Jovan Dejanović ( sr-cyr, Јован Дејановић), known as Jovan Dragaš (Јован Драгаш), was a Serbian nobleman that held the title of despot under the Serbian Emperor

Uroš V __NOTOC__ Uroš ( sr-Cyrl, Урош) is a South Slavic given or last name primarily spread amongst Serbs, and Slovenians (mostly of Serbian descent). This noun has been interpreted as "lords", because it usually appears in conjunction with ''velmõ ...

, his cousin. He later became an Ottoman vassal after the Battle of Maritsa in 1371. His father, despot Dejan ruled

Kumanovo Kumanovo ( mk, Куманово ; also known by other #Etymology, alternative names) is a city in North Macedonia and the seat of Kumanovo Municipality, the List of municipalities in the Republic of Macedonia by population, largest municipali ...

with a district spanning from

Preševo Preševo ( sr-cyrl, Прешево; sq, Preshevë, ) is a town and municipality located in the Pčinja District of southern Serbia. It is the southernmost town in Central Serbia and largest in the geographical region of Preševo Valley. Preševo ...

to Velbazhd (

Kyustendil Kyustendil ( bg, Кюстендил ) is a town in the far west of Bulgaria, the capital of the Kyustendil Province, a former bishopric and present Latin Catholic titular see. The town is situated in the southern part of the Kyustendil Valley, ...

). After his father's death, the young brothers Jovan and

Constantine Constantine most often refers to: * Constantine the Great, Roman emperor from 306 to 337, also known as Constantine I *Constantine, Algeria, a city in Algeria Constantine may also refer to: People * Constantine (name), a masculine given name ...

were taken care of by

Vlatko Paskačić Vlatko Paskačić ( sr, Влатко Паскачић) was a 14th-century Serbian feudal lord (''sebastokrator'') of Slavište region around Kriva Palanka under the Mrnjavčevići (1366-1395), in modern Republic of Macedonia. His father was Pa ...

, at the order of the Mrnjavčevićs, who continued to rule the region until Jovan reached adolescence. He began his office in circa 1365, and ruled alongside his mother and younger brother Constantine for some years. His cousin gave him the title of ''Despot'', as had done his father before him (this is attested in sources dating to 1373). Ottoman sources report that in 1373, the Ottoman army compelled Jovan (who they called ''Saruyar'') in the upper Struma, to recognize Ottoman vassalage. After the Battle of Maritsa, the two brothers became Ottoman vassals as the Mrnjavčevićs were defeated. They, however, continued to rule their region as a semi-independent state, and managed to further expand their father's district, taking territory from

Jovan Oliver Jovan Oliver Grčinić ( sr, Јован Оливер Грчинић; ca. 1310-1356) was a magnate of the Serbian Emperor Dušan the Mighty (r. 1331-1355), holding the titles of ''sebastokrator'' and ''despotes'', and the rank of "great voivode", s ...

. He issued coins that were of same design as those of

Vukašin Mrnjavčević Vukašin (Cyrillic script: Вукашин) is an old Slavic name of Serbian origin. It is composed from two words: Vuk (wolf) and sin (son), so it means sin vuka (son of wolf). In some places in Croatia and Bosnia it can be found as a surname. ...

. He donated the St. Basil's church in

Štip Štip ( mk, Штип ) is the largest urban agglomeration in the eastern part of North Macedonia, serving as the economic, industrial, entertainment and educational focal point for the surrounding municipalities. As of the 2002 census, the city ...

to the

Hilandar The Hilandar Monastery ( sr-cyr, Манастир Хиландар, Manastir Hilandar, , el, Μονή Χιλανδαρίου) is one of the twenty Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Mount Athos in Greece and the only Serbian monastery there. It wa ...

monastery. He died in 1378 and his brother continued to rule until 1395.

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* * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Dragas, Jovan 14th-century Serbian nobility 1343 births 1378 deaths Despots of the Serbian Empire Dejanović noble family

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