Vojihna

Vojihna / Vojin of Drama
Born	1298
Died	1356 Drama
Allegiance	Serbian Kingdom  Serbian Empire
Years of service	1345–56
Rank	Caesar (Duke or Count)

Vojihna or Vojin of Drama (Serbian Cyrillic: Војихна ; ca 1298–1360), was a Serbian nobleman that rose through the ranks and became one of the most acclaimed military commanders (voivode) and dukes of Stephen Uroš IV Dušan of Serbia during the Serbian Kingdom and Empire (1331–71), he was titled Caesar (Greek: καῖσαρ, sr. ћесар/кесар), hence, he is mostly known as Caesar Vojihna (кесар Војихна). He held the region of Drama.

He was probably born around 1298.

In a Chilandar charter of Uroš IV Dušan, Vojihna is mentioned as "nobleman and associate of my Empire, cousin Vojihna". This has been interpreted in several ways; Cirkovic understand this as the two are relatives, but the degree of kinship can not be determined. According to Vojicic, he is the son of Urošica, however this would mean that they are second cousins, thus Purkovic connects the kinship through Stephen Constantine, making the two cousins.

It is thought that he is the same as the Župan Vojihna, who is mentioned in 1323, as an ally of Stephen Vladislav II, during the war of the throne against Stephen Uroš III following the death of Stephen Milutin. With emphasis on Vladislav II being the son of Dragutin, and Dušan calling Vojihna his cousin, this might be an evidence on Vojihna being the son of Urošica, the brother of Vladislav II.

In 1341, Andronikos III Palaiologos died, which sparked a civil war in the Byzantine Empire. In 1342 Dušan became an ally of John VI Kantakouzenos, but only a year after, switched to the side of John V Palaiologos. Kantakouzenos found new allies in the Emirate of Aydin. In 1344, Dušan sent a small army led by Voivode Preljub to intercept the Aydin Turks. The Serbs were defeated in battle at Stephaniana, however it did not halt the Serbian conquest.

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