, Oratia, Pleşeşti, Podgoria and Tăbăcari....
(to the north). After the youngest brother Miroslav died, Petrislav, as the oldest, inherited his land, thus bringing the whole of Duklja (Zeta and Podgoria) under his rule.
Petrislav was buried in the Church of the Holy Virgin Mary in Krajina
Krajina, Montenegro
Krajina or Kraja is an area in southeastern Montenegro stretching from the southern coast of Lake Skadar to the mountain of Rumija, comprising several villages. It is inhabited mainly by Albanians and Montenegrins, which make up most of population...
. He was succeeded by his son Jovan Vladimir
Jovan Vladimir
Jovan Vladimir or John Vladimir was ruler of Duklja, the most powerful Serbian principality of the time, from around 1000 to 1016. He ruled during the protracted war between the Byzantine Empire and the First Bulgarian Empire...
.