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]]] ]]]


This is a '''list of ] rulers''', containing the sovereign leaders of the ] of ] and heads of state of modern ''']'''.<ref>Entries bounded within parentheses are for reference only; for instance, the Roman numerals keep counts of Stefans and Lazars. They are not part of the common nomenclature.</ref> This is a '''list of monarchs of ].<ref>Entries bounded within parentheses are for reference only; for instance, the Roman numerals keep counts of Stefans and Lazars. They are not part of the common nomenclature.</ref>


==Early rulers; House of Zupan==
The first Serbian rulers were designated "''Archont'' ({{lang-gr|ἄρχοντες}}, {{lang-sr|Knez}}) ''of Serbia'' ({{lang-gr|Σερβλια}}) - ''Ruler of the Serbs''".<ref name=DAI/> They initially held governorship of ]'s (towns, villages, small administrative units led by a chieftain) under direct rule of the ] that would eventually take over the ].<ref name=DAI/> The highest title was held during the ] of ] (He was styled ''Emperor of the Serbs and Greeks'').
*] (r. ? - 626), ruler of ]
*] (r. ? - 680)
*] (r. 780 - 800s), ruler of ], ], ] and united the Serbian tribes into ]
*] (r. 800-822)
*] (822 - 836 )


==Monarchs of medieval Serbian states== ==House of Vlastimirović==
The ] controlled the Serbs between ca. 825-850 up to ca. 950.
{{main|Medieval Serbia}}
In the Middle Ages, the domain of the ] included six territories<ref name=DAI>De Administrando Imperio by ], edited by Gy. Moravcsik and translated by R. J. H. Jenkins, Dumbarton Oaks Center for Byzantine Studies, Washington D. C., 1993
</ref>, roughly sorted by importance:

{| class="wikitable"
|--
! Name<br><small>]-]</small>
! Significant<br>place
|--
| bgcolor="#E97451"|] (Raška) || ]
|--
| bgcolor="#E97451"|] (Bosna) || ]
|--
| bgcolor="#1E90FF"|] (Travunija) || '']''
|--
| bgcolor="#1E90FF"|]-] (Duklja) || '']''
|--
| bgcolor="#1E90FF"|] (Paganija) || ]
|--
| bgcolor="#1E90FF"|] (Zahumlje) || ]
|--
|}
{{legend|#E97451|Zagorje}}
{{legend|#1E90FF|Primorje}}<hr>

Serbian dynasties from these principalities fought for the ownership of the Serbian realms, and these lists concentrates on the families and rulers who at some point controlled some of the aforementioned duchies or other conquered regions.

===First Dynasty under Byzantine suzerainty===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Picture
! <sup>Title</sup>Name
! Reign
! Territory
! Notes
|-
| || ] || ] 631 || ] (''Bojka'') || He is the first known ruler of the Serbs.
|-
|] || ] || ]<br> 610-641 || ] || Led the ] to the ] during the reign of Byzantine emperor ] (626).
|-
| || ] || ~750-800 || Zagorje→Rascia || Great-grandson of the Unknown Archont. Ruled ]nia's of ''], ], ]'' and united the Serbian tribes into '']'' in 800.
|-
|] || ] || 800-822 || Rascia || Son of Višeslav I.
|-
| || ] || 822-836 || Rascia || Son of Radoslav.
|}

===House of Vlastimirović===
{{main|House of Vlastimirović}}
With the ] starts the first dynasty that is named after ], who defeated the ] and ruled independently from the ]. The Vlastimirovići ends with the start of the
{|class="wikitable" {|class="wikitable"
|-- |--
! Picture ! Picture
! <sup>Title</sup>Name<br /> ! <sup>Title</sup>Name<br /><small>Born - Died</small>
! Reign ! Reign
! Territory ! Territory
Line 74: Line 30:
||| <sup>Knez</sup><br>]<br>and<br>] || 895 || ] || born 867 and 870, After the death of their father Mutimir, his elder brother Prvoslav took the Serbian crown, but was after a year deposed by their cousin Petar Gojnikovic and fled with Bran and youngest brother Stefan to ]. Three years after the accession of Peter, Bran rebelled against him, but was captured and blinded. Bran was married and had a son, ]. ||| <sup>Knez</sup><br>]<br>and<br>] || 895 || ] || born 867 and 870, After the death of their father Mutimir, his elder brother Prvoslav took the Serbian crown, but was after a year deposed by their cousin Petar Gojnikovic and fled with Bran and youngest brother Stefan to ]. Three years after the accession of Peter, Bran rebelled against him, but was captured and blinded. Bran was married and had a son, ].
|-- |--
|] || <sup>Knez</sup><br>] || 892-917 || ] || born in ~870 to ]. Deposed ] in 891-892, making the Mutimir sons flee to ], later caught Bran in 895 under an attempted rebellion and blinded him by Byzantine tradition, he broke off the diplomatic ties to Croatia. In 897 he kills Klonimir in battle. He became the godfather of Tsar Simeon and annexed Pagania, gained ] and most of ]. His name (Peter) symbolizes the finished Christianization of Serbia. |] || <sup>Knez</sup><br>] || 892-917 || ] || born in ~870 to ]. Deposed ] in 891-892, making the Mutimir sons flee to ], later caught Bran in 895 under an attempted rebellion and blinded him by Byzantine tradition, he broke off the diplomatic ties to Croatia. In 897 he kills Klonimir in battle. He became the godfather of Tsar Simeon and annexed Pagania, gained ] and most of ]. His name (Peter) symbolizes the finished Christianization of Serbia.
|-- |--
||| <sup>Knez</sup><br>] || 917-921 || ] || born to ]. Vassal to Bulgar Symeon I, defeated by Mihajlo Visevic. ||| <sup>Knez</sup><br>] || 917-921 || ] || born to ]. Vassal to Bulgar Symeon I, defeated by Mihajlo Visevic.
Line 82: Line 38:
| || || 924-927 || Serbia || Bulgarian rule 924-927 | || || 924-927 || Serbia || Bulgarian rule 924-927
|-- |--
|] || <sup>Župan</sup><br>] || 927-950 || ] || born to ]. Liberated the central Serbian tribes from Bulgarian empire, concluded a voluntary confederation with the chiefs of Bosnia that brought them out of Croatia's control and together with ], ], ], ], ] and ] established a unified Serb state that encompassed the shores of the Adriatic sea, the Sava river and the Morava river valley as well as Northern Albania. |] || <sup>Župan</sup><br>] || 927-950 || ] || born to ]. Liberated the central Serbian tribes from Bulgarian empire, concluded a voluntary confederation with the chiefs of Bosnia that brought them out of Croatia's control and together with ], ], ], ], ] and ] established a unified Serb state that encompassed the shores of the Adriatic sea, the Sava river and the Morava river valley as well as Northern Albania.
|-- |}<!--
| ||<sup>Župan</sup><br>] || 950-971 || ] ||son of Petar Gojniković
|--
|] || <sup>Knez</sup><br>] || 971-990 || ] || Son of Hvalimir II. Inherited his brother's, Miroslav's, domain of Podgoria (Transmontana) after Miroslav's death in Lake Scutari.
|--
|] || <sup>Knez</sup><br>] || 990-1016 || ] || Son of Petrislav.
|--
|}

<!--
||| <sup>Župan</sup><br>] || 950-980 || ] || ||| <sup>Župan</sup><br>] || 950-980 || ] ||
*Prince/Župan ], ruled from 980-1003 *Prince/Župan ], ruled from 980-1003
*] (998 - 1018), vassal of the ] *] (998 - 1018), vassal of the ] -->
||| <sup>Princes</sup><br>]<br>and<br>] || || ] || sons of ]
||| <sup>Knez</sup><br>Sylvester || 900s || ] || Son of Boleslav, Prince of Travunia and nephew of Hvalimir I
||| <sup>Knez</sup><br>Tugemir || 900s || ] || Son of Sylvester
||| <sup>Knez</sup><br>Hvalimir II || -971 || ] || Son of Tugemir -->


===House of Višević=== == Division of Serbia ==
{{main|House of Višević}}
The ] ruled over Serbs in ] from the 10th century until the end of the 12th century.
{|class="wikitable"
|--
! Picture
! <sup>Title</sup>Name<br />
! Reign
! Territory
! Notes
|--
||| <sup>Knez</sup><br>] || || ] || Descendant of Vistula Slavs, ruled over Zahumlje
|--
||| <sup>Great Prince</sup><br>] || 910-930/40 || ] || Son of Višeslav II,
|}


Serbian monarchs then distributed their lands, dividing Serbia. See ] and ].
===House of Vojislavljević (Vlastimirović)===
{{main|House of Vojislavljević}}
The ] ruled ] between the 1050s up to the 1120s.
{|class="wikitable"
|--
! Picture
! <sup>Title</sup>Name
! Reign
! Territory
! Notes
|--
|] || <sup>Knez (Archont)</sup><br>] || 1018–1043 || ] || Overthrew the Byzantine supremacy over Serbs in Duklja; founder of the ]; in 1035 rebelled against the ], but forced to sign an ]; went to war again in 1040, which would be continued by his heir and son, Mihajlo. Except ], his realm included ] with ] and ].
|--
|] || <sup>Grand Prince, King</sup><br>] || 1050–1081 || ] || Grand Prince 1050-1077, King 1077-1081
|--
|] || <sup>King, Tzar</sup><br>] || 1081 - 1101<hr>1072 || ]<br>]<br>] || Tsar of Bulgaria as Peter III in 1072
|--
|] || <sup>King</sup><br>] || 1101–1102 || ] || Overthrewn by ] and ].
|--
|<!-- ] --> || <sup>King</sup><br>] || 1102 || ] || He was deposed, castrated and blinded.
|--
|<!-- ] --> || <sup>King</sup><br>] || 1102–1103 || ] || He was brought to power by Grand Prince Vukan of Rascia, while his land has emerged only as a fief of Rascia. He married the daughter of the Bosnian Ban trying to restore old influence in Bosnia, but Bosnia subsequently and slowly seceded from Duklja. During the numerous wars for leadership over the Slavic lands, Kočopar forged an alliance with Bosnia against Rascia. The alliance was eventually broken by the Prince of Rascia, which since then held hegemony in the region. Kocopar died in his fights against the Zachlumoi during his attempts to restore Duklja's control over Zachumlia.
|--
|<!-- ] --> || <sup>King</sup><br>] || 1103–1113 || ] || He married a daughter of Vukan, Grand Prince of Rascia, ending the long civil wars with Rascia, and bringing Duklja a long twelve-year peace. Vladimir was appointed to the Dioclean throne by his father-in-law, Vukan, after his uncle, former Dioclean king Kočopar, died in Zachumlia. Vladimir was a victim of dynastic conflicts. He was poisoned in 1118 under the orders of Queen Jakvinta, widow of his late uncle, Constantine Bodin. Jakvinta soon appointed her son, George, to the Dioclean throne.
|--
|<!-- ] --> || <sup>King</sup><br>] || 1113-1118<br>1125-1131 || ] || Son of Constantine Bodin. Đorđe was overturned by ], and later returned to power in Duklja between 1125 and 1131, but the main line of the Vojislavljević ended with him.
|}


In 1165 the Byzantium divided the lands between the four sons of Zavida: Tihomir in Raška, Stracimir in Duklja, Miroslav in ] and ], and ] in Toplica (in today's central Serbia). Stefan Nemanja rebelled against his eldest brother Tihomir in 1166, who fled with his brothers Stracimir and Miroslav to Byzantium to seek help. But later on, Stefan Nemanja defeated his Greek army of mercenaries in the same year near the town of Pantino on Kosovo in which Tihomir drowned in the River of Sitnica. Nemanja captured his other brothers and made peace with them by giving them rule in their former parts of the land to recognise him as the only ruler of Rascia or Serbia. The Nemanjić dynasty was named after Stefan Nemanja and ruled over Serbia until 1371.
<!-- Grubeša Branislavljević
Gradhina Branislavljević
Radoslav Gradišnić -->


====Vojislavljevićs / Uroševićs / Vukanovićs==== ===Vojislavljevićs / Uroševićs / Vukanovićs===
Between 1050 and 1165, the main Serbian state of ] was ruled by descendants of the aforementioned House of Vojislavljević, but the Byzantine Empire often controlled it as well. In 1118, the main line of the Vojislavljević dynasty was mostly extinguished in ], and Uroš of Raška took control of both Raška and Duklja, which is why he named the ''Urošević''. Between 1050 and 1165, the main Serbian state of ] was ruled by descendants of the aforementioned House of Vojislavljević, but the Byzantine Empire often controlled it as well. In 1118, the main line of the Vojislavljević dynasty was mostly extinguished in ], and Uroš of Raška took control of both Raška and Duklja, which is why he named the ''Urošević''.


{|class="wikitable" {|class="wikitable"
Line 164: Line 65:
|<!--]-->|| <sup>Grand Župan</sup><br>] || 1083–1115 || ] || probably son of ], instated by ]. Vukan was the Grand Župan between 1083 and 1115 while his brother ] administrated a part of the land. He was slain by the Byzantines. |<!--]-->|| <sup>Grand Župan</sup><br>] || 1083–1115 || ] || probably son of ], instated by ]. Vukan was the Grand Župan between 1083 and 1115 while his brother ] administrated a part of the land. He was slain by the Byzantines.
|-- |--
|]|| <sup>Grand Župan</sup><br>] || 1115–1131 || Rascia || instated by his father ]. |<!--]-->|| <sup>Grand Župan</sup><br>] || 1115–1131 || Rascia || instated by his father ].
|-- |--
|]|| <sup>Grand Župan</sup><br>] || 1140–1155 || Rascia || replaced his father at 1131 or around 1140 and ruled until 1155 |<!--]-->|| <sup>Grand Župan</sup><br>] || 1140–1155 || Rascia || replaced his father at 1131 or around 1140 and ruled until 1155
|-- |--
|<!-- -->|| <sup>Grand Župan</sup><br>] || 1162 || Rascia || Instated by ] |<!--]-->|| <sup>Grand Župan</sup><br>] || 1162 || Rascia || Instated by ]
|-- |--
|<!--]-->|| <sup>Grand Župan</sup><br>] || 1148-1155<hr><small>1150,1151,1155</small><br>1162-1166 || Duklja<hr>Rascia || Desa took Zeta (Duklja) and Travunia from ] and unified the coastal Serbian Principalities under his firm grip. |<!--]-->|| <sup>Grand Župan</sup><br>] || 1148-1155<hr><small>1150,1151,1155</small><br>1162-1166 || Duklja<hr>Rascia || Desa took Zeta (Duklja) and Travunia from ] and unified the coastal Serbian Principalities under his firm grip.
|} |}


== Unified Serbia ==
After Desa's revolt, in 1165 the Byzantium divided the Serb lands between the four sons of Zavida: Tihomir in Raška, Stracimir in Duklja, Miroslav in ] and ], and ] in Toplica (in today's central Serbia). Stefan Nemanja rebelled against his eldest brother Tihomir in 1166, who fled with his brothers Stracimir and Miroslav to Byzantium to seek help. But later on, Stefan Nemanja defeated his Greek army of mercenaries in the same year near the town of Pantino on Kosovo in which poor Tihomir drowned in the River of Sitnica. Nemanja captured his other brothers and made peace with them by giving them rule in their former parts of the land to recognise him as the only ruler of Rashka or Serbia. The Nemanjić dynasty was named after Stefan Nemanja and ruled over Serbia until 1371.
===House of Nemanjić / The Stefan Dynasty===

===House of Nemanjić / The Stefan Dynasty (Vlastimirović)===
{{main|House of Nemanjić}}
] ]
The ] ruled the Serb lands between ca. 1166 up to 1371. All Serbian rulers after ] ("the First-Crowned") added the name ] (''Stephen'') before their birth names after ascending the throne as a manner of honoring first rulers of their dynasty ] and Stefan ''Prvovenčani''. The name Stefan is derived from Greek ''Stephanos'', meaning ''crowned with wreath''. There is no absolutely consistent system for the enumeration of Medieval Serbian monarchs. Some rulers reigned with double names: Stefan Nemanja, Stefan Radoslav, Stefan Vladislav, and Stefan Uroš. While ''Prvovenčani'' and ''Dečanski'' are epithets, not names, the exact nature of ''Dragutin'' and ''Milutin''&mdash;names or nicknames&mdash;is unclear. However, unlike the names Nemanja, Radoslav, Vladislav, Uroš, and even Dušan, they never appear in the official contemporary sources. Therefore Prvovenčani and Dragutin are most accurately to be numbered simply Stefan I and Stefan II, since those were their only official names. For the basic imperial title of the last Nemanjićs, see article ]. The ] ruled the Serb lands between ca. 1166 up to 1371. All Serbian rulers after ] ("the First-Crowned") added the name ] (''Stephen'') before their birth names after ascending the throne as a manner of honoring first rulers of their dynasty ] and Stefan ''Prvovenčani''. The name Stefan is derived from Greek ''Stephanos'', meaning ''crowned with wreath''. There is no absolutely consistent system for the enumeration of Medieval Serbian monarchs. Some rulers reigned with double names: Stefan Nemanja, Stefan Radoslav, Stefan Vladislav, and Stefan Uroš. While ''Prvovenčani'' and ''Dečanski'' are epithets, not names, the exact nature of ''Dragutin'' and ''Milutin''&mdash;names or nicknames&mdash;is unclear. However, unlike the names Nemanja, Radoslav, Vladislav, Uroš, and even Dušan, they never appear in the official contemporary sources. Therefore Prvovenčani and Dragutin are most accurately to be numbered simply Stefan I and Stefan II, since those were their only official names. For the basic imperial title of the last Nemanjićs, see article ].
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|-- |--
|} |}

====Nemanjićs in Thessaly====
{{main|Despotate of Epirus}}
], a son of ] by his second (Byzantine) wife, claimed the imperial title in 1355, but was defeated in Serbia. He retreated into ], from where he dominated much of northern Greece in alliance with various other Serbian noblemen. He and his son reigned as ''Emperor of Serbs and Greeks''. After the abdication of Jovan Uroš in 1373, Thessaly passed into the hands of the ], who recognized Byzantine suzerainty.

{|class="wikitable"
|--
! Picture
! <sup>Title</sup>Name
! Reign
! Territory
! Notes
|--
|] || <sup>Despot</sup><br>] || 1359–1366<hr>1359–1370 || ]<hr>] || Despotes of Epirus and Acarnania during the reign of his brother ].
|--
|] || <sup>Despot</sup><br>] || 1367-1384 || ] ||
|--
|] || <sup>Despot</sup><br>] || 1370–1373 || ] || son of Simeon Uroš, abdicated
|--
|}

===House of Balšić===
]
The ], "Barons of Coastal Serbia", was a medieval ]n dynasty that ruled ]. It lasted from 1356 until 1435, when it was succeeded by the ].

There were 5 rulers of the dynasty:
* ] (1356-1360 (unofficial); 1360–1362)
* ] (1362–1378)
* ] (1378–1385)
* ] (1385–1403)
* ] (1403–1421)


===]=== ===]===
]]] ]]]
The last Serbian emperor (]) ] associated Vukašin Mrnjavčević as king in 1366. The Serbian royal title thus survived in this family, but in fact the authority of these kings was circumscribed by the local nobility and confined to parts of central and eastern Macedonia. The Serbian royal title was also claimed by ] of ], a descendant of ], from 1377. Tvrtko I used the titles ''King of Serbs, of Bosnia, and of the Coastlands'' from 1377 and ''King of Rascia, Bosnia, Dalmatia, Croatia, and the Coastlands'' from 1390, but died in 1391. The last Serbian emperor (]) ] associated Vukašin Mrnjavčević as king in 1366. The Serbian royal title thus survived in this family, but in fact the authority of these kings was circumscribed by the local nobility and confined to parts of central and eastern Macedonia (]). The Serbian royal title was also claimed by ] of ], a descendant of ], from 1377. Tvrtko I used the titles ''King of Serbs, of Bosnia, and of the Coastlands'' from 1377 and ''King of Rascia, Bosnia, Dalmatia, Croatia, and the Coastlands'' from 1390, but died in 1391.


*] (1366 - 26 September 1371) *] (1366 - 26 September 1371)
Line 266: Line 134:
*] (1458–1459), daughter of Lazar II *] (1458–1459), daughter of Lazar II
*(] (1458–1459), son of Đurađ I, regent for niece) *(] (1458–1459), son of Đurađ I, regent for niece)
*] of Bosnia (21 March/1 April 1459 - 20 June 1459), husband of Jelena; deposed, also king of Bosnia. Died 1463 *] (21 March/1 April 1459 - 20 June 1459), husband of Jelena; deposed, also King of Bosnia as Stjepan Tomašević.


Serbia proper was annexed by the ] in 1459. In 1471 a dependent Serbian state was established by the Hungarians mostly on the territory of ] and ]. Serbia proper was annexed by the ] in 1459. In 1471 a dependent Serbian state was established by the Hungarians mostly on the territory of ] and ].
Line 273: Line 141:
*Đurađ II Branković also ''Đorđe Branković'' (1486–1496), son of Stefan Branković, abdicated *Đurađ II Branković also ''Đorđe Branković'' (1486–1496), son of Stefan Branković, abdicated
*Jovan Branković (1496–1502), son of Stefan Branković *Jovan Branković (1496–1502), son of Stefan Branković

===House of Crnojević===
]
The ] was a dynasty ruling in the Medieval Serbian state of ], first struggling with ] for control over Zeta, and then succeeding them as Zeta's supreme overlords throughout the 14th and 15th century. Since the second half of the 15th century, they would play a crucial role in the survival of late Medieval Zeta. All members of the House of Crnojević considered themselves ''Lords Zetan''.

{|class="wikitable"
|--
! Picture
! <sup>Title</sup>Name
! Reign
! Territory
! Notes
|--
| || ] || end of the 14th century - 1396 || ] ||
|--
| || ] and ] || 1403–1435 || ] ||
|--
| || ] (''Gojčin, Goycinus'') || ? - 1451 || ] ||
|--
| || ] || 1451–1465 || ] ||
|--
| || ] || 1465–1490 || ] ||
|--
| || ] || 1490–1496 || ] ||
|--
| || ] || 1496–1498 || ] ||
|--
| || ] || 1498–1515 || ] ||
|--
| || ] || 1515–1516 || ] ||
|}

===House of Berislavić===
{|class="wikitable"
|--
! Picture
! <sup>Title</sup>Name<br /><small>Born - Died</small>
! Reign
! Territory
! Notes
|--
| || ] || 1504–1514 || ] || Married widow of Jovan Branković
|--
| || ] || 1514–1521 || ] || Deposed
|}


===Jovan Nenad=== ===Jovan Nenad===
Line 440: Line 263:
The present Head of the House of Karađorđević, who is heir to the Serbian throne, is ] ] ]. The present Head of the House of Karađorđević, who is heir to the Serbian throne, is ] ] ].


==See also== ==See also==
*]
*] *]
*] *]
Line 446: Line 270:


==Notes== ==Notes==
{{reflist}} *{{reflist}}


==Sources== ==Sources==

Revision as of 20:34, 29 July 2010

Modern coat of arms of Serbia

This is a list of monarchs of Serbia.

Early rulers; House of Zupan

House of Vlastimirović

The House of Vlastimirović controlled the Serbs between ca. 825-850 up to ca. 950.

Picture Name
Born - Died 		Reign Territory Notes

Vlastimir of Serbia		 836 - 850 Rascia
Travunija
Konavli
Duklja		 son of Prosigoj, ruled around 850, or only up to 825 according to some; founder of House of Vlastimirović. Vlastimir had three sons (Mutimir, Strojimir and Gojnik) and one daughter. His daughter married župan of Travunija Krajina Belojević, son of Beloje of Trebinje. Each son had his own domain, but Mutimir, the eldest, was the supreme ruler, his two brothers being subjugated (vassals) to him. The brothers successfully fought off a Bulgarian onslaught by Boris of Bulgaria in 852. Later, the two youngest brothers rebelled against Mutimir, who, as a punishment, let Boris subjugate them.

Mutimir of Serbia		 850 - 891 Rascia
Travunija
Konavli
Duklja		 He was the oldest of the three brothers and had the main position after his father's ascession. Mutimir, together with his brothers Gojnik and Strojimir, defeated the Bulgar Army sent by Tsar Boris and led by his son Vladimir.
File:Seal of Prince Strojimir mirrored.png
Strojimir and
Gojnik		 850 - 856 Rascia
Travunija
Konavli
Duklja		 After power struggle between Strojimir and Mutimir, Strojimir and Gojnik was captured and sent as prisoners to Bulgar khan Boris in 855-856. They lost their titles of Zupans of Serbia and were held at Pliska, the Bulgarian capital, but treated well by the Bulgarians, Khan Boris himself chose the wife of Klonimir, the son of Strojimir.

Prvoslav of Serbia		 891-893 Serbia He was the eldest son of Mutimir. Prvoslav ruled Serbia briefly for a year when Petar Gojnikovic, the son of Gojnik, returned from Croatia and after a battle defeated Prvoslav in 892, retaking the rule of Serbia. Prvoslav fled to Croatia and his son, Zaharije I, had the goals to rule Serbia but remained in Constantinople for a long period before ruling Serbia 921-924. Stefan Mutimirović and Bran Mutimirović was his two younger brothers who took over his power.

Bran
and
Stefan		 895 Serbia born 867 and 870, After the death of their father Mutimir, his elder brother Prvoslav took the Serbian crown, but was after a year deposed by their cousin Petar Gojnikovic and fled with Bran and youngest brother Stefan to Croatia. Three years after the accession of Peter, Bran rebelled against him, but was captured and blinded. Bran was married and had a son, Pavle Branović.

Petar Gojniković		 892-917 Serbia born in ~870 to Gojnik. Deposed Prvoslav in 891-892, making the Mutimir sons flee to Croatia, later caught Bran in 895 under an attempted rebellion and blinded him by Byzantine tradition, he broke off the diplomatic ties to Croatia. In 897 he kills Klonimir in battle. He became the godfather of Tsar Simeon and annexed Pagania, gained Bosnia and most of Zahumlje. His name (Peter) symbolizes the finished Christianization of Serbia.

Pavle Branović		 917-921 Serbia born to Bran. Vassal to Bulgar Symeon I, defeated by Mihajlo Visevic.

Zaharije Pribisavljević		 921-924 Serbia born to Prvoslav. Defeated Pavle in 921~.
924-927 Serbia Bulgarian rule 924-927

Časlav Klonimirović		 927-950 Serbia born to Klonimir. Liberated the central Serbian tribes from Bulgarian empire, concluded a voluntary confederation with the chiefs of Bosnia that brought them out of Croatia's control and together with Zahumlje, Pagania, Neretva, Travunia, Zeta and Raska established a unified Serb state that encompassed the shores of the Adriatic sea, the Sava river and the Morava river valley as well as Northern Albania.

Division of Serbia

Serbian monarchs then distributed their lands, dividing Serbia. See List of rulers of Rascia and List of rulers of Duklja.

In 1165 the Byzantium divided the lands between the four sons of Zavida: Tihomir in Raška, Stracimir in Duklja, Miroslav in Zahumlje and Travunia, and Stefan Nemanja in Toplica (in today's central Serbia). Stefan Nemanja rebelled against his eldest brother Tihomir in 1166, who fled with his brothers Stracimir and Miroslav to Byzantium to seek help. But later on, Stefan Nemanja defeated his Greek army of mercenaries in the same year near the town of Pantino on Kosovo in which Tihomir drowned in the River of Sitnica. Nemanja captured his other brothers and made peace with them by giving them rule in their former parts of the land to recognise him as the only ruler of Rascia or Serbia. The Nemanjić dynasty was named after Stefan Nemanja and ruled over Serbia until 1371.

Vojislavljevićs / Uroševićs / Vukanovićs

Between 1050 and 1165, the main Serbian state of Raška was ruled by descendants of the aforementioned House of Vojislavljević, but the Byzantine Empire often controlled it as well. In 1118, the main line of the Vojislavljević dynasty was mostly extinguished in Duklja, and Uroš of Raška took control of both Raška and Duklja, which is why he named the Urošević.

Picture Name Reign Territory Notes

Petrislav		 1050–1074 instated by his father Mihajlo.

Vukan		 1083–1115 Rascia probably son of Petrislav, instated by Konstantin Bodin. Vukan was the Grand Župan between 1083 and 1115 while his brother Marko administrated a part of the land. He was slain by the Byzantines.

Uroš I		 1115–1131 Rascia instated by his father Mihajlo.

Uroš II		 1140–1155 Rascia replaced his father at 1131 or around 1140 and ruled until 1155

Beloš I		 1162 Rascia Instated by Manuel I Komnenos

Desa		 1148-1155
1150,1151,1155
1162-1166		 Duklja
Rascia		 Desa took Zeta (Duklja) and Travunia from Radoslav of Duklja and unified the coastal Serbian Principalities under his firm grip.

Unified Serbia

House of Nemanjić / The Stefan Dynasty

Coat of Arms of Nemanjićs

The House of Nemanjić ruled the Serb lands between ca. 1166 up to 1371. All Serbian rulers after Stefan Prvovenčani ("the First-Crowned") added the name Stefan (Stephen) before their birth names after ascending the throne as a manner of honoring first rulers of their dynasty Stefan Nemanja and Stefan Prvovenčani. The name Stefan is derived from Greek Stephanos, meaning crowned with wreath. There is no absolutely consistent system for the enumeration of Medieval Serbian monarchs. Some rulers reigned with double names: Stefan Nemanja, Stefan Radoslav, Stefan Vladislav, and Stefan Uroš. While Prvovenčani and Dečanski are epithets, not names, the exact nature of Dragutin and Milutin—names or nicknames—is unclear. However, unlike the names Nemanja, Radoslav, Vladislav, Uroš, and even Dušan, they never appear in the official contemporary sources. Therefore Prvovenčani and Dragutin are most accurately to be numbered simply Stefan I and Stefan II, since those were their only official names. For the basic imperial title of the last Nemanjićs, see article Tsar.

Picture Name Reign Territory Notes

Stefan Nemanja		 1168-1196
1186-1196		 Rascia
Duklja		 Ruler of Serbs from 1166 to 1199. He established control over the territories of neighboring Serb states, including Zeta/Doclea, and unified them into a single state. He founded the Nemanjić dynasty and became recognized as an Orthodox Christian Saint (Symeon) after numerous alleged miracles following his death.

Stefan Prvovenčani		 1195-1208
1202–1204		 Duklja
Rascia		 ruled under Stefan Nemanjić.

Vukan Nemanjić		 1196-1217
1217-1228		 Rascia first son of Stefan Nemanja, proclaimed King of Serbia, Dalmatia and Bosnia by Pope Honorius III in 1217

Stefan Radoslav		 1228–1234 Rascia
Zahumlje
Zeta		 son of Stefan I Prvovenčani

Stefan Vladislav		 1233–1243 Rascia
Zahumlje
Zeta		 son of Stefan I Prvovenčani

Stefan Uroš		 1243–1276 Serbia son of Stefan I Prvovenčani

Stefan Dragutin		 1276-1282
1282-1316		 Serbia
Syrmia		 son of Stefan Uroš I

Stefan Milutin		 1282–1321 Serbia son of Stefan Uroš I

Stefan Vladislav II		 1316–1325 Syrmia son of Stefan II Dragutin

Stefan Konstantin		 1321–1322 Serbia son of Stefan Uroš II Milutin, deposed by Stefan Dečanski

Stefan Dečanski		 1321–1331 Serbia son of Stefan Uroš II Milutin

Dušan the Mighty		 1331-1345
1346–1355		 Rascia
Serbian Empire		 son of Stefan Uroš III Dečanski, crowned Emperor of Serbs and Greeks on 16 April 1346 in Skopje

Uroš the Weak		 1346–1355
1355–1371		 Serbia
Serbian Empire		 son of Stefan Uroš IV Dušan, put as King of Rascia (1346–1355) by brother Dušan, then succedes as Emperor after the death of Dušan in 1355.

House of Mrnjavčević

File:Herb mrnjavcevici.jpg
Coat of Arms of House of Mrnjavčević

The last Serbian emperor (tsar) Stefan Uroš V associated Vukašin Mrnjavčević as king in 1366. The Serbian royal title thus survived in this family, but in fact the authority of these kings was circumscribed by the local nobility and confined to parts of central and eastern Macedonia (Kingdom of Prilep). The Serbian royal title was also claimed by Tvrtko I of Bosnia, a descendant of Stefan Dragutin, from 1377. Tvrtko I used the titles King of Serbs, of Bosnia, and of the Coastlands from 1377 and King of Rascia, Bosnia, Dalmatia, Croatia, and the Coastlands from 1390, but died in 1391.

House of Lazarević

Serbia proper came under the control of Lazar Hrebeljanović, who had married Milica, a descendant of Stefan Nemanja's eldest son Vukan. The Lazarevići and their successors, the Brankovići, ruled as princes, but were frequently distinguished by the Byzantine court title of despotēs, granted by the last Byzantine Emperors to their allies.

House of Branković

File:Herb Brankovic.jpg
Coat of Arms of House of Branković

Serbia proper was annexed by the Ottoman Empire in 1459. In 1471 a dependent Serbian state was established by the Hungarians mostly on the territory of Vojvodina and Syrmia.

  • Vuk Branković (1471–1485), grandson of Đurađ I
  • Đurađ II Branković also Đorđe Branković (1486–1496), son of Stefan Branković, abdicated
  • Jovan Branković (1496–1502), son of Stefan Branković

Jovan Nenad

Picture Name
Born - Died 		Reign Territory Notes

Jovan Nenad		 1526 - July 26, 1527 Serb Empire of Jovan Nenad (Vojvodina) Many Serbian historians consider him the founder of contemporary Vojvodina

Radoslav Čelnik

Picture Name
Born - Died 		Reign Territory Notes

Radoslav Čelnik		 1527 - 1529/30 Srem He was general commander of Emperor Jovan Nenad's army.

Monarchs of modern Serbian states (1804-1918)

First Serbian Uprising (1804-1813)

Karađorđević Dynasty

Picture Name
Born - Died 		Reign Territory Notes

Karađorđe Petrović
3 November 1768 - 24 July 1817		 15 February 1804 - 21 September 1813 Founder of Principality of Serbia deposed

Principality of Serbia (1815-1882)

Obrenović Dynasty

Picture Name
Born - Died 		Reign Territory Notes

Miloš Obrenović I
March 18, 1780 - September 26, 1860
November 6, 1817 - June 25, 1839		 Principality of Serbia Abdicated

Milan Obrenović II
October 21, 1819 - July 8, 1839		 June 25, 1839 - July 8, 1839 Principality of Serbia Ruled for only 26 days

Mihailo Obrenović III (first reign)
September 16, 1823 - June 10, 1868
July 8, 1839 - September 14, 1842		 Principality of Serbia Deposed

Karađorđević Dynasty

Picture Name
Born - Died 		Reign Territory Notes

Aleksandar Karađorđević
11 October 1806 - 3 May 1885		 14 September 1842 – 23 December 1858 Principality of Serbia Abdicated

Obrenović Dynasty

Picture Name
Born - Died 		Reign Territory Notes

Miloš Obrenović I
March 18, 1780 - September 26, 1860
December 23, 1858 - September 26, 1860		 Principality of Serbia Abdicated

Mihailo Obrenović III (first reign)
September 16, 1823 - June 10, 1868
September 26, 1860 – June 10, 1868		 Principality of Serbia Assassinated in Košutnjak


Milan Obrenović IV
August 22, 1854 - February 11, 1901		 June 10, 1868 – March 6, 1889 Principality of Serbia
Kingdom of Serbia		 Proclaimed King of Serbia.

Kingdom of Serbia (1882-1918)

Obrenović Dynasty

Picture Name
Born - Died 		Reign Territory Notes

Milan I
August 22, 1854 - February 11, 1901		 June 10, 1868 – March 6, 1889 Kingdom of Serbia Abdicated
File:KraljAlexObrenovic.jpg
Aleksandar I
14 August 1876 - 11 June 1903		 March 6, 1889 – June 11, 1903 Kingdom of Serbia Assassinated with Queen Draga in coup d'état.
End of Obrenović Dynasty.

Karađorđević Dynasty

Picture Name
Born - Died 		Reign Territory Notes
File:Kralj Petar I Karadjordjevic.jpg

Petar I
June 29, 1844 - August 16, 1921		 15 June 1903 – 1 December 1918 (as King of Serbia)
1 December 1918 - 16 August 1921 (as King of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes)		 Kingdom of Serbia
Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes		 1 December 1918 (proclaimed King of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes)

For the continuation of this list, go to List of heads of state of Yugoslavia.

Notes

In 1918, Serbia became part of the newly formed Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. Later that state changed name in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (i.e. Kingdom of South Slavs). In that period (between World War I and World War II) the country was a parliamentary monarchy nominally ruled by the Karađorđević dynasty.

After World War II and the civil war Yugoslavia became a communist state, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, ruled by Josip Broz Tito. After his death in 1980, the federation started a process of dissolution which finished in a series of civil wars in the early 1990s. Through the 1990s, Serbia and Montenegro comprised the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which was restructured in 2003 into a confederation called Serbia and Montenegro. The state union ended with Montenegro's separation in 2006. Currently Serbia is a parliamentary republic.

The present Head of the House of Karađorđević, who is heir to the Serbian throne, is HRH Crown Prince Aleksandar II.

See also

Notes

  1. Entries bounded within parentheses are for reference only; for instance, the Roman numerals keep counts of Stefans and Lazars. They are not part of the common nomenclature.

Sources

Monarchs of Serbia
Principality of Serbia (early medieval), 641–969
Serbian Principality of Duklja, 998–1101
Grand Principality of Serbia, 1101–1217
Kingdom of Serbia, 1217–1346
Serbian Empire, 1346–1371
Moravian Serbia, 1371–1402
Serbian Despotate, 1402–1537
Second Serbian Empire and Duchy of Srem, 1526–1532
Revolutionary Serbia, 1804–1837
Principality of Serbia, 1837–1882
Kingdom of Serbia, 1882–1918
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