;Court titles •
župan (жупан). The Serbs in the Early Middle Ages were organized into administrative divisions,
župa (
župe), a confederation of village communities (roughly the equivalent of a county), headed by a local
župan (a magistrate or governor,
župani). According to Fine, the governorship was hereditary, and the
župan reported to the Serbian prince, whom they were obliged to aid in war. This title later evolved into
veliki župan. •
veliki župan (велики жупан). The title signifies overlordship, as the leader of lesser chieftains titled
župan. It was originally used by the Serb rulers in the 11th and 12th centuries. Afterwards, it was a high rank with notable holders such as
Altoman Vojinović ( 1335–59). •
vojvoda (војвода, "war-leader",
belli dux). A senior official, both a military rank (equivalent of
general) and gubernatorial title (equivalent of
dux, "duke"), and the highest court title during the time of Stefan Milutin (1282–1321). Later, the title of
veliki vojvoda was introduced. •
Velikaš (великаш,
great, large, grand) •
knez (кнез) or
knjaz (књаз). Translated as "duke" or "prince". •
kefalija (кефалија). The earlier
župan title was abolished and replaced with the Greek-derived
kefalija (
kephale, "head, master") during the reign of Emperor Stefan Dušan. •
kaznac (казнац, "penalty inflicter"). In charge of the treasury in the territory under his jurisdiction,
kaznačina, derived from
kazna ("penalty"). It was the equivalent of
camerarius (chamberlain). •
tepčija (тепчија). •
gospodar (господар) or
gospodin (господин, "lord"). •
čelnik (челник, "head"). During the reign of Stefan Milutin (1282–1321), the title holder was entrusted with the security of property belonging to the Church from the aristocrats, so the holder appeared in the role of a judge or executor of the ruler's decisions, in disputes between the church and the nobility. It is unclear if there was one or several with that title at the court at that time. During King Stefan Dečanski's reign (1321–31), there was two or three title holders at the same time. During Stefan Dušan's reign, the title of
veliki čelnik (велики челник) is first mentioned. After
Jovan Oliver and Dimitrije, it seems that the title was not given at the court of
Stefan Dušan (r. 1331–55). •
stavilac (ставилац, "placer"). 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, 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. Its oldest mention is from the court of King
Stefan Milutin (r. 1282–1321), when
Đuraš Vrančić had the title. The title of
stavilac ranked as the last in the hierarchy of the Serbian court, behind
čelnik,
kaznac,
tepčija and
vojvoda, the supreme title. It was, nevertheless, quite prestigious as it enabled its holder to be very close to the ruler. 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). •
Ban •
protovestijar (протовестијар) or
veliki kaznac (велики казнац). From Byzantine
protovestiarios, minister of finance, holders include Nikola, Petar, Ivan, Marin •
despot (деспот). From Byzantine
despotes. •
kesar (кесар). From Byzantine
kaísar (καῖσαρ), in turn derived from Latin
caesar, holders include
Grgur Golubić, •
domestik (доместик). From Byzantine
domestikos. Later, the title
veliki domestik was introduced. •
logotet (логотет). Financial, from Byzantine
logothetes. Later, the title
veliki logotet was introduced. •
čauš (чауш) and
veliki čauš (велики чауш). •
sluga (слуга). A special court office, similar to
stavilac. Later elevated into
veliki sluga (велики слуга), an equivalent of
megas domestikos. •
komornik (коморник) •
dijak (дијак) •
peharnik (пехарник) ;Honorifics •
vitez (витез, "
knight"). The title was held by
Palman, a Styrian nobleman that served Stefan Dušan (1331–55) as a bodyguard and mercenary commander, and possibly also
Đuraš Ilijić. •
sevast (севаст). Honorific. From Byzantine
sebastos, meaning "venerable" (equivalent to Roman
augustus). •
protosevast (протосеваст). Honorific. From Byzantine
protosebastos. Notable holders include
Hrelja. •
sevastokrator (севастократор). Honorific. From Byzantine
sevastokrator. ==References==