Simeon Uroš (Serbian Cyrillic: Симеон Урош, Greek: Συμεών Ούρεσης; c. 1326–1370), nicknamed Siniša (Синиша), was a self-proclaimed Emperor of Serbs and Greeks, from 1356 to 1370. He was son of Serbian King Stephen Uroš III and Byzantine Princess Maria Palaiologina. Initially, he was awarded the title of despot in 1346, and appointed governor of southern Epirus and Acarnania in 1347 by his half-brother, Serbian Emperor Stephen Dušan. After Dušan's death in 1355, the Serbian throne passed to Dušan's son Stephen Uroš V, but despot Simeon decided to seize the opportunity in order to impose himself as co-ruler and lord of all southern provinces of the Serbian Empire. That led him to conflict with his nephew in 1356, when Simeon started to expand his control in southern regions of the Empire, trying to take Thessaly and Macedonia. He proclaimed himself Emperor of the Serbs and Greeks, creating a separate state, centered in regions of Thessaly and Epirus, where he ruled until his death in 1370. He was succeeded by his son Jovan Uroš.[1]
Simeon Uroš was the son of King Stephen Uroš III (r. 1322–1331) by his second wife, Maria Palaiologina, the daughter of the Byzantine prince and rebel John Palaiologos who had joined Stephen's raids in Macedonia in 1326, the same year Simeon Uroš was born. His older, half-brother, Dušan was crowned "Young king" (designated heir) in 1322 during the crowning of their father.[2]
Stephen Dušan's reign
Stephen Dušan was crowned King in September 1331, after months of civil war.[3] Dušan exploited the Byzantine civil war and made major gains beginning in 1342. Having all of Macedonia under his rule, Stephen Dušan was proclaimed "Emperor of Serbs and Greeks" in September 1345, then crowned as such in April 1346.[4] Dušan, as an emperor, granted Byzantine titles upon his magnates. Simeon Uroš and Jovan Asen were given the despot title, while others were given the sebastokrator and kesar titles.[5]
With the Serbian conquest of Epirus, Acarnania and Thessaly by 1348, Simeon Uroš was given the governorship of Epirus and Thessaly. Simeon Uroš consolidated his position with the local aristocracy by marrying Thomais Orsini, the daughter of the former ruler of Epirus, John II Orsini.
Claim to the Serbian throne and independence
Simeon's empire.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Realm of Simeon Uroš.
Simeon Uroš's relatively uneventful governorship was interrupted when, shortly after Dušan's death in 1355, his brother-in-law Nikephoros II Orsini, the deposed ruler of Epirus, reappeared in Greece and gained the support of the nobility in Thessaly and Epirus. In 1356 Nikephoros entered Epirus and forced Simeon Uroš to flee to Kastoria. There Simeon proclaimed himself "Emperor of Serbs and Greeks" in rivalry with his nephew Stephen Uroš V.
Although he was supported by some important magnates like Jovan (the brother of Stephen Dušan's widow), Simeon was rejected by the nobility of the Serbian lands and Macedonia. After he was forced to retreat from his attempt to invade Zeta (modern Montenegro) in 1358, Simeon Uroš gave up hope of asserting himself in Serbia. The next year, however, Nikephoros II Orsini was killed in a skirmish against Albanian clans, opening an opportunity for Simeon Uroš. Consequently, he rapidly swept into Thessaly and was acknowledged as its ruler in 1359. He then invaded Epirus, where the towns, harried by the Albanian clans who had taken over the countryside, also recognized his authority. He also used his maternal maiden name, Palaiologos (Παλαιολόγος), during his rule.
While Simeon Uroš was in Epirus, Radoslav Hlapen of Vodena (Edessa) attempted to seize Thessaly on behalf of his stepson Thomas Preljubović. Simeon Uroš was forced to cut his losses by recognizing Radoslav Hlapen's conquests, turning over Kastoria to him, and marrying his daughter Maria to Thomas. Hlapen recognized Simeon Uroš's suzerainty in at least some of these lands and provided a buffer between him and the Serbian nobles to the north. Simeon Uroš established himself in Trikala in Thessaly, and spent the remaining decade of his reign in relative peace. He soon recognized two of the Albanian leaders in Epirus, John Spata and Peter Losha, as despotes of Arta and Angelokastron.[6] In 1366 he turned over Ioannina, his last major possession in Epirus, to his son-in-law Thomas, who ruled there as a vassal despot.
In Trikala, Simeon Uroš presided over a court including Byzantine, Serbian, and Albanian nobles, but he showed preference for the Byzantine relatives of his wife. He also founded and generously endowed the monasteries of Meteora. He died in 1370.
Family
By his marriage to Thomais Orsini, Simeon Uroš had three children:
John Uroš, who succeeded as Serbian tsar and ruler of Thessaly.
Ferjančić, Božidar (1974). Тесалија у XIII и XIV веку [Thessaly in the 13th and 14th Centuries] (in Serbian). Belgrade: Византолошког институт САНУ.
Fine, John Van Antwerp Jr. (1994) [1987]. The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. Ann Arbor, Michigan: University of Michigan Press. ISBN0472082604.
Miller, William (1908), The Latins in the Levant, a History of Frankish Greece (1204–1566), New York: E.P. Dutton and Company
Nicol, Donald M. (1993) [1972]. The Last Centuries of Byzantium, 1261–1453. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN9780521439916.
Nicol, Donald M. (1984) [1957]. The Despotate of Epiros 1267–1479: A Contribution to the History of Greece in the Middle Ages (2. expanded ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN9780521261906.
Ostrogorsky, George (1956). History of the Byzantine State. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
Soulis, George Christos (1984). The Serbs and Byzantium during the reign of Tsar Stephen Dušan (1331–1355) and his successors. Washington: Dumbarton Oaks Library and Collection. ISBN9780884021377.
Zečević, Nada (2014). The Tocco of the Greek Realm: Nobility, Power and Migration in Latin Greece (14th–15th centuries). Belgrade: Makart. ISBN9788691944100.
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Simeon Uros news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Simeon Uros Serbian Cyrillic Simeon Urosh Greek Symewn Oyreshs c 1326 1370 nicknamed Sinisa Sinisha was a self proclaimed Emperor of Serbs and Greeks from 1356 to 1370 He was son of Serbian King Stephen Uros III and Byzantine Princess Maria Palaiologina Initially he was awarded the title of despot in 1346 and appointed governor of southern Epirus and Acarnania in 1347 by his half brother Serbian Emperor Stephen Dusan After Dusan s death in 1355 the Serbian throne passed to Dusan s son Stephen Uros V but despot Simeon decided to seize the opportunity in order to impose himself as co ruler and lord of all southern provinces of the Serbian Empire That led him to conflict with his nephew in 1356 when Simeon started to expand his control in southern regions of the Empire trying to take Thessaly and Macedonia He proclaimed himself Emperor of the Serbs and Greeks creating a separate state centered in regions of Thessaly and Epirus where he ruled until his death in 1370 He was succeeded by his son Jovan Uros 1 Simeon UrosEmperor of Serbs and Greeks pretender Fresco from 1346 Visoki DecaniRuler of EpirusReign1359 66PredecessorNikephoros II OrsiniSuccessorThomas PreljubovicRuler of ThessalyReign1360 1370PredecessorNikephoros II OrsiniSuccessorJohn UrosBornc 1326Kingdom of SerbiaDied1370SpouseThomais OrsiniIssueJohn UrosStephen UrosMaria AngelinaDynastyNemanjicFatherStephen Uros IIIMotherMaria PalaiologinaReligionEastern Orthodoxy Contents 1 Early life 2 Stephen Dusan s reign 3 Claim to the Serbian throne and independence 4 Family 5 Ancestry 6 References 7 SourcesEarly life Edit Simeon in his younger years Visoki Decani Simeon Uros was the son of King Stephen Uros III r 1322 1331 by his second wife Maria Palaiologina the daughter of the Byzantine prince and rebel John Palaiologos who had joined Stephen s raids in Macedonia in 1326 the same year Simeon Uros was born His older half brother Dusan was crowned Young king designated heir in 1322 during the crowning of their father 2 Stephen Dusan s reign EditStephen Dusan was crowned King in September 1331 after months of civil war 3 Dusan exploited the Byzantine civil war and made major gains beginning in 1342 Having all of Macedonia under his rule Stephen Dusan was proclaimed Emperor of Serbs and Greeks in September 1345 then crowned as such in April 1346 4 Dusan as an emperor granted Byzantine titles upon his magnates Simeon Uros and Jovan Asen were given the despot title while others were given the sebastokrator and kesar titles 5 With the Serbian conquest of Epirus Acarnania and Thessaly by 1348 Simeon Uros was given the governorship of Epirus and Thessaly Simeon Uros consolidated his position with the local aristocracy by marrying Thomais Orsini the daughter of the former ruler of Epirus John II Orsini Claim to the Serbian throne and independence Edit Simeon s empire Wikimedia Commons has media related to Realm of Simeon Uros Simeon Uros s relatively uneventful governorship was interrupted when shortly after Dusan s death in 1355 his brother in law Nikephoros II Orsini the deposed ruler of Epirus reappeared in Greece and gained the support of the nobility in Thessaly and Epirus In 1356 Nikephoros entered Epirus and forced Simeon Uros to flee to Kastoria There Simeon proclaimed himself Emperor of Serbs and Greeks in rivalry with his nephew Stephen Uros V Although he was supported by some important magnates like Jovan the brother of Stephen Dusan s widow Simeon was rejected by the nobility of the Serbian lands and Macedonia After he was forced to retreat from his attempt to invade Zeta modern Montenegro in 1358 Simeon Uros gave up hope of asserting himself in Serbia The next year however Nikephoros II Orsini was killed in a skirmish against Albanian clans opening an opportunity for Simeon Uros Consequently he rapidly swept into Thessaly and was acknowledged as its ruler in 1359 He then invaded Epirus where the towns harried by the Albanian clans who had taken over the countryside also recognized his authority He also used his maternal maiden name Palaiologos Palaiologos during his rule While Simeon Uros was in Epirus Radoslav Hlapen of Vodena Edessa attempted to seize Thessaly on behalf of his stepson Thomas Preljubovic Simeon Uros was forced to cut his losses by recognizing Radoslav Hlapen s conquests turning over Kastoria to him and marrying his daughter Maria to Thomas Hlapen recognized Simeon Uros s suzerainty in at least some of these lands and provided a buffer between him and the Serbian nobles to the north Simeon Uros established himself in Trikala in Thessaly and spent the remaining decade of his reign in relative peace He soon recognized two of the Albanian leaders in Epirus John Spata and Peter Losha as despotes of Arta and Angelokastron 6 In 1366 he turned over Ioannina his last major possession in Epirus to his son in law Thomas who ruled there as a vassal despot In Trikala Simeon Uros presided over a court including Byzantine Serbian and Albanian nobles but he showed preference for the Byzantine relatives of his wife He also founded and generously endowed the monasteries of Meteora He died in 1370 Family EditBy his marriage to Thomais Orsini Simeon Uros had three children John Uros who succeeded as Serbian tsar and ruler of Thessaly Stephen Uros prince of Pharsalos who married a daughter of Francis Zorzi Maria Angelina who married Thomas Preljubovic who succeeded as ruler of Epirus Ancestry EditAncestors of Simeon Uros16 Stephen Nemanjic8 Stephen Uros I17 Anna Dandolo4 Stephen Milutin9 Helena of Anjou2 Stephen Uros III10 George I Terter of Bulgaria5 Anna Terter of Bulgaria22 Mitso Asen of Bulgaria11 Kira Maria Asenina of Bulgaria23 Maria Asenina of Bulgaria1 Simeon Uros24 Michael VIII Palaiologos12 Constantine Palaiologos porphyrogennetos25 Theodora Doukaina Vatatzaina6 John Palaiologos26 John Raoul Petraliphas protovestiarios13 Irene Raoulaina27 Theodora Palaiologina Kantakouzene3 Maria Palaiologina14 Theodore Metochites megas logothetes7 Irene MetochitissaReferences Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Simeon Uros Nemanjic Cirkovic 2004 p 65 67 75 98 Fine 1994 p 263 Fine 1994 p 273 Fine 1994 p 309 Fine 1994 p 310 Fine 1994 p 350 Sources EditCirkovic Sima 2004 The Serbs Malden Blackwell Publishing ISBN 9781405142915 Ferjancic Bozidar 1974 Tesaliјa u XIII i XIV veku Thessaly in the 13th and 14th Centuries in Serbian Belgrade Vizantoloshkog institut SANU Fine John Van Antwerp Jr 1994 1987 The Late Medieval Balkans A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest Ann Arbor Michigan University of Michigan Press ISBN 0472082604 Kazhdan Alexander ed 1991 Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 504652 6 Miller William 1908 The Latins in the Levant a History of Frankish Greece 1204 1566 New York E P Dutton and Company Nicol Donald M 1993 1972 The Last Centuries of Byzantium 1261 1453 Cambridge Cambridge University Press ISBN 9780521439916 Nicol Donald M 1984 1957 The Despotate of Epiros 1267 1479 A Contribution to the History of Greece in the Middle Ages 2 expanded ed Cambridge University Press ISBN 9780521261906 Ostrogorsky George 1956 History of the Byzantine State Oxford Basil Blackwell Soulis George Christos 1984 The Serbs and Byzantium during the reign of Tsar Stephen Dusan 1331 1355 and his successors Washington Dumbarton Oaks Library and Collection ISBN 9780884021377 Zecevic Nada 2014 The Tocco of the Greek Realm Nobility Power and Migration in Latin Greece 14th 15th centuries Belgrade Makart ISBN 9788691944100 Regnal titlesPreceded byNikephoros II Ruler of Epirus1359 1366 Succeeded byThomas IIPreceded byNikephoros II Ruler of Thessaly1359 1370 Succeeded byJohn UrosPolitical officesPreceded byNikephoros II Governor of EpirusUnder Stephen Uros V of Serbia1348 1356 Succeeded byNikephoros II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Simeon Uros amp oldid 1125803133, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
