Konstantin Dejanović

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Konstantin Dejanović (also known as Konstantin Dragaš) was a Serbian noble who ruled a large eastern Macedonian territory under Ottoman suzerainty during the decline of the Serbian Empire. He was the younger brother of Jovan Dragaš; after Jovan’s death around 1378–1379, Konstantin took over the lands and governed a wide area in northeastern Macedonia and the Struma valley, even minting coins in the old Nemanjić style. The Dragaš brothers supported several monasteries on Mount Athos.

Their family became Ottoman vassals after the Battle of Maritsa in 1371, but they kept close ties with Christian neighbors, including Byzantium. On 10 February 1392, Konstantin’s daughter Jelena married Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos, and the couple were crowned emperor and empress the next day.

Konstantin married twice. His first wife’s name is unknown, but with her he had at least four daughters and possibly a son. His second wife was Eudokia of Trebizond, daughter of Emperor Alexios III. The capital of Konstantin’s domain was Velbužd, which the Ottomans renamed Köstendil in his honor after his death.

In 1395, Konstantin fell at the Battle of Rovine near Craiova, fighting for Bayezid I against Wallachia, alongside other Serbian nobles. He died in battle, and the Ottomans later used his name for his capital. Konstantin’s grandson, Constantine XI Palaiologos, the last Byzantine emperor, was named after him and even used the Dragaš name.

In Serbian epic poetry, Konstantin is often called Beg Kostadin and is depicted as a foil to Marko Kraljević: Marko is shown as accepting Ottoman rule for the good of his people, while Konstantin is portrayed as trying to preserve his own position and privileges.