Hrelja (protosebastos)
Hrelja | |
|---|---|
Hrelja's Tower in the Rila Monastery, Bulgaria | |
| Born | 13th century |
| Died | 27 December 1342 |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of Serbia Byzantine Empire |
| Years of service | ca. 1320s-1342 |
| Rank | Prōtosebastos |
Hrelja also known as Protosebastos Hrelja (Serbian: Хреља; Bulgarian: Хрельо, romanized: Hrelyo), also known as Stefan Dragovol (Стефан Драговол) or Hrelja Ohmućević (Serbian: Хреља Охмућевић) was a 14th-century semi-independent feudal lord in the region of northeastern Macedonia and the Rila mountains who served medieval Serbian kings Stefan Milutin, Stefan Dečanski and Stefan Dušan. He became independent autocrat with vast political autonomy and capital at Strumica, formally recognizing Byzantine authority.
He is known for reconstructing the Rila Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila, Bulgaria's largest and more important monastery, in 1334–1335.