He was the oldest son of Stefan of Decani and Theodora, daughter of Bulgarian tsar Smilets. Early in his life he visited Constantinople, in which as a child he spent around seven years (1314–1320). There he learned Greek, gained an understanding of Greek life and culture, and got a clear sense of the Greek empire. He himself was more a soldier than a diplomat: as a youngster he excelled in two battles: in 1329 he beat Bosnian ban Stjepan Kotromanić, and in 1330 Bulga ...
He was the first-born son of Stefan of Decani and Theodora, daughter of Bulgarian tsar Smilets. Early in his life he visited Constantinople, in which as a child he spent around seven years (1314–1320). There he learned Greek, gained an understanding of Greek life and culture, and got a clear sense of the Greek empire. He himself was more a soldier than a diplomat: as a youngster he excelled in two battles: in 1329 he beat Bosnian ban Stjepan Kotromanić, and in 1330 Bulga ...
