Radoslav of Duklja explained

Radoslav
Succession:Prince of Duklja
Reign: 1146 – 1149
Predecessor:Gradinja
Successor:Mihailo III of Duklja
House:Vojislavljević
House-Type:Dynasty
Father:Gradinja
Burial Place:Monastery of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, Bojana
Religion:Eastern Christianity

Radoslav (Serbian: Радослав) was the Prince of Duklja from 1146 to 1149. As the oldest son, he succeeded as ruler of Duklja after the death of his father, Gradinja in 1146. He was installed by Manuel I Komnenos upon a visit to Constantinople to pay homage to the Emperor. Unlike his father who was a titular king, Radoslav had the title of Prince (knez). Radoslav began his rule at a time when the Serbs of Raška (the Vukanovići) had ambitions towards Duklja.

In ca. 1148, the political situation in the Balkans was divided by two sides, one being the alliance of the Byzantines and Venice, the other the Normans and Hungarians. The Normans were sure of the danger that the battlefield would bring from the Balkans to their area in Italy.[1] Manuel also allied himself with the Germans after defeating the Cumans in 1148. The Serbs, Hungarians and Normans exchanged envoys, being in the interest of the Normans to stop Manuel's plans to recover Italy.

The Serbs under brothers Uroš II and Desa revolted against the Byzantines, when Manuel was in Avlona planning an offensive across the Adriatic, and this revolt posed danger to the Emperor if he would attack Italy, as the Serbs could strike at the Adriatic bases. Then, the Serbs took an offensive against Radoslav, who was a loyal Byzantine vassal. Radoslav was pushed to the southwestern corner of Duklja to Kotor, and retained only the coastal area with the brothers holding much of inland Duklja and Trebinje – over two thirds of Duklja. Radoslav sought help from the Emperor, who sent aid from Durazzo. At this moment, the Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja ends, presumably because the author of the text had died. A major war was about to erupt in the Balkans; Uroš II and Desa, in light of Byzantine retaliation, sought aid from their brother Beloš, the count palatine of Hungary. By 1150, Hungarian troops played an active role in Serbia. The fate of Radoslav is unknown.

According to Du Cange (1610–1688), Radoslav and Vakin were one person.[2]

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Notes and References

  1. Book: Srpska akademija nauka i umetnosti. Društveni i istoriski spisi. 1940. Око 1148. год. ситуација на Балкану била је овака. На једној страни беху у савезу Византија и Млеци, а на другој Нормани и Мађари. Нормани су били побеђени и у опасности да се ратиште пренесе с Балкана на њихово подручје у Италију. Да омету Манојла у том плану они настоје свима средствима, да му направе што више неприлика код куће. Доиста, 1149. год. јавља се нови устанак Срба против Ви- зантије, који отворено помажу Мађари. Цар ....
  2. Book: Glasnik Srpskoga učenog društva. 54. 1883. 180. Угри су послали у помоћ Србији коњанике и вероватно их предводио Белуш. Вакин се бори пешице. Du Cange мисли, да је Вакин, архижупан Радослав Градинић. По историјским податцима Радослав није ни био у боју на Шаранцима. Г. Васиљевски“ вели: „Има имена у Угарској Vachan“, .... Društvo. Srpsko Učeno.