Svrčin Explained

Castle of Svrčin
Location:between Svrčin hill and village Svrčina
Built:cca 1321
Builder:Stephen Uroš II Milutin of Serbia, Stephen Uroš III Dečanski of Serbia
Materials:stone and brick
Events:8 September 1331. coronation of Stephen Uroš IV Dušan of Serbia for king

Svrčin (Serbian: Сврчин; Albanian: Svërçin) was one of the castles of Nemanjić dynasty, built around 1321, on an island in the artificially made Svrčin lake, northeast from present day Uroševac. The exact location of the medieval Svrčin has not been determined precisely because of a lack archaeological research in the areas in which it is localized, but based on the remains discovered so far, Svrčin was situated between Svrčin hill and present day village Svrčina. It is registered cultural monument under protection of Republic of Serbia from 1967.[1]

History

On September 6, 1327, king Stephen Uroš III Dečanski of Serbia issued an edict with a gold seal at Svrčin, written by logotet Rajko, about the events regarding the land dispute between metochion (church-dependent territory) of Hilandar monastery and the county of the Hardomilić brothers Dmitar and Borislav (tepčija Hardomil's sons), in which čelnik Gradislav Vojšić was the arbitrator.[2] [3]

On September 8, 1331 Stephen Uroš IV Dušan of Serbia was crowned as a king, on a council of nobles held in Svrčin.

Findings

On Svrčin hill stone and bricks that were used for building were found.Remains of church of st. John from which the locals extracted stone for building are located in vicinity of Svrčina. During the construction of the drainage trench, on the northeastern slope of Glavica, a stone wall was found, thickness ranging from 1 to 1.2 meters, as well as part of a tegula. Bricks and stones, which are once part of the building are scattered throughout the area.

References

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Rešenje Pokrajinskog zavoda za zaštitu spomenika kulture u Prištini, br. 960 od 31.12.1967.g. Zakon o zaštiti spomenika kulture (Sl. glasnik SRS br. 3/66).
  2. Bozanic, p. 1
  3. Prilozi za književnost, jezik, istoriju i folklor 1977, p. 68: "Шестог септембра 1327. године долазио је хиландарски игуман Гервасије код краља Стефана Дечанског због спора око међа са синовима тепчије Хардомила. Тада је одређен пристав Градислав Војшић и дванаест староседелаца жупљана, достојних да им се верује кад се закуну и покажу где је међа Косорића, а где хилан- дарског метоха (Законски споменици, стр. 397)"