- Princess Milica of Serbia
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Milica of Serbia
Милица од Србије
Fresco from the Ljubostinje monastery (1402–1405) Queen consort of Serbia Tenure ~1370–1389 Spouse Lazar of Serbia Issue Stefan Lazarević House House of Nemanjić Father Vratko Nemanjić Born 1335 Died November 11, 1405 Burial Ljubostinja Religion Serbian Orthodox Princess Milica Hrebeljanović née Nemanjić (Serbian: Милица Хребељановић · ca. 1335 – November 11, 1405) also known as Empress (Tsaritsa) Milica, was a royal consort of Serbia, wife of the Serbian Prince Lazar and mother of despot Stefan Lazarević. She is the author of "A Mother's Prayer," a famously moving poem of mourning for her husband, and an equally touching work entitled "Who Is This?"
She was the daughter of Vratko Nemanjić (known in Serb epic poetry as Jug Bogdan), who as a great-grandson of Vukan Nemanjić was part of a minor branch of the House of Nemanjić. She was the 4th cousin once removed of Emperor Dušan of Serbia.
After the death of her husband at the Battle of Kosovo in 1389, she founded the Ljubostinja monastery around 1390 and later took monastic vows at her monastery and became the nun Jevgenija (Јевгенија, later abbess Jefrosina, Јефросина) around 1393.[1]
In 1397 she issued the "A Mother's Prayer" together with her sons at the Dečani monastery.[2] She commissioned the repairing of the bronze horos of Dečani.[1]
In later diplomatic negotiations with Sultan Bayezid I, Jevgenija and Jefimija, the former Vasilissa of Serres, both travelled to the Sultan's court in 1398/99.[3]
In 1403, Jevgenija went to see Sultan Suleiman I at Serres, arguing in favour of her son Stefan in a complicated dispute that had emerged between her two sons and Branković.[1]
She was buried in Ljubostinja, her monastery. She was canonized by the Serbian Orthodox Church. Princess Milica was also a writer. She wrote several prayers and religious poems. Some historians[who?] think that her children Stefan Lazarević and Jelena Balšić received their literature education from her.
Contents
Family
With Prince Lazar she had following sons:
- Dobrovoj, died after birth
- Despot Stefan Lazarević,
- Vuk Lazarević
and following daughters:
- Gospodarica Jelena Lazarević, wife of Serbian Lord Đurađ II Balšić
- Gospodarica Mara Lazarević, wife of Serbian Lord Vuk Branković
- Empress Dragana Lazarević, wife of Bulgarian Emperor Ivan Shishman
- Princess Teodora Lazarević
- Princess Olivera Lazarević 'Despina', the wife of Sultan Bayezid I.
Stefan Vuk See also
References
- ^ a b c Byzantine style, religion and civilization: in honour of Sir Steven Runciman, pages 75-78
- ^ Serbian studies, Volumes 7-8, page 94
- ^ Studenica Monastery, page 144
Sources
- The geneaology and coats of arms of Serbian dynasties and feudals (Родословне таблице и грбови српских династија и властеле); editors Aleksa Ivić (1928), Dusan Spasić, Aleksandar Plavestra and Dusan Mrdjenović (1987); Bata, Belgrade, p. 20, 75. ISBN 86-7685-007-0 (1928), ISBN 86-7335-050-6 (1987). (Serbian)
House of Nemanjić 
Main ruling members see family tree · Stefan Nemanja · Stefan Prvovenčani · Vukan Nemanjić · Stefan Radoslav · Stefan Vladislav I · Stefan Uroš I · Stefan Dragutin · Stefan (Uroš II) Milutin · Stefan Vladislav II · Stefan (Uroš III) Dečanski · Stefan (Uroš IV) Dušan · Stefan Uroš VOther ruling members Archbishops Minor members Vratislav Nemanjić · Vratko Nemanjić · Urošica · Dmitar Nemanjić · Stefan Vukanović · Radoslav Hlapenx · Vojihnax · Balša IxFemale members Jefimija · Komnena · Jelena Šubić · Jelisaveta · Anna Neda Shishman · Theodora · Milica · St. Jelena of DečaniConsorts St. Anastasija · Eudokia Angelina · Anna Dandolo · Anna Doukaina · Beloslava · Helen of Anjou · Catherine · Helena Doukaina Angelina · Elisabeth · Anna Terter · Simonida · Theodora Smilets · Maria Palaiologina · Helena · Anna BasarabaCategories:- House of Nemanjić
- 14th-century Serbian royalty
- Medieval Serbian writers
- Serbian women writers
- Women of medieval Serbia
- 1405 deaths
- European royalty stubs
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