Raška ( sr, Рашка; la, Rascia) is a geographical and historical region, covering the south-western parts of modern
Serbia
Serbia (, ; Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia ( Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin and the Balkans. It shares land borders with Hu ...
, and historically also including north-eastern parts of modern
Montenegro
)
, image_map = Europe-Montenegro.svg
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Podgorica
, coordinates =
, largest_city = capital
, official_languages = ...
, and some of the most eastern parts of modern
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of south and southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. Bosnia and ...
. In the
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...
, the region was a center of the
Serbian Principality and of the
Serbian Kingdom, one central settlement of which was the city of
Ras
Ras or RAS may refer to:
Arts and media
* RAS Records Real Authentic Sound, a reggae record label
* Rundfunk Anstalt Südtirol, a south Tyrolese public broadcasting service
* Rás 1, an Icelandic radio station
* Rás 2, an Icelandic radio sta ...
(a
World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...
) in the late 12th century.
Its southern part corresponds to the region of
Sandžak
Sandžak (; sh, / , ; sq, Sanxhaku; ota, سنجاق, Sancak), also known as Sanjak, is a historical geo-political region in Serbia and Montenegro. The name Sandžak derives from the Sanjak of Novi Pazar, a former Ottoman administrative dis ...
.
Name
The name is derived from the name of the region's most important fort of
Ras
Ras or RAS may refer to:
Arts and media
* RAS Records Real Authentic Sound, a reggae record label
* Rundfunk Anstalt Südtirol, a south Tyrolese public broadcasting service
* Rás 1, an Icelandic radio station
* Rás 2, an Icelandic radio sta ...
, which first appears in the 6th century sources as ''Arsa'', recorded under that name in the work ''De aedificiis'' of Byzantine historian
Procopius. By the 10th century, the variant ''Ras'' became common name for the fort, as attested by the work ''
De Administrando Imperio'', written by
Constantine Porphyrogenitus, and also by the Byzantine seal of John,
governor of Ras (c. 971–976).
In the same time, Ras became the seat of the Eastern Orthodox
Eparchy of Ras, centered in the
Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. The name of the eparchy eventually started to denote the entire area under its jurisdiction and later, thus becoming the common regional name.
Under
Stefan Nemanja (1166-1196), the fortress of Ras was re-generated as the state capital, and as such it became
eponymous for the entire state. The first attested use of the term Raška ( la, Rascia or ''Rassia'') as a designation for the Serbian state was made in a charter issued in
Kotor in 1186, mentioning
Stefan Nemanja as the ruler of ''Rascia''.
History
Middle Ages
The 10th century
De Administrando Imperio mentions ''Rasa'' (
Stari Ras) as a border area between Bulgaria and Serbia at the end of the 9th century. Newer research indicates that the principal settlement of Ras in the late 9th century was part of the
First Bulgarian Empire
The First Bulgarian Empire ( cu, блъгарьско цѣсарьствиѥ, blagarysko tsesarystviye; bg, Първо българско царство) was a medieval Bulgar- Slavic and later Bulgarian state that existed in Southeastern Eur ...
. In 971, the Byzantine
Catepanate of Ras was established, but in 976 Bulgarian control was restored.
Basil II
Basil II Porphyrogenitus ( gr, Βασίλειος Πορφυρογέννητος ;) and, most often, the Purple-born ( gr, ὁ πορφυρογέννητος, translit=ho porphyrogennetos).. 958 – 15 December 1025), nicknamed the Bulgar S ...
recaptured it in 1016–1018. In the 1080s, the Raška region gradually became part of the state ruled by the
Vojislavljević dynasty of
Duklja and later a province of the newly formed
Grand Principality of Serbia, under the
Vukanović dynasty. Part of it remained a Byzantine frontier area until
John II Komnenos
John II Komnenos or Comnenus ( gr, Ἱωάννης ὁ Κομνηνός, Iōannēs ho Komnēnos; 13 September 1087 – 8 April 1143) was Byzantine emperor from 1118 to 1143. Also known as "John the Beautiful" or "John the Good" (), he ...
lost the area as a result of the
Byzantine–Hungarian War (1127–1129)
A Byzantine–Hungarian War was fought between Byzantine and Hungarian forces on the Danube between 1127 and 1129. Byzantine primary sources, Cinnamus and Choniates, give little detail about this campaign; no dates are specified, and what they do ...
.
Vukan, Grand Prince of Serbia may have taken Ras before 1112. Recent archaeological research supports the notion that the Byzantines held control of Ras during
Alexios I Komnenos
Alexios I Komnenos ( grc-gre, Ἀλέξιος Κομνηνός, 1057 – 15 August 1118; Latinized Alexius I Comnenus) was Byzantine emperor from 1081 to 1118. Although he was not the first emperor of the Komnenian dynasty, it was during ...
's reign (1048–1118), but possibly not continuously. In the time of Alexios, Ras was one of the northern border military strongholds which was fortified. His seal which dates to the period 1081–1092 was found in 2018 near the site. The Byzantine border fort of Ras was most likely burnt c. 1122 and this is probably the reason why John II Komnenos undertook a punitive campaign against the Serbs, during which many Serbs from the region of Raška were deported to
Asia Minor
Anatolia, tr, Anadolu Yarımadası), and the Anatolian plateau, also known as Asia Minor, is a large peninsula in Western Asia and the westernmost protrusion of the Asian continent. It constitutes the major part of modern-day Turkey. The re ...
. The alliance between Hungary and the Serbian rulers remained in place and Ras was burnt again by the Serbian army in 1127–1129.
Its last commander was a Kritoplos who was then punished by the Emperor for the fall of the fortress.
The town which had developed near the fortress of Ras and the territory which comprised its bishopric were the first significant administrative unit which Serb rulers acquired from the Byzantine Empire. As it was made the seat of the Serbian state in Latin sources of the era Serb rulers began to be named ''Rasciani'' and their state as Rascia. The name was used among Hungarians and Germans up until the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
In 1149,
Manuel I Comnenus recovered the fortress of Ras.
In the next decades, Serbian control in Ras was restored. The site was rebuilt in the 1160s and a palatial complex was erected. It became a royal residence of
Stefan Nemanja, but it was not his permanent residence or that of his successors as the ruling dynasty also ruled over other such palatial centres in its territory.
Byzantine intervention continued until the end of the 12th century and the Serb feudal rulers of the region were often under Byzantine suzerainty. The full independence of Raška was recognized by the Byzantines in 1190 after an indecisive war between
Isaac II Angelos and
Stefan Nemanja.
Timeline
* 9th century: Borderland between the
Principality of Serbia (early medieval), the
First Bulgarian Empire
The First Bulgarian Empire ( cu, блъгарьско цѣсарьствиѥ, blagarysko tsesarystviye; bg, Първо българско царство) was a medieval Bulgar- Slavic and later Bulgarian state that existed in Southeastern Eur ...
, the
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...
*
Catepanate of Ras (c 971–976/1016–1127) – Raška denotes the central part of the catepanate (Byzantine frontier province),
*
First Bulgarian Empire
The First Bulgarian Empire ( cu, блъгарьско цѣсарьствиѥ, blagarysko tsesarystviye; bg, Първо българско царство) was a medieval Bulgar- Slavic and later Bulgarian state that existed in Southeastern Eur ...
(976–1016/18)
*
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...
(1016/18–1127), parts of the region remained Byzantine until 1127.
*
Grand Principality of Duklja (1080–1101) – expanded in the region under
Constantine Bodin.
*
Serbian Grand Principality (1101–1217) – full Serbian control in the region is established after the capture of
Stari Ras in 1127. Byzantine control was briefly reestablished in 1149.
*
Serbian Grand Principality (1127–1217) – Raška is a central province, or a crownland. Full independence from the Byzantine Empire was recognized in 1190.
*
Serbian Kingdom (1217–1345) – Raška is one of main provinces, or crownlands
*
Serbian Empire (1345–1371) – Raška is one of the main inner provinces
*
Serbian Despotate
The Serbian Despotate ( sr, / ) was a medieval Serbian state in the first half of the 15th century. Although the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 is generally considered the end of medieval Serbia, the Despotate, a successor of the Serbian Empire ...
(15th century) – Raška is conquered by the Ottomans c. 1455
Modern
In 1833, some northern parts of the historical Raška region, up to the confluence of rivers
Raška and
Ibar Ibar may refer to:
People
* Ibar of Beggerin (died 500), Irish saint
* Íbar of Killibar Beg, Irish saint
* Hilmi Ibar (born 1947), Kosovar academic
* José Ibar (born 1969), Cuban baseball player
Places
* Ibar District, a division of the Serbia ...
, were detached from the
Ottoman rule and incorporated into the
Principality of Serbia. In order to mark the occasion, prince
Miloš Obrenović
Miloš, Milos, Miłosz or spelling variations thereof is a masculine given name and a surname. It may refer to:
Given name
Sportsmen
* Miłosz Bernatajtys, Polish rower
* Miloš Bogunović, Serbian footballer
* Miloš Budaković, Serbian ...
(1815–1839) founded a new town, that was also called
Raška, situated at the very confluence of Raška river and Ibar, right at the border with Ottoman territory.
In 1878, some southwestern parts of the historical Raška region, around modern
Andrijevica, were liberated from the
Ottoman rule and incorporated into the
Principality of Montenegro. In order to mark the occasion, prince
Nikola of Montenegro (1860–1918) decided to name the newly formed
Eastern Orthodox
Eastern Orthodoxy, also known as Eastern Orthodox Christianity, is one of the three main branches of Chalcedonian Christianity, alongside Catholicism and Protestantism.
Like the Pentarchy of the first millennium, the mainstream (or " canonical ...
diocese as the ''Eparchy of Zahumlje and Raška'' ( sr, Епархија захумско-рашка).
In 1912, central parts of the historical Raška region were liberated from the Ottoman rule, and divided between the
Kingdom of Serbia
The Kingdom of Serbia ( sr-cyr, Краљевина Србија, Kraljevina Srbija) was a country located in the Balkans which was created when the ruler of the Principality of Serbia, Milan I, was proclaimed king in 1882. Since 1817, the Prin ...
and the
Kingdom of Montenegro, with eponymous medieval fortress of
Stari Ras belonging to Serbia.
Between 1918 and 1922,
Raška District was one of the administrative units of the
Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes
Kingdom commonly refers to:
* A monarchy ruled by a king or queen
* Kingdom (biology), a category in biological taxonomy
Kingdom may also refer to:
Arts and media Television
* ''Kingdom'' (British TV series), a 2007 British television drama s ...
. Its seat was in
Novi Pazar. In 1922, a new administrative unit known as the Raška Oblast was formed with its seat in
Čačak. In 1929, this administrative unit was abolished and its territory was divided among three newly formed provinces (banovinas). The region is a part of the wider "
Old Serbia" region, used in historical terms.
Within the borders of modern
Serbia
Serbia (, ; Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia ( Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin and the Balkans. It shares land borders with Hu ...
, historical Raška region covers (approximately) the territorial span of three districts:
Raška,
Zlatibor and
Moravica.
Culture
Some of the churches in western Serbia and eastern Bosnia were built by masters from Raška, who belonged to the
Raška architectural school
Raška architectural school ( sr, Рашка школа архитeктуре), also known as the Raška style (Рашки стил, ''Raški stil''), or simply as the Raška school, is an ecclesiastical architectural style that flourished in the ...
. They include:
Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Stari Ras, and monasteries of
Gradac and
Stara Pavlica.
Geography
Sub-regions
* ( sr-Cyrl, Стари Влах, , "Old Vlah") is part of
Priboj,
Nova Varoš,
Prijepolje,
Užice,
Čajetina, and
Arilje, which is part of the
Zlatibor District, and
Ivanjica, which is part of
Moravica District.
*
Pešter
*South
Podrinje
*
Raška River
*
Sjenica Field
*
Rujno
*
Zlatibor
*
Pljevlja Field
*
Nadibar
*
Dragačevo
*
Ibarski Kolašin
North Kosovo ( sr, Северно Косово, Severno Kosovo; sq, Kosova Veriore), also known as the Ibar Kolašin ( sr, Ибарски Колашин, Ibarski Kolašin; sq, Koloshini i Ibrit or ''Kollashini i Ibrit''; earlier ''Old Kolašin ...
See also
*
List of regions of Serbia
*
Catepanate of Ras
*
Sandžak
Sandžak (; sh, / , ; sq, Sanxhaku; ota, سنجاق, Sancak), also known as Sanjak, is a historical geo-political region in Serbia and Montenegro. The name Sandžak derives from the Sanjak of Novi Pazar, a former Ottoman administrative dis ...
References
Sources
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External links
Tourist Information About Raška region
{{DEFAULTSORT:Raska (Region)
Historical regions in Serbia
Geographical regions of Serbia
Geography of Šumadija and Western Serbia
History of Sandžak
Medieval Serbia
Subdivisions of Serbia in the Middle Ages
Serbia in the Early Middle Ages
Grand Principality of Serbia
Kingdom of Serbia (medieval)
Serbian Empire
Serbian Despotate
Medieval Montenegro