Domanek

Domanek
Prince of Travunia
(in rivalry with royal dynasty)
Reignca 1054[1]
Predecessor
  • Gojislav (1st)
  • Saganek (2nd)
Successor
  • Saganek (1st)
  • Radoslav (2nd)

Domanek (Serbian Cyrillic: Доманек; Latin: Domanec; fl. 1054–55) was a local Slavic chieftain from the region surrounding Trebinje. After a revolt and the murder of earlier ruler of Travunia (ca. 1054–1055), the rebel chieftains made Domanek their leader and a ruler of Travunia.[2]

Life

According to the Chronicle of the Priest of Dioclea, when Stefan Vojislav, the Grand Prince of Duklja, died, the lands were divided between his widow and five sons.[2][3] Gojislav received the Trebinje region.[3] The local nobles eventually rose up and killed him.[3] The nobles then set up one of their own, Domanek, as prince, in ca. 1054.[2][3][1]

Mihailo I, the holder of Duklja (the crownland), and two of his brothers, led an attack into Travunia, capturing the murderers and giving "them a horrible death".[2][3] Domanek fled the lands, and Saganek, another brother of Mihailo, succeeded as the rightful Prince of Travunia.[3] Domanek returned shortly after Mihailo's departure, and expelled Saganek.[3] Mihailo offered the office to Radoslav, who declined, afraid of losing Luška župa (future Zeta).[2][3] Radoslav perhaps distrusted his brother, thinking he would seize Zeta, but Mihailo seems to have offered him a deal.[3]

The Byzantine Empire, wanting to take advantage of the death of Stefan Vojislav, prepared an offensive against unstable Duklja.[3] At this time, the four remaining brothers made peace and established an alliance.[3] The treaty concluded is the oldest in Serbian history.[3] After the agreement, Radoslav attacked Trebinje, killing Domanek.[3] Radoslav went on to conquer Zahumlje.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b Recueil de travaux de l'Institut des études byzantines, Volume 13, Vizantološki institut (Srpska akademija nauka i umetnosti), 1971, p. 126
  2. ^ a b c d e f Fine, John Van Antwerp (1991). The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century. University of Michigan Press. p. 212. ISBN 978-0-472-08149-3. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m The early medieval Balkans, p. 212; Byzantium's Balkan frontier, p. 139

Sources

  • Fine, John Van Antwerp (1991). The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century. Michigan: The University of Michigan Press. ISBN 0-472-08149-7.
  • Paul Stephenson, Byzantium's Balkan frontier: a political study of the Northern Balkans, 900-1204