King Voukashin

Also known as: King Vukashin / Kraly Vukashin / Voukashin / Vukashin · Family: Serbians · Role: king · First appears: Chapter IV · Kralyevitch Marko; or, the Royal Prince Marko · Part 1

In Chapter IV · Kralyevitch Marko; or, the Royal Prince Marko, Petrovitch notes that one tradition makes Marko the son of King Voukashin and Queen Helen. Voukashin had been a councillor under Doushan the Powerful, who, according to one ballad, left him the crown for seven years before it was to pass to Ourosh. Voukashin instead prolonged his rule to sixteen years, refused to yield the sceptre, and proclaimed himself sovereign Tsar. At Kossovo, he disputed the Empire’s inheritance with his brothers Despot Ouglesha and Voivode Goyko; at Samodrezja, he drew his yatagan and pursued Marko, intending to pierce him.

In Chapter XI · The Marriage of King Voukashin, Voukashin secretly urged Vidossava to betray Momtchilo, promising to make her his queen. Following her plan, he assembled an army, hid it near Momtchilo’s castle, and killed him in the attack. He then ordered Vidossava bound to four horses and torn apart, pillaged the castle, and led Yevrossima to his palace at Skadar on Boyana. He later married Yevrossima, who bore him Marko and Andrias.

In Chapter XIII · The Building of Skadar (Scutari), Voukashin sent his servant Dessimir with treasures to seek the twins Stoyan and Stoyana, but Dessimir returned without finding them. When the brothers swore to keep the sacrifice required for the fortress’s foundations secret from their wives, Voukashin broke his oath and warned his faithful wife not to go to Boyana. In the same chapter, he seized Goiko’s wife and summoned Neimar Rado and the workmen.