Nikola Altomanović

Summarize Timeline Fact Check

Nikola's father was Altoman Vojinović, a notable voivode in Zeta. In 1363, Nikola's uncle Vojislav Vojinović was killed, which enabled Nikola to take his domains.

As central power and authority of Serbian Emperor was decreasing over the decade after Stefan Dušan's death, the Mrnjavčević family were increasing their domains and power exponentially. Nikola allied himself with Emperor Uroš V and Lazar Hrebeljanović against King Vukašin Mrnjavčević and his allies, culminating in the Battle of Zvečan. The Mrnjavčević were the most powerful Serbian noble family at this point, having a vast network of subjects and allies among Serbs, but also Bulgarians and Albanians, and a large mercenary force. In the battle, Emperor Uroš V was captured early, and Lazar Hrebeljanović retreated with his heavy cavalry, leaving Nikola Altomanović alone on the field. Nikola remained until he was badly maimed, and presumed to have died for the next year. This was also a point of no-return between Lazar and Nikola, rendering their alliance an afterthought.^[2]

In fall of 1371, after the Serbian defeat against the Ottomans at the Battle of Maritsa, he partitioned some lands with Lazar of Serbia.^[3]

In 1373, a military alliance against Nikola was created, which included Bosnian Ban Tvrtko I Kotromanić, Đurađ I Balšić (lord of Zeta), Mačvan Prince Nikola Gorjanski, and Hungarian King Louis I of Hungary. In the same year, they invaded Nikola's sizeable domain, eventually besieging him at Užice, his capital fortress. He was defeated, and blinded by Stefan Musić, Lazar's voivode. His territory was split between Moravian Serbia, Zeta, and Bosnia.^[4] This was also the first time Bosnian state would roughly reach its modern border with Serbia.

The last time he was mentioned as still alive was in 1395.^[5]