King Marko on a fresco above the south entrance to the church of Marko's Monastery near Skopje. He was a ktetor of this monastery.
Reign
1371–1395
Predecessor
Vukašin Mrnjavčević
Born
c. 1335 Skadar, Kingdom of Serbia[1]
Died
17 May 1395 Rovine, Wallachia (now Romania)
Spouse
Helen (Jelena), daughter of Hlapen
House
Mrnjavčević
Father
Vukašin Mrnjavčević
Mother
Alena
Marko Mrnjavčević (Serbian Cyrillic: Марко Мрњавчевић, pronounced[mâːrkomr̩̂ɲaːʋt͡ʃeʋit͡ɕ]ⓘ; c. 1335 – 17 May 1395) was the de jure Serbian king from 1371 to 1395, while he was the de facto ruler of territory in western Macedonia centered on the town of Prilep. He is known as Prince Marko (Macedonian: Kрaле Марко; Serbian Cyrillic: Краљевић Марко, Kraljević Marko, IPA:[krǎːʎeʋit͡ɕmâːrko]) and King Marko (Macedonian: Kрaле Марко; Serbian Cyrillic: Краљ Марко; Bulgarian: Крали Марко) in South Slavic oral tradition, in which he has become a major character during the period of Ottoman rule over the Balkans. Marko's father, King Vukašin, was co-ruler with Serbian Tsar Stefan Uroš V, whose reign was characterised by weakening central authority and the gradual disintegration of the Serbian Empire. Vukašin's holdings included lands in north-western Macedonia and Kosovo. In 1370 or 1371, he crowned Marko "young king"; this title included the possibility that Marko would succeed the childless Uroš on the Serbian throne.
On 26 September 1371, Vukašin was killed and his forces defeated in the Battle of Maritsa. About two months later, Tsar Uroš died. This formally made Marko the king of the Serbian land; however, Serbian noblemen, who had become effectively independent from the central authority, did not even consider to recognise him as their supreme ruler. Sometime after 1371, he became an Ottoman vassal; by 1377, significant portions of the territory he inherited from Vukašin were seized by other noblemen. King Marko, in reality, came to be a regional lord who ruled over a relatively small territory in western Macedonia. He funded the construction of the Monastery of Saint Demetrius near Skopje (better known as Marko's Monastery), which was completed in 1376. Later, Marko became an Ottoman vassal and died on 17 May 1395, fighting against the Wallachians in the Battle of Rovine.
Although a ruler of modest historical significance, Marko became a major character in South Slavic oral tradition. He is venerated as a national hero by the Serbs, Macedonians and Bulgarians, remembered in Balkan folklore as a fearless and powerful protector of the weak, who fought against injustice and confronted the Turks during the Ottoman occupation.
^George W. White (2000). Nationalism and Territory Constructing Group Identity in Southeastern Europe. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 232. ISBN 978-0-8476-9809-7.
known as PrinceMarko (Macedonian: Kрaле Марко; Serbian Cyrillic: Краљевић Марко, Kraljević Marko, IPA: [krǎːʎeʋit͡ɕ mâːrko]) and King Marko (Macedonian:...
died. The lords could not agree on the rightful ruler; they dismissed PrinceMarko, the son of Vukašin, and conflicts started between the nobles within...
1389), knight, killed Ottoman Sultan Murad I at Kosovo (1389). PrinceMarko (1335–1395), prince, active during the fall of the Serbian Empire. Karađorđe (1768–1817)...
Miloš Obilić with Milan Toplica and Ivan Kosančić, Miloš Obilić with PrinceMarko, Miloš Obilić with the Jugović brothers, Despot Vuk Grgurević and Dmitar...
the neighbourhood of Varoš. The towers, named after Serbian medieval PrinceMarko Mrnjavčević, are located on a 120–180 m high hill, surrounded by steep...
helped in developing the Serbian national consciousness. The cycles of PrinceMarko, the Hajduks and Uskoks inspired the Serbs to restore freedom and their...
Vukašin of Serbia with the title of "king" (1365–1371) designated heir PrinceMarko with the title of "young king" (1369–1371) For a list of magnates, feudal...
foal (now a constellation) Jabučilo, horse of Momčilo Šarac, horse of PrinceMarko of Serbian epic poetry Sivko-Burko, the "Gray-Brown" Horse of Slavic...
appointed his son Petrislav to rule as Prince, independently. In 1083, Constantine Bodin appoints brothers Vukan and Marko, sons of Petrislav, as rulers of...
Andrea II succeeded in defeating both Vukašin of Serbia and his son, PrinceMarko, solidifying his family's principality. He was recognized as Despot of...
and promulgator of the Carta de Logu. PrinceMarko – Serbia, better known as Kraljević Marko, a medieval prince active during the fall of the Serbian...
Serbian forces were then led by the King Vukašin of Serbia, the father of PrinceMarko and the co-ruler of the last emperor from the Serbian Nemanjic dynasty...
Vukašin's son, PrinceMarko. Ruling as an independent ruler since the time of Vukašin, he became de jure independent from PrinceMarko in 1371 and was...
Mrnjavčević (r. 1365–1371), then as independent after 1370. He was a rival to PrinceMarko and together with Andrea II Muzaka managed to take Prilep and Kostur...
the defeat at Belasica in 1014. During the Middle Ages, after 1371, PrinceMarko rebuilt the citadel extensively, making it an important military stronghold...
with his son, PrinceMarko. Ruling as an independent ruler since the time of Vukašin, Andrea became de jure independent from PrinceMarko in 1371 and was...
list of toponyms named after or connected with PrinceMarko. Kula Kraljevića Marka (Tower of PrinceMarko) near Višegrad; Markovo sedalo, a chair-shaped...
the Battle of Kosovo in 1389, together with PrinceMarko. The Muzaka family was in conflict with PrinceMarko before his death in 1396 which is probably...
Marko Pjaca (Croatian pronunciation: [mâːrko pjâtsa]; born 6 May 1995) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Croatian football...
Andrea Gropa, in 1372 Andrea Muzaka managed to also conquer Kostur from PrinceMarko After the death of Andrea, the rule was passed to his son Teodor II Muzaka...
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