View source for List of Serbian monarchs

{{Short description|None}}
{{see also|List of Serbian royal consorts}}
{{Infobox former monarchy
| royal_title       = Monarchy
| realm             = Serbia
| coatofarms        = Royal coat of arms of the Kingdom of Serbia reconstruction.svg
| coatofarmssize    = 120px
| coatofarmscaption = '''[[Coat of arms of Serbia|Royal Coat of arms]]'''
| image             = Peter I Karageorgevich, King of Serbia, 1844-1921, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left.jpg
| caption           = '''Last monarch of Serbia'''<br>'''[[Peter I of Serbia|Petеr I]]<br>'''{{OldStyleDate|11 July|1844|29 June}}&nbsp;– 16 August 1921
| first_monarch     = [[Višeslav of Serbia|Višeslav]] {{small|(''as first Prince known by name'')}}
| last_monarch      = [[Peter I of Serbia|Peter I]] {{small|(''as King of Serbia'')}}<hr>[[Peter II of Yugoslavia|Peter II]] {{small|(''as King of Yugoslavia'')}}
| style             = [[Majesty|His Majesty]]
| residence         = [[Stari dvor|Stari Dvor]], [[Belgrade]], [[Serbia]]
| appointer         = [[Hereditary monarchy|Hereditary]]
| began             = 7th century
| ended             = 1 December 1918 {{small|(''[[Creation of Yugoslavia|unification]] of [[Serbs]], [[Croats]], and [[Slovenes]] into a [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia|kingdom]]'')}}<hr>29 November 1945 {{small|(''proclamation of the [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|socialist]] [[Communist Party of Yugoslavia|one-party]] [[Josip Broz Tito|dictatorship]]'')}}
| pretender         = [[Alexander, Crown Prince of Yugoslavia|Crown Prince Alexander]]
}}
[[File:Crown of Emperor of Serbia Stefan Dušan.jpg|alt=Holy Crown of Serbia|thumb|[[Regalia of Serbia|Holy Crown of Serbia]]]]
This is an [[wiktionary:archontology|archontological]] '''list of [[Serbs|Serbian]] monarchs''', containing [[Monarch|monarchs]] of the [[Serbia in the Middle Ages|medieval]] principalities, to heads of state of modern '''[[Serbia]]'''.
The [[:Category:Serbian monarchy|Serbian monarchy]] dates back to the [[Early Middle Ages]]. The [[Serbian royal titles]] used include [[Knyaz]] ([[Prince of Serbia|Prince]]), Grand [[Župan]] ([[Grand Prince of Serbia|Grand Prince]]), [[King of Serbia|King]], [[Tsar]] ([[Emperor of the Serbs|Emperor]]), and [[Despot of Serbia|Despot]].

==Early medieval Serbian states (7th century–1166)==
{{further|Serbia in the Middle Ages}}

===Vlastimirović dynasty (7th century–960)===
{{main|Vlastimirović dynasty|Principality of Serbia (early medieval)}}
{|class="wikitable" align="right" |
|-
|[[File:Seal of Strojimir.gif|100px]] 
|-
! [[Vlastimirović dynasty|Vlastimirović]] 
|}

The [[Vlastimirović dynasty]] was the first royal dynasty of the [[Serb people]]. [[Byzantine emperor]] [[Constantine VII|Constantine VII ''Porphyrogenitus'']] (r. 913–959) mentions that the Serbian throne is inherited by ''the son'', i.e. the first-born,<ref name=Zivkovic11>{{harvnb|Živković|2006|p=11}}</ref> though in his enumeration of Serbian monarchs, on one occasion there was a [[triumvirate]].<ref name=Zivkovic21>{{harvnb|Živković|2006|p=21}} ,, {{harvnb|Fine|1991|p=141}}</ref> The Serbs established several polities by the 10th century: ''Serbia'' or ''Zagorje'' (''hinterlands'') which consisted of Serbia and small land of [[Bosnia (early medieval)|Bosnia]]; and ''[[Pomorje]]'' (''maritime'') which consisted of [[Duklja|Dioclea]], [[Zahumlje|Zachlumia]], [[Pagania]], [[Travunia]] (including [[Kanalites|Kanalitai]]). The Serbian ruler was titled ''[[knyaz]]'' or ''archon'' by the [[Byzantine Greeks|Byzantines]], "prince".

The history of the dynasty starts with the eponymous founder [[Vlastimir]]. This era is marked by the [[Christianization#Christianization|Christianization of Serbs]], the many internal and external wars ([[Bulgars]], [[Magyars]]), and the power struggle between the [[First Bulgarian Empire]] and the [[Byzantine Empire]] in which [[Principality of Serbia (early medieval)|Serbia]] found itself in the middle. The history of this dynasty ends with the annexation of Serbia in 969.

{| class="wikitable"
|--
! Ruler
! Reign
! Notes
|--
| {{center|''[[Unknown Archon]]''}} || {{floruit}} 610–641 || One of the two sons of an unnamed "king" of [[White Serbia]] (assumed to be [[Dervan (duke)|Dervan]]),<ref>{{cite book|author=Sava S. Vujić, Bogdan M. Basarić|title=Severni Srbi (ne)zaboravljeni narod|location=Beograd|year=1998|page=40}}</ref> he led "half of his folk" to the Balkans and was given land by [[Byzantine emperor]] [[Heraclius]] (r. 610–641), upon receiving his protection (most likely before 626). He is said to have died long before the [[Bulgars|Bulgar]] invasion (681).
|--
| colspan=4 style="text-align:center;" | Two or three generations pass without any information.
|--
| {{center|[[Višeslav of Serbia|Višeslav]]}} || {{circa}} 780 || A descendant of the Unknown Archon, he lived during the rule of [[Frankish King]] [[Charlemagne]], and ruled the hereditary lands, ''[[župe]]'' ("counties, districts") around [[Tara (mountain)|Tara]], [[Piva, Montenegro|Piva]], and [[Lim (Croatia)|Lim]]. He united some Slavic tribes, forming the [[Principality of Serbia (early medieval)|first Serbian principality]].
|--
| {{center|[[Radoslav of Serbia|Radoslav]]}} || rowspan=2 | <830 || rowspan=2 | Son of Višeslav, he or his son Prosigoj are believed to have ruled during the time in which the [[Royal Frankish Annals]] speak of [[Ljudevit Posavski]] revolting against the [[Franks]] (ca. 819–822), during which time is said that the Serbs held a great part of [[Dalmatia (Roman province)|Dalmatia]].<ref name=ECM>''Eginhartus de vita et gestis Caroli Magni'', [https://books.google.com/books?id=kDrP2Y1lH-sC&pg=PA192 p. 192]: footnote J10</ref><ref name=SS29>{{cite book|title=Serbian Studies|volume=2-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IXVpAAAAMAAJ&q=sorabos|year=1982|publisher=North American Society for Serbian Studies|page=29|quote=...the Serbs, a people that is said to hold a large part of Dalmatia}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Dutton |first=Paul Edward |date=1993 |title=Carolingian Civilization: A Reader |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tNFnAAAAMAAJ |publisher=[[Broadview Press]] |page=181 |isbn=9781551110035 |quote=...who are said to hold a great part of Dalmatia}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Djokić |first=Dejan |author-link=Dejan Djokić (historian)|date=2023 |title=A Concise History of Serbia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3k6hEAAAQBAJ |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |page=61 |isbn=9781107028388 |quote='a people that is said to hold a large part of Dalmatia'. This was a reference to the ancient Roman province of Dalmatia, which extended deep into the western Balkan interior, from the eastern Adriatic coast to the valleys of the Ibar and Sava Rivers.}}</ref> At this time, there was peace with the [[First Bulgarian Empire|Bulgaria]].
|--
| {{center|[[Prosigoj]]}}
|--
| {{center|[[Vlastimir]]}} || {{circa}} 830&ndash;850 || Son of [[Prosigoj]]. He is the eponymous founder of the [[Vlastimirović dynasty]]. He defeated the Bulgars in a [[Bulgar–Serb War (839–842)|three-year war]] against [[Khan (title)|Khan]] [[Presian of Bulgaria|Presian]]. Vlastimir had three sons (Mutimir, [[Strojimir]] and [[Gojnik]]) and one daughter. His daughter married [[Krajina Belojević|Krajina]], who received the [[fief]] of [[Travunia]].
|--
| {{center|[[Mutimir of Serbia|Mutimir]]}} || 850&ndash;891 || Eldest son of Vlastimir. Mutimir was the supreme ruler, with his two younger brothers (Gojnik and Strojimir) being subordinate to him. They successfully fought off an attack by Bulgarian Prince [[Vladimir of Bulgaria|Vladimir-Rasate]] sent by Vladimir's father [[knyaz]] [[Boris I of Bulgaria]] (r. 852–889) during the [[Bulgar–Serb War (853)|Bulgar-Serb war of 853]]. Gojnik and Strojimir later revolted against Mutimir, who exiled them to Boris in [[First Bulgarian Empire|Bulgaria]] in 855–856, securing brief peace between the two nations. Byzantine emperor [[Basil I the Macedonian]] sent missionaries to Serbia by 869. The [[Eparchy of Ras]] was established by 871, as the bishopric of Serbs.
|--
| {{center|[[Pribislav of Serbia|Pribislav]]}} || 891&ndash;892 || He was the eldest son of [[Mutimir]]. Pribislav ruled briefly until 892 when [[Petar Gojniković]], his cousin, returned and defeated him in battle. Pribislav fled with his two brothers ([[Bran Mutimirović|Bran]] and [[Stefan Mutimirović|Stefan]]) and son, [[Zaharije Pribisavljević|Zaharije]], to [[Duchy of Croatia|Croatia]].
|--
| {{center|[[Petar of Serbia|Petar]]}} || 892&ndash;917 || Son of [[Gojnik]], born in ca. 870. His name (Peter) symbolizes [[Christianization#Christianization|Christianization of the Serbs]]. He returned from exile and deposed Pribislav in 892. He later caught Bran in 895 under an attempted coup and blinded him, and then in 897 he killed [[Klonimir]], the son of Strojimir, in yet another attempted coup. Petar re-gained [[Bosnia]] and annexed [[Pagania]]. He was in conflict with [[Mihailo Višević]], the ruler of Zahumlje (917&ndash;935), who would warn [[Simeon I of Bulgaria]] of a possible alliance between Serbia and the [[Byzantine Greeks|Byzantines]]. Petar defeated Pavle, the son of Bran, who was sent by Simeon I of Bulgaria. In 917, Simeon's generals tricked and captured Peter, sending him to prison in [[First Bulgarian Empire]], where he died within a year.
|--
| {{center|[[Pavle of Serbia|Pavle]]}} || 917&ndash;921 || Son of [[Bran Mutimirović]], born in ca. 870–874. He was sent with an army to Serbia in 917, but was defeated by Petar. After Petar was deposed, Pavle took the throne. He defeats Zaharija, the son of Pribislav, sent by the Byzantines in 920. He was initially vassal to Simeon I of Bulgaria, later he switched to the [[Byzantine Empire]]. Zaharija, now sent by the [[Bulgarians]], defeats him in 921.
|--
| {{center|[[Zaharija of Serbia|Zaharija]]}} || 921&ndash;924  || Son of Pribislav. Zaharije was sent in 920 by the Byzantines to retake the throne, but was captured by Pavle and handed over to Simeon I of Bulgaria who held him hostage for future tactics. In the meantime, Pavle switched sides to the Byzantines; Simeon dispatched Zaharija who managed to defeat Pavle and then betrayed Simeon by supporting the Byzantines. Zaharija defeated the Bulgarian army in 923, when he sent two heads and weapons of Bulgarian generals as trophies to [[Constantinople]]. In 924, a much larger army was sent by the Bulgarians, led by [[Časlav Klonimirović]], Zaharija's second cousin. Časlav won the battle and Zaharija fled to Croatia. Simeon gathered all Serbian counts, and instead of instating Časlav, he arrested them and sent them as captives to Bulgaria, [[Bulgarian–Serbian wars of 917–924|annexing Serbia]].
|--
| colspan=4 | {{center|[[Principality of Serbia (early medieval)|Serbia]] was annexed by the [[First Bulgarian Empire]] (924&ndash;927)}}
|--
|{{center|[[Časlav of Serbia|Časlav]]}} || 933&ndash;943/960 || Born to [[Klonimir]]. Defeated Zaharija in 924, after which he was attacked by Simeon I of Bulgaria who annexed the Serbian tribes. He returned and liberated and united the tribes from Bulgaria. According to the semi-mythical account from the ''[[Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja]]'', certain Ciaslavus [[Hungarian-Serbian War (c. 960)|defeated the Magyars]], but was later captured and drowned by them. His son-in-law [[Tihomir of Rascia|Tihomir]], who had held the [[Drina]] county, succeeded him as ruler of Serbia (the relation with Ciaslavus and those events remains disputable). The state is believed to have disintegrated, and becoming annexed by the Byzantines and Bulgaria.
|--
|{{center|[[Tihomir of Raška|Tihomir]]}} || 960&ndash;969 ||
|--
| colspan="4" style="text-align:center;"| [[Principality of Serbia (early medieval)|Serbia]] was annexed by the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantines]] ([[Catepanate of Ras]] fl. 969–976), and ruled by [[List of strategoi of Serbia|strategoi]].<br>The Serbian principality was succeeded by the principality of [[Duklja]].
|}

===Vojislavljević dynasty (1018–1186)===
{{main|Vojislavljević dynasty|Duklja}}
With the partial annexation of Serbia, the county around the city of [[Doclea (city)|Doclea]] emerges into a Principality, where the leaders adopt the title ''archon of Serbs'', signifying supreme leadership among Serbs, alongside their given offices under Byzantine overlordship. The first office-holder was [[Peter of Diokleia]], of which we only have a seal found in the 19th century. The next known is [[Jovan Vladimir]], who became a Bulgarian vassal. [[Stefan Vojislav]] succeeds in giving the realm independence, he is the eponymous founder of the Vojislavljevići that ruled [[Duklja]] from the early 11th century up to the 1180s.

{|class="wikitable"
|--
! Picture
! <sup>Title</sup>Name
! Reign
! Notes
|--
|[[File:Peter of Diokleia.jpg|80px]] || <sup>Archon</sup><br>[[Peter of Diokleia|Peter]] || 10th century || Peter was an ''[[archon]]'' of [[Duklja]] in the 10th or 11th century. The only information on him is from a seal found in the 19th century, which is decorated on the obverse with a bust of the [[Virgin Mary]] holding a medallion of [[Christ]] and flanked by two [[cruciform]] invocative [[monogram]]s. The text is in [[Greek letters]], saying "Petrou, Archontos Diokleias, Amin" (ΠΕΤΡ(Ο)Υ ΑΡΧΟΝΤΟΣ ΔΙΟΚΛ(Ε)ΙΑ(Σ) ΑΜΗΝ) - ''Peter, archon of Dioklea, [[Amen]]''. The seal shows that although Duklja underwent turmoil in the 9th century, the region still continued under [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine rule]], or if not authority, [[Byzantine culture|influence]].<ref>{{Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art|volume=5|page=155}}</ref> 
|--
|[[File:JovanVladimirSlika.jpg|80px]] || <sup>Prince</sup><br>[[Jovan Vladimir]] || {{circa}}1000–1016 || Jovan fought to protect Duklja from Bulgarian expansion, making an alliance with Byzantium; [[First Bulgarian Empire|Bulgaria]] however conquered Doclea in 997 and took Jovan Vladimir prisoner. Jovan ruled Duklja as a vassal of the Bulgarian empire until his murder in 1016.
|--
| || <sup>Ruler </sup><br>[[Dragimir of Travunia and Zachlumia]] || {{circa}}1000–1018 || Ruler of Travunia and Zachlumia, medieval Serbian principalities located in present-day regions of Herzegovina and south Dalmatia
|--
| || <sup>Prince</sup><br>[[Stefan Vojislav]] || 1018–1043 || Overthrew the Byzantine supremacy over Serbs in Duklja; founder of the Vojislavljević dynasty; in 1035 rebelled against the [[Byzantine Empire]], but forced to sign an [[armistice]]; went to war again in 1040, which would be continued by his heir and son, Mihailo. Except Doclea, his realm included [[Travunia]] with [[Konavli]] and [[Zachumlia]].
|--
|<!-- [[File:|80px]] --> || <sup>Princess</sup><br>[[Neda (Princess)|Neda]] || 1043–1046 || As queen, she co-ruled with her sons, the princes.
|--
|[[File:Srpski kralj Mihajlo lik.jpg|80px]] || <sup>King<br>↑Prince</sup><br>[[Mihailo I of Duklja|Mihailo Vojislavljević]] || 1046–1081 || Initially as a Byzantine vassal holding the title of ''[[protospatharios]]'', then after 1077 as nominally serving [[Pope Gregory VII]], addressed as "[[King of the Slavs]]". He had alienated himself from the Byzantines when he supported a [[Uprising of Georgi Voyteh|Byzantine Slavic revolt in 1071–72]], after which he then sought to gain support in the West. In 1077 he received a royal insignia by Gregory VII in the aftermath of the [[East-West Schism|Church schism of 1054]].
<br><small>'''note:''' Serbia is liberated from Byzantine rule and restored into the Serbian realm of Doclea, with Duklja being the seat.</small>
|--
| || <sup>King (titular)</sup><br>[[Constantine Bodin]] || 1081&ndash;1101 || Son of Michael. He was crowned '[[Tsar of Bulgaria]]' as ''Peter III'' in 1072, after being chosen by Bulgarian nobles through his [[Cometopuli]] lineage, he was sent off with an army that would conquer parts of southern Serbia and Macedonia. He was captured and sent to Constantinople, where he spent several years. He was rescued in 1078 by Venetian sailors, and in 1081 he succeeds his father as King. He enlarged his influence, installing his nephews and other family in Bosnia and Serbia. He is captured by the Byzantines in the 1090s, and continues as a mere Byzantine vassal.
<br><small>'''note:''' Doclea is continued with a number of Byzantine and Serbian vassals (until 1146) - see [[List of rulers of Duklja]].</small>
|--
||| <sup>King (titular)</sup><br>[[Dobroslav II]] || 1101&ndash;1102 || Overthrown by [[Vukan, Grand Prince of Serbia|Vukan]] and [[Kočapar]].
|--
| || [[Kočapar]] || 1102&ndash;1103 || Brought to power by Vukan of Serbia. Killed in battle against [[Zachlumia]].
|--
| || [[Vladimir II of Duklja|Vladimir II]] || 1103&ndash;1113 || Married daughter of Vukan of Serbia. He was poisoned by his cousin [[Đorđe Bodinović|Đorđe I]].
|--
| || [[Đorđe Bodinović|Đorđe I]] || 1113&ndash;1118 || Son of Constantine Bodin. Đorđe was overthrown by [[Uroš I, Grand Prince of Serbia|Uroš I]] in 1118.
|--
| || [[Grubeša]] || 1118&ndash;1125 || Overthrew Đorđe with the help of the Byzantines.
|--
| || [[Đorđe Bodinović|Đorđe I]] || 1125&ndash;1131 || Second rule.
|--
| || <sup>Prince</sup><br>[[Gradinja]] || 1131&ndash;1146 || Appointed to Doclean throne by Byzantines after Đorđe's defeat in the second war against Byzantines.
|--
| || <sup>Prince</sup><br>[[Radoslav of Duklja|Radoslav]] || 1146&ndash;1148 || Byzantine vassal. Only dynastic member to be mentioned as Prince of Doclea.
|--
| || <sup>Prince</sup><br>[[Mihailo III of Duklja|Mihailo III]] || 1148&ndash;1186 || Byzantine vassal.
|}

===Vukanović dynasty (1091–1166)===
{{main|Vukanović dynasty|Grand Principality of Serbia}}
In the mid-11th century, [[Mihailo I of Duklja|Mihailo I]] had liberated Serbia from Byzantine rule, and appointed his son [[Petrislav of Rascia|Petrislav]] to rule as Prince, independently. In 1083, [[Constantine Bodin]] appoints brothers Vukan and Marko, sons of Petrislav, as rulers of Serbia. In 1089, the Byzantines capture Bodin, and Vukan retains independence, founding the Vukanović dynasty. The Vukanovići quickly claim the following Serbian domains in the following decades, and by 1148, the maritime possessions are united with the inland. The Byzantine Empire at times intervened in the political scene, and at times Serbia had Hungary as its main ally. The dynasty ruled until 1166, when a dynastic branch is instated by the Byzantines.

{|class="wikitable"
|--
! Ruler
! Reign
! Notes
|--
| <sup>Grand Prince</sup><br>[[Vukan, Grand Prince of Serbia|Vukan]] || 1091–1112 || Vukan was the son of [[Petrislav of Rascia|Petrislav]], the Prince of Serbia and son of [[Mihailo I of Duklja|Mihailo I]], that held the office from ca 1060. In 1083, Constantine Bodin appoints Vukan to the supreme rule of Serbia, while Vukan's brother [[Marko Vojislavljević|Marko]] administrated a part of the land, most likely the frontier region in the north. After the Byzantine campaign against Duklja in 1089, and the subsequent civil war, Vukan asserted independence, ruling as ''Grand Prince'', becoming the most powerful Serb ruler as of ca 1091. He began raiding Byzantine territories in 1090, taking Kosovo, and defeated a Byzantine army in 1092. Vukan made peace with [[Alexios I Komnenos]], after the Emperor had threatened with a larger army. However, Vukan immediately broke the treaty as the Byzantines marched onto the dangerous Cumans in Adrianople. Vukan conquers the cities along the Vardar. In 1095, the Emperor meets Vukan and renews the treaty. Vukan again raided [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]], as the [[First Crusade]] began. In 1106 he nominally recognized Alexios I.<br><small>'''Note:''' Serbia is elevated to an independent Grand Principality.</small>
|--
| <sup>Grand Prince</sup><br>[[Uroš I, Grand Prince of Serbia|Uroš I]] || 1112–1145 || Uroš I was the son of either Vukan or Marko. In the treaty concluded between Vukan and Alexios I in 1095, Uroš I and Vukan became "guarantors of peace", as hostages to the Byzantines. Uroš succeeds the throne when Vukan dies. In ca 1130, he married his daughter, Jelena, to King [[Béla II of Hungary]]. Béla II, being blind, relied entirely on Jelena who acted as a co-ruler. In 1137, [[Ladislaus II of Hungary|Ladislaus II]], the son of Béla II and Jelena (the grandson of Uroš), becomes the ''Ban of Bosnia''.
|--
| <sup>Grand Prince</sup><br>[[Uroš II, Grand Prince of Serbia|Uroš II]] || 1145–1162 || Replaced his father at 1131 or around 1140 and ruled until 1155.
<br><small>'''note:''' [[Duklja]] and [[Travunia]] is re-incorporated into the realm.</small>
|--
| <sup>Grand Prince</sup><br>[[Beloš Vukanović|Beloš]] || 1162 || Instated by [[Manuel I Komnenos]].
|--
| <sup>Grand Prince</sup><br>[[Desa of Serbia|Desa]] || 1150&ndash;1155<br>1162&ndash;1166 || Desa took Zeta (Duklja) and Travunia from [[Radoslav of Duklja]] and unified the coastal Serbian Principalities under his firm grip.
|--
| <sup>Grand Prince</sup><br>[[Tihomir of Serbia|Tihomir]] || 1166 || First son of [[Zavida]], exiled Župan of [[Zahumlje]].
|}

After Desa's revolt, in 1165 the Byzantium divided the Serb lands between the four sons of Zavida: Tihomir in Raška, Stracimir in [[Duklja]], Miroslav in [[Zahumlje]] and [[Travunia]], and [[Stefan Nemanja]] in Toplica (in today's central Serbia). Stefan Nemanja rebelled against his eldest brother Tihomir in 1166, who fled with his brothers Stracimir and Miroslav to Byzantium to seek help. But later on, Stefan Nemanja defeated his Greek army of mercenaries in the same year near the town of Pantino on Kosovo in which poor Tihomir drowned in the River of Sitnica. Nemanja captured his other brothers and made peace with them by giving them rule in their former parts of the land to recognise him as the only ruler of Rashka or Serbia. The Nemanjić dynasty was named after Stefan Nemanja and ruled over Serbia until 1371.

==Late medieval Serbian state (1166&ndash;1371)==
===Nemanjić dynasty (1166–1373)===
{{further|Nemanjić dynasty|Kingdom of Serbia (1217–1346)|Serbian Empire}}
{|class="wikitable" align="right" |
|-
|[[File:Coat of Arms of NemanjićV2.svg|100px]] 
|-
! [[Nemanjić dynasty|Nemanjić]] 
|}

The [[Nemanjić dynasty]] ruled the Serb lands between ca. 1166 up to 1371.

{|class="wikitable"
|--
! Picture
! <sup>Title</sup>Name
! Reign
! Notes
|--
|[[File:Stefan Nemanja.jpg|80px]] || <sup>Grand Prince</sup><br>[[Stefan Nemanja]]<br><small> ''Saint Symeon the [[List of Eastern Orthodox saint titles|Myrrh-streaming]]''</small> || 1166&ndash;1196 || Nemanja is the eponymous founder of the [[Nemanjić dynasty|Zoupanic Nemanjić dynasty]]. He re-established control over the neighbouring territories, including Duklja, Hum and Travunia. In his last years, he joined his son Sava and took monastic vows, later recognized as ''Saint Symeon'' after numerous alleged miracles following his death.<br><small>'''Note:''' Duklja, Zahumlje and Travunija is reconquered, Nemanja is proclaimed "'''''Grand Prince of All Serbia'''''"</small>
|--
|[[File:Loza Nemanjica Decani e 3.jpg|80px]] || <sup>Grand Prince</sup><br>[[Vukan Nemanjić]] || 1202&ndash;1204 || Eldest son of Stefan Nemanja. He held the appanage of "Duklja, Dalmatia (Zahumlje), Travunija, Toplica and Hvosno" as Grand Prince, by 1190. He was the initial heir presumptive, but his father chose Stefan instead upon the abdication in 1196. With the death of Nemanja, Vukan started plotting against his brother. He found help in Hungary, and together they forced Stefan to flee to [[Second Bulgarian Empire|Bulgaria]]. He ruled as a Hungarian vassal, evident in Emeric I's title "King of Serbia". He left the throne in 1204, and continued to rule his appanage, he was later pardoned by the third brother [[Saint Sava]].
|--
|[[File:Stefan the First-Crowned, fresco from Mileševa.jpg|80px]] || <sup>King<br>↑Grand Prince</sup><br>[[Stefan Prvovenčani]]<br><small>''Stefan the First-Crowned''</small> || 1196&ndash;1202<br>1204&ndash;1228 || Second son of Stefan Nemanja. He inherited the title of ''Grand Prince'' in 1196 when his father retired as a monk. His reign began with a struggle against his brother Vukan, who expelled Stefan to Bulgaria. [[Kaloyan of Bulgaria|Kaloyan]] gave him an army of [[Cumans]] in exchange for [[Moravian Banovina|eastern territories]]. The crisis ended when Sava negotiated a peace between the brothers and Stefan's power was cemented. He was crowned ''King'' in 1217, and then [[Saint Sava|Sava]] gains [[autocephaly]], becoming the first [[List of heads of the Serbian Orthodox Church|Archbishop of Serbs]] in 1219, thus Serbia retained full independence.
|--
|[[File:Stefanradoslav.jpg|80px]] || <sup>King</sup><br>[[Stefan Radoslav]] <small>''Stephanos Doukas''</small><br><small>''Jovan''</small> || 1228–1233 || Son of Stefan the First-crowned. He ruled Zahumlje during the reign of his father, and also held a governor status of Zeta. He was the co-founder of the [[Žiča monastery]] with his father, who would abdicate in 1227 due to illness, taking monastic vows. Radoslav was crowned by his uncle [[Saint Sava|Sava]], the [[List of heads of the Serbian Orthodox Church|Archbishop of Serbia]]. His marriage to [[Anna Angelina Komnene Doukaina]] would prove unpopular as she undermined his authority, he lost the loyalty of the people and in 1233 a revolt against them prompted the couple to flee to [[Dubrovnik]].
|--
|[[File:Fresco of Stefan Vladislav, Mileševa, edited.jpg|80px]] || <sup>King</sup><br>[[Stefan Vladislav]] || 1234–1243 || Son of Stefan the First-crowned. He succeeded his brother Radoslav in 1234 and ruled for 10 years, before being overthrown by his younger brother Uroš. He continued to rule Zeta. The first known flag design of Serbia was found in his treasury.
|--
|[[File:King Stefan Uroš I with his son Stefan Dragutin.jpg|80px]] || <sup>King</sup><br>[[Stefan Uroš I]]<br><small>''Uroš the Great''</small><br><small>''Symeon''</small> || 1243–1276 || Son of Stefan the First-crowned. He succeeded his brother Vladislav. He boosted trade with Dubrovnik and Kotor, marking a beginning of economic prosperity. In 1253 a war was fought against Dubrovnik, peace was signed in 1254, and in the 1260s a second war begun that ended in 1268. Uroš immediately turned towards Hungary, successfully taking [[Mačva]], he was however captured and peace was ensured between the two Kings through marriage of Dragutin and Catherine, the daughter of [[Stephen V of Hungary]]. His oldest son Dragutin would have succeeded his rule, but Uroš favored Stefan Milutin, the younger son, as successor. He was overthrown by Stefan Dragutin in 1276.
|--
|[[File:Stefan Dragutin, Arilje.jpg|80px]] || <sup>King</sup><br>[[Stefan Dragutin]]<br><small>''Teoctist''</small> || 1276&ndash;1282<br>1282&ndash;1316 || Son of Stefan Uroš I. He overthrew his father with help from the Hungarian royalty (through his marriage to [[Catherine of Hungary, Queen of Serbia|Catherine of Hungary]]) after the [[Battle of Gacko]]. He was injured in 1282, and gave the supreme rule to his younger brother Milutin, but continued to rule [[Kingdom of Srem|what would later become the Kingdom of Srem]] with the capital at [[Belgrade]]. Milutin boosted relations with the Byzantine Emperor, and refused to give the rule to Vladislav II (Dragutin's son), causing a split of the Kingdom. Dragutin continued to rule the northern frontier in Hungarian alliance, but in the last years re-connected with Serbia, acting as a vassal.
|--
|[[File:Milutinst.jpg|80px]] || <sup>King</sup><br>[[Stefan Milutin|Stefan Uroš II Milutin]] || 1282–1321 || Son of Stefan Uroš I. He succeeded his brother Dragutin. Upon his accession, he immediately turned towards Macedonia, conquering the northern part with [[Skoplje]], which became his capital. He continued deep into Byzantine lands, taking northern Albania and as far as Kavala. He also took [[Vidin]], and later [[Durrës]]. He was in a succession war with Dragutin after peace was signed with the Byzantines in 1299. Milutin aids the Byzantines against the Turks at the [[Battle of Gallipoli (1312)|Battle of Gallipoli]], which ended in a victory. When Dragutin died he put most of his lands with Belgrade under his rule, in the same year his son Stefan Uroš III tried to overthrow him, resulting in him being exiled to [[Constantinople]]. In 1319 the Hungarians took all of Dragutin's lands but [[Braničevo (region)|Braničevo]].
|--
|[[File:Loza Nemanjica Decani d 3 2.jpg|80px]] ||<sup>King of Srem (''King of the Serbs'')</sup><br>[[Stefan Vladislav II]] || 1316&ndash;1325 || Son of Dragutin.
|--
|[[File:Konstantin Gracanica loza lik.jpg|80px]] || <sup>King </sup><br>[[Stefan Konstantin]] || 1321&ndash;1322 || Younger son of Stefan Uroš II, defeated in 1322 by his older brother, Stefan Uroš III.
|--
|[[File:Stefan Decanski ktitor.jpg|80px]] || <sup>King</sup><br>[[Stefan Dečanski|Stefan Uroš III Dečanski]]<br><small>''Stefan of [[Dečani]]''</small> || 1322–1331 || Older brother of Stefan Konstantin
|--
|[[File:Car Dušan, Manastir Lesnovo, XIV vek, Makedonija.jpg|80px]] || <sup>Emperor<br>↑King</sup><br>[[Stefan Dušan]]<br><small>''Dušan the Mighty''</small> || 1331&ndash;1355 || Son of Uroš III. He was a very skilled military leader, and defeated Bosnia and Bulgaria at the age of 20. As his father was not an able conqueror, Dušan removed him from the throne. Dušan doubled the size of the realm, taking Byzantine lands as far as the [[Peloponnese]]. He was crowned ''Emperor'' in 1346. The Serbian Empire flourished, becoming one of the most developed countries and cultures in Europe. He enacted the constitution - [[Dušan's Code]] in 1349.
|--
|[[File:UrosV.jpg|80px]] || <sup>Emperor</sup><br>[[Stefan Uroš V]]<br><small>''Uroš the Weak''</small> || 1355–1371 || Son of Stefan Uroš IV Dušan, crowned King of Serbia (1346–1355), succeeds as Emperor after the death of Dušan in 1355. His epithet was given due to his "weak rule".
|--
|[[File:Loza Nemanjica Decani c 5 2.jpg|80px]] || <sup>[[Emperor of Serbs and Greeks]] (pretender)</sup><br>[[Simeon Uroš]]|| 1359–1370 || Uncle of Uroš V. He was appointed governor in the southwestern conquered regions in 1348, and ruled until 1355, when his brother-in-law [[Nikephoros II Orsini]] returned and rallied support. Nikephoros was killed in 1359, and Simeon continued his rule until his death in 1371. He proclaimed himself "Emperor of Serbs and Greeks" in 1356, however against the wishes of nobility of Serbia proper and Macedonia. After an unsuccessful invasion of Zeta, he gave up the idea of ruling Serbia.
<br>{{center|<small>'''Note:''' [[Despotate of Epirus|Epirus]] breaks away:</small>}}

{|class="wikitable" align=center
|--
|[[File:Maria Paleolog.JPG|80px]] ||<sup>Despot of Epirus</sup><br>[[Thomas Preljubović]] || 1366&ndash;1384 || Grandson of Stefan Dušan.
|--
|[[File:Maria Paleolog.JPG|80px]] ||<sup>Basilissa of Epirus</sup><br>[[Maria Angelina Doukaina Palaiologina]] || 1384&ndash;1385 || Daughter of Simeon Uroš.
|}
|--
|[[File:Megala4.png|80px]] || <sup>Emperor of Serbs and Greeks</sup><br>[[Jovan Uroš]]|| 1370–1373 || Son of Simeon Uroš. Succeeded his father as titular "Emperor of Serbs and Greeks" and ruled an area of Epirus and Thessaly 1370&ndash;1373 before taking monastic vows. In 1384&ndash;1385 he helped his sister ''Empress'' [[Maria Angelina Doukaina Palaiologina]] govern Epirus (she was the widow of [[Thomas II Preljubović]], the Despot of Epirus 1367–1384).
|}

==Fall of the medieval Serbian state (1371&ndash;1496)==
===Magnate provinces===
 {{further|Fall of the Serbian Empire}}
{|class="wikitable" align="right" |
|-
|[[File:Coat of arms of Moravian Serbia.svg|100px]] || [[File:Mrnjavcevic - Illyrian Coat of arms.png|80px]] || [[File:Zegligovic Coat of Arms.png|80px]] || [[File:CoatOfArmsOfJovanStefanovicBrankovic.png|100px]] || [[File:Vojinović coat of arms.png|100px]] || [[File:CoatOfArmsOfTheBalsics.png|70px]]  || [[File:Coat of Arms of the Chernoyevitch dynasty.jpg|70px]] 
|-
! [[Lazarević dynasty|Lazarević]] || [[House of Mrnjavčević|Mrnjavčević]] || [[Dejanović noble family|Dejanović]] || [[Branković dynasty|Branković]] || [[Vojinović noble family|Vojinović]] || [[Balšić noble family|Balšić]] || [[Crnojević noble family|Crnojević]]
|-

|}

The crumbling [[Serbian Empire]] under [[Stefan Uroš V]] (called "the Weak") was to be of little resistance to the powerful Ottoman Empire. In light of conflicts and decentralization of the realm, the Ottomans defeated the Serbs at the [[Battle of Maritsa]] in 1371, making vassals of the southern governors, soon thereafter, the Emperor died. As Uroš was childless and the nobility could not agree on the rightful heir, the Empire was ruled by semi-independent provincial lords, who often were in feuds with each other. The most powerful of these, [[Tsar Lazar]], a Duke of present-day central Serbia (which had not yet come under the Ottoman yoke), stood against the Ottomans at the [[Battle of Kosovo]] in 1389. The result was indecisive, but it resulted in the subsequent fall of Serbia.

The administration was divided in the following:

*''[[Moravian Serbia]]'': Lazar, a nobleman and close friend of the Nemanjić, would govern modern Central Serbia. He married [[Milica of Serbia|Milica]], a descendant of Stefan Nemanja's eldest son [[Vukan Nemanjić|Vukan]]. He held the title of Lord during the Empire, and Prince after the death of Uroš V. He had a son, Stefan, who would succeed as Prince, and in 1402 he was given the title ''[[Despot (court title)|despot]]'' (hence "Serbian Despotate").
*''[[District of Branković]]'': [[Vuk Branković]], the son of Ohrid deputy Branko, would govern Sjenica, Kosovo and Skopje under the suzerainty of Lazar. He had a son, [[Đurađ Branković]], who would succeed Despot Stefan. Their province continues as part of the Serbian Despotate.
*''District of Altomanović'': [[Nikola Altomanović]] ruled the areas from [[Rudnik (mountain)|Rudnik]], over [[Polimlje]], [[Podrinje]], east [[Herzegovina]] with [[Trebinje]], reaching as far as  [[Konavle]] and [[Herceg-Novi|Dračevica]], neighboring the [[Republic of Dubrovnik]]. He was defeated and blinded in [[Užice]] ([[fortress Užice]]) in 1373 by a coalition of his Serbian and Bosnian royals neighbors supported by the [[king of Hungary]].
*''[[Lordship of Zeta]]'': Balša, a nobleman and distant relative of the Nemanjić, held only one town during Dušan, and during Uroš V, he is recognized as "provincial lord" holding Zeta region. He is succeeded by Đurađ, who ruled independently and was in rivalry with Marko. Đurađ II recognizes the overlordship of Lazar in 1386. The Balšić continue ruling Lower Zeta, while in Upper Zeta, [[Radič Crnojević]] take the rule, and by 1421 Crnojević held all Zeta under the Serbian Despotate. (see [[List of rulers of Zeta]])
*''[[Lordship of Prilep]]'': [[Vukašin Mrnjavčević|King Vukašin]], a nobleman and close friend of Uroš V, would govern most of the [[Macedonia region]]. He held the title of Lord during Dušan, and under Uroš V, he was crowned King as [subordinate] co-ruler in 1365. Vukašin ruled as "Lord of the Serbian and Greek lands, and of the western provinces." He was succeeded by [[Prince Marko]], who became an Ottoman vassal. Their province is annexed by 1395.
*''[[Domain of the Dejanović family]]'': [[Dejan (magnate)|Dejan]], a [[sebastokrator]] and brother-in-law of Dušan, would govern eastern regions from Kumanovo to Kyustendil. His sons, despot [[Jovan Dragaš]] and lord [[Constantine Dragaš]] inherited his domain and become Ottoman vassals in 1371. Their domain was annexed in 1395.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | Picture
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | <sup>Title</sup>Name
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | Reign
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | Overlordship
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | Notes
|--
!style=background:lightblue; colspan=5 | [[Moravian Serbia]] / [[Serbian Despotate]] ([[Lazarević dynasty|Lazarević]])
|--
|[[File:Prince Lazar (Ravanica Monastery).jpg|80px]]||<sup>Lord, Prince</sup><br>[[Lazar of Serbia|Lazar Hrebeljanović]]<br><small>''Tsar Lazar''</small> || 1371&ndash;1389 || None || After Uroš V died, the last of the Nemanjić emperors, through a combination of diplomacy, military action, and family alliances, Lazar emerged from the resulting power vacuum as the most powerful Serbian noble not in the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]]' service. He acquired dynastic legitimacy by marrying [[Milica Nemanjić]], and despite retaining only the minor title of [[Knez (title)|knez]] ("prince"), he nevertheless used the imperial name of 'Stefan' as well as the designation "[[autocrator]]".  Lazar spent his time strengthening the Serbian state, knowing fully well that he would eventually have to face the Ottoman threat. He unified most of Serbia under his rule and managed to gain the loyalty of a majority of the Serbs. He also ceded the title "King of Serbs" to King [[Tvrtko I of Bosnia]] (great-grandson of [[Uroš the Great]]). His first major military action was at the [[Battle of Dubravnica]] where his two subjects, Crep and Vladimir managed to decisively defeat an Ottoman army in southern Serbia. No further recorded hostilities took place until the [[Battle of Pločnik]] where Knez Lazar managed to crush an Ottoman force and drive them back to [[Niš]]. Serbian troops also took part in the [[Battle of Bileća]] where again he defeated the Turks. Lazar was killed during the 1389 [[Battle of Kosovo]] along with most of Serbia's political elite.
|--
|[[File:Stefan Lazarevic-freska.JPG|80px]]||<sup>Despote<br>↑Prince</sup><br>[[Stefan Lazarević]]<br><small>''Stefan the Tall''</small>|| 1389&ndash;1427 || Ottoman 1391&ndash;1404----Hungarian 1404&ndash;1427 || Son of Lazar. In 1391, Serbia became an Ottoman vassal, so Stefan was obliged to aid the Ottoman sultan in battles when asked. He did so in the [[Battle of Rovine]] in May 1395 against the [[Wallachia]]n prince [[Mircea I of Wallachia|Mircea I]] and the [[Battle of Nicopolis]] in 1396 against the Hungarian king [[Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor|Sigismund]]. After that, Sultan Bayezid awarded Stefan with the [[Vuk Branković]]'s land on Kosovo, as Branković sided with the Hungarian king at Nicopolis.  When [[Mongols]] entered the Ottoman realm, Stefan Lazarević participated in the [[Battle of Angora]] in 1402 when Ottomans were defeated and sultan Bayezid was captured. Returning to Serbia, Stefan visited [[Constantinople]] where the [[Byzantine Emperor]] [[Manuel II Palaiologos]] granted him the title of [[Despot (court title)|despot]]. In previous years, title would mean that the despot would rule some vassal state, but as the Byzantine Empire was too weak to assert such a rule and Serbia was not its vassal state, Stefan Lazarević took this title as the personal style of the Serbian monarchs, thus the Principality of Serbia became the Serbian Despotate.
|-
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | Picture
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | <sup>Title</sup>Name
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | Reign
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | Overlordship
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | Notes
|--
!style=background:lightblue; colspan=5 | [[Lordship of Prilep]] ([[House of Mrnjavčević|Mrnjavčević]])
|--
|[[File:Marko Mrnjavcevic.JPG|80px]]||<sup>King</sup><br>[[Prince Marko|Marko Mrnjavčević]]<br><small>''Prince Marko''</small> || 1371–1395 || Ottoman || Son of Vukašin. Killed in the [[Battle of Rovine]].
|-
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | Picture
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | <sup>Title</sup>Name
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | Reign
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | Overlordship
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | Notes
|--
!style=background:lightblue; colspan=5 | [[Domain of the Dejanović family|Lordship of the Dejanović family]] ([[Dejanović noble family|Dejanović]])
|--
|[[File:Unknown nobleman, Beluća Monastery.jpg|80px]]||<sup>Despot</sup><br>[[Jovan Dragaš|Jovan Dragaš Dejanović]] || 1371&ndash;1378 || Ottoman || 
|--
|[[File:Konstantin Dejanović, Kera-Tamara, Kerica, Desislava.jpg|80px]]||<sup>Lord</sup><br>[[Konstantin Dragaš Dejanović]] || 1378–1395 || Ottoman ||  Killed in the [[Battle of Rovine]].
|-
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | Picture
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | <sup>Title</sup>Name
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | Reign
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | Overlordship
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | Notes
|--
!style=background:lightblue; colspan=5 | District of Altomanović ([[Vojinović noble family|Vojinović]])
|--
| ||<sup>Grand Župan</sup><br>[[Nikola Altomanović]] || 1371–1373 || || Defeated and blinded in [[Užice]] in 1373 by a coalition of his Serbian and Bosnian royals neighbors.
|-
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | Picture
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | <sup>Title</sup>Name
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | Reign
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | Overlordship
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | Notes
|--
!style=background:lightblue; colspan=5 | [[Zeta under the Balšići|Lordship of Zeta under the Balšić family]] ([[Balšić noble family|Balšić]])
|--
| || <sup>Lord</sup><br>[[Đurađ I]] || 1371–1378 || || 
|--
| || <sup>Lord</sup><br>[[Balša II]] || 1378–1385 || || {{center|<small>'''Note:''' Lords of [[Principality of Valona|Valona and Kanina]] broke away from Zeta as independent rulers:</small>}}

{|class="wikitable" align=center
|--
|<sup>Lord</sup><br>[[Mrkša Žarković]] || 1396–1414 || Son-in-law of Balša II.
|--
|<sup>Lady</sup><br>[[Ruđina Balšić]] || 1414–1417 || Daughter of Balša II.
|}
|--
||| <sup>Lord</sup><br>[[Đurađ II]] || 1385–1403 || || 
|--
| || <sup>Lord</sup><br>[[Balša III]] || 1403–1421 || || 
|--
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | Picture
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | <sup>Title</sup>Name
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | Reign
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | Overlordship
!style=background:#FFDEAD; | Notes
|--
!style=background:lightblue; colspan=5 | [[Zeta under the Crnojevići|Lordship of Zeta under the Crnojević family]] ([[Crnojević noble family|Crnojević]])
|--
| || <sup>Lord</sup><br>[[Stefan Crnojević|Stefan]]<br><small>''Stefanica''</small> || 1451–1465 || || 
|--
| || <sup>Lord</sup><br> [[Ivan Crnojević|Ivan]]<br><small>''Ivan the Black''</small> || 1465–1490 || || 
|--
|[[File:The Miracle of St. Tryphon, ca. 1506, tempera with oil paint on softwood panel, 113 x 263 cm (cropped).jpg|80px]]|| <sup>Lord</sup><br>[[Đurađ Crnojević|Đurađ]] || 1490–1496 || || 
|--
| colspan=5 |{{center|<small>'''Note:''' </small>}} [[Zeta under the Crnojevići]] is conquered by the [[Ottoman Empire]]. The [[List of princes of Zeta|Zetan nobility]] enters the service of the [[Ottoman Empire]] (titular lord of Zeta).
|--
| ||[[Stefan II Crnojević|Stefan II]]|| 1496–1499 || nominal ruler under Ottoman suzerainty || Younger brother of Đurađ. Imprisoned by the Ottomans in 1499.
|}

===District of Branković / Serbian Despotate===
{{further|District of Branković|Serbian Despotate}}
{|class="wikitable" align="right" |
|-
|[[File:CoatOfArmsOfJovanStefanovicBrankovic.png|100px]] 
|-
! [[Branković dynasty|Branković]] 
|}

The [[Branković dynasty|Branković family]] descends from the Nemanjići and the Lazarevići via female line. The family rises to prominence during the time of disintegration of the Serbian Empire under the last Nemanjić. The original family domains were centred around [[Kosovo]] region, one of the heartlands of [[medieval Serbia]]n state. Later members of the house extended their rule over all remaining independent regions of Serbia making them the last suzerain rulers of medieval Serbia. The dynasty ruled the [[Serbian Despotate]] from 1427 to 1459.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Picture
! <sup>Title</sup>Name
! Reign
! Notes
|--
|[[File:Vuk Branković.jpg|80px]]||<sup>Lord</sup><br>[[Vuk Branković]] || 1371 – 1396 || Imprisoned and died in an Ottoman prison.
|--
|[[File:Đurađ Branković, Esphigmenou charter (1429).jpg|80px]]|| <sup>Despot<br>↑Lord</sup><br>[[Đurađ Branković|Đurađ I Branković]] || 1396 – 1412<br>1427 – 26 December 1456 || Grandson of Lazar I
|--
|[[File:Lazar Branković, Esphigmenou charter (1429).jpg|80px]]||<sup>Despot</sup><br>[[Lazar Branković]] || December 1456 – 20 January 1458 || Son of Đurađ I
|--
|[[File:Stefan Branković, Esphigmenou charter (1429).jpg|80px]]||<sup>Despot</sup><br>[[Stefan Branković]]<br><small>''Stefan the Blind''</small> || 1458 – April 8, 1459 || Son of Đurađ I, regent for niece. Serbia proper was annexed by the [[Ottoman Empire]] in 1459.
|--
|[[File:Stjepan Tomašević cropped.jpg|80px]]||<sup>Despot</sup><br>[[Stephen Tomašević of Bosnia|Stephen Tomašević]] || 1 April 1459 – 20 June 1459 || He married [[Mary of Serbia, Queen of Bosnia|Helena Branković]], the eldest daughter of [[Lazar Branković]] and [[Helena Palaiologina of Morea|Helena Palaiologina]].
|--
| colspan=4 |{{center|<small>'''Note:''' </small>}} [[Serbian Despotate]] is conquered by the [[Ottoman Empire]]. The [[Medieval Serbian nobility|Serbian nobility]] enters the service of [[Kingdom of Hungary (1301–1526)|Hungary]]. The regnal title of ''[[Despot (court title)|despot]]'' is given by the [[Kingdom of Hungary (1301–1526)|Hungarians]] and [[Habsburg monarchy|Habsburgs]] (titular despot of Serbia).
|--
||[[File:Змај_Вук_Бранковић,_деспот_српски.jpg|80px]]||[[Vuk Grgurević|Vuk Grgurević Branković]]<br><small>''Vuk the Fiery Dragon''</small>|| 1471–1485 || Grandson of Đurađ I. In 1471 a dependent Serbian state was established by the Hungarians mostly on the territory of [[Vojvodina]] and [[Syrmia]].
|--
|[[File:Krušedol monastery 50.JPG|80px]] || [[Đorđe Branković]] || 1486–1497 || Son of Stefan Branković, abdicated
|--
|[[File:Jovan Branković, by Andreja Raičević.jpg|80px]] || [[Jovan Branković]]|| 1493–1502 || Son of Stefan Branković
|--
| || [[Ivaniš Berislavić]] || 1504–1514 || Married widow of Jovan Branković.
|--
| || [[Stjepan Berislavić]] || 1520–1535 || Son of Ivaniš and Jelena. Deposed
|--
| || [[Radič Božić]] || 1527–1528 || Vassal of John Zapolya.
|--
|  || [[Pavle Bakić]] || 1537 || Vassal of Ferdinand I. The last titular Despot of Serbia.
|}

===Second Serbian Empire and Duchy of Srem (1526&ndash;1532)===
{|class="wikitable"
|--
! Picture
! <sup>Title</sup>Name
! Reign
! Territory
! Notes
|--
| || <sup>[[Emperor of the Serbs]]<br>([[Self-proclaimed monarchy|self-proclaimed]])</sup><br /> [[Jovan Nenad]]<br><small>''Jovan the Black''</small> || 1526 – July 26, 1527 || southern [[Pannonian Basin|Pannonian Plain]] || Many Serbian historians consider him the founder of contemporary [[Vojvodina]]
|--
| || <sup>Duke</sup><br /> [[Radoslav Čelnik]] || 1527 – 1532 || [[Syrmia]] || He was general commander of [[Emperor Jovan Nenad]]'s army.
|}

==Habsburg-occupied Serbia==
{{further|Habsburg-occupied Serbia (1686–1691)|Kingdom of Serbia (1718–1739)|Habsburg-occupied Serbia (1788–1792)|Serbian Vojvodina|Voivodeship of Serbia and Banat of Temeschwar}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Picture
! <sup>Title</sup>Name<br /><small>Born - Died</small>
! Reign
! Territory
! Notes
|--
|[[File:Jovan_Monasterlija.jpg|80px]] || <sup>[[Duke|Vice Duke of Serbian Vojvodina]]</sup><br /> [[Jovan Monasterlija]]<br /> 1660s–1706 || 1691–1706 || [[Habsburg-occupied Serbia (1686–1691)|Habsburg-occupied Serbia]]  || "Chief of the Serbian Nation" under [[Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor|Leopold I]]
|--
|[[File:Martin van Meytens (attrib.) - Porträt Kaiser Karl VI.jpg|80px]] || <sup>''King of Serbia''</sup><br /> [[Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles III]]<br /> October 1, 1685 – October 20, 1740 || 1718–1739 || [[Habsburg monarchy|Habsburg]] [[Kingdom of Serbia (1718–39)|Kingdom of Serbia]] || The Kingdom of Serbia was a [[crown land]] of the [[Habsburg monarchy]]
|--
|[[File:Stefan Supljikac color.jpg|80px]] || <sup>[[Duke|Duke of Serbian Vojvodina]]</sup><br /> [[Stevan Šupljikac]] <br /> 1786 –  December 15, 1848 || May 1, 1848 – December 15, 1848 || [[Serbian Vojvodina]] || The Serbian Vojvodina was a short-lived self-proclaimed Serb autonomous province during the [[revolutions of 1848 in the Austrian Empire]]
|--
|[[File: Franz Joseph of Austria young.jpg|80px]] || <sup>'' [[Grosswojwod|Grand Voivode of the Voivodeship of Serbia]]''</sup><br /> [[Franz Joseph I of Austria|Franz Joseph I]]<br /> August 18, 1830 – November 21, 1916 || November 18, 1849 – December 27, 1860 || [[Voivodeship of Serbia and Banat of Temeschwar]] || The Voivodeship of Serbia and Banat of Temeschwar was a crown land of the [[Austrian Empire]]
|}

==Modern Serbia (1804&ndash;1918)==
{{further|History of modern Serbia|Serbian Revolution}}
===[[Revolutionary Serbia]] (1804–1813)===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Picture
! <sup>Title</sup>Name<br />{{small|(Birth–Death)}}
! Reign
! Territory
! Notes
|-
| [[File:Karađorđe Petrović, by Vladimir Borovikovsky, 1816.jpg|80px]] || <sup>Grand Vožd of Serbia</sup><br />[[Karađorđe|Karađorđe Petrović]]<br />{{small|''Black George''<br />(November 3, 1768 – July 24, 1817)}} || February 15, 1804 – September 21, 1813 || [[Revolutionary Serbia]] || Leader of the [[First Serbian Uprising]] <br /> Founder of [[Revolutionary Serbia]] and [[House of Karađorđević|Karađorđević dynasty]] <br /> [[Karađorđe#Defeat|Deposed]] and exiled to [[Austrian Empire|Austria]]. <br /> Collapse of the [[First Serbian Uprising]].
|}

===[[Principality of Serbia]] (1815–1882)===

====[[House of Obrenović|Obrenović dynasty]] (1815–1842)====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Picture
! <sup>Title</sup>Name<br />{{small|(Birth–Death)}}
! Reign
! Territory
! Notes
|-
| [[File:Knez Miloš Obrenović.jpg|80px]] || <sup>Grand Vožd of Serbia<br>↑[[Prince of Serbia]]</sup><br />[[Miloš Obrenović|Miloš Obrenović I]]<br />{{small|''Miloš the Great''<br />(March 18, 1780 – September 26, 1860)}} || <sup>First reign</sup><br />April 23, 1815 – June 25, 1839 || [[Principality of Serbia]] || Leader of the [[Second Serbian Uprising]] <br /> Founder of [[Principality of Serbia]] and [[Obrenović dynasty]] <br /> Elevated to the status of Prince on November 6, 1817. Abdicated.
|-
| [[File:Milan Obrenović II, Prince of Serbia.jpg|80px]] || <sup>[[Prince of Serbia]]</sup><br />[[Milan Obrenović, Prince of Serbia|Milan Obrenović II]]<br />{{small|(October 21, 1819 – July 8, 1839)}} || June 25, 1839 – July 8, 1839 || [[Principality of Serbia]] || Elder adult son of Miloš; ruled for only 13 days.
|-
| [[File:Portret Mihailo Obrenovic.jpg|80px]] || <sup>[[Prince of Serbia]]</sup><br />[[Mihailo Obrenović, Prince of Serbia|Mihailo Obrenović III]]<br />{{small|(September 16, 1823 – June 10, 1868)}} || <sup>First reign</sup><br />July 8, 1839 – September 14, 1842 || [[Principality of Serbia]] || Younger adult son of Miloš; deposed by the [[Defenders of the Constitution]].
|}

====[[House of Karađorđević|Karađorđević dynasty]] (1842–1858)====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Picture
! <sup>Title</sup>Name<br />{{small|(Birth–Death)}}
! Reign
! Territory
! Notes
|-
| [[File:PrinceAlexander I w.jpg|80px]] || <sup>[[Prince of Serbia]]</sup><br />[[Alexander Karađorđević, Prince of Serbia|Aleksandar Karađorđević]]<br />{{small|(October 11, 1806 – May 3, 1885)}} || September 14, 1842 – December 23, 1858 || [[Principality of Serbia]] || [[Alexander Karađorđević, Prince of Serbia#Abdication|Abdicated]]. <br /> Return of [[House of Obrenović|Obrenović dynasty]] to power.
|}

====[[House of Obrenović|Obrenović dynasty]] (1858–1882)====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Picture
! <sup>Title</sup>Name<br />{{small|(Birth–Death)}}
! Reign
! Territory
! Notes
|-
| [[File:MilosObrenovic 1848.jpg|80px]] || <sup>[[Prince of Serbia]]</sup><br />[[Miloš Obrenović|Miloš Obrenović I]]<br />{{small|''Miloš the Great''<br />(March 18, 1780 – September 26, 1860)}} || <sup>Second reign</sup><br />December 23, 1858 – September 26, 1860 || [[Principality of Serbia]] || Died due to old age.
|-
| [[File:Portret Mihailo-Obrenovic.png|80px]] || <sup>[[Prince of Serbia]]</sup><br />[[Mihailo Obrenović, Prince of Serbia|Mihailo Obrenović III]]<br />{{small|(September 16, 1823 – June 10, 1868)}} || <sup>Second reign</sup><br />September 26, 1860 – June 10, 1868 || [[Principality of Serbia]] || Younger adult son of Miloš; [[Michael Obrenović III, Prince of Serbia#Second reign and assassination|assassinated]] in [[Košutnjak]].
|-
| [[File:Princ Milan I Obrenovic.jpg|80px]] || <sup>[[King of Serbia]]<br>↑[[Prince of Serbia]]</sup><br />[[Milan I of Serbia|Milan Obrenović IV]]<br />{{small|(August 22, 1854 – February 11, 1901)}} || June 10, 1868 – March 6, 1882 || [[Principality of Serbia]] || Grandnephew of Miloš <br /> In 1878, Serbia gained full international recognition at the [[Congress of Berlin]]. In 1882, the country was elevated to the status of kingdom.
|}

===[[Kingdom of Serbia]] (1882–1918)===

====[[House of Obrenović|Obrenović dynasty]] (1882–1903)====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Picture
! <sup>Title</sup>Name<br />{{small|(Birth–Death)}}
! Reign
! Territory
! Notes
|-
| [[File:KraljMilanObrenovic.jpg|80px]] || <sup>[[King of Serbia]]</sup><br />[[Milan I of Serbia|Milan Obrenović IV]]<br />{{small|(August 22, 1854 – February 11, 1901)}} || March 6, 1882 – March 6, 1889 || [[Kingdom of Serbia]] || Abdicated.
|-
| [[File:Aleksandar ob heinrich wassmuth 1894.jpg|80px]] || <sup>[[King of Serbia]]</sup><br />[[Alexander I of Serbia|Alexander I Obrenović]]<br />{{small|(August 14, 1876 – June 11, 1903)}} || March 6, 1889 – June 11, 1903 || [[Kingdom of Serbia]] || [[Alexander I of Serbia#Assassination|Assassinated]] together with [[Draga Mašin|Queen Draga]] in the [[May Coup (Serbia)|May Coup]]. <br /> The end of [[Obrenović dynasty]].
|}

====[[House of Karađorđević|Karađorđević dynasty]] (1903–1918)====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Picture
! <sup>Title</sup>Name<br />{{small|(Birth–Death)}}
! Reign
! Territory
! Notes
|-
| [[File:PetarI-Karadjordjevic.jpg|80px]] || <sup>[[List of heads of state of Yugoslavia#Kingdom of Yugoslavia|King of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes]]<br />↑[[King of Serbia]]</sup><br />[[Peter I Karađorđević]]<br />{{small|''King Peter the Liberator''; ''Old King''<br />(June 29, 1844 – August 16, 1921)}} || June 15, 1903 – December 1, 1918 || [[Kingdom of Serbia]] || Elder adult son of Aleksandar; in exile from November 1915 due to the [[Serbian campaign]]. <br /> Proclaimed King of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes on December 1, 1918.
|-
! class=noprint colspan=4 style="font-weight:normal" | {{xref|After the [[Creation of Yugoslavia]]|selfref=no}} {{arrow}}
! class=noprint colspan=7 style="font-weight:normal" | {{xref|See [[List of heads of state of Yugoslavia]]}}
|}

==[[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]] (1918–1941)==
{{Infobox former monarchy
| royal_title       = Monarchy
| realm             = Yugoslavia
| coatofarms        = Royal Standard of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (variant), 1920s to 1937.svg
| coatofarmssize    = 110px
| coatofarmscaption = '''[[Flags of Yugoslavia|Royal Standard]]'''
| image             = Petar II Karađorđević.jpg
| caption           = '''Last monarch of Yugoslavia'''<br>'''[[Peter II of Yugoslavia|Peter II]]'''<br>6 September 1923 – 3 November 1970
| first_monarch     = [[Peter I of Serbia|Peter I]]
| last_monarch      = [[Peter II of Yugoslavia|Peter II]]
| style             = [[Majesty|His Majesty]]
| residence         = [[Dedinje Royal Compound]], [[Belgrade]]
| appointer         = [[Line of succession to the former Yugoslav throne|Hereditary]]
| began             = 1 December 1918
| ended             = 29 November 1945 <small>(''proclamation of the [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|socialist]] [[Communist Party of Yugoslavia|one-party]] [[Josip Broz Tito|dictatorship]]'')</small>
| pretender         = [[Alexander, Crown Prince of Yugoslavia|Crown Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia]]
}}

===[[House of Karađorđević|Karađorđević dynasty]] (1918&ndash;1945)===
In 1918, [[Kingdom of Serbia|Serbia]] became part of the [[Creation of Yugoslavia|newly formed]] [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia|Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes]]. Later that state changed name to the [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]] (i.e. Kingdom of [[South Slavs]]) in 1929. During that [[interwar period]] the country was a [[parliamentary monarchy]] (except during the period of [[6 January Dictatorship|royal dictatorship]] 1929–1931), ruled by the [[House of Karađorđević|house of Karađorđević]].

{| style="text-align:center" class="wikitable" width=50%
! width="20%" | Portrait 
! width=15% | Name<br><small>(Birth–Death)</small>
!Rule start 
!Rule end!! width="15%" | Marriages !! width="10%" | Succession right !! width=10% | Notes
|-
|[[File:Peter I of Serbia (Rotary Photo 7119 A).jpg|100px|Peter I of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes]] || [[Peter I of Serbia|Peter I Karađorđević]]<br><small>''King Peter the Liberator''</small><br><small>(1844–1921)</small><br>
|1 December 1918
|16 August 1921||[[Princess Zorka of Montenegro]] in 1883<br>(5 children) ||align="left"| Previously [[King of Serbia]],<br>proclaimed King by representatives of South Slav states || align="left"|Held the title "King of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes". Prince [[Alexander I of Yugoslavia|Alexander]] served as regent in his final years.
|-
|[[File:Kralj aleksandar1.jpg|100px|Alexander I of Yugoslavia]] || [[Alexander I of Yugoslavia|Alexander I Karađorđević]]<br><small>''Alexander the Unifier''</small> <br><small>(1888–1934)</small>
|16 August 1921
|9 October 1934
|[[Maria of Yugoslavia]] on 8 June 1922<br>(3 children)||align="left"|Son of the preceding|| align="left"|Changed title to "King of Yugoslavia" in 1929.<br>Assassinated in [[Marseille]].
|-bgcolor="#F5F5DC"
|[[File:Prince Paul of Yugoslavia.jpg|100px|Prince Paul of Yugoslavia]] || [[Prince Paul of Yugoslavia|Paul Karađorđević]]<br><small>(1893–1976)</small>
|9 October 1934
|27 March 1941
|[[Princess Olga of Greece and Denmark|Olga of Greece and Denmark]] on 22 October 1923<br>(3 children)||align="left"|Cousin of the preceding||align="left"|[[Prince Paul of Yugoslavia|Prince Paul]] with [[Radenko Stanković]], [[Ivo Perović]] as the regent for King Peter II.
|-
|[[File:Petar II Karađorđević.jpg|100px|Peter II of Yugoslavia]] || [[Peter II of Yugoslavia|Peter II Karađorđević]]<br><small>(1923–1970)</small>
|9 October 1934
|29 November 1945
|[[Alexandra of Yugoslavia|Alexandra of Greece and Denmark]] on 20 March 1944<br>([[Alexander, Crown Prince of Yugoslavia|1 child]]) ||align="left"|Son of the preceding||align="left"|[[Prince Paul of Yugoslavia|Prince Paul]] acted as regent until [[Yugoslav coup d'état|ousted on 27 March 1941]]; exiled on 17 April 1941 and deposed on 29 November 1945.
|-
|}

After [[World War II in Yugoslavia|World War II and the civil war]] Yugoslavia became a [[communist state]] known as the [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]], ruled by [[Josip Broz Tito]] and the [[League of Communists of Yugoslavia]]. After [[Death and state funeral of Josip Broz Tito|Tito's death]] in 1980, the federation started [[Breakup of Yugoslavia|a process of dissolution]] which finished in [[Yugoslav Wars|a series of civil wars]] in the early 1990s. Through the 1990s, constituent republics [[Republic of Serbia (1992–2006)|Serbia]] and [[Republic of Montenegro (1992–2006)|Montenegro]] comprised the [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]], which was restructured in 2003 into a confederation called [[Serbia and Montenegro]]. The state union ended with [[Montenegro]]'s independence following the [[Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006|2006 independence referendum]]. Currently [[Serbia]] is a [[parliamentary republic]]. There was no referendum of restoration of [[parliamentary monarchy]], although political organizations and a certain public in favor of it do exist.

==See also==
*[[List of heads of state of Serbia]], for a comprehensive list of Serbian heads of state since 1804
*[[List of heads of state of Yugoslavia]]
*[[List of presidents of Serbia]]
*[[President of Serbia]]
*[[President of Serbia and Montenegro]]
*[[Regalia of Serbia]]
*[[Burial sites of European monarchs and consorts#Serbia|Burial sites of Serbian monarchs]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{Cite book|editor-last=Moravcsik|editor-first=Gyula|editor-link=Gyula Moravcsik|title=Constantine Porphyrogenitus: De Administrando Imperio|year=1967|orig-year=1949|edition=2nd revised|location=Washington D.C.|publisher=Dumbarton Oaks Center for Byzantine Studies|isbn=9780884020219|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3al15wpFWiMC}}
* {{Cite book|last=Ćirković|first=Sima|author-link=Sima Ćirković|year=2004|title=The Serbs|location=Malden|publisher=Blackwell Publishing|isbn=9781405142915|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2Wc-DWRzoeIC}}
* {{The Early Medieval Balkans}}
* {{The Late Medieval Balkans}}
* {{cite book | last=Živković | first=Tibor | author-link=Tibor Živković | title=Portreti srpskih vladara (IX—XII vek) | year=2006 | location=Belgrade | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d-KTAAAACAAJ | isbn=86-17-13754-1 }}
* {{Cite journal|last=Živković|first=Tibor|author-link=Tibor Živković|title=The Golden Seal of Stroimir|journal=Historical Review|year=2007|volume=55|pages=23–29|publisher=The Institute for History|location=Belgrade|url=http://www.iib.ac.rs/docs/IstorijskiCasopis55%282007%29.pdf|access-date=2018-03-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324160341/http://www.iib.ac.rs/docs/IstorijskiCasopis55(2007).pdf|archive-date=2018-03-24|url-status=dead}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|author=Dejan Nikolić|title=Svi vladari Srbije|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LmctAQAAIAAJ|year=1996|publisher=Narodna biblioteka "Resavska škola"}}
*{{cite book|author1=Момир Јовић|author2=Коста Радић|title=Srpske zemlje i vladari|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LHJpAAAAMAAJ|year=1990|publisher=Društvo za negovanje istorijskih i umetničkih vrednosti|isbn=9788681587010}}
*{{cite book|author1=Andrija Veselinović|author2=Radoš Ljušić|title=Srpske dinastije|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gWctAQAAIAAJ|year=2008|publisher=Službene glasink|isbn=978-86-7549-921-3}}
*{{cite book|author=Milivoje Pajović|title=Vladari srpskih zemalja|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6aYtAQAAIAAJ|year=2001|publisher=Gramatik}}
*{{cite book|author=Miodrag Al Purković|title=Srpski vladari|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TTvRAAAAMAAJ|year=1958}}
*{{cite book|author=Stanoje Stanojević|title=Naši vladari|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mOUJAQAAIAAJ|year=1989|publisher=Narodna knjiga|isbn=9788633101516}}

{{Serbian monarchs}}
{{Lists of historical monarchs of modern countries}}

[[Category:Serbian monarchs| ]]
[[Category:Lists of monarchs in Europe|Serbia]]
[[Category:History of Serbia by topic]]
[[Category:History of the Serbs]]
[[Category:Lists of office-holders in Serbia|Monarchs]]
[[Category:Serbian dynasties]]