Žarko

Who is Žarko?

Žarko was a 14th-century Serbian nobleman who after the death of Serbian Emperor Dušan the Mighty is mentioned as a lord of the coasts of the Zeta region, under the succeeding Emperor Uroš the Weak.

Around 1356 he marries Teodora Dejanović, the daughter of Dejan Dragaš and Theodora Nemanjić, together they have a son, Mrkša, in 1363.

He is mentioned in records from 1356, when he raided some traders from Dubrovnik, not far from Sveti Srđ at Lake Skadar. Zeta itself was held by the widow of Dušan, Jelena, who at the time was in Serres where she had her court. The next year, in June, he becomes a citizen of the Republic of Venice, where he is known as "baron lord of the Serbian King, with holdings in the Zeta region and Bojana of the maritime".

In 1360, Balša I and his sons are mentioned as "lords of Skadar", thus, he may have either lost the rule or died. After his death, the widow Teodora remarries with Đurađ Balšić. His son Mrkša marries with Ruđina Balšić, the daughter of Balša II, in 1396 and holds the oblasts around Valona and Kanina.