Stefan Uros Nemanjic V

Serbian King from 1346 to 1355 and co-ruler of his father tzar Dusan Silni from 1355 to 1371. Known in the epic tradition as Uros "the Weak," he was not capable of keeping his father's empire intact. The powerful landlords and magnates, enjoying their growing independence, were unwilling or unable to find guidance and cohesion in Dusan's heir. This situation was exploited by the Byzantine Empire, which took from him Serbian Greece and Hungary, which took hold of Macva and Belgrade. In his own state in 1358 he faced rebellions firstly from his uncle, the despot of Epirus Simeon and his mother Jelena, who started to rule autonomously with their areas. Following their example, noblemen families Dejanovic, Mrnjavcevic, Balsic and Altomanovic also rose against him. At the end of his rule the only lands under direct Uros's control were those between the Sara and the Danube. Uros was the final legitimate member of the holy Nemanjic dynasty. The Church understood him as a tragic figure and martyr and canonized him as Saint Great Martyr King Uros.