The House of Dejanović (, Dejanovići / Дејановићи) or House of Dragaš (, Dragaši / Драгаши) originates from a medieval noble family that served the Serbian Empire of Dušan the Mighty (r. 1331–1355) and Uroš the Weak (r. 1355–1371), and during the fall of the Serbian Empire, after the Battle of Maritsa (1371), it became an Ottoman vassal. The family was one of the most prominent during these periods. The Dejanović/Dragaš held a region roughly centered where the borders of Serbia, Bulgaria and North Macedonia meet. The last two Byzantine Emperors were maternal descendants of this house.
The progenitor, sevastokrator Dejan, was a magnate in the service of Emperor Dušan, and also the Emperor's brother-in-law through his marriage with Teodora-Evdokija. Dejan held the župe (counties) of Žegligovo and Preševo under Dušan, and later received the title of despot during the rule of Dušan's son, Emperor Uroš V, when he was appointed the administration Upper Struma with Velbužd, after the death of powerful despot Jovan Oliver. After Dejan's death between 1358 and 1365, most of his province was given to Vlatko Paskačić, besides the initial counties of Žegligovo and Preševo, which were left to his two sons, Jovan and Konstantin. The brothers, who ruled jointly, managed to double the extent of their province during the Fall of the Serbian Empire following Emperor Uroš V's death, chiefly to the south; the lands now covered from Vranje and Preševo to Radomir, in the south to Štip, Radovište and Strumica. In 1373, two years after the devastating Battle of Maritsa, the brothers became vassals to the Ottoman Empire. After the death of Jovan in 1377, Konstantin continued to rule under Ottoman overlordship. Konstantin and his provincial neighbour and fellow Ottoman vassal, Prince Marko, fell at the Battle of Rovine in 1395.
The Dejanović family built and reconstructed several churches and monasteries throughout their province. Some of these include the Zemen Monastery and Arhiljevica Church, built by Dejan, and the Poganovo Monastery and Osogovo Monastery, built by Konstantin.
Konstantin had married his daughter Jelena to the Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos (r. 1391–1425), from which the last Byzantine Emperors John VIII (r. 1425–1448) and Constantine XI (r. 1449–1453) sprung. Constantine XI, who died defending Constantinople from the Ottomans in 1453, was known by his mother's surname, in Greek, Dragases (Δραγάσης, tr. Dragáses).
History
The family's progenitor was Dejan, a Serbian vojvoda (military commander and lord) in the Kumanovo region, who married Teodora, the sister of Stefan Dušan. Dejan became sevastokrator in 1346.Jakov Ignjatović, Živojin Boškov 1987, Odabrana dela Jakova Ignjatovića Vol. 1, p. 548: His origin is unknown. Earlier scholars believed that the Dejanović were relatives of Jovan Oliver, although this is no longer accepted (Fine 1994). K. Jirechek suggested that he was vojvoda Dejan Manjak.
On April 16, 1346 (Easter), Stefan Dušan convoked a huge assembly at Skopje, where the autocephalous Serbian Archbishopric was raised to the status of a Patriarchate. The new Patriarch Joanikije II now solemnly crowned Dušan as "Emperor (basileus) and autocrat of Serbs and Romans (Greeks)". Dušan had his son Uroš V crowned King of Serbs and Greeks, giving him nominal rule over the Serbian lands, and although Dušan was governing the whole state, he had special responsibility for the "Roman", i.e. Greek lands. A further increase in the Byzantinization of the Serbian court followed, particularly in court ceremonial and titles. In the years that followed, the Serbian nobility were elevated: Dušan's half-brother Simeon Uroš, brother-in-law Jovan Asen and Jovan Oliver were granted the title of despot. His brother-in-law Dejan and Branko were granted the title of sevastokrator. The military commanders (voivodes) Preljub, Vojihna and Grgur received the title of ćesar. The raising of the Serbian Patriarchate resulted in the same spirit - bishops became metropolitans.
He is mentioned in 1354. According to Stefan Dušan's charter to the monastery of Arhiljevica (August 1355), sevastokrator Dejan, whom he called his brother ("брат царства ми севастократор Дејан"): possessed a large province east of Skopska Crna Gora. It included the old župe (counties) of Žegligovo and Preševo (modern Kumanovo region with Sredorek, Kozjačija and the larger part of Pčinja).: Based on the charter, Arhiljevica was situated where the granted villages (metochion) of Podlešane, Izvor and Rućinci (Kumanovska Crna Gora) lay, in the slopes of Jezer.Vranjski glasnik, Vol. 19-20, p. 169: The fact that Dejan built Arhiljevica rather than renovate it is evidence of his economical strength. Dušan also granted a church, metochion, and two villages in the region on his own behalf.
Dejan was one of the prominent figures of Dušan's reign and during the fall of the Serbian Empire after Dušan's death. Under Emperor Dušan, despot Jovan Oliver, with his brother Bogdan and sevastokrator Dejan, ruled over all of eastern Macedonia. He is not mentioned much in Dušan's military endeavors, although the reputation of him and his successors suggest that he was involved in most of Dušan's successes. His prominence beyond Serbia is evident from the fact that Pope Innocent VI addressed Dejan in 1355, asking him to support the creation of the union between the Catholic Church and the Serbian Orthodox Church (such letters were sent to the highest nobility and the church).
Dejan received the title of despot sometime after August 1355, either from Emperor Dušan, who died on 20 December 1355, or his heir Uroš V, most likely under the latter. As despot under the rule of Uroš V, Dejan was entrusted with the administration of the territory between South Morava, Pčinja, Skopska Crna Gora (hereditary lands) and in the east, the Upper Struma river with Velbuzhd, a province notably larger than during Dušan's life.: As the only despot, Dejan held the highest title in the Empire (this had earlier been Jovan Oliver).:
Dejan's daughter Teodora was married to Žarko, the Lord of Lower Zeta ("gospodar donje Zete"), in 1356. Together they had a son, Mrkša (born 1363).
Until the death of knez Vojislav Vojinović in December 1363, the Serbian nobility in the Greek lands showed itself more ambitious, as it held more titles (despots Dejan and Vukašin, sevastokrator Vlatko, kesar Vojihna, etc.) and greater independence (deriving from their more extensive possessions, and therefore, wealth) in relation to the nobility of the old Serbian lands. While Vojislav lived, his influence secured the pre-eminence of the old Serbian nobility, but after his death Vukašin quickly gained a decisive influence on the Emperor. The nobility in the old Serbian lands was not at first alarmed at this, but Vukašin's ambition and his subsequent moves woke up the simmering antagonism between the two groups. It was not only Vukašin's endless ambition that paved the way to the top, as he had plenty of support from other nobles who benefited from him.
Jovan Oliver and Dejan died sometime before 1365, that is when Vukašin was elevated to King as co-ruler to Emperor Uroš V. Mandić believes that Dejan died in 1358, and that Vukašin (who until then was veliki vojvoda) took his place as despot, and that Jovan Uglješa became veliki vojvoda.: It is unlikely that Dejan took monastic vows before his death, as his children were still young. His wife Teodora took monastic vows as Evdokija and lived in Strumica and Kyustendil, and she would until her death sign as "Empress", being entitled so as a female member of the dynasty.
After the death of Dejan, his province, besides the župe of Žegligovo and Upper Struma, was appropriated to nobleman Vlatko Paskačić. Vukašin Mrnjavčević, of whom there are no notable mentions until 1365, became more powerful (ultimately the most powerful in Macedonia) after the deaths of Vojislav, Dejan and despot Jovan Oliver (whose status in Macedonia was very high), as Vukašin's rise would have been unlikely during the lifetime of these. Vukašin's younger brother Jovan Uglješa is thought to have participated in the dismemberment of Dejan's province, as he used this chance to take the provinces which bordered on the oblast (province) of Ser (Serres), which he de facto held (Empress Jelena de jure). No one looked to the young sons of Dejan who would later become very important. Dejan's death brought benefit to Vukašin and Uglješa, not so much in territorial expansion (which is not so sure), but because Dejan's disappearance ended any stronger candidate to counter the Mrnjavčević family.
Jovan received the title of despot, like his father before, by Emperor Uroš.: Most of Jovan Oliver's lands were later given to the brothers. It is not known why Jovan Oliver's sons did not inherit his lands; Serbian historian V. Ćorović considered turmoil and disorder the case, however not knowing the extent it developed to and what the consequences were. Earlier scholars believed that the Dejanović were relatives of Jovan Oliver, although this is no longer accepted (Fine 1994). The Dejanović brothers ruled a spacious province in eastern Macedonia, in the southern lands of the Empire, and remained loyal to Uroš V.
After the Ottoman victory at Maritsa (1371), the Ottomans did not immediately start with real conquests in the Balkans, but, reinforcing their positions, stopped to spread their influence and create grounds for further progress. They did not want to cause a persistent struggle from a Christian alliance until they were fully sure, so in the beginning they were satisfied with the Balkan magnate families recognizing their sovereignty and paying them tribute, in order to increase Ottoman financial resources. In that way they did not take Vukašin's province, but agreed to let his son and heir Marko rule in the Macedonia region, with the seat at Prilep (the foremost fortification of Pelagonia). In the north of Vukašin's province, Marko's younger brother Andrijaš held properties. Vukašin's successors fought with their western and northern Serbian neighbours, who after the death of Vukašin rushed to take over his possessions.
Emperor Uroš V died childless in December 2/4 1371, after much of the Serbian nobility had been destroyed in Maritsa earlier that year. This marked an end to the once powerful Empire. Vukašin's son Marko, who had earlier been crowned Young King was to inherit his father's royal title, and thus became one in the line of successors to the Serbian throne. Meanwhile, the nobles pursued their own interests, sometimes quarreling with each other. Serbia, without an Emperor "became a conglomerate of aristocratic territories",Ross-Allen 1978, p. 505 and the Empire was thus divided between the provincial lords: Marko, the Dejanović brothers, Đurađ I Balšić, Vuk Branković, Nikola Altomanović, Lazar Hrebeljanović. The Balšić family took Prizren, and Vuk Branković took Skoplje, from Marko.