Constantine Dragaš

For the last Byzantine emperor, see Constantine XI Palaiologos Dragases.

Constantine Dragaš Константин Драгаш Kωvσταντίνος Δραγάσης
Born	>1355
Died	May 17, 1395 Rovine, Romania
Cause of death	Battle of Rovine
Residence	Kyustendil
Nationality	Serbian
Other names	Konstantínos Dragáses
Title	Despot[b]
Term	1378-1395
Predecessor	Dejan Dragaš
Religion	Eastern Orthodoxy
Spouse	Unknown Eudokia of Trebizond
Children	Helena Dragases, Jahov
Parents	Despot Dejan Theodora Nemanjić
Relatives	Emperor Dušan the Mighty Emperor Stefan of Dečani

Constantine Dragaš Dejanović (Serbian: Константин Драгаш Дејановић^[a]; fl. 1365-1395) was a Serbian magnate that ruled the area around Kyustendil from 1378, during the fall of the Serbian Empire, until his death on May 17, 1395 at the battle of Rovine. His father had served the Serbian Emperors, but after the loss at Maritsa (1371), the family continued to rule as Ottoman vassals.

Life

States in the Central Balkans, including Realm of Constantine Dragaš (Principality of Velbazhd) in 1373–1395

Constantine's father was the Serbian magnate, despot and sebastokrator Dejan, who had held the Kumanovo-region under the rule of Dušan the Mighty (r. 1331-1355). Constantine's mother Theodora Nemanjić was a half-sister of Dušan. His maternal grandparents were Serbian King Stefan of Dečani and Queen Maria Palaiologina.

In ca. 1365, his older brother Jovan Dragaš was holding Štip and Strumica. Jovan was elevated to despot by Emperor Uroš the Weak (before 1373), as Emperor Dušan had elevated Dejan, their father. Ottoman sources report that in 1373, the Ottoman army compelled "Saruyar" (Jovan Dragaš) in the upper Struma, to recognize Ottoman vassalship.^[1] Constantine had helped Jovan in ruling the lands, and when Jovan died in 1378/1379, Constantine succeeded, subsequently managing to govern large portions of northeastern Macedonia and the Struma valley.

He minted coins, as had his brother done.^[2] The Dragaš family generously donated to several monasteries on Mount Athos, including Hilandar, Pantaleimon (Rossikon) and Vatopédi.

In 10 February 1392, his daughter Jelena married Manuel II Palaiologos, and the next day, they were crowned Emperor and Empress by the patriarch.^[3]

After the battle of Maritsa, they were forced to become vassals of the Ottoman Empire, but they maintained close links with their Christian neighbors, including the Byzantine Empire. In 1395, together with his neighbor and ally, the Serbian king of Prilep Marko, Constantine Dragaš was killed fighting for their Ottoman overlord Sultan Bayezid I against Mircea cel Bătrân of Wallachia at Rovine, near Craiova. The Ottomans named Constantine's capital Velbažd/Velbužd after him, Köstendil (now Bulgarian Kyustendil).

Family

Constantine Dragaš was married twice. The name of his first wife is unknown, but she is not identical with Thamar (Tamara), the daughter of the Emperor (tsar) Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria, who had married a certain despotēs Constantine. Constantine Dragaš married as his second wife Eudokia of Trebizond, daughter of Emperor Alexios III of Trebizond and Theodora Kantakouzene. By his first wife, Constantine Dragaš had at least one daughter and possibly a son:

1. Helena Dragases (Jelena Dragaš, nun Hypomone), who married the Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos and died on May 13, 1450. Their many children included the last two Byzantine emperors, of whom Constantine XI added the name Dragaš (in Greek, Dragasēs) to his own.
2. (possibly) Jakov (Muslim under the name Yaqub), who succeeded as lord of Velbăžd (Kyustendil).

Legacy

He is venerated in Serb epic poetry.

Notes

1. ^ Name: His name is attested as Serbian Konstantin Dejanović and Konstantin Dragaš (Константин Дејановић / Драгаш), in Greek: Kωvσταντίνος Δραγάσης, Konstantínos Dragáses, Bulgarian: Константин Драгаш.
2. ^ Titles: Constantine's titles vary in the sources, where he is called variously "lord" (Serbian gospodin, Greek kyr or authentēs), and he may have acquired the title of Despot (despotēs), perhaps by his son-in-law, the Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos.

References

1. ^ Edition de lA̕cadémie bulgare des sciences, 1986, "Balkan studies, Vol. 22" p. 38
2. ^ David Michael Metcalf, "Coinage in South Eastern Europe, 820-1396", Royal Numismatic Society, 1979, p. 322
3. ^ Donald M. Nicol, "Byzantium and Venice: a study in diplomatic and cultural relations", p. 331

Sources

• Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, Oxford University Press, 1991.

Persondata
Name	Dragas, Constantine
Alternative names	Konstantin Dejanovic, Konstantin, Dragas
Short description	Serbian lord in eastern Macedonia
Date of birth
Place of birth
Date of death	May 17, 1395
Place of death	Rovine, Romania