Vojihna
Encyclopedia
Vojihna or Vojin of Drama ( ; ca 1298–1360), was a Serbian nobleman
that rose through the ranks and became one of the most acclaimed military commanders (voivode) and dukes of Stephen Uroš IV Dušan of Serbia during the Serbian Kingdom and Empire
(1331–71), he was titled Caesar
, hence, he is mostly known as Caesar Vojihna (кесар Војихна). He held the region of Drama
.
In a Chilandar charter of Uroš IV Dušan, Vojihna is mentioned as "nobleman and associate of my Empire, cousin Vojihna". This has been interpreted in several ways; Cirkovic understand this as the two are relatives, but the degree of kinship can't be determined. According to Vojicic, he is the son of Urošica, however this would mean that they are second cousins, thus Purkovic connects the kinship through Stephen Constantine
, making the two cousins.
It is thought that he is the same as the Župan Vojihna, who is mentioned in 1323, as an ally of Stephen Vladislav II, during the war of the throne against Stephen Uroš III following the death of Stephen Milutin. With emphasis on Vladislav II being the son of Dragutin, and Dušan calling Vojihna his cousin, this might be an evidence on Vojihna being the son of Urošica, the brother of Vladislav II.
died, which sparked a civil war in the Byzantine Empire
. In 1342 Dušan becomes an ally of John VI Kantakouzenos
, but only a year after, switches to the side of John V Palaiologos
. Kantakouzenos finds new allies in the Emirate of Aydin. In 1344, Dušan sends a small army led by Voivode Preljub
, to intecept the Aydin Turks. The battle was fought at Stephaniana
and the result was a defeat, however it did not halt the Serbian conquest.
Stephen Uroš IV Dušan, called Dušan the Mighty was proclaimed Emperor at Serres
in 1345. In this southeasternmost part of his Empire, Dušan appointed Voihna as governor of Drama, not far from Serres, before November 1345. When Dušan the Mighty was crowned Emperor of the Serbs and Greeks at Skopje
on 16 April 1346, he also crowned his son Uroš V as King. Among his royal members and nobility he appointed Simeon Uroš
, Jovan Asen, Jovan Oliver
as Despots, and Dejan Dragaš
, Branko Mladenović
as Sebastokrator
s, and Grgur Golubić
, Preljub
and Voihna (before 1348) as Caesar
s. He was second in rank to Caesar Grgur.
In the end of 1347 or early 1348, he followed Dušan to Mount Athos
. He donated the village of Potolino in the lower Struma province to the Chilandar in 1348.
Immediately after Dušan's death (20 December 1355), his wife Empress Helena
was found in Serres. She started to exert her imperial control on the region. This surely was against the goals of Vojihna, which would later on trigger armed conflicts. How the Empress ended up in Serres and started to rule it is unknown, it exists sources saying she was in the region staying away from the harsh winter in the north, just when her husband died. As she was energetic and smart (although not so talented), she might have foreseen the crumbling of the Empire, and sought to rule this region. If this version is correct, Vojihna and his son-in-law Uglješa Mrnjavčević (the son of Vukašin Mrnjavčević
) were obliged to work for her as they had done to Dušan, although as the future will tell; with less enthusiasm and fidelity. It is not known how much power Vojihna had in the Serres province, although he most likely had the ambitions of putting it under his control.
Matthew Kantakouzenos
leads a war against John V Palaiologos
, and when Vojihna heard that Matthew was coming with his Turkish troops (the Emirate of Aydin) he immediately consulted the court. As allies of John V (a relative Uroš), Uroš assembled an army for his mother that was led by Vojihna. Among the forces were also Serbs from the vicinity of Serres.
In fall of 1356 he captured Matthew Kantakouzenos
, the rival Byzantine Emperor and son of the former Emperor John VI Kantakouzenos
(1347–54). Vojihna planned to release Matthew for a ransom, but soon realized that Emperor John V Palaiologos
was willing to offer a far greater sum. Matthew renounced his territory and imperial title in December 1357 and John V continued to rule as sole Emperor.
In 1358, his wife donated to the Koutloumousiou monastery
.
In 1359, Helena abdicated and took monastic vows, under the name Elisabeth.
He died in ca 1360, and his lands were inherited by his son-in-law Uglješa. He was buried in Hilandar
, alongside his son who died prematurely.
Serbian nobility
Serbian nobility was the privileged order or class of Serbia in the Middle Ages and Early Modern times.The first nobles of greater status was those in the 9th and 10th century, who were connected to the royal family by marriage. In the 13th and 14th centuries, the nobility greatly expanded, and in...
that rose through the ranks and became one of the most acclaimed military commanders (voivode) and dukes of Stephen Uroš IV Dušan of Serbia during the Serbian Kingdom and Empire
Serbian Empire
The Serbian Empire was a short-lived medieval empire in the Balkans that emerged from the Serbian Kingdom. Stephen Uroš IV Dušan was crowned Emperor of Serbs and Greeks on 16 April, 1346, a title signifying a successorship to the Eastern Roman Empire...
(1331–71), he was titled Caesar
Caesar (title)
Caesar is a title of imperial character. It derives from the cognomen of Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator...
, hence, he is mostly known as Caesar Vojihna (кесар Војихна). He held the region of Drama
Drama, Greece
Drama , the ancient Drabescus , is a town and municipality in northeastern Greece. Drama is the capital of the peripheral unit of Drama which is part of the East Macedonia and Thrace periphery. The town is the economic center of the municipality , which in turn comprises 53.5 percent of the...
.
Origin
He was probably born around 1298.In a Chilandar charter of Uroš IV Dušan, Vojihna is mentioned as "nobleman and associate of my Empire, cousin Vojihna". This has been interpreted in several ways; Cirkovic understand this as the two are relatives, but the degree of kinship can't be determined. According to Vojicic, he is the son of Urošica, however this would mean that they are second cousins, thus Purkovic connects the kinship through Stephen Constantine
Stephen Constantine
Stephen Phillip Constantine is an English football manager who currently manages Cypriot team Nea Salamis.-Biography:...
, making the two cousins.
It is thought that he is the same as the Župan Vojihna, who is mentioned in 1323, as an ally of Stephen Vladislav II, during the war of the throne against Stephen Uroš III following the death of Stephen Milutin. With emphasis on Vladislav II being the son of Dragutin, and Dušan calling Vojihna his cousin, this might be an evidence on Vojihna being the son of Urošica, the brother of Vladislav II.
Life
In 1341, Andronikos III PalaiologosAndronikos III Palaiologos
Andronikos III Palaiologos, Latinized as Andronicus III Palaeologus was Byzantine emperor from 1328 to 1341, after being rival emperor since 1321. Andronikos III was the son of Michael IX Palaiologos and Rita of Armenia...
died, which sparked a civil war in the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
. In 1342 Dušan becomes an ally of John VI Kantakouzenos
John VI Kantakouzenos
John VI Kantakouzenos or Cantacuzenus was the Byzantine emperor from 1347 to 1354.-Early life:Born in Constantinople, John Kantakouzenos was the son of a Michael Kantakouzenos, governor of the Morea. Through his mother Theodora Palaiologina Angelina, he was a descendant of the reigning house of...
, but only a year after, switches to the side of John V Palaiologos
John V Palaiologos
John V Palaiologos was a Byzantine emperor, who succeeded his father in 1341, at age nine.-Biography:...
. Kantakouzenos finds new allies in the Emirate of Aydin. In 1344, Dušan sends a small army led by Voivode Preljub
Preljub
Gregory Preljub or simply Preljub was a 14th-century Serbian noble and voivode who conquered and ruled Thessaly with the rank of Caesar in 1348–1356 under Emperor Stephen IV Dushan...
, to intecept the Aydin Turks. The battle was fought at Stephaniana
Battle of Stephaniana
The Battle of Stephaniana was a small-scale battle between the forces of the Serbian Empire and the Emirate of Aydin, allies of Byzantine emperor John VI Kantakouzenos...
and the result was a defeat, however it did not halt the Serbian conquest.
Serres
Serres is a city in Greece, seat of the Serres prefecture.Serres may also refer to:Places:* Serres, Germany, a part of Wiernsheim in Baden-WürttembergIn France:* Serres, Aude in the Aude département...
in 1345. In this southeasternmost part of his Empire, Dušan appointed Voihna as governor of Drama, not far from Serres, before November 1345. When Dušan the Mighty was crowned Emperor of the Serbs and Greeks at Skopje
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
on 16 April 1346, he also crowned his son Uroš V as King. Among his royal members and nobility he appointed Simeon Uroš
Simeon Uroš
Simeon Uroš Nemanjić, nicknamed Siniša , also known in Greek as Symeōn Ouresēs Palaiologos , was the Despot of Epirus from 1359 to 1366, and of Thessaly from 1359 until his death in 1370. He governed Epirus and Acarnania under his half-brother Emperor Dušan the Mighty Simeon Uroš Nemanjić,...
, Jovan Asen, Jovan Oliver
Jovan Oliver
Jovan Oliver Grčinić, known as Despot Jovan Oliver was a magnate of the Serbian Emperor Dušan the Mighty , holding the titles of sebastokrator and despotes, and the great voivode-military rank, showing his prominence and status as one of the most important nobles of Dušan...
as Despots, and Dejan Dragaš
Dejan Dragaš
Dejan Dragaš was a 14th-century Serbian nobleman and the Despot of Kumanovo holding the title of Sebastokrator given to him by his brother-in-law Emperor of Serbia Dušan the Mighty...
, Branko Mladenović
Branko Mladenović
Branko Mladenović was a 14th-century Serb feudal lord in the Lake Ohrid border region in 1346 between the Serb lands ruled by Stefan Dušan and Albanian lands ruled by Matarango...
as Sebastokrator
Sebastokrator
Sebastokratōr was a senior court title in the late Byzantine Empire. It was also used by other rulers whose states bordered the Empire or were within its sphere of influence. The word is a compound of "sebastos" Sebastokratōr was a senior court title in the late Byzantine Empire. It was also used...
s, and Grgur Golubić
Grgur Golubić
Grgur Golubić, known as Caesar Gregory was a Serbian nobleman during the Serbian Empire of Stephen Dušan and Stephen Uroš V . He held the Polog region with the title of Caesar...
, Preljub
Preljub
Gregory Preljub or simply Preljub was a 14th-century Serbian noble and voivode who conquered and ruled Thessaly with the rank of Caesar in 1348–1356 under Emperor Stephen IV Dushan...
and Voihna (before 1348) as Caesar
Caesar (title)
Caesar is a title of imperial character. It derives from the cognomen of Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator...
s. He was second in rank to Caesar Grgur.
In the end of 1347 or early 1348, he followed Dušan to Mount Athos
Mount Athos
Mount Athos is a mountain and peninsula in Macedonia, Greece. A World Heritage Site, it is home to 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries and forms a self-governed monastic state within the sovereignty of the Hellenic Republic. Spiritually, Mount Athos comes under the direct jurisdiction of the...
. He donated the village of Potolino in the lower Struma province to the Chilandar in 1348.
Helena of Bulgaria
Jelena or Helena of Bulgaria was the daughter of Sratsimir of Kran and Keratsa Petritsa and the sister of Tsar Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria....
was found in Serres. She started to exert her imperial control on the region. This surely was against the goals of Vojihna, which would later on trigger armed conflicts. How the Empress ended up in Serres and started to rule it is unknown, it exists sources saying she was in the region staying away from the harsh winter in the north, just when her husband died. As she was energetic and smart (although not so talented), she might have foreseen the crumbling of the Empire, and sought to rule this region. If this version is correct, Vojihna and his son-in-law Uglješa Mrnjavčević (the son of Vukašin Mrnjavčević
Vukašin Mrnjavcevic
Vukašin Mrnjavčević was a Serbian ruler in modern-day central and northwestern Macedonia, who ruled from 1365 to 1371. According to 17th-century Ragusan historian Mavro Orbin, his father was a minor noble named Mrnjava from Zachlumia, whose sons Vukašin and Uglješa were born in Livno in western...
) were obliged to work for her as they had done to Dušan, although as the future will tell; with less enthusiasm and fidelity. It is not known how much power Vojihna had in the Serres province, although he most likely had the ambitions of putting it under his control.
Matthew Kantakouzenos
Matthew Kantakouzenos
Matthew Kantakouzenos or Cantacuzenus was Byzantine Emperor from 1353 to 1357.-Life:...
leads a war against John V Palaiologos
John V Palaiologos
John V Palaiologos was a Byzantine emperor, who succeeded his father in 1341, at age nine.-Biography:...
, and when Vojihna heard that Matthew was coming with his Turkish troops (the Emirate of Aydin) he immediately consulted the court. As allies of John V (a relative Uroš), Uroš assembled an army for his mother that was led by Vojihna. Among the forces were also Serbs from the vicinity of Serres.
In fall of 1356 he captured Matthew Kantakouzenos
Matthew Kantakouzenos
Matthew Kantakouzenos or Cantacuzenus was Byzantine Emperor from 1353 to 1357.-Life:...
, the rival Byzantine Emperor and son of the former Emperor John VI Kantakouzenos
John VI Kantakouzenos
John VI Kantakouzenos or Cantacuzenus was the Byzantine emperor from 1347 to 1354.-Early life:Born in Constantinople, John Kantakouzenos was the son of a Michael Kantakouzenos, governor of the Morea. Through his mother Theodora Palaiologina Angelina, he was a descendant of the reigning house of...
(1347–54). Vojihna planned to release Matthew for a ransom, but soon realized that Emperor John V Palaiologos
John V Palaiologos
John V Palaiologos was a Byzantine emperor, who succeeded his father in 1341, at age nine.-Biography:...
was willing to offer a far greater sum. Matthew renounced his territory and imperial title in December 1357 and John V continued to rule as sole Emperor.
In 1358, his wife donated to the Koutloumousiou monastery
Koutloumousiou monastery
Koutloumousiou monastery is an Eastern Orthodox monastery at the monastic state of Mount Athos in Greece. The monastery ranks sixth in the hierarchy of the Athonite monasteries....
.
In 1359, Helena abdicated and took monastic vows, under the name Elisabeth.
He died in ca 1360, and his lands were inherited by his son-in-law Uglješa. He was buried in Hilandar
Hilandar
Hilandar Monastery is a Serbian Orthodox monastery on Mount Athos in Greece. It was founded in 1198 by the first Serbian Archbishop Saint Sava and his father, Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja of the medieval Serbian principality of Raška...
, alongside his son who died prematurely.
See also
- Serbian EmpireSerbian EmpireThe Serbian Empire was a short-lived medieval empire in the Balkans that emerged from the Serbian Kingdom. Stephen Uroš IV Dušan was crowned Emperor of Serbs and Greeks on 16 April, 1346, a title signifying a successorship to the Eastern Roman Empire...
- Fall of the Serbian EmpireFall of the Serbian EmpireFollowing the death of child-less Uroš the Weak, the Serbian Empire was left without an heir and the military commanders obtained the rule of the past provinces and districts , continuing their offices with titles such as gospodin and despot etc., given to them during the Empire...
Sources
- Dr Željko Fajfrić, Sveta loza Stefana Nemanje, p. 5; 41–50. ŠidŠidŠid is a town and municipality in the Srem District of Vojvodina, Serbia. Šid town has a population of 16,301, and Šid municipality 38,921.-Name:...
, 1998 - 1
- Rift within the Dynasty
- Juhas-Georgievska Ljiljana, Književno delo monahinje Jefimije, Zbornik Matice srpske za književnost i jezik, 2002, vol. 50, br. 1–2, str. 57–70, Scindeks document
- Zapis Rajčina Sudića kao istorijski izvor, Scindeks document