Grand Principality of Serbia: Map & History
The Grand Principality of Serbia, also known by the anachronistic exonym Rascia, was a medieval Serbian state that existed from the second half of the 11th century up until 1217, when it was transformed into the Kingdom of Serbia.
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The Grand Principality of Serbia, also known by the anachronistic exonym Rascia, was a medieval Serbian state that existed from the second half of the 11th century up until 1217, when it was transformed into the Kingdom of Serbia. After the Grand Principality of Serbia emerged, it gradually expanded during the 12th century, encompassing various neighbouring regions, including territories of Raška, modern Montenegro, Herzegovina, and southern Dalmatia. It was founded by Grand Prince Vukan, who initially served as the regional governor of the principality, appointed by King Constantine Bodin. During the Byzantine–Serbian wars, Vukan gained prominence and became a self-governing ruler in the inner Serbian regions. He founded the Vukanović dynasty, which ruled the grand principality. Through diplomatic ties with the Kingdom of Hungary, Vukan's successors managed to retain their self-governance, while also recognizing the supreme overlordship of the Byzantine Empire, up to 1180. Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja gained full independence and united almost all Serbian lands. His son, Grand Prince Stefan was crowned King of Serbia in 1217, while his younger son Saint Sava became the first Archbishop of Serbs, in 1219.
Modern Countries Once Part of Grand Principality of Serbia
At its mapped extent, Grand Principality of Serbia covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Grand Principality of Serbia's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Grand Principality of Serbia in Depth
History
In 1091 or 1092, Vukan became independent, taking the title of Grand Prince (veliki župan). Subordinate to him were local counts (titled župan), who seem to have been more or less autonomous in the internal affairs of their counties, but who obliged loyalty, and warfare support. It seems that the counts were hereditary holders, holding their land before Duklja annexed Serbia. Vukan began raiding Byzantine territory in the vicinity of Kosovo in ca. 1090, the Byzantines initially being unable to take counter-measures as they faced invading Pechenegs.
After defeating the Pechenegs, Alexios I Komnenos sent an army with the strategos of Dyrrhachium, which was defeated by Vukan in 1092.
Economy
The important Via de Zenta, a trade route connecting the Adriatic with Serbia started from the mouth of the Bojana, the Shkodër (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.
John Kinnamos, writing about the Byzantine conquest of Galič near Kosovska Mitrovica in 1149, said that many barbarians were imprisoned "who were partly warriors and partly cattle breeders".
William, the archbishop of Tyre, when crossing Serbia for the Holy Land in 1168, he described the Serbs: "They are rich in herds and flocks and unusually well supplied with milk, cheese, butter, meat, honey and wax".
Background
According to the De Administrando Imperio (DAI), the Serbs settled the Balkans under the protection of the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius (r. 610–641) and were ruled by a dynasty known in historiography as the Vlastimirović dynasty. Slavs had begun settling in the region in the early 6th century, after raiding deep into the Empire. They settled "baptized Serbia", which included Bosnia, and the maritime lands (Pomorje) of Travunija, Zahumlje and Paganija, while maritime Duklja was held by the Byzantines, it was presumably settled with Serbs as well. All of the maritime lands bordered "baptized Serbia" to the north. In the mid-9th century, the hitherto peaceful neighbour of Bulgaria invaded but was defeated in war.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Grand Principality of Serbia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Grand Principality of Serbia: Key Facts
| Capital | Stari Ras |
|---|---|
| Official language | Serbian |
| Form of government | monarchy |
| Founded | 1084 |
| Dissolved | 1217 |
Succeeded by
- Kingdom of Serbia
Facts from Wikidata Q1311990 (CC0).
Grand Principality of Serbia Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Grand Principality of Serbia appears, with the other states of the time.
Grand Principality of Serbia Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 28,938 km² in 1160 CE.
Grand Principality of Serbia: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Grand Principality of Serbia exist?
Grand Principality of Serbia is dated to 1094 CE – 1168 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Grand Principality of Serbia?
The capital of Grand Principality of Serbia was Ras, Niš.
How large was Grand Principality of Serbia at its peak?
At its peak in 1160 AD Grand Principality of Serbia covered about 28,938 km².
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