Đurađ I Balšić

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Đurađ Balšić
Lord of Zeta
Balšić
Spouse(s)Olivera Mrnjavčević
Teodora Dejanović Dragaš
IssueJelisaveta
Goisava
Jevdokija (Eudokia)
Konstantin (Košta)
Đurađ (illegitimate)
FatherBalša I

Đurađ I Balšić (

Lord of Zeta between 1362 and 13 January 1378. He was the eldest of the three sons of Balša I, and belonged to the Balšić family
.

Life

Đurađ was the eldest son of Balša, a petty nobleman that held one village during the rule of Emperor Stefan Dušan (r. 1331–1355) and was said to be "kin to Nemanja". The family started taking Lower Zeta sometime following the death of Dušan in 1355. In 1362 the brothers murdered Đuraš Ilijić who had held Upper Zeta, and were then recognized as oblastni gospodari (provincial lords) of Zeta in charters of Stefan Uroš V (r. 1355–1371).

In 1363, Đurađ declared war against the

Matarangos, an Albanian noble family which controlled southern Albania, were allied with the Balšićs as a result of a quarrel with the Thopias in the south. In the spring of 1364, Karl Thopia took Đurađ captive due to a skirmish, ending Zetan involvement in the war. Đurađ was held captive until 1366 when Republic of Ragusa
mediated peace and procured his release. In 1367, Đurađ is mentioned as the "baron of maritime Serbia".

In January 1368, a Ragusan document reported that the three Balšić brothers: Stracimir, Đurađ and

Mati River, of which Karl's lands lay south of. The fighting was apparently small-scale as two months later, Karl had no difficulty capturing Dyrrhachium from the Angevins.[2]

In order to secure their rule, the Balšić brothers (especially Đurađ and Balša II) were already in 1369 ready to convert from Orthodoxy to Catholicism.[3] According to Fine (1994), the brothers converted in order to further their coastal ambitions in 1368 or early 1369.[4] They formally converted in 1369.[5]

Hoping to acquire suzerainty over the town, Đurađ had waged war against

Adriatic. In fact, Venice wrote to Uroš V in 1368, complaining that Serbia's armed ships were on the Adriatic, citing Bar, Budva nand Ulcinj
to have them. They had also stated that this was also a violation of the Venetian-Serbian treaty and threatened to treat the ships as pirate vessels. However, Uroš V replied to that letter, stating that those ships that Venice were complaining about belonged to Đurađ I Balšić, the lord of Zeta.

Uroš was unhappy with Đurađ's actions as they were directed against Kotor, which was under Uroš V's suzerainty. Concluding that Đurađ was a rebel, the Serbian court claimed no responsibility for Đurađ's actions that might violate the Venetian-Serbian treaty.

In 1369, Đurađ laid siege to Kotor, which, having no choice, turned to the Kingdom of Hungary for support and sought for Hungarian suzerainty. Hungary sent a nobleman from Zadar to hold Kotor. This action only increased Kotor's troubles, as it lost its trade privileges with Serbia for a time, causing a larger economic turmoil for Kotor. By spring 1370, probably through Venetian mediation, Đurađ had made peace with Kotor. However, in the same year, Nikola Altomanović attacked Kotor.[6]

Zeta in time of Stracimir and Djuradj I Balsic (1372-1378). A) The territory of Balšić ; B) Temporary estates

In 1371, Đurađ announced to the

Tvrtko I allied themselves to defeat Nikola Altomanović. Desperate for a strong ally, Altomanović began negotiations with Đurađ. Most historians agree that in concluding negotiations, Đurađ gained the towns of Trebinje, Konavle and Dračevica (Herceg Novi) from Altomanović, possibly a bribe to remain neutral within the war. Other historians, however, follow Mavro Orbini's account and argue that Đurađ never concluded such an agreement, rather conquered the towns he gained from the agreement himself after Altomanović was defeated in 1373.[7]

On 30 November 1373[8] the Balšić brothers issued an edict in the Republic of Ragusa that confirmed the laws of Emperor Stefan Uroš V and gave privileges to Ragusan traders, including imposed taxes. It also included a unique clause, recognizing the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Serbian Empire despite being without an Emperor for years and any form of strong centralized authority, a note that if anyone would become the new sovereign Emperor of the Serbs and the Serbian nobility and lands (ако тко буде цар господин Србљем и властелом у земљи српској), all the points shall be transferred from the Balšićs to him. Đurađ I's logotet Vitko was the witness, as well as Dragaš Kosačić.[9][10]

In 1375, Lazar Hrebeljanović and Đurađ convened the state assembly (sabor) during which Jefrem was chosen as Serbian Patriarch.[3]

After the

Šar mountain.[11]

Đurađ I died on 13 January 1378 in Skadar. However, recent studies now conclude that Đurađ died in 1379 rather than in 1378. The rule of Zeta was passed down to his younger brother, Balša II. Đurađ's death caused quite a stir between Zeta's neighbours. Bosnian Ban Tvrtko I annexed Đurađ's territories bordering Dubrovnik in 1377, along with the remainder of Đurađ's coastal lands between the Bay of Kotor and the land previously annexed in 1377 at the time of his death. Tvrtko secured these possessions through Đurađ's death, free of worry of any counter-attack.

Vuk Branković also took this opportunity to gain Đurađ's land. Branković sent his forces into Metohija and seized Prizren, along with the rest of Đurađ's holdings in the region.[12]

Titles

  • gospodin (господин, "lord").[13]
  • "Maritime Baron of Serbia" (приморски барон Србије), 1367.[14]

Family

Đurađ I was married to two women: Olivera Mrnjavčević (daughter of

Teodora Dejanović
(daughter of despot Dejan) after 1371. He had the following issue:

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Đurađ I, Prince of Zeta.

References

Sources

  1. ^ Bulgarian historical review 2003, p. 167
  2. ^ Fine 1994, p. 372
  3. ^ a b Istorija srpske državnosti. Vol. 1. SANU. 2000. p. 245.
  4. ^ Fine 1994, p. 388.
  5. ^ Recueil des travaux de la Faculté de philosophie: Les sciences historiques. Vol. 18. Univerzitet. 1994. p. 159.
  6. ^ Fine 1994, p. 376
  7. ^ Fine 1994, p. 377
  8. ISBN 9788682937043
    . Балшићи су 1373. године преносећи на себе дубровачки годишњи трибут од 2.000 перпера обећавали да ће ослободити град те обавезе „ако ко буде цар, господин Србљем и зе- мљи српској".
  9. ^ Nemirno doba srpskog srednjeg veka, Vlastela srpskih oblasnih gospodara. Marko Šuica, Belgrade, 2000.
  10. ISBN 9788677430726
    .
  11. ^ Fine 1994, p. 380
  12. ^ Fine 1994, p. 389
  13. ^ Slavko Gavrilović (1981). Istorija srpskog naroda. Vol. 2. Srpska književna zadruga. p. 34.
  14. ^ Miroslav Luketić (1966). Budva, Sv. Stefan, Petrovac. Turistički savez. p. 54. За заповједника Будве са титулом „приморски барон Србије" јавља се 1367. године Ђурађ Балшић.
  15. OCLC 9968504
    . Retrieved 29 March 2012. Bezüglich der Strez herrscht Verwirrung. Hopf macht Ivo und Gojko BalSid zu Söhnen des Stefan Strez, welcher Vlajka Kastriota geheiratet hätte und Sohn des Gjuragj Balšić gewesen wäre, eines Bastards des Gjuragj I.
  16. ^ Musachi, John (1515). "Brief Chronicle on the Descendants of our Musachi Dynasty". Retrieved 29 November 2011. To the fourth sister, Lady Vlaica, who was married to Lord Balsha, was born John and Coico Balsha.
Đurađ I Balšić
Born:  ? Died: 1378
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Ruler of Zeta

1362 – 13 January 1378 		Succeeded by
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