Tepčija

Tepčija (Serbian Cyrillic: тепчија) was a court title of Croatia,[1] Serbia and Bosnia in the Middle Ages. The functions and position in the court is unclear.[2][3] It was first mentioned in Croatia in the second half of the 11th century, and later in Serbia in the first half of the 13th century, and in Bosnia during 13th and 14th century.[2] The title-holder took care of the country's feudal estates.[4] There were two or three[5] levels in title, the veliki tepčija (grand), "tepčija" and Mali tepčija (lower).[6] "Veliki tepčija" took care of the royal estates.[7] Tepčija had a similar office to that of the kaznac ,[7] and cared of all major feudal estates bar that which belonged to the Court. "Tepčija" had executive authorities. His servants were called otroci (sing. otrok).[8]

Tepčija Gradislav and his wife, Treskavac Monastery.

The Serbian court hierarchy at the time of king Stefan Milutin (r. 1282–1321) was as follows: stavilac, čelnik, kaznac, tepčija and vojvoda, the supreme title.[9] In the Dečani chrysobulls of king Stefan Dečanski (r. 1321–31), the court dignitaries present at the Dečani assembly were the kaznac, tepčija, vojvoda, sluga and stavilac.[10]