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Home , Autokrator, Battle of Tara (1150), Serbian Despotate, Stefan Nemanja

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ROOTS OF SERBIAN heraldry (original document at: http://www.czipm.org/heraldika-03.html) by Ljubomir S. Stevović

Serbian coat of arms, together with the Serbian state, he began to develop in the under the influence of Byzantium. The two main elements of Serbian coat of arms, a double-headed white eagle in flight and a shield with a cross and four characters in the form of the letter "S" are descended from the dynasty of Nemanjić and Lazarevic, and the Byzantine Komnenos dynasty and Palaeologus (Figure 1). As in Byzantium, these heraldic symbols were created independently of one another, but unlike the Byzantine, Serbian symbols were lucky enough to be exactly 120 years combined in the coat of arms of the Kingdom of restored.Therefore, for our study of heraldry need to first make an overview of the Byzantine heraldry and the highest court ; despots, sevastokrat and kesar.

Byzantine shield

The first Byzantine flag was made (born 274 in Nis, emperor 306-337). Eusebius quotes a legend in which Constantine 312 years before the battle with the Roman rebels saw in the sky a cross and the words "In this sign you will conquer!" He immediately put a gold cross on a red square in the war flag and - won. Thus arose the famous konstantinov banner, national flag of the , although

P a g e | 2 at that time there were no more arms (Figure 2). Shields began to develop as identification symbols of the crusader forces in the twelfth century. In the Byzantine cultural space coming in 1204, when the Crusaders conquered and declared so. Empire. The main signs of Arms Crusades were a shield with a cross and four figures between the arms. French expert Šlumberger states that the kings of the French family KURTNA the crest of the Latin Empire, Constantine took the banner, put it on the shield and add him four gold with crosses (Figure 3). Komnino After the was founded Trapezuntsko empire in Asia Minor, and the coat of arms how to say Gerola, took the gold double eagle in flight on a red background. In 1261 Nicene car Mihaijla VIII Palaeologus was acquitted of Crusader occupation of Constantinople and restored the Byzantine emblem took a red shield with a gold cross and four gold letters V, Byzantine vita, the initial letter of Byzantium (Figure 4). This coat of arms in heraldry short called Byzantine shield. Years 1402 Stefan Lazarevic from the Byzantine regent John VII received the of and modeled on Byzantium shield took to arms red shield with a silver (white) cross and four characters in the form of S, that the old Serbian alphabet called letter, first letter of Serbia (Figure 5). Just about this interpretation there is disagreement among the experts. I believe that the Byzantine and Serbian shield worn by the first letters of their country. It was only in the eighteenth century, French heraldist Wilton this letter declared for glasses, because western heraldry did not know the letters in the emblem, but only for geometrical figures and images from nature.

The two-headed eagle The two-headed eagle appears first in Mesopotamia, fifteen centuries before Christ, a symbol of the old religion of the dipole. Such beliefs have culminated in Zarathustra learning that the universe good god of light, Ahura Mazda war with the dark god Ahriman. In ancient Greece (politeističkoj) religion, from the eighth century before Christ, the supreme god was Zeus, lord of the sky, thunder and time. He was sitting on his throne at the top of

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Mount Olympus with a bundle of lightning in the left, and a scepter, on which stood an eagle in his right hand. In the second century BC, the Romans took Zeus named Jupiter and Single head eagle became a symbol of the Roman state and the military legions. Apart from the constraints of Constantine, the Byzantine Empire in the early period of use and Single head eagle as the symbol of the old Roman state government. However, in Christian theology, the eagle is a sign of St. John the Divine and is the spiritual heights to which catapulted the writer of the Gospel and the Apocalypse. Thus, in the Byzantine Empire around the tenth century reappeared ancient two-headed eagle, now a symbol of Christ's words to - "Give what is Caesar and to God God" - warns of the balance between man's spiritual and material needs. This type of Byzantine double-headed eagle with wings poluraširenim and relaxed edge in heraldry is defined as a two-headed eagle in flight (Figures 6 and 7).

Despots, Sevastokratora and kesari For a century, the reign of the Byzantine Empire (1081-1185) Komnino formed a system of three most royal title, which along with small adjustments to survive until the end of the Empire in 1453. Before them, the highest rank after the royal, was kesar, of Caesar, the title of Roman ). During the struggle for the throne, Alexius I Comnenus (emperor 1081-1118) to his son-NIĆIFOR Melissa's promised title kesara. After coming to the throne, Emperor Alexius wanted to, and his older brother Isaac assign a higher title. For him, it had to introduce a new, higher title, as the brother of a closer kind of , which became kesar. Stojan Novakovic explains that the name Alexis comes from the word sevast, the Greek translation of the Latin August ( - too high, majestic title of Roman emperors introduced by Octavian (car 31 years ago and 14 years after Christ) and the Byzantine imperial title autokrator created in 1081 . the new title sevastokrat. also determined that this title is above the title of Caesar, and awarded her brother Isaac. sevastokrat Title was the most royal dignity, until Emperor Manuel I Comnenus (emperor 1143-1180) has introduced the title of despot. Since his arrival on the throne of his brothers Andronicus and

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Isaac awarded the title sevastokrat, and that he had no male children, the Emperor Manuel in 1163 for Crown Prince took his son-Hungarian prince Alexius White. Especially for him, he promoted the title of despot, which is the range was between imperial and sevastokratorske. When the emperor Manuel had a son in 1169, he took the title of despot White and gave him the title of Caesar,. Despoti, Sevastokratora and kesari had no specific duties, unless the car is not sent to a particular mission. Their titles were life, but not hereditary. Exclusive access to titles despot sevastokrat and Caesar, had a car;Only he could have them awarded and taken away. At the time of 1163-1204. The title of despot wearing a king's son in law, if the car did not have a direct heir to the throne, and the emperor's brothers and in-laws had a title - sevastokrat. The restored Byzantine Empire (1261- 1453) the eldest son of the emperor as a ruler wearing royal title of emperor, and the other sons of the title despot. During the dynasty of Palaeologus title despot spreading the In-laws of the imperial family, the emperor's brother, brother-in-law and other members of the immediate family, a title sevastokrat as evidenced by the famous Byzantologist Bozidar Ferjančić, received emperors distant relatives and prominent nobles. Despot and the rank and depending on the relationship to the king. Thus, according to Pseudo-Codina, emperors children, if they have despotic title, coming in rank in front of the despots, who were kings of the brothers or in-laws.The title of Caesar, again, received mostly old and proven military leader.

Signs Emperor and dignitaries The Byzantine emperor was wearing closed domed crown - tem. Tems had a gold ring and arc that goes from the front, over the head to the nape of the neck. Everything is richly adorned with pearls and precious stones, and serves as a design for the dome of velvet, which is also decorated - pearls and precious stones. At the top of the arch in the XII-XII. century was a large gemstone orphan (stone "straight"), which was later replaced with a cross. On the side tems hung by two strings of pearls and precious stones which the Greek called sows, and in an ancient obočí. Trapezuntski emperors of the dynasty Komnina stood on a red pillow and Byzantine emperors after 1261, to symbolically show how to build on Komnine, standing on a red pillow with gold double-headed eagle (Figure 8). Despot and did not wear a crown, but gold crowns without shine, which is conically narrowed towards the upper side. In the XII and XIII century, these ranges are called Stephanos (crown), and then they get more accurate name - stematogirion (crown crown).Depending on the rank holder,

P a g e | 5 stematogirioni had four or a gold plate with precious stones - Kamari (spasm. - Vault). Prior to 1204, stematogirione with four piles - front, back and sides - worn by despots and Sevastokratora with a crate and to the front (Figure 9). In the restored Byzantine imperial despots sons wore stematogirione with four piles, other despots with only one, and to the front, a plain wreath Sevastokratora without Kamara. Along with garlands, despots, Sevastokratora and kesari are worn as a sign of dignity and elaborately decorated suits with two-headed eagles in circles. In the era of dynasties Komnina and Angels (1081-1204) embroidered with gold double- headed eagle was adorned robes of the dignitaries who are in our folk songs called grizzled azdije. Their name comes from starosrpskih words; round - round and hazdei, hazdeja - trappings, which is derived from a Greek word with the same meaning. Despotic grizzled azdije were red, sevastokratorske of blue and green brocade kesarske. Over time, the court costume and pageantry were changing and in the XIV century double-headed eagles were asked and the other formal uniforms, tents, saddles, etc., but the color ranks remained unchanged.

The beginnings of Serbian heraldic tradition - while

Since the eleventh century, to the beginning of the thirteenth century, the ruler of Serbia is a title of great prefect. Throne is inherited by the old patriarchal right - after the death of the great mayor authority exceeded his younger brothers, who had the title of Duke, and only after they came to turn the oldest of the next generation. A holy Nemanjić dynasty (1166-1371) broke the traditional patriarchal order and introduced hereditary primogeniture. Prior Stefan Nemanja (large Prefect 1166-1190) Serbia was ruled by Uros I (large prefect around 1130-1145) and Uros II (large Prefect 1146- 1155 ), as well as their brothers. Uros name in Greek - keeper, defender, guard leader, was in Serbia known before, but as the titular name appears first in large prefect Uros I and II. After them, in just ten years, the struggle for the throne prefects took part in the six candidates, three brothers Uros II - Primislav, Beloš and Desa, including three Nemanja's eldest brother - Tihomir, Stracimir and Miroslav. Finally, in 1166 a large prefect became Nemanja. Probably Nemanja and his brothers were the sons of Uros II. Though he lived in predheraldičko time, Nemanja for the development of our state symbols important because instead of titular

P a g e | 6 names Uros introduced a new titular name Stefan, which remained until the end of the dynasty, and that first began to wear the crown wreath. Unfortunately, Nemanja ruler's portraits are preserved. The only Nemanja portrait of royal Insignia is preserved in the south chapel narthex Radoslavljeva in , which is thought to be painted 1233/1234. year.Nemanja is shown as a monk Saint Simeon, who is no longer alive, with a wreath on his head. Range is still difficult to see because it is faded (Figure 10a), but have recently appeared two reconstructions (Figures 10b and 10c). answer to the question about the origin of Stefan Nemanja titular names and cornice is in his meeting with Emperor Manuel who was described Stefan Crowned: I zadiviv the wisdom of this Junos, characteristic of him imperial dignity, and a variety of gifts. I detachable him from his country, he gave him (Nemanja) called Dubocica, saying: - You wake and thy seed after you in ages, with anyone in the community, not with me, nor with my relatives after me. About this event is much discussed, but has not given a satisfactory answer. Byzantine Emperor Manuel was at the in 1150 won Uros II, after which he agreed to be larger vassal obligations than before.Choniates testified that a year later, in 1151, Manuel after the victory over the Hungarians returned to Constantinople with "Hungarian guys and Serbian prisoners" to "gorgeous suits which, brighter than befits the status of prisoners of the Emperor himself were bestowed." About the meeting Emperor Manuel with Nemanja near Nis much discussed, but has not given a full explanation. It is known that the Byzantine emperor Manuel Comnenus came to Niš in 1163, but has not yet determined who was "imperial act" Nemanja received. Konstantin Jireček suspected that it could be an act protostapara, any previously received the Serbian ruler Mihailo (1053) by the Byzantine Emperor Constantine Monomakh (Emperor 1042-1054), the title of which was received and the Venetian doges. Taking into account that Manuel emphasizes NEMANJINA offspring, and give him the gift of his kingdom, and that the title of the root SEVAST get-law Empress sisters and his brothers, then it can be assumed that Nemanja's wife Ana was in a similar degree of kinship with the king's extended family, as Toronita and his brothers, and that Nemanja of Emperor Manuel received the title Sevastí. 've already explained that sevast Greek translation of the Latin August (Augustus). In , the imperial title avugust have a sense of majesty, this Greek translation Sevastos assigned a value that can not be translated literally, but his meaning: inviolable, sacrosanct. As AUGUSTUS Latin and Greek σεβαστόζ initially given only rulers, like us in the Middle Ages too high. Therefore, the older writers; even at Philotea, nor in Porpyrogenitus there is no dignity or title in which the word was used Sevastos. however, one should not forget that it's happening in the Comnenus dynasty, who introduced the new title. Anna Comnena says that her father, the Emperor Alexius, except titles sevastokrat for his brother, introduced three high titles with this

P a g e | 7 root. Toronita, the sister of the king's son in law, was voted panhipersevast ("above all of servants"), which is ranked was immediately after kesara; his brother Adrian, again, the title protosevasta ("first sevast"), and the youngest brother Nicephorus - the title of servants.

Let us listen to the words of Anne Komnine: ... So this is a novelty in the dignity invented by my father, some who signed their names, as noted above, some changing. Titles PANIPERSEVASTA and SEVASTOKRATORA and other in this way, he made a profession Sevastí appears to be debased. Because the SEVASTI before calling only kings, and this title is a title only emperors belonged. And on the first ways to dignity overall. Against this study the, get the, probably, Nemanja was the Serbian hostages who went to the 1151 education or indoctrination in Constantinople. It is not known how many hostages are there other, but can be further assumed that there Nemanja married Anne, originating from a Classier Constantinople families. This confirms Manojlov interest in their offspring, and donate Nemanja "imperial dignity." The text which speaks about "imperial act" is definitely the title of servants, and the "different gifts" should mention the crowning wreath with Stefanos which is shown in the south chapel Radoslavljeva narthex. This agrees with Nemanja new titular name Stefan Nemanja, who first mentioned Nikita Choniates on events in Raska 1168. Nemanja after several wars with older brothers (1155-1166) became a prefect and instead of the old titular names Uros took a new titular name Stefan, which indicates that with the "imperial act" and won " wreath "and became" vencoimeniti "or" venconosac ". Unfortunately, none of Nemanja ruler portrait not been preserved. In addition to title sevastokrat going Nemanja portrait of the southern chapel narthex Radoslavljeva in Studenica, around 1234 (Figure 10), where, although a monk who is no longer alive, is shown with stematogirionom on his head, as worn by the Byzantine emperor in-laws. As imendan his titular name Stefan Nemanjić dynasty and patron of Serbia took the holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon

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Stephen, whom we celebrate every ninth of January, on the third day of Christmas.

+ + + Recommended reading: • Eusebius, Vita Constantini, 1, 28 • Ferjančić, B. 1968 Sevastokratora in Byzantium. Faculty of Philosophy XI, 141-192 • Group website. 1971 Byzantine sources for the history of the peoples of IV. : SANU • Group website. 2000 Stefan Nemanja - St. Simeon, history and tradition (Proceedings of international scientific conference, Book 26). Belgrade: SANU • Gerola, G. 1934 L'elemento araldica nel Portolano di Angelino DALL'ORTO. Atti del R. Ist. Veneto XCIII, 427 • Jireček, K. 1952 History of the I. Belgrade: Prosveta • Kalić, J. 1970 Big prefect Uroš II. Proceedings of the Institute of Byzantine Studies 12, 21- 37 • Kašanin, M., Canak-Medic, M., Maksimovic, J., Todić, B. and M. Šakota.1986, . Belgrade: SANU • Ljubinković, M. 1961 Reflection of the cult of St.Stephan Serbian medieval art. Starinar XII, 45-55 • Mandic, S. 1986 United gentlemen all Serbian lands. Belgrade. • Mandic, S. 1990 Imperial act of Stefan Nemanja. Belgrade. • Novakovic, S. 1884 Heraldic traditions of the Serbs in the application and literature Anniversary Nicholas Čupića VI, 140-155 • Schlumberger, 1895 Melanges d'Archéologie byzantine I. Paris. • Soloviev, A.1926. These monuments of Serbian law. Belgrade. • Stevović, Lj. 1998 Stefan Nemanja. Our videos 1, 39-44 • Stevović, Lj. and Bosnic, D. Since 1995, the Principality of the Serbian Despotate. Army 138, 38-46 • Vulson de Colombier M. 1644 Science héraldique. Paris.(Downloads: Web site Anarheologija )