Zeta (crown land) in the context of "Duklja"

Zeta (Serbian Cyrillic: Зета; Albanian: Zetës; Latin: Zenta or Genta) was one of the medieval polities that existed between 1371 and 1421, whose territory encompassed parts of present-day southern Montenegro and northern Albania, ruled by the House of Balšić.

Zeta was a crown land of the Grand Principality and Kingdom of Serbia, ruled by heirs to the Serbian throne from the Nemanjić dynasty. In the mid-14th century, Zeta was divided into Upper and Lower Zeta, governed by magnates. After Stefan Dušan (r. 1331–55), his son Stefan Uroš V ruled Serbia during the fall of the Serbian Empire, through a gradual disintegration of the Empire as a result of decentralization in which provincial lords gained semi-autonomy and eventually independence. The Balšići wrestled the Zeta region in 1356–1362 when they removed the two rulers in Upper and Lower Zeta. Ruling as lords, they empowered themselves and over the decades became an important player in Balkan politics. Zeta was united into the Serbian Despotate in 1421, after Balša III abdicated and passed the rule to his uncle, Despot Stefan Lazarević (maternally a Nemanjić).

Demetrio Progoni (Albanian: Dhimitër Progoni) was an Albanian leader who ruled as Prince of the Albanians from 1208 to 1216 the Principality of Arbanon, the first Albanian quasi state. He was the successor and brother of Gjin Progoni and their father, Progon of Kruja. Following the collapse of the Byzantine Empire in the Fourth Crusade, he managed to further secure the independence of Arbanon and extended its influence to its maximum height. Throughout much his rule he was in struggle against the Republic of Venice, Zeta of Đorđe Nemanjić and later the Despotate of Epiros and inversely, maintained good relations with their rivals, the Republic of Ragusa, and at first Stefan Nemanjić of Raška, whose daughter Komnena he married. The Gëziq inscription found in the Catholic church of Ndërfandë (modern Gëziq) shows that by the end of his life he was a Catholic. In Latin documents, of the time, he is often styled as princeps Arbanorum (prince of the Albanians) and in Byzantine documents as megas archon and later as Panhypersebastos. Under increasing pressure from the Despotate of Epiros, his death around 1216 marks the end of Arbanon as a state and the beginning of a period of autonomy until its final ruler Golem of Kruja joined the Nicaean Empire. The annexation sparked the Rebellion of Arbanon in 1257. He didn't have any sons to continue his dynasty, but his wealth and a part of his domain in Mirdita passed after Demetrio's death to his underage nephew, Progon (son of Gjin), whom he named protosevastos. The Dukagjini family which appeared in historical record 70 years later in the same region may have been relatives or direct descendants of the Progoni.

In historical record, Dhimitër Progoni is the first ruler to call himself Prince of the Albanians and the first to identify his domain as Principatum Albaniae (Principality of Albania/Arbanon). Many later feudal rulers of Albania would lay claim to the same title and present their rule as the continuation of this state. The first to do so was Charles I of Anjou who sought to legitimise the Kingdom of Albania as a descendant state of the Principality of Arbanon about 60 years later, in 1272.

Đorđe Nemanjić or George of Zeta (Serbian Cyrillic: Ђорђе Немањић; fl. 1208–1243) was the Grand Prince of Zeta, from at least 1208 until at least 1242. For some time, around 1208, he also was a self-styled King of Duklja. He was the oldest son of Vukan Nemanjić (d. before 1208), the Grand Prince of Serbia (1202–1204) and titular King of Duklja (1190–1208), hence George too was a titular King, for a few years after his father's death. In 1208, he accepted the suzerainty of the Republic of Venice. By 1214-1216, his paternal uncle Stefan Nemanjić, the Grand Prince of Serbia (1196-1202, 1204-1217) imposed his rule on Zeta, but within the newly proclaimed Kingdom of Serbia (1217), Đorđe was left to administer some part of the region, as prince of Duklja (lat. princeps Dioclie), being mentioned as such for the last time in 1242.

Vukan Nemanjić (Serbian Cyrillic: Вукан Немањић, pronounced [ʋǔkan ně̞maɲit͡ɕ]; before 1165 – after 1207) was the Grand Prince of Serbia from 1202 to 1204. He was the eldest (of three) sons of the Serbian grand prince Stefan Nemanja, who appointed Vukan as governor in Pomorje c. 1190. As the Grand Prince of Pomorje, centered in Zeta, and titular King of Duklja and Dalmatia), Vukan ruled from c. 1195 until his death. In 1196, his father abdicated the Serbian throne, choosing Vukan's younger brother Stefan as the principal heir, while leaving Vukan to rule in Pomorje. In 1202, Vukan overthrow his brother, in a coup assisted by the King of Hungary. He was defeated two years later, when Stefan regained the throne. Through the effort of their third brother, who became Saint Sava, Vukan and Stefan were reconciled, and Vukan continued to rule in Zeta until his death.

Saint Helen of Serbia (Serbian: Света Јелена Српска, romanized: Sveta Jelena Srpska; c. 1235 – 8 February 1314) was the queen consort of the Serbian Kingdom, as the spouse of King Stefan Uroš I, who ruled from 1243 to 1276. Their sons were later Serbian kings Stefan Dragutin (1276–1282) and Stefan Milutin (1282–1321). As a dowager-queen, she held the provincial governorship in the regions of Zeta and Travunija (until 1308). She built Gradac Monastery and was known for her religious tolerance. She is venerated as a saint by the Eastern Orthodox Church. Her relics, however, are now lost.