History of Uzice

The region may have been returned to Serbian hands in the 1040s, during the revolt against the Byzantines led by Stefan Vojislav, progenitor of the Vojislavljević dynasty. In 1083, Vukan and Marko are appointed vassal princes in Rascia. In 1091, Vukan becomes independent, while Duklja (up until this, the most powerful Serbian principality) slowly crumbles, eventually coming under the rule of "Rascia" - The Serbian Grand Principality stays in the hands of the Vukanović dynasty until another line of the same dynasty is put to rule by Manuel I Komnenos (r. 1143-1180). Zavida, thought to be a brother of Uroš II and Desa, fled after trying to acquire an appanage or the throne itself for himself. Zavida's four sons divided the rule, each holding česti (parts): Stracimir ruled West Morava (of which Užice is part of), Miroslav ruled Zahumlje and Travunia, and Stefan Nemanja was given Toplica, Ibar, Rasina and Reke. Stefan Nemanja eventually wrestled the rule when defeating Tihomir in 1171, Stracimir continued ruling in Nemanja's name. The Nemanjić dynasty is named after Nemanja, who began the prospering of Serbia in the Middle Ages.