Lordship of Prilep

Province of Prilep
Прилепско краљевство Prilepsko kraljevstvo
1371–1395
Flag Coat of arms
Medieval Realm of King Marko
Capital		Prilep
Government		Kingdom
King
•	1371–1395	Prince Marko (only)
Historical era		Medieval
•	Marko's inheritance	September 26, 1371 1371
•	Subjugation by Bayezid I	1395
Preceded by Succeeded by Serbian Empire Ottoman Empire

The Lordship of Prilep was one of the provinces of the Serbian Empire, held by Vukašin Mrnjavčević, the co-ruler of Serbia alongside child-less Uroš the Weak (r. 1355-1371). Lord Vukašin died at the Battle of Maritsa and Emperor Uroš died later in 1371, so Prilep was obtained by Marko Mrnjavčević, the son of Lord Vukašin. Since Marko is referred to as King in South Slavic folklore, (he had the personal title of young king given by his father), the realm is in some sources called the Kingdom of Prilep (Macedonian and Bulgarian: Прилепско кралство, Prilepsko kralstvo).^[1] as the seat of the province was at Prilep, present-day Republic of Macedonia.

History

States in the Central Balkans that emerged after dissolution of Serbian Empire in the 14th century

The lands were held by Serbian feudal lord Vukašin Mrnjavčević, who was crowned the king of the Serbs and Greeks in 1365 as the co-ruler of last Serbian emperor Uroš. After the death of both Uroš and Vukašin in 1371, Vukašin's son Marko Mrnjavčević, known as King Marko, became the sole legal ruler of the Serbian Empire but his power was contested by other Serbian feudal lords who gained control over other regions leaving Marko only with the areas in western Macedonia.^[2] So, after his father's death, Marko became effective ruler of the Kingdom of Prilep.^[3]

The Province was subjugated by the Sultan Bayezid I in 1395 and its territory became the Sanjak of Ohrid.

References

1. Donald MacGillivray Nicol, The last centuries of Byzantium, (1261-1453), p. 275
2. J.VA Fine, The late mediaeval Balkans, p.380
3. Harold William Vazeille Temperley, History of Serbia