View source for Principality of Serbia (early medieval)

{{Short description|Serbian principality (780–960)}}
{{Other uses|Principality of Serbia (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox former country
| native_name            = {{native name|sr-Cyrl|Кнежевина Србија}}<br />{{native name|sr-Latn|Kneževina Srbija}} <br> {{native name|la|Principatum Serborum}}
| conventional_long_name = Principality of Serbia
| common_name            = Serbia
| era                    = [[Early Middle Ages]]
| year_start             = 780
| event_start            = Established
| year_end               = 960
| event_end              = Byzantine annexation
| date_end               = 
| p1                     = Byzantine Empire
| flag_p1                = Simple Labarum.svg
| s1                     = Catepanate of Ras
| s2                     = Duklja
| flag_s2                = 
| s3                     = Grand Principality of Serbia
| flag_s3                = Seal of Stefan Nemanja.svg
| image_coat             = Seal of Strojimir.gif
| symbol_type       = Emblem of Prince [[Strojimir]]
| image_map              = Balkans850.png
| image_map_caption      = [[Principality of Serbia|Serbia]] during the rule of prince [[Vlastimir of Serbia|Vlastimir]] is shown in brown on this map of [[Southeastern Europe]] in 850.
| image_map2             = 
| image_map2_caption     = 
| capital                = several cities<br/>[[Destinikon]]{{sfn|Živković|2013a|pp=47}}
| government_type        = [[Monarchy]]
| title_leader           = [[List of Serbian monarchs|Prince]] ([[Knyaz]])
| leader1                = [[Višeslav of Serbia|Višeslav]] <small>(first known by name)</small>
| year_leader1           = {{circa}} 780
| leader2                = [[Vlastimir of Serbia|Vlastimir]] <small>(notable)</small>
| year_leader2           = 831–850
| leader3                = [[Mutimir of Serbia|Mutimir]] <small>(first Christian)</small>
| year_leader3           = 850–891
| leader4                = [[Časlav of Serbia|Časlav]] <small>(last)</small>
| year_leader4           = 933–943/960
| common_languages       = [[Serbian language|Old Serbian]]
| religion               = [[Slavic paganism]] (before 860s)<br /> [[Christianity]] ({{circa}} 870)
| category               = 
| demonym                = [[Serbs|Serbian]], [[Serbs|Serb]]
}}

'''Principality of Serbia''' (Modern {{lang-sr-Cyrl-Latn|Кнежевина Србија|Kneževina Srbija|separator=" / "}}; also known as '''Principality of Serbs''', (Modern {{lang-sr-Cyrl-Latn|Кнежевина Срба|Kneževina Srba|separator=" / "}}; {{langx|la|Principatum Serborum}}; Modern {{langx|el|Πριγκιπάτο της Σερβίας}}) was one of the [[early medieval]] states of the [[Serbs]], located in the western regions of [[Southeastern Europe]]. It existed from the 8th century up to c. 969–971 and was ruled by the [[Vlastimirović dynasty]]. Its first ruler known by name was [[Višeslav of Serbia|Višeslav]], who started ruling around 780, while by that time (starting from the years 680–681), the [[First Bulgarian Empire|Bulgarian state]] had taken the lands to the east. [[Vlastimir]] resisted and defeated the [[Medieval Bulgarian army|Bulgarian army]] in a three-year-war (839–842), and the two powers lived in peace for some decades. Vlastimir's three sons succeeded in ruling Serbia together, although for a limited time; Serbia became a key part in the power struggle between the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantines]] and [[Bulgarians]], predominantly allied with the Byzantines, which also resulted in major dynastic wars for a period of three decades. The principality was annexed in 924 by [[Simeon I of Bulgaria|Simeon I]] and subjected to [[First Bulgarian Empire|Bulgarian rule]] until 933 when Serbian prince [[Časlav of Serbia|Časlav]] was established as ruler of the Serbian land, becoming the most powerful ruler of the Vlastimirović dynasty.

An important process during this period was the [[Christianization of the Serbs]],{{sfn|Špehar|2010|p=203-220}} completed by the establishment of Christianity as state-religion in the second half of the 9th century. The principality was annexed by the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantines]] in {{circa}} 969–971 and ruled as the [[Catepanate of Ras]].{{sfn|Krsmanović|2008|p=135}} The main information of the history of the principality and [[Vlastimirović dynasty]] are recorded in the contemporary historical work ''[[De Administrando Imperio]]'' (written {{circa}} 948–949).{{sfn|Moravcsik|1967|pp=}}{{sfn|Curta|2001|p=64-66}}{{sfn|Živković|2010a|p=117–131}}

== Background ==
{{main|History of Serbia}}
Slavs ([[Sklavenoi]]) settled throughout the Balkans during the 6th and the 7th centuries,{{sfn|Janković|2004|p=39-61}} thus marking the end of the early [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] rule in those regions.{{sfn|Špehar|2015b|p=329-350}} The history of the early medieval Serbian principality and the [[Vlastimirović dynasty]] is recorded in the work ''[[De Administrando Imperio]]'' (On the Governance of the Empire, abbr. "DAI"), compiled by the Byzantine Emperor [[Constantine VII|Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus]] (r. 913–959). The work mentions the first Serbian ruler, without a name (known conventionally as "[[Unknown Archon]]"), that led the [[White Serbs]] to southeastern Europe and received the protection of Emperor [[Heraclius]] (r. 610–641), prior to the [[First Bulgarian Empire|Bulgar invasion]] (680).{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=10-15}}{{sfn|Živković|2008a|p=89-90}} The Serbian ruler was titled "Prince (''[[archon]]'') of the Serbia" (αρχων Σερβλίας).{{sfn|Moravcsik|1967|p=156, 160}} The DAI mentions that this ruler was succeeded by a son, followed by a grandson, and historians generally accept the accounts of DAI on succession of princes from the same family, but their names are unknown until the coming of [[Višeslav of Serbia|Višeslav]] ({{circa}} 780-800).{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=14}}

== Višeslav, Radoslav and Prosigoj (circa 780–830) ==
[[File:Europe 814.svg|left|thumb|Slavic principalities in ca. 814 AD.]]

The time and circumstances of the first three Serbian rulers are almost unknown. The first of the dynasty known by name was [[Višeslav of Serbia|Višeslav]] who began his rule around 780, being a contemporary of [[Charlemagne]] (fl. 768–814).{{sfn|Samardžić|Duškov|1993|p=24}} The Serbs at that time were organized into ''[[župe]]'' (sing. ''župa''), a confederation of village communities (roughly the equivalent of a county), headed by a local ''župan'' (a magistrate or governor); the governorship was hereditary, and the ''župan'' reported to the Serbian prince, whom they were obliged to aid in war.{{sfn|Fine|1991|pp=225, 304}} According to DAI, "baptized Serbia" (known erroneously in historiography as ''Raška''{{sfn|Novaković|1981}}), included the inhabited cities (καστρα/kastra) of [[Destinikon]] (Δεστινίκον), Tzernabouskeï (Τζερναβουσκέη), Megyretous (Μεγυρέτους), Dresneïk (Δρεσνεήκ), Lesnik (Λεσνήκ), and [[Tuzla|Salines]] (Σαληνές), while the "small land" (χοριον/chorion) of [[Bosnia (early medieval)|Bosnia]] (Βοσωνα), part of Serbia, had the cities of Katara (Κατερα) and Desnik (Δέσνηκ).{{sfn|Moravcsik|1967|pp=153–155}}{{sfn|Mrgić-Radojčić|2004|pp=46-47}} The other Serb-inhabited lands (or principalities) that were mentioned included the "countries" of [[Narentines|Paganija]], [[Zahumlje]] and [[Travunija]],{{sfn|Moravcsik|1967|pp=153–155}}{{sfn|Komatina|2014|p=38}} while the "land" of [[Duklja]] was held by the Byzantines (it was presumably settled with Serbs as well).{{sfn|Fine|1991|p=53}}{{sfn|Fine|1991|pp=160, 202, 225}} Given the large territory, the Serbs most likely arrived as a small military elite which managed to organize and assimilate other already settled and more numerous Slavs.{{sfn|Dvornik|Jenkins|Lewis|Moravcsik|1962|pp=139, 142}}{{sfn|Fine|1991|pp=37, 57}}{{sfn|Heather|2010|pp=404–408, 424–425, 444}} These polities bordered "Serbia" to the north.{{sfn|Moravcsik|1967|pp=153–155}} The exact borders of the early Serbian state are unclear.{{sfn|Novaković|1981}}

Although Višeslav is only mentioned by name, the DAI mentions that the Serbs served the Byzantine Emperor and that they were at this time at peace with the Bulgars, whose neighbors they were and with whom they shared a common frontier.{{sfn|Moravcsik|1967|p=155}} The [[First Bulgarian Empire]], under [[Telerig]], planned to colonize some of their lands with more Slavs from the neighbouring [[Berziti]], as the earlier Bulgar expansion had caused massive Slav migrations and depopulation of Bulgaria — in 762, more than 200,000 people fled to Byzantine territory and were [[Asia Minor Slavs|relocated to Asia Minor]].{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=16}}{{sfn|Komatina|2014|pp=33–42}} The Bulgars were [[Battle of Berzitia|defeated in 774]], after [[Constantine V]] learned of their planned raid. In 783, a large Slavic uprising took place in the Byzantine Empire, stretching from Macedonia to the Peloponnese, which was subsequently quelled by Byzantine ''[[patrikios]]'' [[Staurakios (eunuch)|Staurakios]].{{sfn|Ostrogorsky|1956|p=170}}

Višeslav was succeeded by his son [[Radoslav of Serbia|Radoslav]], then grandson [[Prosigoj]],{{sfn|Samardžić|Duškov|1993|p=24}} and one of these two most likely ruled during the revolt of [[Ljudevit Posavski]] against the Franks (819–822);{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|pp=14–15}} according to [[Einhard]]'s ''[[Royal Frankish Annals]]'', written in 822, Ljudevit went from his seat at [[Sisak]] to the Serbs,{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|pp=14–15}} with Einhard mentioning that for the Serbs "is said to be holding a great part of Dalmatia" (''ad Sorabos, quae natio magnam Dalmatiae partem obtinere dicitur'').{{sfn|Pertz|1845|p=83}} According to Živković, the usage of the term Dalmatia in the ''[[Royal Frankish Annals]]'' to refer both to the land where Serbs ruled as well as to the lands under the rule of Croat duke, was likely a reflection of the Franks' territorial aspirations towards the entire area of the former Roman Province of Dalmatia.{{sfn|Živković|2011|p=395}}Though the described borders mark a large area, it is mostly a mountainous and inaccessible terrain, rugged with the high ranges of the Dinarides. Within this region, the Serbs settled only a small, isolated and mutually distant river valleys, [[karst field]]s and fertile basins. Those patches of the territory had fertile land, suitable for the agriculture, while the barely accessible, some mountain regions remained uninhabited.{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|pp=7–9}} Višeslav's great-grandson [[Vlastimir]] began his rule during 830s, and he is the oldest Serbian ruler on which there is more substantial data.{{sfn|Živković|2008a|pp=63, 253}}

== Countering Bulgarian expansion (805–829) ==
In the east, the [[First Bulgarian Empire|Bulgarian Empire]] grew strong. In 805 [[Krum]] conquered the [[Braničevci]], [[Timočani]] and [[Obotrites]], to the east of Serbia, and banished their tribal chiefs and replaced them with administrators appointed by the central government.{{sfn|Bulgarian Academy of Sciences|1966|p=66}} In 815, the Bulgarians and Byzantines signed a [[Byzantine–Bulgarian Treaty of 815|30-year peace treaty]], but in 818, during the rule of [[Omurtag of Bulgaria|Omurtag]] (814–836), the Braničevci and Timočani together with other tribes of the frontiers, revolted and seceded from Bulgaria because of an administrative reform that had deprived them much of their local authority.<ref name=Slijepcevic>{{harvnb|Slijepčević|1958|pp=35, 41, 52}}</ref> The Timočani left the ''society'' (association, alliance<ref name=Komatina4>{{harvnb|Komatina|2010|p=4}}</ref>) of the Bulgarian Empire, and sought, together with the Danubian [[Obotrites]] and [[Guduscani]], protection from [[Holy Roman Emperor]] [[Louis the Pious]] (r. 813–840), and met him at his court at [[Herstal]].<ref name=Komatina4/>  The Timočani migrated into Frankish territory, somewhere in Lower Pannonia, and were last mentioned in 819, when they were persuaded by Ljudevit to join him in fighting the Franks.<ref name=Komatina4/> The Danubian Obotrites stayed in [[Banat]], and resisted the Bulgars until 824 when nothing more is heard of them.<ref name=Komatina19>{{harvnb|Komatina|2010|p=19}}</ref> Krum sent envoys to the Franks and requested that the precise boundary be demarcated between them, and negotiations lasted until 826, when the Franks neglected him.<ref name=Komatina19/> The Bulgars answered by subjugating the Slavs that lived in Pannonia. Then the Bulgars sent ships up the [[Drava]] river, and, in 828, devastated Upper Pannonia north of the Drava.<ref name=Komatina19/> There was more fighting in 829 as well, and, by this time, the Bulgars had conquered all of their former Slavic allies.<ref name=Komatina19/><ref>[[Einhard]], year 827</ref>

The [[First Bulgarian Empire|Bulgarian Empire]] had a general policy of expansion in which they would first impose the payment of tribute on a neighboring people and the obligation of supplying military assistance in the form of an alliance (society), leaving them internal self-government and local rulers, and when the need for this kind of relationship expired, they would terminate the self-government of the said people and impose their direct and absolute power, integrating them fully into the Bulgarian political and cultural system.<ref>{{harvnb|Komatina|2010|p=24}}</ref>

== Vlastimir, Mutimir and Prvoslav (830–892) ==
{{main|Vlastimir of Serbia|Mutimir of Serbia|Prvoslav of Serbia}}
[[File:Delegation of Croats and Serbs to Emperor Basil I, Skylitzes.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|right|Emperor [[Basil I]] receiving [[delegations]] of Croats and Serbs.]]
Vlastimir succeeded his father, Prosigoj, in {{circa}} 830.{{sfn|Živković|2008a|p=208}} He united the Serbian tribes in the vicinity.{{sfn|Fine|1991|p=141}} The Serbs were alarmed, and most likely consolidated due to the spreading of the [[First Bulgarian Empire|Bulgarian Empire]] towards their borders by the Bulgarian conquest of neighbouring Slavs,{{sfn|Bury|1912|p=372}}{{sfn|Fine|1991|pp=109–110}} and possibly sought to cut off the Bulgar expansion to the south (Macedonia).{{sfn|Runciman|1930|p=88}} Emperor [[Theophilos (emperor)|Theophilos]] (r. 829–842) was recognized as the nominal suzerain (overlord) of the Serbs,{{sfn|Bury|1912|p=372}} and most likely encouraged them to thwart the Bulgars.{{sfn|Runciman|1930|p=88}} The [[Treaty of 815|thirty-year-peace treaty]] between the Byzantines and Bulgars, signed in 815, was still in effect.{{sfn|Runciman|1930|p=72}}

According to Constantine VII, the Serbs and Bulgars had lived peacefully as neighbours until the Bulgar invasion in 839 (in the last years of Theophilos).{{sfn|Bury|1912|p=372}} It is not known what exactly prompted the war,{{sfn|Runciman|1930|p=88}} as Porphyrogenitus gives no clear answer; whether it was a result of Serbian-Bulgarian relations, ''i.e.'', the Bulgar conquest to the southeast, or a result of the Byzantine-Bulgarian rivalry, in which Serbia was allied with the Byzantines. According to Porphyrogenitus, the Bulgars wanted to continue their conquest of Slav lands and subjugate the Serbs. [[Presian I of Bulgaria|Presian I]] (r. 836–852) launched an invasion into Serbian territory in 839, which led to a war that lasted for three years, in which the victorious [[Medieval Serbian Army|army of Vlastimir]] expelled Presian from Serbia; Presian lost a large number of his men, and made no territorial gains.{{sfn|Runciman|1930|p=88}}{{sfn|Fine|1991|pp=108, 110}} The Serbs had an advantage in the forests and gorges.{{sfn|Runciman|1930|p=88}} The defeat of the Bulgars, who had become one of the greater powers in the 9th century, shows that Serbia was an organized state, fully capable of defending its borders, and possessed a very high military and administrative organization. It is not known whether Serbia at the time of Vlastimir had a fortification system and developed military structures with clearly defined roles of the ''župan''. After the victory over the Bulgars, Vlastimir's status rose, and according to Fine he went on to expand to the west, taking [[Bosnia (region)|Bosnia]], and [[Herzegovina]] (known as ''[[Zahumlje|Hum]]'').{{sfn|Fine|1991|p=110}} In the meantime; [[Braničevo (region)|Braničevo]], [[Great Morava|Morava]], [[Timok (river)|Timok]], [[Vardar]] and [[Drin (river)|Podrimlje]] were occupied by the Bulgars.{{sfn|Ashmore|1961|p=341|ps=: "the eastern provinces (Branichevo, Morava, Timok, Vardar, Podrimlye) were occupied by the Bulgars."}} Vlastimir married off his daughter to [[Krajina Belojević|Krajina]], the son of a local ''župan'' of [[Trebinje]], [[Beloje of Trebinje|Beloje]], in ca. 847/848. With this marriage, Vlastimir elevated the title of Krajina to ''archon''. The [[Belojević noble family|Belojević family]] was thus entitled to rule Travunia.{{sfn|Živković|2008a|pp=222-223}}

After Vlastimir's death, the rule was divided among his three sons: [[Mutimir]], [[Strojimir of Serbia|Strojimir]] and [[Gojnik of Serbia|Gojnik]]. The brothers defeated the Bulgars once again {{circa}} 853-854, capturing Bulgarian prince [[Vladimir of Bulgaria|Vladimir]], son of [[Boris I of Bulgaria|Boris of Bulgaria]].{{sfn|Fine|1991|p=141}}{{sfn|Shepard|1995|p=239}} After that, Serbs and the Bulgarians concluded peace. During the following period, the [[Christianization of the Serbs]] was completed.{{sfn|Špehar|2010|pp=203-220}}{{sfn|Špehar|2015a|pp=71-93}} Mutimir maintained the communion with the Eastern Church (Constantinople) when [[Pope John VIII]] invited him to recognize the jurisdiction of the bishopric of Sirmium.

The Serbs and Bulgarians adopted the [[Old Church Slavonic|Old Slavonic]] liturgy instead of the Greek. Sometime after defeating the Bulgarians, Mutimir ousted his brothers, who fled to Bulgaria. He kept Gopnik's son [[Petar Gojniković]] in his court, but he managed to escape to Croatia. Mutimir ruled until 890, being succeeded by his son [[Pribislav of Serbia|Prvoslav]]. However, Prvoslav was overthrown by Petar who had returned from his exile in [[Principality of Dalmatian Croatia|Croatia]] in {{circa}} 892.{{sfn|Fine|1991|p=141}}

== Peter, Pavle and Zaharija (892–927) ==
{{main|Petar of Serbia|Pavle of Serbia|Zaharija of Serbia}}
The name Peter suggests that Christianity had started to permeate into Serbia, undoubtedly through Serbia's contacts with the Bulgarians and Byzantines. Peter secured himself on the throne (after fending off a challenge from Klonimir, son of Stojmir) and was recognized by [[Simeon I of Bulgaria|Tsar Symeon I]] of Bulgaria. An alliance was signed between the two states. Already having Travunia's loyalty, Peter began to expand his state north and west. He annexed the [[Bosna River]] valley, and then moved west securing allegiance from the [[Narentines]], a fiercely independent, pirateering Slavic tribe. However, Peter's expansion into [[Dalmatia]] brought him into conflict with Prince [[Michael of Zahumlje]], who has also grown powerful, ruling the coastal Principality of [[Zachlumia]].{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|pp=17-18}}{{sfn|Uzelac|2018|pp=236–245}}

Although allied to [[Simeon I of Bulgaria]], Peter became increasingly disgruntled by the fact that he was essentially subordinate to him. Peter's expansion toward the coast facilitated contacts with the Byzantines, by way of the strategies of [[Dyrrhachium]]. Searching for allies against Bulgaria, the Byzantines showered Peter with gold and promises of greater independence if he would join their alliance - a convincing strategy. Peter might have been planning an attack on Bulgaria with the Magyars, showing that his realm had stretched north to the Sava river. However, Michael of Zahumlje forewarned Symeon of this plan, since Michael was an enemy of Peter, and a loyal vassal of Symeon. What followed was multiple Bulgarian interventions and a succession of Serb rulers.{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|pp=17-18}}{{sfn|Uzelac|2018|pp=236–245}}

Symeon attacked Serbia (in 917) and deposed Peter, placing [[Pavle Branović]] (a grandson of Mutimir) as Prince of Serbia, subordinate to Symeon (although some scholars suggest that Symeon took control over Serbia directly at this time). Unhappy with this, the Byzantines then sent [[Zaharija of Serbia|Zaharija Prvoslavljević]] in 920 to oust Pavle, but he failed and was sent to Bulgaria as prisoner. The Byzantines then succeeded in turning Prince Pavle to their side. In turn, Zaharija invaded Serbia with a Bulgarian force, and ousted his cousin Pavle in 922. However, he too turned to Byzantium. A punitive force sent by the Bulgarians was defeated.  Thus we see a continuous cycle of dynastic strife amongst Vlastimir's successors, stirred on by the Byzantine and Bulgarians, who were effectively using the Serbs as pawns. Whilst Bulgarian help was more effective, Byzantine help seemed preferable. Simeon made peace with the Byzantines to settle affairs with Serbia once and for all. In 924, he sent a large army accompanied by [[Časlav Klonimirović|Časlav]], son of [[Klonimir]]. The army forced Zaharija to flee to [[Kingdom of Croatia (medieval)|Croatia]]. The Serbian župans were then summoned to recognize Časlav as the new Prince. When they came, however, they were all imprisoned and taken to Bulgaria, as too was Časlav. Much of Serbia was ravaged, and many people fled to Croatia, Bulgaria and Constantinople. Simeon made Serbia into a Bulgarian province so that Bulgaria now bordered Croatia and Zahumlje. He then resolved to attack Croatia, because it was a Byzantine ally and had sheltered the Serbian Prince.{{sfn|Fine|1991|pp=151-152}}{{sfn|Whittow|1996|p=291}}{{sfn|Shepard|1999|p=578}}{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=18}}

== Časlav (933–943/960) ==
{{main|Časlav of Serbia}}
[[File:Map of the Balkans in the 10th century.png|alt=|thumb|upright=1.15|Serbian principality during the rule of [[Časlav of Serbia|Časlav]] (933–943/960)]]
The Bulgarian rule over Serbia lasted only nine years. After Symeon died, [[Časlav Klonimirović]] (933- c. 943/960) led Serb refugees back to Serbia. He secured the allegiance of the Dalmatian duchies and ended Bulgarian rule in central Serbia. After Tomislav's death, Croatia was in near-anarchy as his sons vied for sole rule, so Časlav was able to extend his domain north to the Vrbas river (gaining the allegiance of the chiefs of the various Bosnian župas).{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=}}

During this apogee of Serbian power, Christianity and culture penetrated Serbia, as the Serb prince lived in peaceful and cordial relations with the Byzantines. However, strong as it had grown to be, Serbia's power (as in other early Slavic states) was only as strong as its ruler. There was no centralized rule, but instead a confederacy of Slavic principalities. The existence of the unified Grand Principality was dependent on the allegiance of the lesser princes to Časlav. When he died defending Bosnia against [[Hungarian people|Magyar]] incursions sometime between 950 and 960, the coalition disintegrated.{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=}}

After this, there is a gap in the history of hinterland Serbia (in later western sources: ''Rascia''),{{sfn|Kalić|1995|pp=147–155}} as it was annexed by the Byzantine Empire ({{circa}} 970). The dynasty continued to rule the maritime regions, and in the 990s, [[Jovan Vladimir]] rose as the most powerful Serbian prince, ruling over present-day Montenegro, eastern Herzegovina, and northern Albania. This state became known as ''[[Duklja]]'', after the ancient Roman town of Doclea. However, by 997, it was made subject to tsar [[Samuel of Bulgaria]].{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=}}

When the Byzantines finally defeated the Bulgarians, they regained control over most of the Balkans for the first time in four centuries. Serbian lands were governed by a ''strategos'' presiding over the Theme of Sirmium. However, local Serbian princes continued to reign as vassals to the Byzantine Emperor, maintaining local autonomy over their lands, while only nominally being Byzantine subjects. Forts were maintained in [[Belgrade]], [[Sirmium]], [[Niš]] and [[Braničevo (region)|Braničevo]]. These were, for the most part, in the hands of local nobility, which often revolted against Byzantine rule.

== Fall and aftermath ==
{{main|Catepanate of Serbia}}
After Časlav died c. 943/960, the hinterland of Serbia was annexed by the Byzantines and reorganized as the [[Catepanate of Ras]], (971–976).{{sfn|Nesbitt|Oikonomides|1991|pp=100-101}}{{sfn|Krsmanović|2008|p=135}}{{sfn|Ivanišević|Krsmanović|2013|p=450}} Serbia lost its centralized rule and the provinces once again came under the Empire. [[Jovan Vladimir]] emerged later as a ruler of [[Duklja]], a small territory centered in [[Bar, Montenegro|Bar]] on the Adriatic coast, as a Byzantine vassal. His realm was called ''Serbia'', ''Dalmatia'', ''Sklavonia'', etc., and eventually included much of the [[pomorje|maritime provinces]], including [[Travunia]] and [[Zachlumia]]. His realm probably stretched into the hinterland to include some parts of ''Zagorje'' (inland Serbia and Bosnia) as well. Vladimir's pre-eminent position over other Slavic nobles in the area explains why Emperor Basil approached him for an anti-Bulgarian alliance. With his hands tied by war in Anatolia, Emperor Basil required allies for his war against [[Tsar Samuel]], who ruled a [[First Bulgarian Empire|Bulgarian empire]] stretching over [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]]. In retaliation, Samuel invaded Duklja in 997, and pushed through [[Dalmatia]] up to the city of [[Zadar]], incorporating [[Bosnia]] and [[Serbia]] into his realm. After defeating Vladimir, Samuel reinstated him as a [[vassal]] prince. We do not know what Vladimir's connection was to the previous princes of Serbia, or to the rulers of Croatia—much of what is written in the [[Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja]] about the genealogy of the Doclean rulers is mythological. Vladimir was murdered by Vladislav, Samuel's nephew and successor of his son, circa 1016 AD. The last prominent member of his family, his uncle Dragimir, was killed by some local citizens in Kotor in 1018. That same year, the Byzantines defeated the Bulgarians, and in one masterful stroke re-took virtually all of southeastern Europe.{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=}}

== Government ==
{{Vlastimirović dynasty sidebar}}
The Serbian ruler was titled "Prince (''[[archon]]'') of the Serbs" (αρχων Σερβλίας).{{sfn|Moravcsik|1967|p=156}} In [[Serbian historiography]], the Slavic title of ''[[Knez (title)|knez]]'' (кнез) is used instead of the Greek ''arhont'' (архонт).{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|pp=11-12}} The DAI mentions that the Serbian throne is inherited by ''the son'', i.e. the first-born; his descendants succeeded him, though their names are unknown until the coming of Višeslav.{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=14}} The Serbs at that time were organized into ''[[župe]]'' ({{singular abbr}} ''župa''), a confederation of village communities (roughly the equivalent of a county), headed by a local ''župan'' (a magistrate or governor); the governorship was hereditary, and the ''župan'' reported to the Serbian prince, whom they were obliged to aid in war.{{sfn|Fine|1991|pp=225, 304}}

Historian B. Radojković (1958) proposed that Serbia was a "divided principality". According to him, Višeslav could have been a chief military leader (''veliki vojvoda'') who with his company seized the entire power in his hands and turned himself into a hereditary ruler, as ''Veliki župan''; in this way, the first Serbian state was thus established after 150 years of permanent living in the new homeland and existence of [[military democracy]].{{sfn|Radojković|1959|p=9}} However, B. Radojković's work was discredited by [[S. Ćirković|Sima Ćirković]] in 1960.{{sfn|Ćirković|1960|pp=195–198}}

== Geography ==
=== Cities ===
According to {{abbr|DAI|De Administrando Imperio}}, ''baptized Serbia'' included the following cities (καστρα/kastra),{{sfn|Živković|2008b|pp=9–28}}{{sfn|Bulić|2013|pp=137–234}}{{sfn|Špehar|2019|pp=113-124}} with spellings used in Moravcsik's transcript (1967):

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! "Inhabited city"
! Notes
|-
! colspan=2 | Serbia (proper)
|-
|[[Destinikon]] (Δεστινίκον) || Slavicized as Destinik and Dostinik.<br />—Unidentified{{sfn|Petrović|2013|p=282}}
|-
|Tzernabouskeï (Τζερναβουσκέη) || Slavicized as Crnobuški and Černavusk.<br />—Unidentified{{sfn|Petrović|2013|p=282}}
|-
|Megyretous (Μεγυρέτους) || Slavicized as Međurečje (meaning "[land] between rivers").<br />—Unidentified{{sfn|Petrović|2013|p=282}}
|-
|Dresneïk (Δρεσνεήκ) || Slavicized as Drežnik and Drsnik.<br />—Unidentified{{sfn|Petrović|2013|p=282}}
|-
|Lesnik (Λεσνήκ) || Slavicized as Lešnik and Lesnica<br />—Unidentified{{sfn|Petrović|2013|p=282}}
|-
|Salines (Σαληνές) || Slavicized as Soli.<br />—[[Tuzla]]{{sfn|Petrović|2013|p=282}}
|-
! colspan=2 | Bosnia
|-
|Katera (Κατερα) || Slavicized as Kotor.{{sfn|Bulić|2013|p=219}}<br />—Unidentified{{sfn|Petrović|2013|p=282}}{{sfn|Bulić|2013|p=156}}
|-
|Desnik (Δέσνηκ) || <br />—Unidentified.{{sfn|Mrgić-Radojčić|2004|pp=46-47}}{{sfn|Bulić|2013|p=156}}{{sfn|Petrović|2013|p=282}}
|}

== Religion ==
{{main|Serbian Orthodox Church}}
[[File:PetrovaCrkva2008.jpg|thumb|right|[[Church of Saint Apostles Peter and Paul (Novi Pazar)|Church of Saint Apostles Peter and Paul]] (UNESCO)]]
By the beginning of the 7th century, Byzantine provincial and ecclesiastical order in the region was destroyed by invading [[Sclaveni]] and [[Pannonian Avars]]. The church life was renewed in the same century in the province of [[Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum|Illyricum]] and [[Dalmatia (Roman province)|Dalmatia]] after a more pronounced Christianization of the Serbs and other Slavs by the [[Holy See|Roman Church]].{{sfn|Curta|2001|p=125, 130}}{{sfn|Živković|2013a|pp=47}}{{sfn|Komatina|2015|pp=713}}{{sfn|Komatina|2016|pp=44–47, 73–74}} In the 7th and mid-8th century the area wasn't under jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.{{sfn|Komatina|2016|pp=47}} Early medieval Serbs are accounted as Christian by 870s,{{sfn|Živković|2013a|pp=35}} but it was a process that ended in the late 9th century during the time of [[Basil I]],{{sfn|Komatina|2016|pp=45–46}} and medieval necropolises until the 13th century in the territory of modern Serbia show an "incomplete process of Christianization" as local Christianity depended on the social structure (urban and rural).{{sfn|Špehar|2010|pp=216}} Basil I probably sent at least one embassy to [[Mutimir of Serbia]],{{sfn|Živković|2013a|pp=46}} who decided to maintain the communion of Church in Serbia with the Patriarchate of Constantinople when [[Pope John VIII]] invited him to get back to the jurisdiction of the bishopric of [[Sirmium]] (see also [[Archbishopric of Moravia]]) in a letter dated to May 873.{{sfn|Živković|2013a|pp=44–46}}{{sfn|Komatina|2015|pp=713, 717}}{{sfn|Komatina|2016|pp=73}} It is considered that [[Destinikon]] was an ecclesiastical centre and capital of early medieval Serbia.{{sfn|Popović|1999|p=401}}{{sfn|Živković|2013a|pp=47}}{{sfn|Živković|2013a|pp=30}} 

[[File:Seal_of_Strojimir.gif|thumb|upright|left|Seal of prince [[Strojimir]] of Serbia, from the late 9th century]]
The seal of [[Strojimir of Serbia|Strojimir]] (d. between 880 and 896), the brother of Mutimir, was bought by the Serbian state in an auction in Germany. The seal has a [[Patriarchal cross]] in the center and Greek inscriptions that say: "God, help Strojimir (''CTPOHMIP'')".{{sfn|Živković|2007|pp=23–29}}<ref>{{cite web |website=Glas javnosti |date=2006-07-27 |title=Pečat srpskog kneza Strojimira |trans-title=Seal of the Serbian prince Strojimir |language=Bosnian |url=http://arhiva.glas-javnosti.rs/arhiva/2006/07/27/srpski/T06072602.shtml |access-date=5 November 2011 |archive-date=19 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119041312/http://arhiva.glas-javnosti.rs/arhiva/2006/07/27/srpski/T06072602.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[Petar Gojniković]] (r. 892–917) was evidently a Christian prince.{{sfn|Vlasto|1970|p=208}} Christianity presumably was spreading in his time.{{sfn|Fine|1991|p=141}} Also, since Serbia bordered Bulgaria, Christian influence—and perhaps missionaries—came from there.{{sfn|Fine|1991|p=141}} This would increase during the twenty-year peace.{{sfn|Fine|1991|p=142}} The previous generation (Mutimir, [[Strojimir]] and [[Gojnik]]) had Slav names, but the following (Petar, [[Stefan Mutimirović|Stefan]], [[Pavle of Serbia|Pavle]], [[Zaharija of Serbia|Zaharija]]) had Christian names, an indication of strong Byzantine missions to Serbia, as well as to the Slavs of the Adriatic coast, in the 870s.{{sfn|Vlasto|1970|p=208}}

The imperial charter of [[Basil II]] from 1020 to the [[Archbishopric of Ohrid]], in which the rights and jurisdictions were established, mentions that the [[Eparchy of Raška and Prizren|Episcopy of Ras]] belonged to the [[Bulgarian Orthodox Church#Autocephaly and Patriarchate|Bulgarian autocephal church]] during the time of [[Peter I of Bulgaria|Peter I]] (927–969) and [[Samuel of Bulgaria]] (977–1014).{{sfn|Komatina|2015|pp=717}}{{sfn|Komatina|2016|pp=76, 89–90}} It is considered that it was possibly founded by the Bulgarian emperor,{{sfn|Popović|1999|p=401}}{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|pp=20, 30}} or it is the latest date when could have been integrated to the Bulgarian Church.{{sfn|Komatina|2016|pp=76–77}} If previously existed, it probably was part of the Bulgarian metropolis of Morava, but certainly not of [[Dyrrhachium (theme)|Durrës]].{{sfn|Komatina|2016|pp=75, 88–91}} If it was on the Serbian territory, seems that the Church in Serbia or part of the territory of Serbia became linked and influenced by the Bulgarian Church between 870 and 924.{{sfn|Komatina|2015|pp=717–718}}{{sfn|Komatina|2016|pp=77, 91}}{{sfn|Špehar|2010|pp=203, 216}} Anyway, the church would have been protected by Bulgarian controlled forts.{{sfn|Špehar|2019|p=122}} By then, at the latest, Serbia must have received the Cyrillic alphabet and Slavic religious text, already familiar but perhaps not yet preferred to Greek.{{sfn|Vlasto|1970|p=209}}

Notable early church buildings include the [[Monastery of Holy Archangel Michael on Prevlaka]], built in the beginning of the 9th century, on the location of older churches of three-nave structure with three apses to the East, dating from the 3rd and 6th centuries, [[Bogorodica Hvostanska]] (6th century) and [[Church of Saint Apostles Peter and Paul (Novi Pazar)|Church of Saints Peter and Paul]].{{sfn|Јанковић|2007|p=}}

== Archaeology ==
{{History of Serbia}}
* [[Church of Saint Apostles Peter and Paul (Novi Pazar)|Church of Saint Apostles Peter and Paul in Ras]]
* [[Sočanica basilica]]
* Gradina, Sebečevska reka, in Raška{{sfn|Јанковић|2012|p=}}
* Gradina Martinića, Zeta{{sfn|Јанковић|2012|p=}}
* Gradina, Brsenica, near Sjenica{{sfn|Јанковић|2012|p=}}
* Gradina on Jelica, near Čačak{{sfn|Јанковић|2012|p=}}
* Gradina on Postenj, near [[Petar's Church]]{{sfn|Јанковић|2012|p=}}

== See also ==
* [[List of Serbian monarchs]]
* [[Names of Serbia]]
* [[Duklja]]
* [[Serbia in the Middle Ages]]
* [[White Serbia]] (before 610)
* [[Serbian Grand Principality]] (1091–1217)
* [[Serbian Kingdom (medieval)|Serbian Kingdom]] (1217–1345)
* [[Serbian Empire]] (1345–1371)
* [[Fall of the Serbian Empire]] (1371–1402)
* [[Serbian Despotate]] (1402–1459)
* [[Bulgarian–Serbian wars (medieval)]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|3}}

== Sources ==
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{{refend}}

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* {{Cite book|last=Runciman|first=Steven|author-link=Steven Runciman|title=The Emperor Romanus Lecapenus and His Reign: A Study of Tenth-Century Byzantium|year=1988|orig-year=1929|location=Cambridge|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521357227|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XHVzWN6gqxQC}}
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* {{cite book |last=Slijepčević |first=Đoko M. |title=The Macedonian question:the struggle for southern Serbia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pi0xAAAAIAAJ |publisher=American Institute for Balkan Affairs |year=1958 }}
* {{Cite book|last=Špehar|first=Perica N.|chapter=By Their Fruit you will recognize them - Christianization of Serbia in Middle Ages|title=Tak więc po owocach poznacie ich|year=2010|location=Poznań|publisher=Stowarzyszenie naukowe archeologów Polskich|pages=203–220|chapter-url=https://www.academia.edu/1333518}}
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* {{Cite book|last=Stephenson|first=Paul|title=Byzantium's Balkan Frontier: A Political Study of the Northern Balkans, 900–1204|location=Cambridge|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2000|isbn=9780521770170|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ILiOI0UgxHoC}}
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* {{A History of the Byzantine State and Society}}
* {{Cite book|last=Uzelac|first=Aleksandar B.|chapter=Prince Michael of Zahumlje – a Serbian ally of Tsar Simeon|title=Emperor Symeon's Bulgaria in the History of Europe's South-East: 1100 years from the Battle of Achelous|year=2018|location=Sofia|publisher=St Kliment Ohridski University Press|pages=236–245|chapter-url=https://www.academia.edu/36829282}}
* {{Cite book|last=Vlasto|first=Alexis P.|author-link=Alexis P. Vlasto|title=The Entry of the Slavs into Christendom: An Introduction to the Medieval History of the Slavs|year=1970|location=Cambridge|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521074599|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fpVOAAAAIAAJ}}
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{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://macedonia.kroraina.com/en/sr/index.html Steven Runciman, A History of the First Bulgarian Empire, London 1930.]
* {{cite web|last=Janković|first=Đorđe|title=Serbian Maritime from 7th to 10th Century: Summary of the Monograph|year=2007|url=http://www.rastko.rs/arheologija/djankovic/djankovic-pomorje-info_en.html}}

{{Coord missing|Serbia}}
{{Serbian states}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Serbia, Principality of}}
[[Category:Principality of Serbia (early medieval)| ]]
[[Category:Serbia in the Early Middle Ages]]
[[Category:Medieval history of Montenegro]]
[[Category:Medieval history of Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
[[Category:8th century in Serbia]]
[[Category:9th century in Serbia]]
[[Category:10th century in Serbia]]
[[Category:States and territories established in the 8th century]]
[[Category:States and territories disestablished in the 10th century]]
[[Category:Former principalities]]