Stavilac ( sr-cyr, ставилац, literally meaning "placer") was a court title in

Medieval Bosnia This is the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Middle Ages, between the ancient and Roman period and the Ottoman period. Early Middle Ages The western Balkans had been reconquered from "barbarians" by Byzantine Emperor Justinian (r. 52 ...

and Medieval Serbia in the Middle Ages. It was similar to the Byzantine court offices of '' domestikos'' and cup-bearer ('' pinkernes'', known in Serbian as ''peharnik''). It had a role in the ceremony at the royal table, though the holder could be entrusted with jobs that had nothing to do with court ritual. According to studies of

Rade Mihaljčić Rade Mihaljčić ( sr-cyr, Раде Михаљчић; 21 January 1937 – 26 March 2020) was a Serbian historian and academic. Most of his works deal with medieval Serbia, especially the Serbian empire and the Battle of Kosovo.Encyclopedia of S ...

, the ''holder'' was in charge of acquiring, preparing and serving food at the royal table. It was a confidant duty, given to the highest and most notable nobility, in which the ruler relied on in all occasions.

History of usage

Its oldest mention is from the Serbian court of King

Stefan Milutin Stefan Uroš II Milutin ( sr-cyr, Стефан Урош II Милутин, Stefan Uroš II Milutin; 1253 – 29 October 1321), known as Stefan Milutin ( sr-cyr, Стефан Милутин, Stefan Milutin), was the King of Serbia between 1282&nd ...

(r. 1282–1321), when

Đuraš Vrančić Đuraš Vrančić ( sr-cyr, Ђураш Вранчић) was a Serbian nobleman who served King Stefan Milutin (r. 1282–1321) with the court title of '' stavilac''. He is the oldest known ''stavilac''. The title of ''stavilac'' ranked as the las ...

had the title. The title of ''stavilac'' ranked as the last in the hierarchy of the Serbian court, behind ''

čelnik ''Čelnik'' ( sr-cyr, челник) was a high court title in the Kingdom of Serbia, Serbian Empire and Serbian Despotate. In its early form, the holder was entrusted with the security of property belonging to the Orthodox Church from the aristoc ...

'', ''

kaznac Kaznac ( sr-cyr, казнац) was a court title of the state employee in medieval Bosnia and Serbia who was in charge for the treasury in the territory under his jurisdiction — ''kaznačina'' (казначина). The name of the title is derived ...

'', ''

tepčija Tepčija ( sr-cyr, тепчија) was a court title of Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia in the Middle Ages. The functions and position in the court is unclear. It was first mentioned in Croatia in the second half of the 11th century, and later in Serbia ...

'' and '' vojvoda'', the supreme title. It was, nevertheless, quite prestigious as it enabled its holder to be very close to the ruler. In the

Dečani chrysobulls The Dečani chrysobulls ( sr, Дечанске хрисовуље/Dečanske hrisovulje) alternatively known as the Dečani charters (Дечанске повеље/Dečanske povelje) are chrysobulls dating to 1321-1331 which contains a detailed lis ...

, King Stefan Dečanski (r. 1321–1331) mentioned that the court dignitaries present at the Dečani assembly were the ''kaznac'', ''tepčija'', ''vojvoda'', ''sluga'' and ''stavilac''. There is not much information on the title-holders at the court of King Stefan Dečanski; there is however much information on those at the court of King and Emperor Stefan Dušan (r. 1331–1355). In Bosnia, this court title appears for the first time with a coronation of the first Bosnian king,

Tvrtko I Kotromanić Stephen Tvrtko I ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Stjepan/Stefan Tvrtko, Стјепан/Стефан Твртко; 1338 – 10 March 1391) was the king of Bosnia, first king of Kingdom of Bosnia, Bosnia. A member of the House of Kotromanić, h ...

. As soon as he ascended to a Bosnian throne as a king in 1377, Tvrtko reorganized his court reflecting some of the Serbian court-office titles, ceremonials and traditions.

List of Bosnian ''stavilac''

*Tvrtko Vlađević (1378), served King Tvrtko I *Ivan Radivojević (1392) served King Dabiša

List of Serbian ''stavilac''

(?), served King Stefan Milutin. *

Miloš Vojinović Miloš Vojinović ( sr, Милош Војиновић; 1332) was a Serbian nobleman who served Emperor Stefan Dušan (r. 1331–55) as ''stavilac'', the son of general Vojin and brother of Vojislav and Altoman. He is a hero of the pre-Kosovo cy ...

( 1333), served King Stefan Dušan. Son of

Vojvoda Vojin Vojin of Gacko or Vojvoda Vojin ( sr, Војвода Војин; fl. 1322–1347) was a Serbian magnate (''velikaš'') and ''voivode'' (military commander equivalent to duke), who was holding the area around Gacko, which was part of ''Hum'', ...

. * Gradislav Sušenica, served King Stefan Dušan. (disputed) *

Vojislav Vojinović Vojislav Vojinović ( sr, Војислав Војиновић, d. 1363) was a 14th-century Medieval Serbia, Serbian nobleman, and one of the leading members of Serbian noble House of Vojinović. He held prominent offices during the reigns of Serb ...

( 1350–55), served Emperor Stefan Dušan. Son of

. *

Lazar Hrebeljanović Lazar Hrebeljanović ( sr-cyr, Лазар Хребељановић; ca. 1329 – 15 June 1389) was a medieval Serbian ruler who created the largest and most powerful state on the territory of the disintegrated Serbian Empire. Lazar's state, ...

( 1355–1362), served Emperor Stefan Dušan and Emperor Uroš V.

References

Sources

* * * * * * * * * {{refend Bosnian noble titles Kingdom of Bosnia Serbian noble titles Kingdom of Serbia (medieval) Serbian Empire Court titles in the Middle Ages Serbo-Croatian words and phrases Obsolete occupations Ceremonial occupations

History of usage

List of Bosnian ''stavilac''

List of Serbian ''stavilac''

See also

References

Sources