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COAT OF ARMS
DETAILS
Many historians believe that the bull's
horns are the only coat of arms of the
Lazarevics, but in fact it is just one part of
it. We can see the image of the two headed eagle
in the part of Chilandar which was built by
Prince Lazar. It seems that he adopted the royal
eagle of the Nemanjics in order to show that his
family is the legal successor of the old Serbian
rulers. Stefan Lazarevic was the member of
Hungarian king's order of the Dragon and he was
the first and most honoured member. That's why
the dragon is guarding the shield. |
Lazar
Hrebljanovic (his family was called Lazarevic after
him) was the most important nobleman after the
Nemanjics disappeared from the political scene.
Although he actually never ruled entire Serbia which
was divided between several families, Lazar was the
most influential and the strongest.
Economically
and administratively, Lazar did the best to prepare
the realm for the impending showdown with the
advancing Ottoman tide. His early control of the
important mines and mints at Rudnik and Novo Brdo
enabled prosperity, and the influx of refugees -
including highly skilled ones -from the
Turkish-occupied lands facilitated an intellectual
boost. Numerous monasteries, many of a characteristic
and original style, were erected, the preeminent among
them being the prince's key endowment, Ravanica.
Gold Seal of Prince
Lazar
It
was he who led the Serbian army on June 28, 1389 when
he was captured by the Turks and beheaded. His tragic
faith created a myth among the people who named him
"Emperor Lazar" although he never had such title. His
wife Milica ruled the country after his death until
his son, Stefan became new Prince of Serbia in 1402.
Stefan
was obliged to participate in the Turkish campaigns,
his sister Olivera was married to the Turkish sultan
Bayazit, but Stefan was always trying to help his
country maintain certain degree of independence.
According
to his contemporaries, despot Stefan was a medieval
warrior, a well educated knight, delicate poet and
humanistic savant, all at the same time, owned a huge
personal library and loved literature. He was a writer
himself and wrote two poems Pillar Writing and "Word
of Love".
Seal
of Prince Stefan
He
also belonged to the highest class of Hungarian
aristocracy and invested in huge possessions in
Hungary where he settled Serbs.
Stefan
didn't have his own sons so he left the title and
named his cousin Djuradj Brankovic as his successor;
soon after, he died in 1427.
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