House of Vlastimirović

Royal house
surname = House of Vlastimirović
estate = of Serbia (Rascia, Bosnia, Travunia, Pagania, Zachlumia, Doclea)
coat of arms =
country = Serbia
parent house = none
titles = Prince (Кнез/Knez)(Жупан/Župan)
founder = Vlastimir
final ruler = Časlav Klonimirović
current head = extinct
founding year = ca. 800s
dissolution = 960
nationality = Serbian
cadet branches = House of VišeslavićThe House of Vlastimirović (Властимировићи, "Vlastimirovići") was named after "knez" (duke) Vlastimir who was the great-great-grandson of the Unknown Archont who led the Serbs to the Balkans from White Serbia (modern day Poland, Slovakia and Ukraine) during the reign of Byzantine emperor Heraclius somewhere between 610 - 641. This establishes the Serbs in the Balkans in the early 600s.

The house of Vlastimirović became Serbia's first dynasty after the settlement of the Serbs. Their reigned from ca. 640- ca. 950, of which apr. 100 year under a different dynasty and later in the 9th century a short period under Bulgarian direction.

Svevlad ruled up to 660. Selimir ruled 679-680. Vladin, ruled up to 700 and Ratimir, ruled until 730. It is not known how the different rulers came to succeed one another as there is little evidence from this time. After Svevlad another 50 years of infighting during which time there was no clear ruler in Rascia, Pagania, Travunia, Neretva and Bosna. This period of discord lasted for almost 150 years.

Around 780, knez Višeslav, the great grandson of the Unknown Archont came to power over Rascia, Pagania, Travunia, Neretva and Bosnia. He ruled through knez Radoslav (son of Višeslav), Knez Prosigoj (son of Radoslav) until 850 bringing an era of stability to his domain. He included many family members who were not his sons, something other Serbian rulers had not done before him. He likely saw this as a good way of preventing the discord that followed immediately after the Serbs settled the area by avoiding jelaousy and fighting between family members.Around 850 or only up to 825, Knez Vlastimir, a son of Prosigoj and nephew of Viseslav, was ruler. He was according to some the founder of Vlastimirović dynasty. Knez Vlastimir continued the power sharing started by his uncle. Vlastimir had three sons and one daughter. His daughter married knez Krajina, son of Beloje, župan of Travunia (Trabounia). Each son had his own domain, but Mutimir the eldest was the supreme ruler, his two brothers being subjugated (vassals) to him. The brothers successfully fought off a Bulgar onslaught by khan Boris in 852. Later, the two youngest brother rebelled against Mutimir who as a punishment let Bulgar khan Boris subjugate them.

Members

*Vlastimir (son of Prosigoj) 825-850.

*Mutimir ruled from the second half of 9th century to his death in †891/ 892

*Strojimir (vassal to elder brother Mutimir, later under Bulgarian khan Boris)

*Gojnik (vassal to brother Mutimir, later under khan Boris)

*Knez Pribislav (son of Mutimir), born latest 867, ruled 891/2-892/3

*Bran (Boren) (younger brother of Pribislav, son of Mutimir), born by 867, pretender to the throne 895/6

*Stefan (youngest brother of Pribislav and Bran, son of Mutimir), born ca. 870

*Knez Petar Gojniković (son of Gojnik, grandson of Vlastimir), born ca. 870, ruled 892/3-917/8, captured by Bulgarians, died in captivity.

*Knez Pavle Branović (son of Bran/Boren, grandson of Mutimir), ruled 917/8-921, brought to the throne by the Bulgarians, brought down by Byzantines

*Knez Zaharije Pribisavljević (son of Pribislav, grandson of Mutimir), ruled 921-924 (brought to the throne by the Byzantines, removed by the Bulgarians)
*Knez/Zupan Časlav Klonimirović (son of Klonimir, grandson of Strojimir), ruled 927/8-ca. 950: Liberated the central Serbian tribes from Bulgarian empire.

Bulgarian & Byzantine interference

From the year 900 to 940, there is extensive Bulgar and Byzantine interference in the Serb state. Its continued suzerainity to Byzantium put the Serb state under its protection. Knez Mutimir ruled from the second half of 9th century to his death in 891 or 892. Strojimir (vassal to elder brother Mutimir ruled later under Bulgar khan Boris.

Gojnik (vassal to brother Mutimir, also ruled after him under khan Boris. Knez Pribislav (son of Mutimir), born latest 867, ruled 891/2-892/3. Bran (Boren) (younger brother of Pribislav, son of Mutimir), born by 867, pretender to the throne 895/6 but never ruled. Stefan (youngest brother of Pribislav and Bran, son of Mutimir) was born ca. 870.

Knez Petar Gojnikovic; (son of Gojnik, grandson of Vlastimir), born ca. 870, ruled 892/3-917/8. He was captured by Bulgars, died as their prisonner. Knez Pavle Branovic; (son of Bran/Boren, grandson of Mutimir), ruled 917/8-921 was brought to the throne by the Bulgars and later brought down by Byzantines. Knez Zaharije Pribisavljević (son of Pribislav, grandson of Mutimir), ruled 921-924. He was brought to the throne by the Byzantines and later removed by the Bulgars. In 924-927 Serb throne held by Bulgars.

Knez/Zupan Caslav Klonimirovic (son of Klonimir, grandson of Strojimir), ruled from was the last and the greatest of the Unknown Archont's descendants. He ruled from 927 - 960. He liberated the central Serbian tribes from Bulgarian empire, concluded a voluntary confederation with the chiefs of Bosnia that brought them out of Croatia's control and together with Zahumlje, Pagania, Neretva, Travunia, Zeta and Raska established a Serb state that encompassed the shores of the Adriatic sea, the Sava river and the Morava river valley as well as Northern Albania.

After Caslav's death, in 960, the Bulgars and Byzantines took advantage of the discord caused by the power vacuum. Bosnia's chiefs declared independence and dissolved into independent statelets because the rest of Caslav's domain was swallowed up by Byzantium and Bulgaria. In 968 however, Bosnia was violently conquered by the Croatian king Kresimir and after the Bosnian chiefs were put down, it was incorporated into the Croatian state.

ee also

*List of Serbian monarchs
*History of Serbia
*De Administrando Imperio

External links

* [http://forum.stirpes.net/showthread.php?t=788 Short history of Serbia]