Stefan Nemanja

Stefan Nemanja ruled the Serbian Grand Principality from 1166 to 1196, a founder of the Nemanjić dynasty and architect of what would grow into the Serbian Empire. He spent three decades in warfare and diplomacy, including weathering the Third Norman invasion of the Balkans in 1185-1186, which solidified Serbian autonomy between Western and Byzantine powers. In 1196 he abdicated in favor of his middle son Stefan Nemanjić, who became Serbia's first king, and traveled to Mount Athos to join his youngest son - the future Saint Sava, first archbishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Together they restored the Hilandar Monastery and issued its charter, making it the heart of Serbian monasticism. He died on 13 February 1199 as the monk Simeon, and the church canonized him shortly after as Saint Simeon the Myroblyte.