Reign of Stefan Dečanski in the 1320s

Timeline

1. 1321–1323Peć · SerbiaIn 1321, with the support of nobles and the church, Stefan Dečanski overthrew his brother Stefan Konstantin and was crowned King of Serbia. He promptly purged opponents, reorganized local administration, and restored control over Macedonia and northern Albania.
2. 1327Dečani · SerbiaIn 1327, Dečanski founded the monastery of the same name at Dečani, commissioning Byzantine and local craftsmen who blended Romanesque and Byzantine architectural styles. The monastery became an important symbol of Serbian Orthodox culture and royal funerary practice, reflecting his legitimacy and religious policy.
3. 1328–1330Velbazhd · BulgariaAfter 1328, relations between Dečanski and Bulgarian Tsar Michael Shishman broke down over territorial and succession issues, and both sides sought Byzantine support. By the late 1320s the Serbian army completed mobilization and deployment, winning a decisive victory at the 1330 Battle of Velbazhd that consolidated Serbian hegemony in the Balkans.