Helen of Bosnia
| Helen Gruba | |
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| Reign | 1395–1398 |
| Predecessor | Stephen Dabiša |
| Successor | Stephen Ostoja |
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| Tenure | 1391–1395 |
| Spouse | Stephen Dabiša of Bosnia |
| Issue | |
| Stana Kotromanić | |
| House | House of Kotromanić House of Nikolić |
| Religion | Roman Catholic[1] |
Helen Gruba (Bosnian: Jelena Gruba/Јелена Груба) was the Queen regnant of Bosnia from 1395 to 1398. She was the only female ruler of Bosnia.
Helen came from the noble House of Nikolić, which ruled a part of Zachlumia.[2]
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[edit] Queen consort
Helen first became Queen of Bosnia as consort to King Stephen Dabiša.[3] He ascended in 1391, on the death of his relative, King Stephen Tvrtko I of Bosnia. Their only surviving child was a daughter called Stana. Stana's daughter Vladika married Juraj Radivojević during Stephen Dabiša's lifetime and reign. This is confirmed by a charter by which Stephen Dabiša gave his daughter an area to govern. The charter also says that the area is to be inherited by the King and Queen's granddaughter Vladika and grandson-in-law Juraj.[4]
[edit] Queen regnant
When Stephen Dabiša died in 1395, Helen ceased to be Queen consort of Bosnia. Her husband had designated King Sigismund of Hungary, the husband of his relative, Queen Mary of Hungary, as his successor. The Bosnian nobility refused to recognize Sigismund as king and installed Helen as the new monarch.[2] Helen was a great-grandmother by then, as her daughter's daughter had already had children at that point.
As Helen was brought to power by the large Bosnian nobility, it is during her reign that the Bosnian nobility grows in power independently from the crown. Amongst them were the famous Dukes Sandalj Hranić and Hrvoje Vukčić and Prince Pavle Radenović that ruled their own demesnes independently from the Queen. The Queen's demesne was a small territory in central Bosnia, while she lost the suzeiranity over the territories of Usora in the valley of the river of Sava. Though she lost some territory and control over nobility, Helen's reign saw successful trade with the Republic of Dubrovnik.[3][4]
[edit] Queen dowager
In 1398 she was replaced with Stephen Ostoja. It is unclear why she was replaced. It is possible that her brothers were gaining too much wealth and influence during her reign and the rest of the nobility didn't like it.[2]
She continued to reside at the court as queen dowager. Sources refer to her after her deposition as the most serene and mighty lady Gruba.[2][3][4]
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Helen of Bosnia
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| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Stephen Dabiša |
Queen regnant of Bosnia 1395–1398 |
Succeeded by Stephen Ostoja |
| Royal titles | ||
| Vacant
Title last held by
Dorothea of Bulgaria |
Queen consort of Bosnia 1391–1395 |
Vacant
Title next held by
Vitača |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Fine, John Van Antwerp (1994). The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. Michigan: The University of Michigan Press. p. 281. ISBN 0472082604, 0472100793.
- ^ a b c d John Van Antwerp Fine, The Late Medieval Balkans, A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest, University of Michigan Press, 1987
- ^ a b c Regnal Chronologies Western Balkans - Bosnian Rulers
- ^ a b c Medieval Lands Project Kotromanić Family - Helena the Crude
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