Travunia

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Travunia in the 9th century, according to De administrando imperio

Travunia (also Travunja) was a medieval Serbian realm centered at Trebinje in today's eastern Herzegovina (modern day Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro), and southern Dalmatia (modern day Republic of Croatia).

De Administrando Imperio[1] states:

"From the city of Decatera begins the domain of Terbounia and stretches along as far as Ragusa, and on the side of its mountain country it is neighbour to Serbia."

"Travunia (Terbounia) and Konavli are united. Its inhabitants originate from unchristened Serbs, who lived there since the archont that fled from unchristened Serbia to Emperor Heraclius and Serb archont Vlastimir

"The archonts of Travunia have always been subject to the archont of Serbia"

"Populated cities in Travunia and Konavli are: Travunia (ηε Τερβουνια), Vrm (το Ορμος), Risan (τα Ρισενα), Lukavete (το Λουκαβεται), Zetlivi (του Ζετλεβε)."

Travunia bordered Zahumlje to the west, the city of Ragusa or Dubrovnik to the southwest, Duklja to the south and Serbia to the north. Its coastline spanned from Dubrovnik to Boka Kotorska.

History

Travunia entered into confederations with the Serb princes of Rascia early on. In the early 9th century, Grand PrinceVlastimir of Rascia married his daughter to duke Krajina, son of Beloje, the grand župan of Travunia and ever since Travunia has been a fief of the Serbian rulers.

The dawn of the 10th century brought a short lived Bulgarian occupation after the fall of the Rascian lands, but prince Ceslav restored a Principality of Serbia by 931 and ruled Travunia as well. After the defeat of Caslav in 960, Travunia again reclaimed its semi-independence and after its princes led long, aggressive wars against the Ban of Doclea, Travunia and Doclea was united under one Serbian crown in the mid 10th century, but Doclea soon arised in domination of the personal union. By 968, its people led by the Croat Prince Leghec rebelled and created a vassalage of the Croatian Kingdom, but the Croatian occupation was expelled and dynastic control reestablished with the help of Ragusa subsequently. Travunia flourished under the greatest Serbian early medieval ruler - Saint Jovan Vladimir of Duklja and Travunia in the late 10th and early 11th century. With the trickery of Jovan Vladimir in 1018, Byzantine domination was restored.

A local Serb nobleman, Stefan Voislav, raised a rebellion in the first half of the 11th century and reconstituated the Serbian state. After Doclea won a territorial dispute over Travunia against Zachlumia, Travunia became a constituent part of the Kingdom of Doclea and Dalmatia in 1077. With the coming of the 12th century, Travunia was fully incorporated into the unified Serbian state. Later, the House of Nemanjic took over since 1166/68. In 1217, the Serbian Kingdom was proclaimed.

The Area of Trebinje, has produced the House of Mrnjavcevic and was at times ruled by members of the Serbian royal family, like Queen Hellen of Anjou in the 13th century. Travunia got a neighbour in 1326, as the Bosnians conquered Zachlumia. In 1345, the Serbian Empire was created. After the collapse of the Serbian Empire in 1371, the area of Trebinje became ruled by the House of Vojinovic Serbian dynasty from Hum. With Nikola ALtomanovic's defeat, the Serbian-Bosnian King Tvrtko took the area in 1377 and it has been a component of Herzegovina ever since.

People, Religion and Culture

Travunia was inhabited by Eastern Orthodox Serbs.

List of Rulers

• Beloje ca. 850
• Krajina
• Hvalimir
• Cucimir

See also

• History of Serbia
• Zahumlje
• Serbian Empire
• History of Croatia
• History of Dalmatia