Stephen Uroš II Milutin of Serbia

Stefan Milutin
King of all the Serbian and Maritime Lands
King Milutin, (founder's portrait (fresco) in "King's Church" of the Studenica monastery, painted during his lifetime, around 1314)
Reign	1282–1321
Coronation	1282
Predecessor	Stephen Dragutin
Successor	Stephen of Dečani
Born	Uroš II Milutin Nemanjić 1253
Died	29 October 1321(1321-10-29) (aged 68)
Burial	St. Nedelya in Sofia (relocated in 1460)
Issue	Stephen Constantine Stephen Uroš III Dečanski
House	Nemanjić dynasty
Father	Stefan Uroš I
Mother	Helen of Anjou
Religion	Serbian Orthodox
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Stefan Uroš II Milutin (Serbian Cyrillic: Стефан Урош II Милутин; c. 1253 – 29 October 1321), known as Stefan Milutin (Стефан Милутин), was the King of Serbia between 1282–1321, a member of the Nemanjić dynasty. He was one of the most powerful rulers of Serbia in the Middle Ages. Miliutin is credited with strongly resisting the efforts of Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos to impose Roman Catholicism on the Balkans after the Union of Lyons in 1274. As most of the Nemanjić monarchs, he was proclaimed a saint by the Serbian Orthodox Church with a feast day on October 30.

He was the youngest son of King Stefan Uroš I and his wife, Helen of Anjou. Unexpectedly he became king of Serbia after the abdication of his brother Stefan Dragutin. He was around 29. Immediately upon his accession to the throne he attacked Byzantine lands in Macedonia. In 1282, he conquered the northern parts of Macedonia including the city of Skoplje, which became his capital. Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos began preparations for war but he died before their completion. The next year Milutin advanced with his brother deep into Byzantine territory all the way to Kavala.

In 1284, Milutin also gained control of northern Albania and the city of Dyrrachion (Durrës). For the next 15 years there were no changes in the war. Peace was concluded in 1299 when Milutin kept the conquered lands as the dowry of Simonis, daughter of Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos who became his 4th wife. In Nerodimlje župa Milutin had three courts, in Nerodimlje (protected by Petrič), Svrčin and Pauni.