Theodora Kosara

Lilie et al. [3] Adontz's reconstruction involves considerable speculation, such as the identification of Theodoretos with the Theodore (no family name given) who surrendered Dyrrhachium to Emperor Basil II in 1005 according to one source,[7] and with Theodore Chryselios, a patrician mentioned at the Emperor Michael VI's court in 1057.

tradition recorded in the early 14th century in the Gesta Regum Sclavorum turns the marriage into a romantic tale of Kosara visiting Vladimir in his prison cell, eventually falling in love and asking to be married to him.

Noticing Vladimir among the prisoners, she was struck by his handsome appearance, his humility, gentleness and modesty, and the fact that he was full of wisdom and knowledge of the LORD.

He allowed the marriage, returned Duklja to his new son-in-law, and besides gave him the whole territory of Dyrrhachium, to rule them from that point on as his vassal.

Although the Gesta Regum Scalvorum piously asserted that Kosara and Jovan Vladimir lived saintly and chastely,[15] a common trope, they apparently had a daughter, who married Stefan Vojislav, prince of Zeta.

[17] Tsar Samuel died in 1014 and he was succeeded by his son Gavril Radomir, but his reign was short: his cousin Ivan Vladislav killed him in 1015, and ruled in his stead.

[18] Vladislav held that he would make his position stronger if he exterminated the whole family of Samuil, for which reason he plotted the murder of Jovan Vladimir.

[19] The new Tsar thus sent messengers to him to demand his attendance in Prespa, but Vladimir did not want to go out his land; not even after many subsequent Vladislav’s promises and pledges that he meant no harm to him.