Jovan Oliver Grčinić (Serbian: Јован Оливер Грчинић; ca. 1310-1356) was a magnate of the Serbian EmperorDušan the Mighty (r. 1331-1355), holding the titles of sebastokrator and despotes, and the rank of "great voivode", showing his prominence and status as one of the most important nobles of Dušan. Oliver supported Dušan in the succession war against his father, and was one of the supreme generals in the southern military expeditions (Macedonia, Thessaly). His province included Ovče Pole and the left bank of the Vardar. After the death of Emperor Dušan, there are no more mentions of Oliver. During the fall of the Serbian Empire, his lands were held by the Dejanovići.
Jovan was the son a vlastelin Grčin (Грчин, "Greek") who had lands in some part of the Serbian Kingdom.
Jovan is referred to in a Ragusan source as Oliver Grčinić, and his knowledge of Greek lends support to the notion of a Greek origin.[1] He ruled his domain, in modern-day North Macedonia, as a semi-independent prince, acknowledging Dušan's suzerainty but not subordinate to him.[1] He probably had supported Dušan's overthrow of his father, King Uroš III, in 1331, and after the death of his first wife, Karavida, in 1336, he married Maria Palaiologina, Dušan's stepmother. There is considerable scholarly debate as to when Jovan Oliver acquired his domains, i.e. whether he held them before Dušan's accession, whether they were granted to him by Dušan as a reward for his support, or whether he gained them as a result of his marriage to Maria.[2]
At any rate, he was one of the most powerful nobles under Dušan, and exercised considerable influence over him, as evidenced in the negotiations in July 1342 which led to the decision to support John VI Kantakouzenos in the Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347, in exchange for which he hoped to marry his daughter to Manuel Kantakouzenos.[3] He was also active in the 1334 war with the Byzantine Empire, and was present during the subsequent peace negotiations together with Vratko Nemanjić, when Jovan was probably named despotes by Andronikos III Palaiologos.[2] With the death of Hrelja in late 1342, when the latter's domain was split between Jovan Oliver and Dušan, he was able to further expand his lands, including the important towns of Štip and Strumica.[4]
In 1341, imitating the Serbian kings, he built the Eastern OrthodoxLesnovo monastery as his endowment.[4] Jovan Oliver outlived Dušan, but after his death, his sons were unable to assert themselves: possibly opposed by a coalition of other nobles, they failed to acquire any positions of importance, and most of their father's lands were taken over by Constantine and John, the sons of sebastokratorDejan Dragaš of Kumanovo.[5]
Fine, John Van Antwerp (1994), The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest, University of Michigan Press, ISBN978-0-472-08260-5
Pirivatrić Srđan (2013). "The Byzantine titles of Jovan Oliver: A contribution to the issues of their origin and chronology". Zbornik radova Vizantološkog instituta. 50 (2): 713–724. doi:10.2298/ZRVI1350713P.
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January 26, 2023
jovan, oliver, grčinić, serbian, Јован, Оливер, Грчинић, 1310, 1356, magnate, serbian, emperor, dušan, mighty, 1331, 1355, holding, titles, sebastokrator, despotes, rank, great, voivode, showing, prominence, status, most, important, nobles, dušan, oliver, supp. Jovan Oliver Grcinic Serbian Јovan Oliver Grchiniћ ca 1310 1356 was a magnate of the Serbian Emperor Dusan the Mighty r 1331 1355 holding the titles of sebastokrator and despotes and the rank of great voivode showing his prominence and status as one of the most important nobles of Dusan Oliver supported Dusan in the succession war against his father and was one of the supreme generals in the southern military expeditions Macedonia Thessaly His province included Ovce Pole and the left bank of the Vardar After the death of Emperor Dusan there are no more mentions of Oliver During the fall of the Serbian Empire his lands were held by the Dejanovici Jovan Oliver Grcinicdespot sevastokrator veliki vojvoda veliki celnikJovan Oliver fresco from the Lesnovo monastery ReignLord of Ovce Pole and the left bank of the VardarFull nameJovan Oliver Grcinic Јovan Oliver Grchiniћ Bornca 1310Diedca 1356WifeKaravida 1336 Maria PalaiologinaIssuesee familyFathervlastelin Grcin Contents 1 Life 2 Family 3 References 4 SourcesLife EditJovan was the son a vlastelin Grcin Grchin Greek who had lands in some part of the Serbian Kingdom Jovan is referred to in a Ragusan source as Oliver Grcinic and his knowledge of Greek lends support to the notion of a Greek origin 1 He ruled his domain in modern day North Macedonia as a semi independent prince acknowledging Dusan s suzerainty but not subordinate to him 1 He probably had supported Dusan s overthrow of his father King Uros III in 1331 and after the death of his first wife Karavida in 1336 he married Maria Palaiologina Dusan s stepmother There is considerable scholarly debate as to when Jovan Oliver acquired his domains i e whether he held them before Dusan s accession whether they were granted to him by Dusan as a reward for his support or whether he gained them as a result of his marriage to Maria 2 Lesnovo monastery was founded by Jovan Oliver At any rate he was one of the most powerful nobles under Dusan and exercised considerable influence over him as evidenced in the negotiations in July 1342 which led to the decision to support John VI Kantakouzenos in the Byzantine civil war of 1341 1347 in exchange for which he hoped to marry his daughter to Manuel Kantakouzenos 3 He was also active in the 1334 war with the Byzantine Empire and was present during the subsequent peace negotiations together with Vratko Nemanjic when Jovan was probably named despotes by Andronikos III Palaiologos 2 With the death of Hrelja in late 1342 when the latter s domain was split between Jovan Oliver and Dusan he was able to further expand his lands including the important towns of Stip and Strumica 4 In 1341 imitating the Serbian kings he built the Eastern Orthodox Lesnovo monastery as his endowment 4 Jovan Oliver outlived Dusan but after his death his sons were unable to assert themselves possibly opposed by a coalition of other nobles they failed to acquire any positions of importance and most of their father s lands were taken over by Constantine and John the sons of sebastokrator Dejan Dragas of Kumanovo 5 Family EditHe had 7 children Danica Krajko or Krajmir Damnjan or Damjan Vidoslav Dabiziv Rusin OliverCourt officesFirst despot of Stefan Dusan1346 Served alongside Simeon Uros and Jovan Asen Succeeded byDejanas despot of Uros VFirst sevastokrator of Stefan Dusanbefore 1346 Succeeded byDejan and BrankoPreceded byGradislav Vojsicas celnik veliki celnik of Stefan Dusanbefore 1340 before 1349 Succeeded byDimitrijeMilitary officesVacantTitle last held byNovak Grebostrek veliki vojvoda of Stefan Dusanfl 1341 1355 Served alongside Nikola Stanjevic Succeeded byJovan Ugljesaas veliki vojvoda of Uros VReferences Edit a b Fine 1994 p 298 a b Fine 1994 p 299 Fine 1994 pp 297 298 a b Fine 1994 p 300 Fine 1994 p 358Sources EditFine John Van Antwerp 1994 The Late Medieval Balkans A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest University of Michigan Press ISBN 978 0 472 08260 5 Pirivatric Srđan 2013 The Byzantine titles of Jovan Oliver A contribution to the issues of their origin and chronology Zbornik radova Vizantoloskog instituta 50 2 713 724 doi 10 2298 ZRVI1350713P Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jovan Oliver Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jovan Oliver amp oldid 1099462004, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
