Stefan Dečanski facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SaintStefan Uroš III Стефан Урош III |
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A fresco at Dečani
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| Stefan Uroš III the Ktetor | |
| Born | c. 1276 |
| Died | 11 November 1331 (aged 55) |
| Venerated in | Eastern Orthodox Church |
Stefan Uroš III (born around 1276 – died 11 November 1331) was a King of Serbia. He ruled from 1322 to 1331. He is often called Stefan of Dečani because he built the famous Visoki Dečani monastery. Stefan was the son of King Stefan Milutin. He became king after winning against others who also wanted the throne.
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Early Life of Stefan Uroš III
Stefan Uroš III was born around 1276. His father was King Stefan Uroš II Milutin. His mother was Jelena, a Serbian noblewoman. When Stefan was young, his father sent him as a hostage to Nogai Khan. Nogai Khan was a powerful leader of the Golden Horde, a large group of people. This was done to keep peace between the Serbs and the Tatars. Stefan stayed there until 1299. Later, in 1309, King Milutin made Stefan the governor of Zeta. He stayed in this role until 1314.
Exile and Return to Serbia
In 1314, Stefan had a disagreement with his father. Because of this, his father sent him away to Constantinople. It was said that Stefan was blinded there. However, he was likely not fully blinded, or perhaps not at all. In Constantinople, Stefan stayed at the court of Andronikos II Palaiologos. This showed that Serbia and the Byzantine Empire had good relations. Stefan asked Bishop Danilo of Hum to help him. Danilo spoke with King Milutin, who then allowed Stefan to return to Serbia in 1320. Stefan was given control over the area of Budimlje. His half-brother, Stefan Konstantin, ruled Zeta.
Becoming King of Serbia
King Milutin became sick and died in 1321. He did not clearly say who should be the next king. Stefan Konstantin was crowned king in Zeta. But a civil war started because both Stefan Uroš III and his cousin, Stefan Vladislav II, wanted the throne. Stefan Uroš III then showed that he could still see. He said it was a miracle from God. Many people believed him and supported him.
On 6 January 1322, Stefan Uroš III was crowned King of Serbia. His son, Stefan Dušan, was also crowned as the young king. Stefan Uroš III gave Zeta to Dušan. This showed that he wanted Dušan to be his heir. Stefan Uroš III offered to share the kingdom with Konstantin, but Konstantin refused. Stefan Uroš III then attacked Zeta. Konstantin was defeated and killed.
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Meanwhile, Vladislav II was freed from prison after Milutin's death. He took back control of Syrmia in northern Serbia. Vladislav also wanted to be King of Serbia. He got support from people in Rudnik. He also had help from Hungarians, Bulgarians, and Bosnians. Vladislav made his power strong in Syrmia and got ready to fight Stefan Uroš III.
In 1323, a war began between Stefan Uroš III and Vladislav. By the end of 1323, Stefan Uroš III had taken control of Rudnik. Vladislav seemed to have fled north. Some of Vladislav's supporters hid in the Ostrovica fortress. Stefan Uroš III sent messages to Dubrovnik (Ragusa) to complain about their support for Vladislav. Dubrovnik said they were not helping Vladislav. Stefan Uroš III was not happy. In 1324, he captured many merchants from Dubrovnik and took their goods. By the end of the year, Rudnik was fully back under Stefan Uroš III's control. He then released the merchants and returned their property. Vladislav was defeated in battle in late 1324. He fled to Hungary.
Major Battles and End of Reign
Stefan Uroš III usually stayed allied with Andronikos II, the Byzantine emperor. He did not take sides in the Byzantine civil war. However, Andronikos III, who gained power, made an alliance with Tsar Michael Asen III of Bulgaria. Michael Asen III divorced Stefan Uroš III's sister and married a Byzantine princess. These allies planned a big attack on Serbia in 1330.
In the most important event of Stefan Uroš III's rule, he defeated and killed Michael Asen III. This happened in the Battle of Velbazhd in 1330. His son, Prince Stefan Dušan, also helped win this battle. After hearing of Michael's defeat, Andronikos III retreated. Stefan Uroš III's victories pushed Serbia's border south into Byzantine Macedonia.
However, some of Stefan Uroš III's own people were unhappy with his decisions. They secretly planned to remove him from power and make Stefan Dušan king instead. In 1331, Dušan came from Skadar to overthrow his father. Stefan Uroš III fled to Petrič. On 21 August 1331, Dušan captured Petrič after a siege. He then imprisoned his father in Zvečan Fortress. Stefan Uroš III died there on 11 November 1331.
Family Life
Stefan Uroš III had three wives.
- With his first wife, whose name is not known, he had no children.
- With his second wife, Theodora of Bulgaria, he had:
- Stefan Uroš IV Dušan, who later became king.
- Dušica (or Dušman), who died when he was young.
- With his third wife, Maria Palaiologina, he had:
- Simeon, who later tried to become emperor.
- Jelena, who married Mladen III Šubić.
- Teodora, who married Dejan.
Legacy and Sainthood
Stefan Uroš III is remembered as a good and noble person in Serbian stories. The Serbian Orthodox Church made him a saint. His feast day is celebrated on 11 November (old style), which is 24 November (new style). His body is kept and honored at the Visoki Dečani monastery. This is the monastery he built in the region of Metohija.
See also
- Nemanjić family tree
- History of Serbia
