Principality of Vlachia

The House of Miloradović is an ancient noble family of Vlach ethnic origin that originated from medieval Bosnia and Serbia. The parent house of the family was the House of Hrabrenović (or Hrabren) a Vlach noble family. The House of Miloradović and one of the few who nobleman who still bear the title katunar. The family rose to prominence mostly in the 14th century during the time of the Empire of Serbia and would later migrate to the Empire of Russia where it became a rich dynasty of magnates well established with ties to the aristocracy of Europe. The contemporary members of this house live in the USA and Austria and represent some of the most distant relations of His Illustrious Highness Jacob, Prince of the Vlachs.

According to some of the ancient sources from the Republic of Ragusa (modern-day Dubrovnik) this family was descended from the noble house of Ohmučević and specifically from Hrelja Ohmučević († 1342) who was a duke under king Stefan Uroš II Milutin Nemanjić (✶ 1253 – † 1321). However, other sources state that the progenitor was a Vlach nobleman called Hrabren who lived in the second half of the 14th century. His son Stipan Hrabrenović (✶ 1390 – † 1470) was mentioned as an war ally of Duke Petar Pavlović († 1420) who fought with Duke Sandalj Hranić Kosača (✶ 1370 – † 1435). He is buried in the necropolis of Radimlja where it is written: „Ase leži Stipan’ a činio kami Miogost’ kovač“ (English: Here lies Stipan, made by the blacksmith Miogost). The three sons of Stipan Hrabrenović are mentioned by Ottoman sources as Petar Hrabrenović, Vukić Hrabrenović & Radoje Hrabrenović. Duke Petar Hrabrenović was the leader of all the Vlachs in the Principality of Hum. He had the right to buy ships on the Adriatic coast confirmed by the Ottomans, as well as citizenship by the Republic of Ragusa to him and his brothers in 1470. The numerous estates of this noble family were found, among others, in Crnić, Dubrava, Trebinje, Žitomislić, Dračevo etc.

The noble house of Hrabrenović also built several important churches. The church of St. Peter & St. Paul in Ošanići was built by Radosav Hrabrenović in 1505 and he himself is buried in her. Next to the chair is a judicial chair made of stone on which it is written “Ase sto vojevode Stipana Miloradovića a ponovi ga vojevoda Petar sin mu“ (English: This is the table of duke Stipan Miloradović which was used again by his son Duke Petar). This judicial chair denoted feudal powers given to nobleman to pass judgement on all matters. The church of St. Nicholas was built in 1534 by Radoje Hrabrenović. The monastery of Žitomislić was renovated by Milisav Hrabrenović in 1563. There are also several other members of the family mentioed on stećak (standing tombstones) e. g. the resting place of Radoje Hrabren is commemorated by the following words “ase leži dobri Radoje sin vojevode Stjepana na svojoj baštini na Batnogah. Si bilig postavi na me brat moj vojevoda Petar” (English: Here lies the good [noble] Radoje son of the duke Stjepan on his heritage on Batnogah. This mark was made for me by my brother the duke Petar).

After the family migrated to the Empire of Russia it grew in power and influence since the 17th century onwards and would over the centuries make several visits to Herzegovina where their noble forefathers once lived. During these vists they would bring valuable liturgical books and items for the churches they once built or sponsored. A member of the noble family of Miloradović, Mihailo Miloradović (✶ 1650 – † 1725) was recruited by the Russian Emperor Peter the Great (✶ 1672 – † 1725) to incite a rebellion in 1710 during the Pruth River campaign against the Ottomans with Danilo I Petrović-Njegoš (✶ 1670 – † 1735). After the uprisings failed the noble house of Miloradović emigrated to Little Russia i. e. the Ukraine as it was known back then, where Mihailo Miloradović received the rank of colonel. Among his most notable descendants were Andrej Stepanovič Miloradovič (✶ 1727 – † 1796) a Russian military leader, statesman and decorated general known for his bravery in the Russo-Turkish Wars, as well as Count Mihail Andrejevič Miloradovič (✶ 1771 – † 1825) also a prominent Russian general during the Napoleonic Wars. The family now resides in USA & Austria and has relations with many other noble families.