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{{Short description|Grand Prince of Serbia from 1166 to 1196}}
{{Infobox Saint
| honorific-prefix = [[Saint]]
| name            = Stefan Nemanja<br>{{small|{{lang|sr|Стефан Немања}}}}<br>Simeon the Myrrh-streaming<br>{{small|{{lang|sr|Симеон Мироточиви}}}}
| image           = Stefan Nemanja.jpg
| image_size      = 260px
| caption         = Donor's portrait of Stefan Nemanja, fresco in the Virgin's Church of the [[Studenica Monastery]]
| canonized_by=[[Serbian Orthodox Church]]
| attributes= Church Builder
| mother          =
| venerated_in= [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]
| titles= [[The Most Venerable#Eastern Orthodoxy|Venerable]] [[Myroblyte]]
| misc = {{Infobox royalty|embed=yes
| birth_date      = {{circa|1113/1114}}
| birth_place     = [[Podgorica|Ribnica]]
| death_date      = {{Death date|1199|2|13|df=yes}} (aged 84-85)
| death_place     = Monastery of [[Hilandar]]
| place of burial = [[Studenica Monastery]]
| posthumous name = Simeon the Myrrh-streaming
| more            = Serbia
| signature = Seal of Stefan Nemanja.jpg
| signature_alt = Seal of Stefan Nemanja
| religion        = [[Eastern Orthodox Christian]] <br /> previously [[Roman Catholic]]
| house           = [[Nemanjić dynasty|Nemanjić]]
| house-type      = Dynasty
| father          = [[Zavida]]
| succession      = [[Grand Prince of Serbia]]
| reign           = 1166–1196
| coronation      = 1166
| predecessor     = [[Tihomir of Serbia|Stefan Tihomir]]
| successor       = [[Stefan II Nemanjić of Serbia|Stefan II Nemanjić]]
| spouse          = [[Anastasia of Serbia]]
| issue           = {{plainlist|
* [[Vukan Nemanjić of Serbia|Vukan]]
* [[Stefan the First-Crowned|Stefan]]
* [[Saint Sava|Rastko (Sava)]]
* Jefimija
* Unnamed daughter
}}

}}
}}

'''Stefan Nemanja''' ([[Serbian Cyrillic alphabet|Serbian Cyrillic]]: {{lang|sr-Cyrl|Стефан Немања}}, {{IPA|sh|stêfaːn ně̞maɲa|pron}}; {{circa|1113 or 1114}} – 13 February 1199) was the [[Grand Prince]] ([[Grand Župan#Serbia|Veliki Župan]]) of the [[Grand Principality of Serbia|Serbian Grand Principality]] (also known as [[Raška (region)|Raška]], lat. {{lang|la-x-medieval|Rascia}}) from 1166 to 1196. A member of the [[Vukanović dynasty]], Nemanja founded the [[Nemanjić dynasty]], and is remembered for his contributions to [[Serbian culture]] and [[History of Serbia|history]], founding what would evolve into the [[Serbian Empire]], as well as the [[Serbian Orthodox Church|national church]]. According to the [[Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts]], Nemanja is also among the most remarkable [[Serbs]] for his [[literary]] contributions and [[altruistic]] attributes.{{sfn|Dvornik|1962|p=91-94}}{{sfn|Fine|1994|p=2-9, 15, 19-20, 38-41}}{{sfn|Stephenson|2004|p=267-268, 299-301}}{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=31-36}}{{sfn|Curta|2006|p=333-339, 389-392}}{{sfn|Curta|2019|p=658-663}}

In 1196, after three decades of warfare and negotiations, including the [[Byzantine-Norman wars#Third Norman invasion of the Balkans (1185–1186)|Third Norman invasion of the Balkans (1185–1186)]] which consolidated Serbia while distinguishing it from both Western and Byzantine spheres of influence, Nemanja abdicated in favour of his middle son [[Stefan Nemanjić]], who later became the first [[King of Serbia]]. Nemanja ultimately went to [[Mount Athos]], where he became a monk and took the name of Simeon, joining his youngest son (later known as [[Saint Sava]]), who had already become the first [[archbishop]] of the [[Serbian Orthodox Church]].{{sfn|Fine|1994|p=38-41}}{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=33}}{{sfn|Kalić|2017|p=12-13}}

Together with his son [[Saint Sava]], Nemanja restored the [[Hilandar Monastery]] at [[Mount Athos]] from 1198 to 1199, and issued the "[[Charter of Hilandar]]". The monastery thus became the center of Serbian Orthodox monasticism at Athos. Shortly after his death, the Serbian Orthodox Church [[canonized]] Stefan Nemanja, under the name '''Saint Simeon the [[Myroblyte saint|Myroblyte]]''' ({{langx|sr|Свети Симеон Мироточиви}}).{{sfn|Ćirković|Korać|Babić|1986|p=13}}

==Early life==
Nemanja was born around the year 1113 or 1114 AD in Ribnica, [[Zeta (crown land)|Zeta]] (in the vicinity of present-day [[Podgorica]], the capital of [[Montenegro]]). He was the youngest son of [[Zavida]], a Prince of [[Zahumlje]], who after a conflict with his brothers was sent to Ribnica where he had the title of Lord. Zavida (Beli Uroš) was most probably a son of [[Uroš I, Grand Prince of Serbia|Uroš I]] or [[Vukan, Grand Prince of Serbia|Vukan]]. Since western Zeta was under [[Roman Catholic]] jurisdiction, Nemanja received a Latin baptism,{{sfn|Fine|1994|p=3}} although much of his later life was spent balancing Western and Eastern forms of Christianity.

==Byzantine-Hungarian War==
[[File:Манастир Богородице код Куршумлије.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Remains of the [[Church of the Holy Mother of God, Kuršumlija|Church of the Holy Mother of God]] at the confluence of the [[Kosanica (river)|Kosanica]] and the [[Toplica (South Morava)|Toplica River]]. This is Nemanja's first endowment built in 1158–1162. Monastery was abandoned after the Great Migration of Serbs during the Great Viennese or [[Great Turkish War]] of 1688–1690.]]
In 1163, Emperor [[Manuel I Comnenus]] came to [[Niš]] with the army via [[Serdica]] (Sofia), where, according to [[John Kinnamos]], he decided "to deal with things concerning Serbia". At that time, Serbia was ruled by the [[Grand Župan]] [[Desa, Grand Prince of Serbia|Desa]], an ally of [[Stephen III of Hungary|Stephen III]] in the Hungarian dynastic conflicts, and thus an opponent of Manuel. When in 1165 Desa was finally forced to come to Niš before the emperor, his connections with the Hungarian king Stephen III were revealed, Desa called him his master, Manuel I decided to take him to court and punish him. Desa was first detained and kept under guard, and then sent to the court prison in [[Constantinople]].{{sfn|Stephenson|2004|p=266}}

The land was given by the emperor to the administration of Zavida's sons, who were in the pro-Byzantine party: [[Tihomir of Serbia|Tihomir]], [[Stracimir Zavidović|Stracimir]], [[Miroslav of Hum|Miroslav]] and the youngest Nemanja. Tihomir was the oldest and became the Grand Župan of Serbia. In January 1166, Tihomir was recognized by the brothers who were given to rule other certain parts of Serbia and the Serbian-Byzantine frontier.{{sfn|Stephenson|2004|p=267}} Stracimir held the areas around [[Zapadna Morava|West Morava]], Miroslav [[Zahumlje]], while Stefan Nemanja was given the areas around [[Ibar District|Ibar]], {{ill|Toplica (region)|lt=Toplica|sr|Toplica (oblast)}} and Dubočica (around [[Leskovac]]), which probably was historical region of ''Dendra'' west of Niš.{{sfn|Stephenson|2004|p=267}}

The Byzantine emperor [[Manuel I Comnenus]] launched a large army against Hungary because he was informed of their dissatisfaction and internal conflicts. The Hungarian prince [[Béla III of Hungary|Béla III]] had to live in Constantinople, where he was married, and Béla's lands, Dalmatia with southern Hungary (below [[Velebit]]), had to come under Constantinople's rule. There is resistance in Hungary, which is why Emperor Manuel embarks on a campaign. The Byzantine army conquered [[Zemun]] and [[Srem]] in 1165. The Byzantines were accompanied by the obligatory detachments of Serbs. The second Byzantine army under command of [[John Doukas Komnenos]] moved west, across Serbia and Bosnia towards the [[Adriatic]] coast. Without significant resistance, they took all the cities from [[Split, Croatia|Split]] to [[Bar, Montenegro|Bar]], forcing them to recognize Byzantine rule.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

[[File:Crkva Svetog Nikole kod Kuršumlije, po završetku restauracije.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Monastery of St. Nicholas, Kuršumlija|Monastery of St. Nicholas]] at the confluence of the Banjska and the [[Toplica (South Morava)|Toplica River]] near modern day [[Kuršumlija]]. This church represents Nemanja's second endowment, which was built around 1166 in the [[Byzantine art|Byzantine style]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}} It was built and painted by the best masters from [[Constantinople]].]]

The Byzantines also had success in a campaign in Italy where they captured an important seaport on the west coast of the Adriatic, [[Ancona]]. [[Venice]], which had previously turned to Byzantium for help during the conquest of [[Friedrich Barbarossa]] in northern Italy, changed its attitude towards the Byzantines for fear of losing the [[Adriatic]]. It approached Hungary as a natural ally against the Byzantines. At the same time, they began to work among the Serbs, especially in Serbia, in order to rebel against Byzantium.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

In 1166, the Hungarians counterattacked to push Byzantium out of the newly conquered areas. However, in response, Emperor Manuel launched three armies against Hungary, one from the [[Danube]], and the other two across the [[Carpathians]], towards the center of [[Pannonian Basin|Pannonia]]. While the main Hungarian army was operating towards the Danube, Belgrade and [[Braničevo Fortress|Braničevo]], two Byzantine armies went deep into their territory, causing general panic. The Hungarians were forced to seek peace through intermediaries to their detriment in 1167.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

[[File:Manastir Pazarište 1.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Remains of the cave monastery church of [[Michael (archangel)|St. Archangel Michael]] on a cliff at the foot of Ras fortress.<ref>[https://www.academia.edu/29218156/The_Cave_Lavra_of_the_Archangel_Michael_in_Ras?sm=b The Cave Lavra of the Archangel Michael in Ras (Danica Popović, Marko Popović, 1999)]</ref> According to folk legend, Nemanja was imprisoned in this cave.]]

As the ideal candidate of Venice and Hungary among the Serbs appeared Nemanja, when his brothers and, above all, Tihomir imprisoned him in a [[cave]] near [[Stari Ras|Fortress Ras]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}} Nemanja probably hoped that he would take the place of Desa, as the former representative of the pro-Greek party, while Emperor Manuel brought his eldest brother Tihomir to the throne. Angry because of that, Nemanja changes his policy in favor of Hungary and its allies. Nemanja escaped from the dungeon, it is not known with whose help. Nemanja's son and biographer, [[Stefan Nemanjić]], describing his father's life, says how he escaped with the help of "heavenly forces": "And this again, because of meekness and justice, and wonderful humility, and because of all good customs, with a high arm he brought him out of the rocky cave, and brought him to the throne of his fatherland, and raised him up as the great lord of all the world."{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

==Rise to the throne (1168–1172)==
In 1166 or 1167, Nemanja first expanded his territories and conquered [[Kotor]], and then gathered his supporters in Ras and started a conflict against Tihomir, who was looking for support from the Byzantines. Nemanja overthrew Tihomir,{{sfn|Stephenson|2004|p=267}} provoking Byzantines action in autumn 1168:

{{Blockquote|To make trial of Nemanja’s intent, the emperor despatched Theodore Padyates with a military force. The toparch Nemanja was in such a hostile temper that he fell upon the Romans and immediately launched an undeclared war. When he saw the emperor was in pursuit, he showed himself in battle only briefly and then hid in the cover of mountain caves which he sealed with stones. At last, his pride shattered, he prostrated himself at Manuel’s feet. Lying outstretched, ‘mighty in his mightiness’, he pleaded that he not be made to suffer cruelly, and he feared lest he be removed as ruler of the Serbs and political power be transferred to those who were more fit to rule, those whom he had pulled down so that he might seize power.{{sfn|Stephenson|2004|p=267}}}}

At that time, [[William of Tyre]], an emissary of [[Amalric of Jerusalem|Amalric]], a Latin [[King of Jerusalem]], arrived at the diplomatic mission in Constantinople. His goal was for Byzantium to join the [[Crusader invasion of Egypt|crusade against Egypt]]. During his stay in Constantinople, probably under the influence of the Byzantines, William of Tyre left negative classifications about Serbs in his reports.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

[[File:Djurdjevi stupovi 4.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Đurđevi stupovi|Church of St. George]] on the hill near modern-day [[Novi Pazar]]. This church represents Nemanja's third endowment, which was built around 1171 in the [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque style]]. It was built by the best coastal masons, most likely from [[Kotor]], and while the frescoes were painted by the best Greek masters.]]
The following year, Nemanja attacked the Byzantine vassal, Prince of [[Zeta]] Radoslav, and on that occasion annexed to his country a part of the then Zeta and the [[Neretva|Neretva region]]. Soon, Manuel I Komnenos came into [[Byzantine–Venetian war of 1171|conflict with the Venetian Republic]], and on his order, on 12 March 1171, all Venetian property in Byzantium was confiscated. In response to this, from Venecia was launched Venetian navy with about 120 ships to Byzantine possessions. The Venetian fleet headed east in September of that year, conquering, by the way, Byzantine [[Trogir]] and [[Dubrovnik]]. Then Nemanja entered into closer ties with the Venetians and began attacks on Byzantine [[Kotor]], simultaneously carrying out raids through the [[Velika Morava|Moravian valley]] through which the main public road passes between Byzantine [[Belgrade]] and [[Niš]]. According to [[Arnold of Lübeck]] on that road, near fortress Ravno, in March 1172, the Serbs carried out a night attack on the camp of Western knights and pilgrims led by [[Henry the Lion]] accompanied by the Byzantines. Arnold of Lübeck also left a very negative opinion in his chronicle about Serbs. Probably under the impression of the night attack, he even called them the "sons of [[Belial]]." Meanwhile, in 1171, [[Saladin]] was appointed sultan of Egypt, who would become one of the greatest defenders of [[Islam]] in history.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

The Kingdom of Hungary also wanted to join the fight against Byzantium, and the Holy Roman Empire of Frederick Barbarossa (1152–1190), also supported this alliance. Nemanja expected Hungarian help, but in the meantime, king [[Stephen III of Hungary]] died on 4 March 1172.{{sfn|Stephenson|2004|p=267}} The Hungarian emissaries went to [[Serdica]] (Sofia), where Emperor Manuel encamped with the army, preparing for the campaign. The Hungarian throne was won by Manuel's candidate [[Béla III of Hungary|Bela III]] (1173–1196). In the meantime, during the winter of 1171/72 on the island of [[Chios]], the Venetian army was decimated by an [[epidemic]], so that the Serbs were left alone in the fight against Byzantium. Manuel immediately took advantage of the favorable moment and after receiving the Hungarian emissaries, he headed for the Serbs at the head of the army. Before the oncoming Byzantine army, the grand zoupan Nemanja retreated to the mountains. According to the Byzantine historian [[John Kinnamos]], the Venetians incited Nemanja to revolt.{{sfn|Stephenson|2004|p=268}}

==Byzantine vassal (1172–1182)==
[[File:Seal of Stefan Serbian Grand Zhupan Nemanja, 1198.png|thumb|left|200px|[[Bulla (seal)|Lead seal or Bulla]] of the Stefan Nemanja in Greek (National Museum in Belgrade).]]
This conflict ended with Nemanja's surrender to Emperor Manuel. One day, Nemanja ritually obeyed Manuel I Komnenus in [[Niš Fortress|Niš]]. Barefoot, with his clothes torn to the elbows, a rope around his neck and a sword in his hands, he entered the Byzantine camp and went out to the emperor. Arriving in front of Manuel, he fell on his knees in front of him, handing him his sword, to do with him what he wanted.  The Byzantine emperor accepted his humility, agreeing to the renewal of vassal obligations and leaving Nemanja in the position of grand zoupan. The final part of this episode took place in Constantinople, where Nemanja was taken as a slave in Manoel's triumphal procession, while the gathered people ridiculed him.{{sfn|Stephenson|2004|p=268}} He was even shown a "series of wall paintings that the emperor had commissioned to commemorate his victories over the Serbs; his alleged reaction is recorded in an oration by [[Eustathius of Thessalonica]]: 'Seeing these paintings, he agrees with everything and approves of the visual feast. In one respect only does he chide the painter, namely that the latter has not called him a slave (doulos) in all the scenes of the triumph'."{{sfn|Stephenson|2004|p=268}}

The Byzantine emperor Manuel Comnenus returned Nemanja to the position of Grand Župan, and he confirmed to his brothers their areas – Stracimir around the [[Zapadna Morava|West Moravia]] and Miroslav [[Zachlumia]]. Upon his return to Serbia, Nemanja turned to consolidating the central government, and forced Tihomir's son and successor [[Stefan Prvoslav|Prvoslav]] to renounce the ruler's claims in his favor.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

In accordance with his vassal duties, Nemanja regularly sent auxiliary detachments to Byzantine military campaigns. Serbian detachments were also part of the Byzantine army that was defeated by the troops of the [[Sultanate of Rum]] in the [[battle of Myriokephalon]] on 17 September 1176 in the gorges of [[Asia Minor]].
[[File:Nemanjin sabor.jpg|thumb|right|A fresco from 1290 in the church of St. Achilles in [[Arilje]], which depicts the Council against Heretics held in 1176. Bogumils are shown in the lower right corner.]]

[[Bogumilism]] reached its peak in the Byzantine Empire during the 11th and in the first half of the 12th century. At the end of the 12th century, among Serbs and other Balkan Slavs, there was a very widespread 'Slavic' [[Gnosticism]] or dualistic teaching called Bogumilism. The main political tendency of Bogomilism was resistance to the Byzantine state and church authorities.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

Bogumilism itself was very widespread among the people in Serbia and Bosnia, and its spread among the nobles led to Nemanja's actions against them. He convened a [[Nemanja's Council against Bogomilism|state-church assembly]] at which a decision was to be made on further measures against them. The Assembly gathered the entire state leadership, composed of nobles and Bishop Euthymius of Ras, as well as a large number of abbots and monks. The assembly was held around 1176, during the time of Nemanja's vassalship and before the death of Emperor Manoel in 1180. The grand zoupan Nemanja gave a speech at the assembly about the harmfulness of the Bogumil heresy. A woman who was married to a heretic spoke as the main witness at the assembly. Her testimony was crucial to end the quarrel at the council and to give the majority the impression that it was a harmful religious teaching. After consultations, especially with the Bishop Euthymius, the grand zopuan brought measures against them. The leader of the Bogumil community in Serbia was caught and brought before the court. The grand zoupan spared the life of their leader, and he was sentenced to corporal punishment, cutting off his tongue so that he would no longer blaspheme and spread harmful teachings. The army was sent to those parts of Serbia where their actions were most pronounced. The primary goal of this action was conversion.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

The measures taken against those who refused were the confiscation of property, the punishment of milder punishments, the burning of books, as well as expulsion from the country. For the Bogumil community in Serbia, this was certainly persecution and ruthless action. Their confiscated property was distributed to the lepers and the poor.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

==War with Byzantium (1183–1191)==
After the death of Emperor Manoel on 24 September 1180, the Hungarian king Bela III considered that he had no more obligations to Byzantium. The following 1181, he [[Byzantine–Hungarian War (1180–1185)|launched an offensive]] against Byzantium and conquered [[Srem]] (Sirmium) the northeastern part of the Adriatic coast (Including [[Zadar|Zara]]) and [[Zemun]]. Byzantium was then occupied by internal conflicts, so that there was no military response to the Hungarian conquests. In 1182, Bela III ordered an attack on Byzantine Belgrade and [[Braničevo Fortress|Braničevo]]. The attack itself was quite clumsily carried out, and both fortresses were defended by experienced military leaders from the time of Emperor Manoel, [[Alexius Branas]] and [[Andronikos Lapardas]].
[[File:The Byzantine Empire, c.1180.svg|thumb|right|300px|Byzantine Empire at the time of the death of Emperor Manuel I in 1180.]]
Following the death of Manuel I in 1180, his widow, the Latin princess [[Maria of Antioch]], acted as regent to her infant son [[Alexios II Komnenos]]. Her regency was notorious for the favoritism shown to Latin merchants and was overthrown in April 1182 by [[Andronikos I Komnenos]], who entered the city in a wave of popular support. Almost immediately, the celebrations spilled over into [[Massacre of the Latins|massacre of Latins]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

The usurpation of Andronikos I freed Nemanja from subordination to the Byzantine emperor. Stefan Nemanja, in alliance with the Hungarian king Bela III, launched a great offensive on Byzantium in 1183. Also, the commander of the Byzantine army, Andronicus Lampardis in Niš and Braničevo, renounced obedience to the new central authorities. At the same time, the Hungarian king Bela III conquered Byzantine [[Belgrade]], [[Niš]] and [[Serdica]] (Sofia). According to the Byzantine historian [[Niketas Choniates]], the Serbs, led by Nemanja, joined this campaign. The following year, Nemanja launched an offensive on the southeastern Adriatic coast and conquered Byzantine [[Skadar]] and besieged [[Dubrovnik|Dubrovnik (Ragusa)]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

In 1185, Andronicus I was killed in Constantinople and the new Byzantine emperor [[Isaac II Angelos]] began peace negotiations with the Hungarian king. The peace treaty provided for Emperor Isaac II to marry Bela's daughter [[Margaret of Hungary|Margaret]]. The Hungarian army withdrew from the Byzantine central part of the [[Balkan]]s, leaving Nemanja without support. Fortunately for Nemanja, at the same time, the [[Normans]] and the [[Bulgarians]] joined the anti-Byzantine alliance.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

Nemanja forced [[Dubrovnik|Dubrovnik (Ragusa)]] to replace Byzantium with Norman rule. The Normans of king  [[William II of Sicily]], also in 1185, conquered [[Durrës|Dyrrachium]] and [[Thessaloniki|Thessalonica]], and embarked on an expedition to Constantinople, but they lost discipline due to large-scale looting, so the Byzantines easily defeated them in the [[battle of Demetritzes]] near [[Struma (river)|Lower Struma]]. In October 1185, in the [[Lower Danube]], in northern Bulgaria, an uprising began, led by the brothers [[Peter II of Bulgaria|Peter]] and [[Ivan Asen I of Bulgaria|Ivan I Asen]], one of the reasons for which was an extraordinary tribute that Emperor Isaac II ordered to be collected for his wedding. Nemanja then coordinated actions with the Asen brothers against Byzantium. In September 1186, Nemanja and his brothers "made peace with the city of Dubrovnik", ruled by William II.{{sfn|Stephenson|2004|p=288}}

===Between two emperors===
[[File:Састанак Немањин са Фридрихом 1. Риђобрадим год. 1189.jpg|thumb|''The 1189 Meeting of Stefan Nemanja and [[Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick Barbarossa]]'' (19th century) by [[Kosta Mandrović]]]]
Meanwhile, [[Ayyubid]] sultan [[Saladin|Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn]] captured [[Jerusalem]] in 1187. Due to the [[Siege of Jerusalem (1187)|fall of Jerusalem]] in the Latin West, there was a great commotion that started the [[Third Crusade]]. A large crusader army led by Holy Roman Emperor [[Frederick Barbarossa]] marched in 1189 from [[Buda]] through [[Belgrade]] and [[Niš]] to [[Edirne|Adrianople]] and [[Constantinople]].
[[File:Latinska crkva.JPG|thumb|right|The Church of the Holy Trinity near [[Niš]] is part of Byzantine provincial church architecture dating from 11th and 12th centuries. It was built after the reign [[Basil II]] (976 - 1025) and Restoration of Byzantium, most likely in the second half of the 11th century. The Church is modest one-nave building in the shape of an elongated inscribed cross with a dome. It is a central-type building whose model should be recognized in the [[Hagia Sophia, Thessaloniki]].]] In Niš, in the new capital of Stefan Nemanja, the German emperor and the grand zoupan met at the end of July 1189. At the meeting, Nemanja asked Barbarossa for the Crusaders to promise him lands the Serbians recently conquered in exchange of aiding the Crusaders in war against Byzantium.{{sfn|Stephenson|2004|p=295}} However, Barbarossa rejected this proposal in a diplomatic manner, wanting to ensure only a safe passage for his army through Byzantium. His main goal, however, remained the liberation of Jerusalem.<ref>Historia de Expeditione, 30–31: ‘[...] et pro ipsa terra bellica virtute sua conquisita demanu ipsius imperatoris Romanorum percipienda hominium et fidelitatem ipsi offerebantadperpetuam Romani imperii gloriam, nullo quidem timore coacti sed sola ipsius et Teutonici regni dilectione invitati. Sed domnus imperator illud perpendens: qui ambulatsimpliciter, ambulat confidenter, alieni belli occasione propositum iter contra invasoressancti domini sepulchri nolens vel inmutare vel protelare…'</ref>
A month later, negotiations began between the Crusaders and the Byzantines over the passage with great tension. At that time, according to Christian doctrine, there could be only one emperor in the Christian world. Hence the great rivalry and tension between the Eastern Roman Empire (historiographically known as Byzantium) and the Holy Roman Empire. The Crusaders captured [[Plovdiv|Philippopolis]] and [[Edirne|Adrianople]] and prepared for an attack on [[Constantinople]]. Nemanja takes advantage of this situation and launches an offensive towards Byzantine [[Skopje]]. Meanwhile, in February 1190, an agreement was reached between the two emperors at [[Adrianople]] to allow the Crusader army to cross the [[Dardanelles]]. During the uncertain negotiations, Emperor Isaac II replied that the new friendship between the Crusaders and the Serbs was very difficult for him.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

In June 1190, Frederick Barbarossa drowned in the river [[Göksu|Saleph]]. At the same time, Byzantine Emperor [[Isaac II Angelos]] launched a punitive expedition against the Serbs, and Nemanja was defeated in the battle at South Morava (1191).{{sfn|Komatina|2018|p=105-110}} In fact, Constantinople did not want to subdue the Serbs, but to regain [[Niš]] and the main road to [[Belgrade]], as well as to make allies of the rebellious Serbs. The peace treaty in 1193 provided for [[Stefan Nemanjić]], the middle son of the Grand Župan Stefan Nemanja, to marry a Byzantine princess [[Eudokia Angelina]], i.e. niece of the Byzantine emperor.{{sfn|Stephenson|2004|p=301, 308–309}}

==Return to Byzantium==
[[File:Свјетлопис споменика Стјепана Немање у Биограду.jpg|thumb|{{convert|23|m|adj=on}} monument of Stefan Nemanja, Belgrade, 2021]]
The concluded peace envisaged that Nemanja would be succeeded by his middle son Stefan, who received the Byzantine title of [[sebastokrator]] and the Byzantine princess [[Eudokia Angelina|Eudokia]] for a wife, and not the firstborn [[Vukan Nemanjić|Vukan]].

In November 1192, on the way to Venice, from [[Acre, Israel|Acre]] via Byzantine [[Corfu]] to the southeastern Adriatic coast on the small island of [[Lokrum]] near [[Dubrovnik|Dubrovnik (Ragusa)]], [[Richard I of England|Richard I]] arrived incognito as an ordinary knight or pilgrim, where he revealed that he is the [[List of English monarchs|King of England]]. Hungarian king Béla invaded Serbia at the beginning of 1193.<ref name="attack">[https://www.academia.edu/37793201/ON_THE_ATTACK_OF_THE_HUNGARIAN_KING_BELA_III_ON_SERBIA_IN_LIGHT_OF_THE_LETTER_OF_EMPEROR_ISAAC_II_TO_POPE_CELESTINE_III On the attack of the Hungarian king Bela III on Serbia in light of the letter of Emperor Isaac II to Pope Celestine III by Ivana Komatina]</ref> Emperor Isaac II demanded the withdrawal of his troops, and threatened Béla with war.<ref name="attack"/> At the same time, Doge [[Enrico Dandolo]] attempted to occupy Hungarian [[Zadar|Zara]], but failed. In April 1195, the father-in-law of Stefan Nemanjić, [[Alexius III Angelus]] (1195–1203), overthrew his brother Emperor Isaac II and took power.

In 1196, at the state assembly near [[Church of Saint Apostles Peter and Paul (Novi Pazar)|Church of Saints Peter and Paul]] in [[Stari Ras|Ras]],{{sfn|Kalić|2017|p=12-13}} Stefan Nemanja abdicated the throne in favor of his middle son Stefan, who became the grand prince of Serbia. He left his eldest son Vukan in charge of Zeta, Travunija, Hvosno and Toplica. Nemanja became a monk in his old age and was given the name Simeon. Shortly afterwards, he went to Byzantium, to [[Mount Athos]], where his youngest son [[Rastko Nemanjić|Sava]] had been a monk for some time. They received permission from the new Byzantine emperor to rebuild the abandoned monastery of [[Hilandar]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

==Death and legacy==
Knowing his death was near in his 86th year, Simeon asked to be placed on a mat in front of the icon of the Virgin [[Hodegetria]] with a stone for his pillow. He died in front of his son Sava and other monks, on 13 February 1199.{{sfn|Fine|1994|p=38-39}}{{sfn|Ćirković|2004|p=33, 35}}{{sfn|Curta|2006|p=389}}{{sfn|Curta|2019|p=497, 515, 662}} He was buried in the grounds of Hilandar monastery. His last words requested that Sava take his remains to Serbia, "when God permits it, after a certain period of time". Sava later wrote the ''Liturgy of Saint Simeon'' in Nemanja's honour.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

In 1206, Sava decided to bring his father's remains to Serbia, where his brothers Stefan and Vukan were fighting among themselves, thus tearing apart the Serbian lands their father had reunited. Upon arrival of Sava, his brothers made peace and Simeon was re-buried in 1207 in his personal foundation, the [[Studenica Monastery]], where [[Chrism|holy oil]] (myrrh) started to seeped, from his new grave, thus giving Simeon the epithet ''the Myrrh-streaming''. Because of miracles that occurred at his grave, the Serbian Orthodox Church [[canonised]] him, and declared his feast-day on {{OldStyleDate|26 February||13 February}}. The cult of St. Simeon helped consolidate Serbian national identity. Centers of his cult are in monasteries of Studenica and Hilandar.{{sfn|Ćirković|Korać|Babić|1986|p=13}}

==Name and title==
Various names have been used to refer to Stefan Nemanja, including Stefan I and the [[Latin]] ''Stephanus Nemania''. Sometimes the spelling of his name is [[anglicised]], to become Stephen Nemanya. In the latter part of his life, he became a monk and hence was referred to as Monk Simeon, or Monk Symeon. After his death, he was canonised by the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Church]], and became St. Symeon the [[List of Eastern Orthodox saint titles|Myrrh-streaming]]. His son and successor, [[Stephen II of Serbia|Stefan the First-Crowned]], called him "The Gatherer of the Lost Pieces of the Land of his Grandfathers, and also their Rebuilder". His other son Sava, called him "Our Lord and Autocrat, and ruler of the whole Serbian land". In a way, both sons introduced the cult of their father, thus creating the ideal picture of a ruler-saint, without parallel in [[Byzantium]].{{sfn|Curta|2006|p=390}}

==Family==
Nemanja was married to a Serb noblewoman by the name of [[Saint Anastasija|Ana]]. They had three sons and three daughters:

* [[Vukan Nemanjić]] – Prince of [[Duklja|Doclea]] and briefly Anti- Grand Prince of Serbia (1202–1204)
* [[Stefan Nemanjić]] - (Stefan "the First-Crowned"), Nemanja's successor, first ''King of All Serbian lands'', 1196–1228
* [[Rastko Nemanjić]] - (as a monk named Sava; Saint Sava) (1171–1236) – The first [[Autocephalous]]- [[Archbishop]] and saint of the Serbian Orthodox Church
* Vuka (as a nun Efimija (Euphemia))<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Благојевић |first=Милош |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2XBpAAAAMAAJ&q=Srbija%20u%20doba%20nemanjića |title=Србија у доба Немањића: од кнежевине до царства, 1168-1371. |publisher=Вајат-ИРО Београд |year=1989 |edition=1st |location=Belgrade |pages=226 |isbn=978-86-7039-028-7 |language=sr |trans-title=Serbia in the Time of Nemanjići, From the Principality to Empire, 1168-1371.}}</ref>
* N. (unknown daughter) - Married to [[Manuel Doukas|Manuel Komnenos Doukas Angelos]], ruler of Epiros (firstly with title despot, after that with title emperor (serbian: tzar (car)))<ref name=":0" />
* N. (her name is unknown) - A daughter married Bulgarian nobleman N. (Unknown; maybe Tihomir? or Tih?)  [[Asen dynasty|Asen]], mother of Bulgarian emperor [[Konstantin Tih]] (r. 1257–1277)

==Foundations==
Stefan Nemanja founded, restored and reconstructed several monasteries. He also established the [[Raška architectural school]], that spanned from 1170 to 1300.
[[File:Студеница.jpg|thumb|right|230px|[[Studenica Monastery]] church [[Dormition of the Theotokos]] at the confluence of the [[Studenica (river)|Studenica]] and the [[Ibar River]]. This is the fourth Nemanja endowment, built by the best masons from the Adriatic coast around 1186. The frescoes were painted by the best Greek masters around 1208.]]
[[File:Monastery Hilandar Athos (1917).jpg|thumb|right|230px|[[Hilandar|Hilandar monastery]] on [[Mount Athos]]]]

* [[Monastery of St. Nicholas, Kuršumlija|Monastery of Saint Nicholas]], in [[Kuršumlija]]
* Monastery of Saint [[Mother of Christ]], between [[Kosanica (river)|Kosanica]] and [[Toplica (South Morava)|Toplica]]
* Monastery [[Đurđevi Stupovi|Temple of George's Tracts]] (Đurđevi Stupovi), in 1171 in [[Stari Ras|Ras]]
* Monastery [[Studenica Monastery|Temple of the Immaculate Holy Virgin the Benefactor]] (Studenica), in 1190 in [[Ibar District|Ibar]]
* Church of the Holy [[Mother of God]], at the confluence of the [[Bistrica (Lim)|Bistrica]] and the [[Lim (river)|Lim]]
* Monastery of [[Saint Nicholas]], in [[Kaznoviće|Kaznovići]]/[[Končulj]] on the Ibar
* Nunnery of Mother of Christ, in [[Stari Ras|Ras]]

===Reconstructions===
* [[Hilandar Monastery]] on [[Mount Athos]], in 1199
* Monastery of Saint Archangel Michael, in [[Skopje]]
* Monastery of Saint Pantheleimon, in [[Niš]]

===Donations===
* Church of Lord, Holy Grave and Christ's Arrisal, in [[Jerusalem]]
* Church of Saint John the Forerunner, in [[Jerusalem]]
* Church of Saint Theodosios, in the Desert of [[Bethlehem]]
* Church Saint Apostole Peter and Paul, in [[Rome]]
* Church of [[Saint Nicholas]], in [[Bari]]
* Monastery/Church of the Virgin of Evergethide, in [[Constantinople]]
* Monastery/Church of Saint Demetrios, in [[Thessalonika]]

==See also==
* [[Battle of Pantina]]
* [[History of Serbia]]; [[List of Serbian monarchs]]
* [[History of Montenegro]]; [[List of rulers of Montenegro]]
* [[History of Herzegovina]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

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{{div col end}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Stefan Nemanja}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtvxe6tmSy8 In the Beginning was the Word – History of the Miroslav Gospel]
* [http://www.serbianunity.net/culture/history/Serb_History/Rulers/Stefan_Nemanja.html Serbian Unity Congress – Rulers of the Land]
* CD Chilandar by Studio A, Aetos, Library of Serb Patriarchate and Chilandar monastery, Belgrade, 1998.

{{S-start}}
{{S-hou|[[Nemanjić dynasty|Nemanjić Dynasty]]||1114|13 February|1199}}
{{s-reg|}}
{{Succession box
|before=[[Tihomir of Serbia|Tihomir]]
|title=[[Grand Župan|Grand Prince]] of [[Grand Principality of Serbia|Serbia]]
|years=1166–1196
|after=[[Stefan the First-Crowned|Stefan Nemanjić]]
}}
{{S-end}}

{{Serbian monarchs}}
{{Nemanjić dynasty}}
{{Serbian Orthodox Church}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nemanja, Stefan}}
[[Category:1110s births]]
[[Category:1199 deaths]]
[[Category:12th-century Serbian monarchs]]
[[Category:12th-century monarchs in Europe]]
[[Category:12th-century Christian saints]]
[[Category:Eastern Orthodox royal saints from Serbia]]
[[Category:Nemanjić dynasty]]
[[Category:Monarchs who abdicated]]
[[Category:Ktetors]]
[[Category:Founders of Christian monasteries]]
[[Category:Medieval Serbian Orthodox clergy]]
[[Category:Myroblyte saints]]
[[Category:People associated with Hilandar Monastery]]