Gradinja ( sr-cyr, Градиња) or Gradihna (; 1125–46) was the ruler of
Duklja
Duklja ( sh-Cyrl, Дукља; el, Διόκλεια, Diokleia; la, Dioclea) was a medieval South Slavic state which roughly encompassed the territories of modern-day southeastern Montenegro, from the Bay of Kotor in the west to the Bojana Riv ...
, from either 1131 to 1142 or 1135 to 1146. Gradinja is one of many persons (alongside Branislav, Gojislav, Georgije and Grubeša among others) mentioned only in the ''
Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja
The ''Chronicle of the Priest of Dioclea or Duklja'' ( sh, Ljetopis popa Dukljanina) is the usual name given to a purportedly medieval chronicle written in the late 13th century by an anonymous priest from Duklja. Its oldest preserved copy is in La ...
'' (CPD), not found in Byzantine sources as the other Serbian rulers and royalty. Gradinja was the son of Dukljan prince
Branislav, and the brother of
Grubeša, the former ruler (r. 1118–25).
Around 1125, Gradinja, the rival of
Đorđe Đorđe ( sr-Cyrl, Ђорђе;transliterated Djordje) is a Serbian given name, a Serbian variant, derived from Greek ''Georgios'' ('' George'' in English). Other variants include: Đurđe, Đurađ, Đura, Đuro, Georgije. It may refer to:
* Đor ...
, married himself in ''Raška'' (
Grand Principality of Serbia
Grand Principality of Serbia ( sr, Великожупанска Србија, Velikožupanska Srbija), or Rascia ( sr, Рашка, Raška), was a medieval Serbian state that existed from the second half of the 11th century up until 1217, when it ...
), with the "intent of returning the rule", according to
Mavro Orbini
Mavro Orbini (1563–1614) was a Ragusan chronicler, notable for his work ''The Realm of the Slavs'' (1601) which influenced Slavic ideology and historiography in the later centuries.
Life
Orbini was born in Ragusa (now Dubrovnik), the capital o ...
. Following the second war with the Byzantines, in which King Đorđe was defeated and imprisoned in the stronghold of
Oblik, the Byzantines appointed Gradinja as ruler of Duklja, to rule as a vassal. According to the CPD, Gradinja was gentle, tame, compassionate and a protector of the widows and the poor. The power and territorial extent of Duklja was, in the time of his reign, greatly decreased.
His son
Radoslav
Radoslav () is a common Slavic masculine given name, derived from ''rad-'' ("happy, eager, to care") and ''slava'' ("glory, fame"), both very common in Slavic dithematic names. It roughly means "eager glory". It is known since the Middle Ages. Th ...
inherited the throne in 1146.
Gradinja was according to Gavro Škrivanić buried in the
Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus in Bojana
The Shirgj Church ( al, Kisha e Shirqit/Shirgjit, links=no), also known as the Monastery of Saints Sergius and Bacchus ( al, Manastiri i Shën Shirgjit dhe Bakut, sr, Манастир Светих Сергија и Вакха, ''Manastir Svetih Se ...
.
See also
*
Duklja
Duklja ( sh-Cyrl, Дукља; el, Διόκλεια, Diokleia; la, Dioclea) was a medieval South Slavic state which roughly encompassed the territories of modern-day southeastern Montenegro, from the Bay of Kotor in the west to the Bojana Riv ...
*
Vojislavljević dynasty
The Vojislavljević ( sr-Cyrl, Војислављевић, pl. Vojislavljevići / Војислављевићи) was a Serbian medieval dynasty, named after ''archon'' Stefan Vojislav, who wrested the polities of Duklja, Travunia, Zahumlje, inne ...
*
Vukanović dynasty
The Vukanović dynasty ( sr-cyr, Вукановић, Vukanovići / Вукановићи), was a medieval Serbian dynasty that ruled over inner Serbia, centered in the Raška region ( la, Rascia), during the 11th and 12th century. Several memb ...
*
Grand Principality of Serbia
Grand Principality of Serbia ( sr, Великожупанска Србија, Velikožupanska Srbija), or Rascia ( sr, Рашка, Raška), was a medieval Serbian state that existed from the second half of the 11th century up until 1217, when it ...
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gradina
12th-century rulers in Europe
12th-century Serbian nobility
12th-century Byzantine people
Rulers of Duklja
Vojislavljević dynasty
Pretenders
12th-century deaths
People of the Grand Principality of Serbia