Zavida

Zavida (Serbian Cyrillic: Завида) was a 12th-century Serbian nobleman, and father of prince Miroslav of Hum, mentioned as such in the Miroslav Gospel, and in the ktetor inscription in the Church of the Holy Apostles in Bijelo Polje. Since Miroslav was brother of Stefan Nemanja, Grand Prince of Serbia (1166-1196), Zavida is also considered as Nemanja's father too.^[1][2][3][4]

Zavida
Born	Zavida
Title	A nobleman (župan) in Serbia, and in Duklja (Ribnica)
Children	Tihomir Stracimir Miroslav Stefan Nemanja

The ktetor inscription in the Church of the Holy Apostles in Bijelo Polje, mentioning prince Miroslav of Hum as son of Zavida

Zavida was a kinsman of earlier Grand Princes of Serbia,^[5][6] including Vukan I and Uroš I, or even a son of Vukan or Uroš, as proposed by some historians,^[7][8] since Stefan Nemanja's descendants are named Vukan and Uroš in several generations, but those genealogical questions are not considered as definitively resolved.

As a nobleman (župan) in Serbia, Nemanja's father (presumably Zavida) got into conflict with his brothers, sometime during the first half of the 12th century, resulting in him being exiled to the Duklja (Zeta) region,^[8] where his son Nemanja would be born, in Ribnica (part of present-day Podgorica), as stated in the Life of Stefan Nemanja, a 13th century hagiography.

Another presumed son of Zavida, Tihomir was chosen to rule over Serbia as a Grand Župan (highest title) following Byzantine division of Serbian lands by Emperor Manuel I,^[5] and his other sons were given česti (parts): thus Stracimir ruled West Morava, Miroslav ruled Zachumlia and Travunia, while Stefan Nemanja was given Toplica, Ibar, Rasina and Reke.

One of his sons, Stefan Nemanja, would become the progenitor of the famous Serbian Nemanjić dynasty which would lead Serbia to its greatest extent in land and riches compared to others and even raise the title rank to empire.

Family

• Tihomir (died 1169), oldest son, ruled as Grand Župan of Serbia (1163-(1166) 1168).
• Stracimir (died after 1189), ruled the region of Western Morava (1163-(1166) 1168, 1169-?).
• Miroslav (died 1196 or 1199), ruled Zachumlia (1163-(1166) 1168, and 1169 to his death).
• Stefan Nemanja (1113–1199), youngest son, ruled as Grand Župan of Serbia ((1166) 1168 - 25.03. 1196).
• Daughter(s), (as Nemanja and his brothers are registered as maternal uncles of Mihailo III of Duklja)