Raška ( Serbian Cyrillic : Рашка ; Latin : Rascia ) is a geographical and historical region of Serbia . Initially a small borderline district between early medieval Serbia and Bulgaria (city/area of Ras ), since the mid-12th century became the center of the Grand Principality of Serbia and of the Serbian Kingdom . From that period the name of Raška became associated with the state of Serbia, eventually covering the south-western parts of modern Serbia, and historically also including north-eastern parts of modern Montenegro , and some of the most eastern parts of modern Bosnia and Herzegovina , and its southern part also corresponds to the modern region of Sandžak .
57-479: (Redirected from Rascia ) Raška may refer to: Geography [ edit ] Raška (region) , geographical and historical region in modern Serbia Raška (river) , river in southwestern part of Serbia Raška, Serbia , town and municipality in Serbia History and administration [ edit ] Eparchy of Raška , a medieval diocese (eparchy) of
114-699: A separate small domain within Serbia. The imperial charter of Basil II from 1020 to the Archbishopric of Ohrid , in which the rights and jurisdictions were established, mentions that the Episcopy of Ras belonged to the Bulgarian autocephal church during the time of Peter I (927–969) and Samuel of Bulgaria (977–1014). It is considered that it was possibly founded by the Bulgarian emperor, or it
171-501: Is by now rejected. By the mid-15th century, in the time of the final Ottoman conquest of the region, another market-place was developing to the east. The older place was known as Staro Trgovište ("old market-place", in Turkish: Eski Pazar) and younger as Novo Trgovište ("new market-place", Turkish: Yeni Pazar). The latter developed into the modern city of Novi Pazar, and there's no medieval archaeological site found in
228-420: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Ra%C5%A1ka (region) The name is derived from the name of the region's most important fort of Ras , which first appears in the 6th century sources as Arsa , recorded under that name in the work De aedificiis of Byzantine historian Procopius . By the 10th century, the variant Ras became common name for
285-529: Is protected by the Republic of Serbia . The toponym Ras in Slavic form derives from pre-Slavic Arsa via metathesis . It is considered that the settlement toponym derives from a hydronim of same named river . The first mention of the fortress of Ras is from c. 1127, while the oldest and only mention of the city of Ras in the native Serbian sources is from 1200, but as a toponym the region/ župa of Ras
342-663: Is the latest date when could have been integrated to the Bulgarian Church. If previously existed, it probably was part of the Bulgarian metropolis of Morava, but certainly not of Durrës . If it was on the Serbian territory, seems that the Church in Serbia or part of the territory of Serbia became linked and influenced by the Bulgarian Church between 870 and 924. Anyway, the church would have been protected by Bulgarian controlled forts. According to archaeological research,
399-495: Is widely found. In 1186 charter is the first attested use of the term Raška as a designation for the Serbian state, mentioning Nemanja as the ruler of Rascia , but in other sources would still be used alongside Serbia (even simultaneously as "of Serbia and Rascia"). The 14th-century semi-mythical Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja anachronistically projects the events of Serbian early medieval history before 12th century also in
456-541: The Principality of Montenegro . In order to mark the occasion, prince Nikola of Montenegro (1860–1918) decided to name the newly formed Eastern Orthodox diocese as the Eparchy of Zahumlje and Raška ( Serbian : Епархија захумско-рашка , romanized : Eparhija zahumsko-raška ). In the 19th century the region also became part of the wider " Old Serbia " historiographical term. In 1912, central parts of
513-459: The Principality of Serbia . In order to mark the occasion, prince Miloš Obrenović (1815–1839) founded a new town, that was also called Raška, situated at the very confluence of Raška river and Ibar, right at the border with Ottoman territory. In 1878, some southwestern parts of the historical Raška region, around modern Andrijevica , were liberated from the Ottoman rule and incorporated into
570-767: The Raška architectural school . They include: Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Stari Ras, and monasteries of Gradac and Stara Pavlica . Stari Ras Ras ( Serbian Cyrillic : Рас ; Latin : Arsa ), known in modern Serbian historiography as Stari Ras ( Serbian Cyrillic : Стари Рас , "Old Ras"), is a medieval fortress and area located in the vicinity of former market-place of Staro Trgovište , some 10–11 kilometers (6.2–6.8 mi) west of modern-day city of Novi Pazar in Serbia . Old Ras
627-625: The 12th and 13th century Despotate of Raška , variant designation for the Despotate of Serbia, in the 15th century Little Raška , a region inhabited by Serbs (Rascians) in southern regions of Pannonian plain, from the 16th to 18th century Raška Oblast , former administrative district in Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes from 1922 to 1929 Raška District , modern administrative district (ser. "okrug") in Serbia People with
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#1732765830862684-584: The 6th century were found some German barbarian remains and material associated with the Frankish Merovingian dynasty . In c. 518 the area of Ras was hit by a devastated earthquake which caused much damage in the Roman province of Dardania . Both grading became abandoned in the late 6th or early 7th century. They were re-settled and renovated in the mid-9th century by the Bulgarians (with
741-512: The Bulgarian state had regained Ras (according to Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja would be the Serbs who freed themselves and defeated the Byzantines ), but Basil II recaptured it about 40 years later in 1016–1018. In the imperial charter of Basil II from 1020, rights and jurisdictions of the autonomous Archbishopric of Ohrid were established, and one of the bishoprics in its jurisdiction
798-553: The Byzantine Empire. As it was made the seat of the Serbian state in Latin sources of the era Serb rulers began to be named Rasciani and their state as Rascia. The name was used among Hungarians and Germans up until the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. In 1833, some northern parts of the historical Raška region, up to the confluence of rivers Raška and Ibar , were detached from the Ottoman rule and incorporated into
855-602: The First of Great Migrations of the Serbs in the end of the 17th century. In the region of Raška also existed other ancient church buildings, a basilica in village Pope north of Pazarište and a church within Novi Pazar/Novopazarska Banja borders (both outside fortifications), and churches in Gradina-Postenje and Zlatni Kamen (both within fortifications). Such concentration could indicate
912-572: The Ottoman period. There are plans for future reconstruction of the site. In the close vicinity is impressive group of medieval monuments, including churches and monasteries. The 9th century Church of Saint Apostles Peter and Paul is one of the oldest early medieval churches in Serbia. The medieval Monastery of Sopoćani near Arsa is a reminder of the contacts between Western world and the Byzantine world. The site of Stari Ras, in combination with
969-537: The Ras fortress and devastate everything along the way, "the countless multitudes that he made slaves, he left there with the army of sebastohypertatos Constantine Angelos ". He continued into Nikava, conquering all the forts with ease. After storming the nearby Galič , whose people were partly warriors and herdsmen who took away and settled in Serdika and other Roman regions to settle, and "having learned from Angelos that
1026-529: The Raška Oblast was formed with its seat in Čačak . In 1929, this administrative unit was abolished and its territory was divided among three newly formed provinces (banovinas). Within the borders of modern Serbia , post mid-12th century historical Raška region covers (approximately) the territorial span of three districts: Raška , Zlatibor and Moravica . Some of the churches in western Serbia and eastern Bosnia were built by masters from Raška, who belonged to
1083-692: The Serbian Orthodox Church Catepanate of Raška , variant designation for the Catepanate of Ras , a short lived Byzantine province (971-976) in central Serbian lands Grand Principality of Raška , variant designation for the Grand Principality of Serbia, in the 11th and 12th century Kingdom of Raška , variant designation for the medieval Kingdom of Serbia, in the 13th and 14th century Raška architectural style , architectural style in medieval Serbia, in
1140-521: The area as a result of the Byzantine–Hungarian War (1127–1129) . Recent archaeological research supports the notion that the Byzantines held control of Ras during Alexios I Komnenos 's reign (1048–1118), but possibly not continuously. Alexios's seal which dates to the period 1081–1092 was found in 2018 near the site. It seems that the watchtowers commanders' skirmishes into the Serbian eastern frontiers provoked Vukan, Grand Prince of Serbia in
1197-433: The border between Serbs/Serbia and Bulgarians/Bulgaria in the 9th and 10th century was at Pešter plateau (and to the north at Čačak ). Pešter makes a natural border area, and in the direction in which the plateau is open, that's where the ruling power came from to Ras (i.e. Bulgaria). The high medieval chronicles also give an impression that Rascia wasn't considered as the central and capital part of medieval Serbia but as
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#17327658308621254-521: The buildings there intended for the archizoupanos as the ruling centre, left". In the next year continued to successfully fight off the Serbians and Hungarians, ending at the Battle of Tara (1150) . Although not recorded in the historical sources, somewhere in the second half of the 12th century, Ras should have been finally conquered and controlled by the Serbs, greatly renovating it and becoming
1311-496: The central and capital part of medieval Serbia, but as a separate small domain within Serbia. In the modern sense, Raška region would be an area situated in the southwestern modern Serbia (including Stari Vlah , see below). The 10th century De Administrando Imperio mentions Rasa ( Stari Ras ) as a border area between Bulgaria and Serbia at the end of the 9th century. It was not mentioned among inhabited cities of early medieval Serbia, and there's no general consensus whether Ras
1368-421: The centre of Novi Pazar. In the Ottoman administrative division, Ras in 1455 was part of the vilayet of Skopije , by 1463 existed nahiye of Ras within vilayet of Jeleč (fort 12 km south of present-day Novi Pazar), and in 1475 was founded Novi Pazar which soon became its centre (but Novi Pazar itself shouldn't be considered as continuity of Ras). The toponym of Ras vanished in the 18th century, influenced by
1425-426: The centre of defence and residency for the Grand Principality of Serbia. Stefan Nemanja , previously receiving the land of Dendra west of Niš, was the one who usurped the throne and expanded his territories in the late 1160s. Nemanja supposedly in celebration erected the monastery of Đurđevi stupovi , with an inscription showing that the end of the construction was in 1170-1171. During a short war in autumn 1168 he
1482-564: The common regional name. Under Stefan Nemanja (1166–1196), the region was finally conquered by the Serbs and fortress of Ras was re-generated as the state capital, and as such it became eponymous name for the Grand Principality of Serbia . The first attested use of the term Raška ( Latin : Rascia or Rassia ) as a designation for the Serbian state was made in a charter issued in Kotor in 1186, mentioning Stefan Nemanja as
1539-409: The crossroads and trading routes between neighbouring regions of Zeta and Bosnia in the west and Kosovo in the south, added to its importance as a city. There exist two fortifications ( gradina ) around the site, Gradina-Pazarište and Gradina-Postenje, while urban place Staro Trgovište below Gradina-Pazarište developed since the late medieval and influenced foundation of Novi Pazar eastward in
1596-473: The early 1090s to counterattack and to conquer the border fortresses in the Byzantine–Serbian War (1090–1095) , but although John Ducas regained most of them, in 1093 Vukan "ravaged the neighbouring towns and districts. He even got as far as Lipjan, which he deliberately burnt down", but when Alexios came close, Vukan escaped to Zvečan and started peace negotiations. In the 1120s, the fortress of Ras
1653-560: The fort closer to the bishopric church of St. Peter. Archaeological findings of fortified structures and early churches from the area of Stari Ras, dated from fourth to the sixth century, correspond to the testimony of Byzantine historian Procopius who wrote that Roman castellum of Arsa in the province of Dardania has refortified during the reign of the emperor Justinian I (527-565). According to archaeological research, there exist two fortifications ( gradina ), Gradina-Postenje and Gradina-Pazarište. Throughout history their development
1710-627: The fort, as attested by the work De Administrando Imperio , written by Constantine Porphyrogenitus , and also by the Byzantine seal of John, governor of Ras (c. 971–976). In the same time, Ras became the seat of the Eastern Orthodox Eparchy of Ras , centered in the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul . The name of the eparchy eventually started to denote the entire area under its jurisdiction and later, thus becoming
1767-414: The hill was constructed cave monastery of St. Michael (where later was active Monk Simeon who wrote Vukan's Gospel dated to c. 1202 ). In 1196 Nemanja held an assembly in Ras. In the 1230s there was located the mint of Serbian money, possibly also the royal treasury. A big granary was also found. Somewhere in the early 13th century became damaged amid civil war, but extensively renovated again by
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1824-469: The historical Raška region were liberated from the Ottoman rule, and divided between the Kingdom of Serbia and the Kingdom of Montenegro , with eponymous medieval fortress of Stari Ras belonging to Serbia. Between 1918 and 1922, Raška District was one of the administrative units of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes . Its seat was in Novi Pazar . In 1922, a new administrative unit known as
1881-510: The inhabited cities of Serbia, in the scholarship there's no consensus whether Ras was located on the Serbian or Bulgarian side of the border, and whether it was a reference to the city or a border area. Newer research indicates that Ras since the mid-9th and in the 10th century was a western "frontier district of Bulgaria". The lack of material of Bulgarian origin in Vrsjenice (assumed to be Serbian city Destinikon ), indicates that
1938-545: The monastery of Đurđevi stupovi , with an inscription showing that the end of the construction was in 1170-1171. It became a royal residence, but it was not permanent residence or that of his successors as the ruling dynasty also ruled over other such palatial centres in its territory. Byzantine intervention continued until the end of the 12th century and the Serb feudal rulers of the region were often under Byzantine suzerainty. The full independence of Serbia including Raška's region
1995-456: The name of Rascia, and Serbian people with the Rasciani. The final desolation happened in the early 14th century during the rulership of Stefan Milutin (1282–1321). During the 14th century, there was an important marketplace below the Stari Ras, Trgovište , that started to develop. The scholarly thesis of Novi Pazar being a continuation of Stari Ras by identifying it with Ras-Trgovište
2052-543: The nearby Monastery of Sopoćani, is already a UNESCO World Heritage Site , and Stari Ras monastery (12th century) is being reconstructed and it too may be included on the UNESCO World Heritage List with the site. Stari Ras and Sopoćani World Heritage Site is not far from another UNESCO World Heritage Site of Serbia, the medieval monastery and churches of Studenica . Stari Ras was declared Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1990, and it
2109-487: The north at Čačak . In 971, the Byzantine Catepanate of Ras was established, but in 976 Bulgarian control was restored. Basil II recaptured it in 1018, and by 1032 overall commander of the region was strategoi and doukes Constantine Diogenes , as part of a defensive line of Byzantine watchtowers alongside Lipjan , Zvečan , Galič , Jeleč south of Ras and Brvenik north of Ras, watching to
2166-465: The pottery findings typical of Pliska and Preslav , and other material, also with Bulgar runic inscriptions ). The 10th century De Administrando Imperio mentions that " Boris ... being about to return to Bulgaria and afraid lest the Serbs might ambush him on the way, he begged for his escort the sons of prince Mutimer , Borenas and Stephen , who escorted him safely as far as the frontier at Rasi", usually dated around 880. Not mentioned among
2223-437: The region named Raška ( Rassa , Rassam , Rassae , Rasse ), but identified with Serbia east of river Drina . From the 12th century onwards realistic topographic description of the surroundings of the Church of St. Peter ( Caldanae is Novopazarska Banja; Bello is Podbijelje; the town could be identified with near fort Gradina-Postenje). Gradina-Pazarište is deemed the capital with the main fortress and Gradina-Postenje as
2280-522: The ruler of Rascia . Without any evidence and support in the historical sources, the early historical region of Raška is commonly misidentified and misunderstood as a synonym for Serbian state before the mid-12th century (influenced by semi-mythical 14th century Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja which anachronistically calls the Principality of Serbia as Raška). The high medieval chronicle's also give an impression that Raška wasn't considered as
2337-498: The same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Raška . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Raška&oldid=1137485262 " Categories : Disambiguation pages Place name disambiguation pages Disambiguation pages with surname-holder lists Hidden categories: Short description
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2394-458: The site suddenly became desolated near the end of the 10th century, at least the western part of it abandoned and without military strategical importance and signs of Byzantines in the 11th century, and was defensively upgraded in the end of the 11th century. Byzantine Emperor John Tzimiskes re-established control of Ras in 971 and founded the Catepanate of Ras . The seal of protospatharios John of Ras has been found from that era. By 976,
2451-683: The surname [ edit ] Adam Raška (born 1994), Czech professional ice hockey player. He currently plays with HC Kometa Brno in the Czech Extraliga Jiří Raška (1941–2012), Czech ski jumper, gold medalist in the 1968 Winter Olympics Karel Raška (1909–1987), Czech physician and epidemiologist Martin Raška (born 1977), Czech football goalkeeper Chris Raschka (born 1959), Austrian-American illustrator, writer and violist See also [ edit ] Raska (disambiguation) Rassa (disambiguation) Topics referred to by
2508-482: The time of the second Serbian king Stefan Radoslav (1228–1233). However, there's much archaeological evidences it was burnt and became desolated around the 1230s, probably being the scene of noble battles in which Radoslav lost and Stefan Vladislav (1234–1243) came to the throne. Seemingly it was not well renovated again, and from that point in time gradually lost its status as the Serbian state "capital", but until then Serbian's state name became closely associated with
2565-432: The watchtowers was a countermeasure against their commanders who ravaged Serbian eastern frontiers. The Byzantine border fort of Ras was most likely burnt c. 1120-1122 and this is probably the reason why John II Komnenos undertook a punitive campaign against the Serbs, during which many Serbs from the region of Raška were deported to Asia Minor . The alliance between Hungary and the Serbian rulers remained in place and Ras
2622-400: The west over a "no-man's-land" named Zygos mountains beyond which was Serbia. Recent archaeological research supports the notion that the Byzantines held control of Ras during Alexios I Komnenos 's reign (1048–1118), but possibly not continuously. In the time of Alexios, Ras was one of the northern border military strongholds which was fortified. His seal which dates to the period 1081–1092
2679-479: The Župan, waiting for an opportune moment after his departure from there began to attack the Romans and that a fight had already taken place, set out as fast as he could from there to capture him. But this one, hearing that the Romans were coming, fled over the mountain passes and escaped the danger on foot. The emperor headed through the country, since there was no one to stop him at all, devastated it, and after burning
2736-519: Was a royal court in Kotor . Byzantine intervention continued until the end of the 12th century and the Serb feudal rulers of the region were often under Byzantine suzerainty. The full independence of Serbia including Raška's region was recognized by the Byzantines in 1190 after an indecisive win by Isaac II Angelos over Nemanja. Beneath the Podgrađe of the Gradina-Pazarište on a rocky cliff of
2793-431: Was again burnt and destroyed by the Serbs, a "Dalmatian nation". Its commander was a Kritoplos who was then punished by Emperor for the fall of the fortress. The Byzantines rebuilt the fortress by 1143. It would be re-conquered by Uroš II in aim to distract the Byzantines from engaging with Roger II of Sicily . The Serbian Uprising of 1149 caused Byzantine emperor Manuel I Komnenos penetrated "Dalmatia" destroying
2850-536: Was burnt again by the Serbian army in 1127–1129. Its last commander was a Kritoplos who was then punished by the Emperor for the fall of the fortress. In 1149, Manuel I Comnenus recovered the fortress of Ras and Galič, and next year continued to successfully fight off Serbians and Hungarians, with the Serbs swearing loyalty to the Byzantines. Somewhere in the next decades, Serbians conquered and started to fully control Ras, with Stefan Nemanja in celebration building
2907-400: Was captured, and again in 1171–1172, both times pleading loyalty. The city of Ras wasn't the capital in the general meaning yet, but the wider area of Raška with various fortifications, as there's no evidence of urbanization in the whole Grand Principality of Serbia and Kingdom of Serbia until the 14th century. In 1188 Nemanja showed intention to make Niš the centre of the state, also there
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#17327658308622964-447: Was found in 2018 near the site. It is possble that Vukan, Grand Prince of Serbia have temporarily taken Ras and other watchtowers in the early 1090s, but although John Ducas regained most of them, in 1093 Vukan "ravaged the neighbouring towns and districts. He even got as far as Lipjan, which he deliberately burnt down", but when Alexios came close, Vukan escaped to Zvečan and started peace negotiations, and reportedly his attack on
3021-497: Was initially part of the First Bulgarian Empire (until 10th century), then Byzantine Empire (mid-10th until mid-12th century), in the end becoming one of the first and main capitals of the Grand Principality and Kingdom of Serbia (since mid-12th until early 14th century). Located in today's region of Raška , its favorable position in the area known as Old Serbia , along the Raška gorge at Pešter plateau, on
3078-480: Was interconnected and probably made a uniform defensive system. On the site of Gradina-Pazarište existed Early Bronze Age prehistoric settlement which in 5th century BCE of Iron Age became desolated. In the 2nd and 3rd century of the Roman period was on a crossroad, with mining fields nearby, and military settlement. Seemingly the wider area was spared in the late 4-5th century by migration period invasions. In
3135-521: Was on the Serbian or Bulgarian side of the border, as well whether in DAI was meant a fortress or an area. The consideration that the Serbian border was further to the Southeast of Ras is poorly substantiated. Newer research indicates that the principal settlement of Ras and its region in the 9th and 10th century was part of the First Bulgarian Empire . Bulgarian borderline was at Pešter plateau and to
3192-477: Was recognized by the Byzantines in 1190 after an indecisive war between Isaac II Angelos and Stefan Nemanja . However, the Bulgarian-Serbian border in the late 12th and early 13th century probably was still "very fluid". The town which had developed near the fortress of Ras and the territory which comprised its bishopric were the first significant administrative unit which Serb rulers acquired from
3249-439: Was that of Ras. In 1032 overall commander of the region was strategoi and doukes Constantine Diogenes , and meanwhile Ras was part of a defensive line of Byzantine watchtowers alongside Lipjan , Zvečan , Galič , Jeleč south of Ras and Brvenik north of Ras, watching to the west over a "no-man's-land" named Zygos mountains beyond which was Serbia. It remained a Byzantine frontier area until John II Komnenos lost
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