Serbia and Venice during the reign of Stefan Dušan

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between Serbia and the Republic of Venice during the reign of King and Emperor Stefan Dušan. One of its aims is to highlight the distinct characteristics of Serbian-Venetian relations during this period, compared to earlier times, and to explore the reasons behind the Serbian ruler’s efforts to elevate these relations to a higher level. To provide context, the introduction offers a brief overview of the ties between the Nemanjić dynasty and Venice. The study is structured geographically, focusing on the states that fell within the spheres of interest of both Venice and Serbia and whose political actions influenced Serbian-Venetian relations. These states include the Byzantine Empire, Hungary, and Bosnia. A separate section is dedicated to the economic dimension of their relationship, with special attention given to the cities of Dubrovnik and Kotor. From the Serbian perspective, relations with Venice were primarily driven by political motives—specifically, Dušan’s hopes that Venice would support his ambitions to conquer Constantinople. Meanwhile, Venice's primary concern was trade and ensuring its uninterrupted flow. Both sides sought to achieve their respective goals through diplomatic missions, negotiations, and mediation.

Keywords

• serbia
• venetian republic
• byzantium
• bosnia
• kotor
• stefan dušan
• medieval diplomacy
• embassies
• dubrovnik