His rule was characterized by a period of power struggle, not only of the Serbian throne between the brothers but between the Byzantine Empire and Kingdom of Hungary, of which he took advantage.
Bodin renounced the Byzantine Empire in 1089, when he turned to the Pope, who raised the bishopric of Bar to an Archbishopric.
Desa is mentioned in a charter dated 1150 as "Dessa Dioclie, Terbunie et Zacholmie dux", i.e. the Duke of Duklja, Travunija and Zahumlje.
[4] The Byzantines caused great destruction and then withdrew, the operation being strictly punitive, with no occupation of lands.
[3] The Emperor restored Uroš II in 1155 or 1156, and gave the deposed Desa an appanage of Dendra, a prosperous and populous area near Niš.
[7][8][9] In 1161/1162, Uroš II is replaced by Beloš, who rules briefly, before returning to his office in Hungary and Croatia.
[10] Zavida had presumably tried to oust either Uroš II or Desa, or acquire an appanage of his own, then fled after failing in his attempt.