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54-453: One of the fundamental sources for the early Serbian history is the work of Byzantine Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitos (913–959), De Administrando Imperio . In eight chapters, the settlement of Serbs and their early history is described up until the reign of the author. The 32nd chapter, with the sub-chapter On the Serbs and the lands that they currently inhabit , gives a short note on

108-752: A Bulgarian vassal from his seat at Bar . A possible descendant, Stefan Vojislav , led numerous revolts in the 1030s against the Byzantine Emperor (the overlord of the Serbian lands), successfully becoming independent by 1042. A cadet branch of the Vojislavljević dynasty, the Vukanovići , emerged as the third dynasty in the 1090s. It was named after Grand Prince Vukan who held Serbia under his cousin King of Duklja Constantine Bodin (ca. 1080–1090) in

162-616: A compilation of agronomic works from earlier Greek and Punic texts that are otherwise lost; De Ceremoniis ("On Ceremonies", in Greek, Περὶ τῆς βασιλείου τάξεως), describing the kinds of court ceremonies (also described later in a more negative light by Liutprand of Cremona ); De Administrando Imperio ("On the Administration of the Empire", bearing in Greek the heading Πρὸς τὸν ἴδιον ὑιὸν Ρωμανόν), giving advice on running

216-526: A godfather to marry his goddaughter. Constantine VII died at Constantinople on 9 November 959 and was succeeded by his son Romanos II . It was rumored that he had been poisoned by his son or his daughter-in-law Theophano . Constantine VII was recognized as a writer and scholar, surrounding himself with educated people of the Imperial Court. He wrote, or had commissioned, the works Geoponika ("On Agriculture", in Greek Τὰ γεωπονικά),

270-441: A man of his class, he seems to have been an excellent painter. He was the most generous of patrons—to writers and scholars, artists and craftsmen. Finally, he was an excellent Emperor: a competent, conscientious and hard-working administrator and an inspired picker of men, whose appointments to military, naval, ecclesiastical, civil and academic posts were both imaginative and successful. He did much to develop higher education and took

324-646: A special interest in the administration of justice. By his wife Helena Lekapene , the daughter of Emperor Romanos I , Constantine VII had several children: Constantine VII is still remembered in the Eastern Orthodox liturgy when the transfer of the Holy Mandylion is celebrated on 16 August in the Julian calendar which corresponds to 31 August in the Gregorian calendar . This feast

378-532: A symbol of allegiance. In 924 a large Bulgarian army led by Časlav Klonimirović , the second cousin, ravaged Serbia, forcing Zaharija to flee. Instead of instating Časlav, however the Bulgarians annexed Serbia between 924 and 927. Prince Časlav took the throne in 933, seven years after the Croatian–Bulgarian battle of 926 . Eastern Orthodox influence greatly increased and Časlav maintained close ties with

432-601: A territory called the Bosansko Krajište . It was transformed into the Sanjak of Bosnia and the Sanjak of Herzegovina after 1462/1463. The first Ottoman administration called Eyalet of Bosnia was finally formed in 1527, after long armed resistance to the north and to the west by Counts Franjo and Ivaniš Berislavić of the noble house of Berislavići Grabarski . Eventually, following the Great Turkish War , in

486-579: A useful summary of the commission by Porphyrogenitus of the Constantine Excerpts: He felt that the historical studies were being seriously neglected, mainly because of the bulk of the histories. He therefore decided that a selection under fifty-three titles should be made from all the important historians extant in Constantinople; thus he hoped to assemble in a more manageable compass the most valuable parts of each author. ... Of

540-587: A very high military and administrative organizational structure. It is not known whether Serbia at the time of Vlastimir had a system of fortifications or a developed military organization with clearly defined roles for the župan . Prince Mutimir (ruled c. 851–891), the son of Vlastimir, managed to defeat the Bulgarians once again in 834–835, also capturing the son of the Bulgar Khan. The Serbs and Bulgarians made peace. The remaining years were marked by internal dynastic wars. In 892, prince Pribislav Mutimirović

594-460: Is best known for the Geoponika (τά γεοπονικά), an important agronomic treatise compiled during his reign, and three, perhaps four, books; De Administrando Imperio (bearing in Greek the heading Πρὸς τὸν ἴδιον υἱὸν Ῥωμανόν), De Ceremoniis (Περὶ τῆς Βασιλείου Τάξεως), De Thematibus (Περὶ θεμάτων Άνατολῆς καὶ Δύσεως), and Vita Basilii (Βίος Βασιλείου), though his authorship of

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648-663: Is part of the Nut Feast of the Saviour for Slavs . Bosnia (region) Bosnia ( Serbo-Croatian : Bosna / Босна , pronounced [bɔ̂sna] ) is the northern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina , encompassing roughly 81% of the country; the other region, the southern part, is Herzegovina . The two regions have formed a geopolitical entity since medieval times, and the name "Bosnia" commonly occurs in historical and geopolitical senses as generally referring to both regions (Bosnia and Herzegovina). The official use of

702-546: Is unclear when Radoslav and Prosigoj would have ruled. When the Serbs were mentioned in 822 in the Royal Frankish Annals ("the Serbs, which is said to be holding the great part of Dalmatia"; ad Sorabos, quae natio magnam Dalmatiae partem obtinere dicitur ) one of those two must have ruled Serbia. According to John (Jr.) Fine , it was hard to find Serbs in this area since the Byzantine sources were limited to

756-707: The Butmir culture . The first Indo-Europeans are thought to be members of eneolithic Vučedol culture . In the Bronze Age the area is thought to have been inhabited by Iron Age Central Bosnian cultural group and Glasinac culture . Later on the Illyrian tribe of the Daesitiates would become dominant in these area. The historical records of the region are scarce until its first recorded standalone (domestic) ruler and viceroy of Bosnian state, Ban Borić ,

810-469: The Kievan Rus' . The reasons for this voyage have never been clarified; but she was baptised a Christian with the name Helena, and sought Christian missionaries to encourage her people to adopt Christianity . According to legends, Constantine VII fell in love with Olga, but she found a way to refuse him by tricking him into becoming her godfather . When she was baptized, she said it was inappropriate for

864-564: The Vita Basilii is not certain. The epithet porphyrogenitus alludes to the Purple chamber of the imperial palace, decorated with porphyry , where legitimate children of reigning emperors were normally born. Constantine was also born in this room, although his mother Zoe had not been married to Leo at that time. Nevertheless, the epithet allowed him to underline his position as the legitimate son, as opposed to all others, who claimed

918-550: The 18th century the Eyalet came to encompass the area largely matching that of today's Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 1833, the Eyalet of Herzegovina was temporarily split off under Ali-paša Rizvanbegović . The area acquired the name of "Bosnia and Herzegovina" in 1853 as a result of a twist in political events following his death. After the 1864 administrative reform, the province was named Vilayet of Bosnia . Austria-Hungary occupied

972-701: The Bulgar conquest to the southeast, or a result of the Byzantine-Bulgarian rivalry, in which Serbia was allied with the Byzantines. According to John B. Bury , it was not unlikely that the Emperor had a part in it; as he was at war with the Arabs, he may have pushed the Serbs to drive the Bulgarians from western Macedonia, which would benefit them both—hence, Malamir's action. V. Zlatarski supposed that

1026-529: The Bulgarians. A Bulgarian ally, Mihajlo Višević , who had seen a threat in Petar during the latter's conquest of Bosnia and Neretva, heard of the possible alliance and warned the Bulgarian Tzar, who later sent a protege, Pavle Branović , to rule Serbia. In the meantime, Zaharija Pribislavljević was sent by the Byzantines to take the Serbian throne, but he was captured by Pavle and sent to Bulgaria. Pavle

1080-425: The Bulgarians. The thirty-year-peace treaty between the Byzantines and Bulgarians, signed in 815, was still in effect. According to Constantine VII, the Serbs and Bulgarians had lived peacefully as neighbours until the invasion in 839 (in the last years of Theophilos). It is not known what exactly prompted the war, as Porphyrogenitus gives no clear answer; whether it was a result of Serbian-Bulgarian relations, i.e.,

1134-487: The Byzantines throughout his reign. The written information about the first dynasty ends with the death of Časlav. The Catepanate of Ras was established between 971 and 976, during the rule of John Tzimiskes (r. 969–976). A seal of a strategos of Ras has been dated to Tzimiskes' reign, making it possible that Tzimiskes' predecessor Nikephoros II Phokas was recognized in Rascia. The protospatharios and katepano of Ras

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1188-505: The Emperor offered the Serbs complete independence in return. According to Porphyrogenitus, the Bulgarians wanted to continue their conquest of the Slav lands - to force the Serbs into subjugation. Presian I (r. 836–852) launched an invasion into Serbian territory in 839, which led to a war that lasted for three years, in which the Serbs were victorious; Presian was heavily defeated and lost a large number of his men, made no territorial gains and

1242-613: The Empire internally and on fighting external enemies; a history of the Empire covering events following the death of the chronographer Theophanes the Confessor in 817; and Excerpta Historica ("Excerpts from the Histories"), a collection of excerpts from ancient historians (many of whose works are now lost) in four volumes (1. De legationibus. 2. De virtutibus et vitiis. 3. De insidiis. 4. De sententiis). In The Manuscript Tradition of Polybius , John Michael Moore (CUP, 1965) provides

1296-499: The Serbian tribes in the vicinity. The Serbs were alarmed, and most likely consolidated due to the spreading of the Bulgarian Khanate towards their borders (a rapid conquest of neighbouring Slavs,) in self-defence, and possibly sought to cut off the Bulgar expansion to the south. Byzantine Emperor Theophilos (r. 829–842) was recognized as the nominal suzerain (overlord) of the Serbs, and most likely encouraged them to thwart

1350-443: The beginning, but renounced any overlordship in 1091 when he raided many of the Byzantine towns of Kosovo and Macedonia. The Nemanjić dynasty , the most powerful in Serbian history, was founded by Stefan Nemanja , also a descendant of the same line. Constantine VII Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus ( ‹See Tfd› Greek : Κωνσταντῖνος Πορφυρογέννητος , Kōnstantinos Porphyrogennētos ; 17 May 905 – 9 November 959)

1404-554: The combined name started only in the late period of Ottoman rule . Bosnia lies mainly in the Dinaric Alps , ranging to the southern borders of the Pannonian plain , with the rivers Sava and Drina marking its northern and eastern borders. The area of Bosnia comprises approximately 39,021 km , and makes up about 80% of the territory of the present-day state of Bosnia and Herzegovina . There are no true borders between

1458-523: The end of the 14th century, under Tvrtko I of Bosnia , the Bosnian kingdom included most of the territory of today's Bosnia and of what would later become known as Herzegovina. The kingdom lost its independence to the Ottoman Empire in 1463. The region of Bosnia's westernmost city at the time of the conquest was Jajce . The Ottoman Empire initially expanded into Bosnia and Herzegovina through

1512-602: The end of the thirty-year-truce, Malamir (or Presian) invaded the regions of the Struma and the Nestos , and Empress-Regent Theodora (r. 842–855, the wife of Theophilos) answered by attacking Thracian Bulgaria . A brief peace was concluded, then Malamir proceeded to invade Macedonia. The Bulgarians also imposed their rule on the Morava region, on the frontier between Serbia and the Bulgarian Khanate. The Byzantines were also active in

1566-509: The fifty-three titles into which the excerpts were divided, only six have survived: de Virtutibus et Vitiis; de Sententiis; de Insidiis; de Strategematis; de Legationibus Gentium ad Romanos; de Legationibus Romanorum ad Gentes . The titles of only about half the remaining forty-seven sections are known. Also amongst his historical works is a history eulogizing the reign and achievements of his grandfather, Basil I ( Vita Basilii , Βίος Βασιλείου). These books are insightful and of interest to

1620-401: The general John Tzimiskes , who one year later captured Samosata , in northern Mesopotamia . An Arab fleet was also destroyed by Greek fire in 957. Constantine had active diplomatic relationships with foreign courts, including those of the caliph of Cordoba Abd ar-Rahman III and of Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor . In the autumn of 957 Constantine was visited by Olga of Kiev , regent of

1674-483: The hinterland of Dalmatia, to the west of Serbia; the strategos of the cities of Dalmatia came into conflict with a Frankish vassal, the Croatian Duke Trpimir , in 846 or 848, in which the strategos was defeated. The defeat of the Bulgarians, who had become one of the greater powers in the 9th century, shows that Serbia was an organized state, fully capable of defending its borders, and possessing

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1728-465: The historian, sociologist, and anthropologist as a source of information about nations neighbouring the Empire. They also offer a fine insight into the Emperor himself. In his book, A Short History of Byzantium , John Julius Norwich refers to Constantine VII as "The Scholar Emperor". Norwich describes Constantine: He was, we are told, a passionate collector—not only of books and manuscripts but works of art of every kind; more remarkable still for

1782-563: The immediate restitution of all peasant lands, without compensation; by the end of his reign, the condition of the landed peasantry, which formed the foundation of the whole economic and military strength of the Empire, was better off than it had been for a century. In 949, Constantine launched a new fleet of 100 ships (20 dromons , 64 chelandia , and 10 galleys) against the Arab corsairs hiding in Crete , but like his father's attempt to retake

1836-607: The island in 911, this attempt also failed. On the Eastern frontier things went better, even if with alternate success. In the same year, the Byzantines conquered Germanicea , repeatedly defeated the enemy armies, and in 952 they crossed the upper Euphrates . But in 953, the Hamdanid amir Sayf al-Dawla retook Germanicea and entered the imperial territory. The land in the east was eventually recovered by Nikephoros Phokas , who conquered Adata , in northern Syria , in 958, and by

1890-438: The new and shaky regime survived the attempted usurpation of Constantine Doukas , and Patriarch Nicholas Mystikos quickly assumed a dominant position among the regents. Patriarch Nicholas was presently forced to make peace with Tsar Simeon of Bulgaria , whom he reluctantly recognized as Bulgarian emperor. Because of this unpopular concession, Patriarch Nicholas was driven out of the regency by Constantine's mother Zoe . She

1944-552: The origin of the Serbs, their homeland, and continues with the history of members of the oldest ruling family of the Serbs. The progenitor, according to Porphyrogenitos, was the prince (unnamed in sources and this designated as the Unknown Archon ) that led the Serbs to Southeastern Europe during the reign of Heraclius (610–641). The author gives the early genealogy: "As the Serb Prince who fled to Emperor Heraclius" in

1998-560: The region of Bosnia and the region of Herzegovina. Unofficially, Herzegovina is south of the mountain Ivan planina . According to another unofficial definition, Herzegovina encompasses the watersheds of the Neretva and Trebišnjica rivers. The Central part of Bosnia was inhabited by Neolithic farmers that belonged to the Kakanj culture , and later replaced by another neolithic culture called

2052-538: The southern coast, also it is possible that among other tribes exists tribe of group of small tribes of Serbs. Dalmatia, in the antique period, stretched from modern-day Dalmatia far into the hinterland, northwards close to the Sava river , and eastwards to the Ibar river . Višeslav's great-grandson Vlastimir began his rule in c. 830, and he is the oldest Serbian ruler on which there is substantial data. Vlastimir united

2106-622: The throne during his lifetime. Sons born to a reigning Emperor held precedence in the Eastern Roman line of succession over elder sons not born "in the purple" . Constantine was born in Constantinople on 17/18 May 905, an illegitimate son of Leo VI before an uncanonical fourth marriage. To help legitimize him, his mother gave birth to him in the Purple Room of the imperial palace, hence his nickname Porphyrogennetos . He

2160-477: The time "when Bulgaria was under the Rhōmaíōn" (thus, before the establishment of Bulgaria in 680), "by succession, his son, and then grandson, and so on, of his family rules as princes. After some years, Višeslav is born, and from him Radoslav, and from him Prosigoj, and from him Vlastimir". The time and circumstances of the first three rulers are almost unknown. It is supposed that Višeslav ruled in c. 780, but it

2214-596: The whole country in 1878. It remained formally part of the Ottoman Empire under the title of Condominium of Bosnia and Herzegovina until 1908, when Austria-Hungary provoked the Bosnian crisis by formally annexing the province. Within Bosnia and Herzegovina , the region of Bosnia has a traditional regional identity , distinctive from the regional identity of the neighboring Herzegovina . Bosnian regional identity

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2268-565: Was elevated to the throne as a two-year-old child by his father and uncle on 15 May 908 ( Whitsunday ). In early 913, as his uncle Alexander lay dying, he appointed a seven-man regency council for Constantine. It was headed by the Patriarch Nicholas Mystikos , the two magistroi John Eladas and Stephen , the rhaiktor John Lazanes , the otherwise obscure Euthymius and Alexander's henchmen Basilitzes and Gabrielopoulos. Following Alexander's death (6 June),

2322-452: Was a Byzantine governor named John. Data on the katepano of Ras during Tzimiskes' reign is missing. Byzantine military presence ended soon thereafter with the wars with Bulgaria , and was re-established only ca. 1018 with the short-lived Theme of Sirmium , which, however, did not extend much into Serbia proper. Five decades later, Jovan Vladimir emerged as the Prince of Serbs , ruling as

2376-452: Was appointed in 1154. De Administrando Imperio describes a small Serbian župa of Bosona ( Greek : χωρίον Βόσονα ) that was located around the river Bosna in the modern-day fields of Sarajevo and of Visoko . Under its first known by name ruler, Stephen, Duke of Bosnia , in the 1080s, the region spanned the upper course of the rivers Bosna, the Vrbas and the Neretva . At

2430-588: Was attested as early as the 10th century, when Constantin VII Porphyrogenetos referred to Bosnia as a particular region. Development of Bosnia's regional identity continued throughout the Middle Ages, and it was also acknowledged in the 15th century by the Ottoman conquerors , who created the Sanjak of Bosnia in 1463, giving it a regional name, which was not always the case. By the end of

2484-803: Was deposed by his sons, the co-emperors Stephen and Constantine . Romanos spent the last years of his life in exile on the Island of Prote as a monk and died on 15 June 948. With the help of his wife, Constantine VII succeeded in removing his brothers-in-law, and on 27 January 945, Constantine VII became sole emperor at the age of 39, after a life spent in the shadow. Several months later, on 6 April ( Easter ), Constantine VII crowned his own son Romanos II co-emperor. Having never exercised executive authority, Constantine remained primarily devoted to his scholarly pursuits and delegated his authority to bureaucrats and generals, as well as to his energetic wife Helena Lekapene. In 947, Constantine VII ordered

2538-576: Was driven out by the army of Vlastimir . It is believed that the Serbs held out in their defensible forests and gorges, and knew how to fight in the hills. According to Živković, it is possible that the Bulgarian attack came after the failed invasion of Struma and Nestos in 846 (see below): Presian may have collected his army and headed for Serbia, and Vlastimir may have participated in the Byzantine–Bulgarian Wars , which would mean that Presian

2592-477: Was eclipsed by a senior emperor. Constantine's youth had been a sad one due to his unpleasant appearance, his taciturn nature, and his relegation to the third level of succession, behind Christopher Lekapenos , the eldest son of Romanos I Lekapenos. Nevertheless, he was a very intelligent young man with a large range of interests, and he dedicated those years to studying the court's ceremony. Romanos kept and maintained power until 16/20 December 944, when he

2646-407: Was granted the rule of Travunija . Krajina had a son with Vlastimir's daughter, named Hvalimir , who would later on succeed as župan of Travunia. Vlastimir's elevation of Krajina and the practical independence of Travunija show, according to Živković, that Vlastimir was a Christian ruler who very well understood the monarchical ideology that developed in the early Middle Ages. Soon after 846, with

2700-540: Was no more successful with the Bulgarians, who defeated her main supporter, the general Leo Phokas , in 917. In March 919, she was replaced as regent by the admiral Romanos Lekapenos , who married his daughter Helena Lekapene to Constantine. Romanos used his position to advance to the ranks of basileopatōr in April 919, to kaisar ( Caesar ) on 24 September 920, and finally to co-emperor on 17 December 920. Thus, just short of reaching nominal majority , Constantine

2754-513: Was overthrown by his cousin, prince Petar Gojniković . By the middle of the 9th century, the process of Christianization of Serbia was finalized. Prince Petar Gojniković was recognized by the Bulgarians, the greatest power in Southeastern Europe at the start of the 10th century, although the peace was not to last; the Byzantines had sent an envoy to Serbia promising greater independence in return for Petar leading an army against

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2808-419: Was responding to a direct Serbian involvement. After the victory over the Bulgarians, Vlastimir's status rose, and according to Fine, he went on to expand to the west, taking Bosnia and Herzegovina ( Zahumlje ). Vlastimir married off his daughter to Krajina , the son of a local župan of Trebinje , Beloje , in c. 847–48. With this marriage, Vlastimir elevated Krajina to archon . The Belojević family

2862-534: Was the fourth Byzantine emperor of the Macedonian dynasty , reigning from 6 June 913 to 9 November 959. He was the son of Emperor Leo VI and his fourth wife, Zoe Karbonopsina , and the nephew of his predecessor Alexander . Most of his reign was dominated by co-regents: from 913 until 919 he was under the regency of his mother, while from 920 until 945 he shared the throne with Romanos Lekapenos , whose daughter Helena he married, and his sons. Constantine VII

2916-504: Was then approached by the Byzantines, and so Zaharija was persuaded by the Bulgarians to switch sides. Pavle planned an attack on Bulgaria, but Tzar Simeon was warned again, and dispatched Zaharija with an army, promising him the throne if he defeated Pavle, which he did. Zaharija soon resumed his Byzantine alliance, also uniting several Slavic tribes along the common border to revolt against the Bulgarians. Several Bulgarian generals were beheaded, their heads sent to Constantinople by Zaharija as

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