Jovan Uglješa Mrnjavčević ( sr-Cyrl, Јован Угљеша Мрњавчевић;

fl. ''Floruit'' ( ; usually abbreviated fl. or occasionally flor.; from Latin for 'flourished') denotes a date or period during which a person was known to have been alive or active. In English, the unabbreviated word may also be used as a noun indic ...

1346–1371), known as Jovan Uglješa ( sr-Cyrl, Јован Угљеша), was a Serbian medieval nobleman of the

Mrnjavčević family The House of Mrnjavčević ( sr-Cyrl, Мрњавчевић, Mrnjavčevići / Мрњавчевићи, ) was a medieval Serbian noble house during the Serbian Empire, its fall, and the subsequent years when it held a region of present-day Mac ...

and one of the most prominent magnates of the

Serbian Empire The Serbian Empire ( sr-Cyrl-Latn, Српско царство, Srpsko carstvo, separator=" / ", ) was a medieval Serbian state that emerged from the Kingdom of Serbia. It was established in 1346 by Dušan the Mighty, who significantly expande ...

. He held the title of '' despot'', received from Serbian Emperor

Stefan Uroš V Saint Stefan Uroš V ( sr-Cyrl, Стефан Урош V, ; 13362/4 December 1371), known in historiography and folk tradition as Uroš the Weak (), was the Emperor of the Serbs, second Emperor (Tsar#Serbia, Tsar) of the Serbian Empire (1355–13 ...

, whose co-ruler - Serbian King

Vukašin Vukašin () 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. The name Vukašin can be foun ...

was Uglješa's brother.

Life

Uglješa was the son of Mrnjava, a treasurer of Helen, the queen consort of

Stephen Uroš I of Serbia Stephen or Steven is an English first name. It is particularly significant to Christians, as it belonged to Saint Stephen ( ), an early disciple and deacon who, according to the Book of Acts, was stoned to death; he is widely regarded as the firs ...

. He held Travunia in 1346, during the rule of

Stefan Dušan Stephen (honorific), Stefan Uroš IV Dušan ( sr-Cyrl, Стефан Урош IV Душан), also known as Dušan the Mighty ( sr-Cyrl, Душан Силни; – 20 December 1355), was the King of Serbia from 8 September 1331 and Emperor of th ...

(1331–1355).''Književno delo monahinje Jefimije'', p. 1 Uglješa married Jelena (later nun

Jefimija Jefimija ( sr-Cyrl, Јефимија, ; 1349–1405), secular name Jelena Mrnjavčević ( sr-Cyrl, Јелена Мрњавчевић, link=no, or ), was a Serbian noblewoman, wife of Jovan Uglješa Mrnjavčević, considered to be the first femal ...

), daughter of

Vojihna Vojihna Nemanjić of Drama or simply Vojin of Drama ( sr-Cyrl, Војихна ; ca 1298–1360), was a Serbian feudal nobleman, member of the collateral branch of Nemanjić dynasty, ruling family of the medieval Serbia, that rose through the ra ...

, the ''

Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (12 or 13 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war. He ...

'' of

Drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

.Fajfric, p. 5 This boosted the power of Uglješa, who would later govern the region alongside his father-in-law. Vojihna died in ca 1360, and his lands were inherited by Uglješa. He was given the title of ''

despotes Despot or ''despotes'' () was a senior Byzantine court title that was bestowed on the sons or sons-in-law of reigning emperors, and initially denoted the heir-apparent of the Byzantine emperor. From Byzantium it spread throughout the late medie ...

'' by the widowed Serbian empress,

Helena of Bulgaria Helena of Bulgaria (, ; –7 November 1374) was a Bulgarian princess, and the Queen and Empress consort of Serbia by marriage to Serbian King and later Emperor Stefan Dušan (r. 1331–55). She was a regent of Serbia in 1355 and 1356 for her ...

, in 1365. His domain was situated along the lower course of the Struma with

Serres Serres ( ) is a city in Macedonia, Greece, capital of the Serres regional unit and second largest city in the region of Central Macedonia, after Thessaloniki. Serres is one of the administrative and economic centers of Northern Greece. The c ...

as seat, eventually replacing Helena in its possession. From 1368, his territory was under the religious jurisdiction of the

Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (, ; ; , "Roman Orthodox Patriarchate, Ecumenical Patriarchate of Istanbul") is one of the fifteen to seventeen autocephalous churches that together compose the Eastern Orthodox Church. It is heade ...

. The Patriarch mentioned the master of Raška (another name for Serbia), Jovan Uglješa, in a letter from 1371.

Death and legacy

With the Ottoman threat rising in the Balkans, Uglješa and his brothers

Vukašin Mrnjavčević Vukašin () 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. The name Vukašin can be foun ...

and

Gojko Mrnjavčević Gojko ( Serbian script: Гојко) is a Slovenian masculine given name of an old Slavic and North Slavic origin. The name is mainly used in Slovenia and historically comes from the mountains of Slovenia, Dol pod Gojko. The name is also used in Cro ...

tried to oppose the Turks. Uglješa was killed on 26 September 1371 in the

Battle of Maritsa The Battle of Maritsa or Battle of Chernomen (; in tr. ''Second Battle of Maritsa'') took place at the Maritsa River near the village of Chernomen (present-day Ormenio, Greece) on 26 September 1371 between Ottoman forces commanded by Lala S ...

. Their troops were smashed by those of Ottoman commanders

Lala Shahin Pasha Lala Shahin Pasha (; 1330 – after 1388), was an Ottoman military commander and first Beylerbey of Rumelia. He was instrumental in the early Ottoman expansion into the Balkans, serving as a key commander under Sultan Murad I. He played a lead ...

and

Gazi Evrenos Evrenos or Evrenuz (1288–1417, Yenice-i Vardar) was an Ottoman military commander. He served as a general under Süleyman Pasha, Murad I, Bayezid I, Süleyman Çelebi and Mehmed I. Legends stating that he lived for 129 years and had an in ...

at the

in 1371. The defeat resulted in large portions of the

region of Macedonia Macedonia ( ) is a geographical and historical region of the Balkan Peninsula in Southeast Europe. Its boundaries have changed considerably over time; however, it came to be defined as the modern geographical region by the mid-19th century. ...

falling under Ottoman power. Additionally, Uglješa's two brothers were killed during the fight. Their courage made them heroes of Bulgarian and

Serbian epic poetry Serbian epic poetry () is a form of epic poetry created by Serbs originating in today's Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and North Macedonia. The main cycles were composed by unknown Serb authors between the 14th and 19th centu ...

References

Sources

* * * * * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Mrnjavcevic, Ugljesa 1371 deaths 14th-century Serbian nobility Ugljesa Serbian Empire Medieval Serbian military leaders Serbian military personnel killed in action Despots of the Serbian Empire Characters in Serbian epic poetry History of Serres Year of birth unknown 14th-century soldiers Boyars of Stefan Dušan

Life

Death and legacy

See also

References

Sources