Tihomir of Serbia

For the Prince of Rascia 960-969, see Tihomir of Rascia.

Tihomir of Serbia Tihomir Zavidović
Grand Prince of Serbia (Rascia)
Grand Prince of Serbia
Reign	1166
Predecessor	Desa
Successor	Stefan Nemanja
Issue
Stefan Prvoslav
Full name
Tihomir Zavidović (Тихомир Завидовић)
Dynasty	Vukanović
Father	Zavida
Born	before 1113 Zahumlje
Died	1171 Sitnica
Religion	† Eastern Orthodoxy

Tihomir Zavidović or Tihomir of Serbia (Serbian: Тихомир Завидовић^[A]) was the Grand Prince of the Grand Principality of Serbia (Rascia) fl. 1162-1171.

Background

Life

He was the first born child of Zavida.^[1] After the death of his father, Tihomir is appointed supreme ruler as the Grand Prince of Serbia (1166^[1]) by Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Comnenus, however, he rules jointly with his brothers.^[1] The lands were divided; Stracimir ruled West Morava, Miroslav ruled Zahumlje and Travunia, Stefan Nemanja was given Toplica, Ibar, Rasina and Reke. Nemanja was also a vassal to Manuel I, through his appanage of Dubočica.^[2] Nemanja aided the Imperial army against the Hungarians in Srem in 1164. The tie between Nemanja and Manuel I was most likely seen as a threat to Tihomir.^[2]

Stefan Nemanja built the Monastery of Saint Nicholas in Kuršumlija and the Monastery of the Holy Mother of Christ near Kosanica-Toplica, without the approval of Tihomir.^[2] Nemanja had felt that he had the free will of doing so, Tihomir disagreed, Nemanja was, or Tihomir thought that he was trying to assert independence through his relation to Manuel I.^[2] Tihomir had Nemanja chained and thrown into jail, his lands were annexed.^[2] Nemanja's supporters conspired to the church that Tihomir had done all this because of his disapproval of church building, thus the Church turned against Tihomir.^[2] Nemanja managed to escape the jail, and returned to his province.^[2]

Stefan Nemanja mobilizes an army, possibly with Byzantine help, and heads for the crownland. Manuel I might have been displeased with Tihomir's acting.^[2] Nemanja is triumphant, Tihomir and Miroslav and Stracimir are expelled to Byzantium in 1167.^[2] Stefan Nemanja quickly became a powerful figure,^[2] and Manuel I subsequently turned to Tihomir and his brothers.^[3] The Byzantine Empire wanted to see Serbia divided by several princes as to keep it weak.^[3]

Manuel I provides Tihomir with an army, coming in from Skopje. In 1171 Nemanja manages to gather a large army and defeats them at Pantino near Zvečan, Tihomir is drowned in the River of Sitnica. Nemanja captures his other brothers and makes peace, giving them rule in their former lands by recognizing him as the only ruler of Serbia. The Nemanjić dynasty was named after Stefan Nemanja who ruled Serbia until 1371.

Aftermath

See also

References

1. ^ Name: His first name is Tihomir. According to the Serbian naming system, his full name is Tihomir Zavidović (Тихомир Завидовић).

1. ^ ^{a b c} Fine, Late, p. 3
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} Fine, Late, p. 4
3. ^ ^{a b} Fine, Late, p. 5

Sources

• The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century
• Ćorović, Vladimir, Istorija srpskog naroda, Book I, (In Serbian) Electric Book, Rastko Electronic Book, Antikvarneknjige (Cyrillic)
• Curta, Florin (2006). Southeastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 500-1250. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-89452-4.

Tihomir of Serbia Vukanović Dynasty Died: 1171
Regnal titles
Preceded by Desa	Grand Prince of Serbia 1166	Succeeded by Stefan Nemanja