Radoslav Hlapen

Radoslav Hlapen (Serbian: Радослав Хлапен; fl. 1350–1383) was a Serbian magnate who served Serbian Emperor Stefan Dušan (r. 1331-1355) and Stefan Uroš V (r. 1355–71) as vojvoda (military commander). He took part in the conquest of Byzantine lands, and was given a region north of Thessaly to govern in the early 1350s.

Origin

It is believed that Radoslav Hlapen is the same person as župan (count) Hlapen (Latin: Clapen) who governed Konavle and the wider Trebinje region in the 1330s. He was possibly the son of župan Radoslav, and thus named Radoslav after his father. Another theory is that he was the son of Syrgiannes Palaiologos.

Byzantine Emperor John VI Kantakouzenos (r. 1347–54) mentioned him as among the most important nobles, and he was called a relative of Dušan.

Service under Stefan Dušan

Serres was captured in September 1345, Veria in the first half of 1346. Veria and the surrounding towns were recuperated by John VI Kantakuzenos. After the military conquests, perhaps by spring 1351, Hlapen returned the city to Serbian rule, with many cities and towns in the area. He was appointed governor of Edessa (Voden) and Veria (Ber), just north of Thessaly.