In second half of XII century, Stefan Nemanja received, as a part of his Dukery,
area of Toplica to administer. His estates near Byzantium border were enlarged by
Emperor Manojlo I, who gave him the bordering area of Dubočica. After Nemanja’s
retreat from power in 1196, Dubočica remained within estates governed by Nemanja’s
younger son Stefan Nemanjić, while Toplica was included in estates governed by older
son Vukan. During XIII and XIV century, Toplica and Dubočica were within Serbian
Medieval State, and after fall of the Empire in 1371, they were embraced in Morava’s
Serbia of Duke Lazar and later, in XV century, in Despotat. Despot Djuradj Branković
gave, when marrying his daughter Mara to Sultan Murat II, Toplica and Dubočica as a
dowry, in 1433.This areas would stay under Ottoman management until 1451 when
Sultan Mehmed II released Mara from harem and gave territories back to Despot.
Anyway, they remained only three years under Serbian management, since Mehmed II
took them back by
force, during his military campaign on Despotat in 1454. For
inhabitants of Toplica and Dubočica, a long time slavery began, which was to last until
Liberation Wars 1876-1878.
Ottoman conquerors established Sandžak of Kruševac in 1455, with Nahijas of
Prokuplje, Kuršumlija and Dubočica involved. That territory stretched from eastern side
of Kopaonik on the west and Janko’s Gorge on northwest, to South Morava, Babička
gora, Suva planina and Bulgarian border on the east, and to mountains of Kukavica and
Čemernik on the southeast. Northern border was Jastrebac mountain, and southern Goljak
and Radan.
On conquered territory Ottomans brought new administrative order, which caused
changes in real estate and land relations. System of Timars was introduced, and land was
divided to Timars, Zeamets and Has’ depending on income they would produced.
Register of areas of Kruševac, Toplica and Dubočica tells us that only six Timars were
held by Christians. In Dubočica in 1455 five Christian Timars were recorded, with 24
Spahias as users. In second decade of XVI century in Toplica were 11 Spahias and 156
Muslim Timarniks and 13 Zaims. Larger number of Christian Spahias was recorded in
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Nahija of Dubočica, 53, opposed to 176 Muslim Timarniks and 10 Zaims. In third decade
of the same century, number of Christian Spahias suddenly dropped in Sandžak of
Kruševac, and process of islamization must had played an important role.
During the period at question, rural economy was dominant over urban, due to
much larger number of rural inhabitants. During Serbian Medieval State, and also after
the fall under Ottoman domain, main part of economy was agriculture, particularly wheat,
barley, oat, millet, rye, sumješica and suražica. Important segment of agriculture was
grapevine, and industrial plants – linen and hemp. Special care in Medieval Serbia was
paid to the beekeeping. Tenth part tribute on bees was submitted. Honey was used as
replacement for sugar, and bee wax for candles. On every ten beehives, Ottomans were
submitted one akča.
Limited possibilities for creating and increasing the cultivated land, and quantity
of pastures, directed the population in certain areas toward cattle farming instead of
agriculture. Of course, there were villages with inhabitants involved in both activities.
Most often breeds of cattle raised were beef, horses, sheep, goats and pigs.
Rural economy included certain handcrafts. Craftsmen were engaged in
agriculture just like the rest, but also practiced crafts and supplied particular products to
community. There were cowherds, blacksmiths, inn keepers, saddle makers, shield
makers, etc.
Urban and rural economies were linked in many ways – urban economy actually
was all about trading with rural economy products. Beside trade, handcrafts were present
in towns as well. Prokuplje and Leskovac were mentioned as trade centers with regular
weekly market and annual country fair. Merchants from Dubrovnik, important for these
activities, even had their own settlement in Prokuplje. Trade in towns of Ottoman Empire
was controlled by precise regulations, and objects of trade were mostly wheat, barley, oat,
honey, salt, cheese, olives, oil, fish, fruit, vegetables, cattle, wood, wine.
With arrival of the Turks, development of many crafts of an oriental origin took
place in towns, practiced mostly by Muslims. Craftsmen were organized in Esnafs,
pursuing hand work in their small workshops.
Mines in Medieval Serbia were exploited for gold, silver, glam silver, copper,
lead and iron ore. In the area of Toplica and Dubočica, there were no big mines like in
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other areas, but it is certain that during whole period from XIV to XVI century mining
activities were conducted. From second decade of XV century, Bele Crkve was set as
market square of Kopaonik area mining.
Villages were dominant type of settlement in Toplica and Dubočica, just like in
the whole of Serbian ethnic territory. Positioned deep in interior of Ottoman Empire,
away from war operations, village settlements in Toplica and Dubočica could develop
undisturbed. An average size of village settlement in Dubočica in 1516 was a little less
that 42 houses. In next 20 years, this number would go almost one half down, and reasons
for this decrease of households are epidemics of contagious diseases and movement of
inhabitants to other areas. Some villages, like Derbendžijas, were granted a special status,
and were obligated to conduct a certain services for the State.
Towns of importance for our exploration theme, were developed during the reign
of Duke Lazar. Before all, we mean Prokuplje, Leskovac and Koprijan, and probably the
restoring of Skobaljić Grad took place in that period. At the time, threat of Turks’ attack
on Duke Lazar’s State was more and more realistic, so towns had to answer the military
needs, to provide sanctuary for population, and to be local centers of economy as well.
After the fall under Ottomans domain, Leskovac and Prokuplje developed
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