Nuns on the Throne: Queen Jelena and Princess Milica

<jats:p>In the second half of the fourteenth century, there were several significant women in medieval Serbian lands who found themselves not only at the head of their families but also in the roles of regent, coruler, or the gospodar of their own province. Despite having taken monastic vows, some of them became sovereign rulers within the secular realm. One of the most striking examples of such authority is a dual title, in which two titles, one secular and one ecclesiastical, were used. This has been attested to in only two instances: the titles of Queen Jelena/the nun Jelisaveta and Princess Milica/the nun Jevgenija. The focus here will be an analysis and comparison of the activities of these two women.</jats:p>