# Foundation charter of king Milutin for the Hilandar's pyrgos by the sea

> Serbian royal charter, ca. 1302

**Wikidata**: [Q104615835](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q104615835)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/foundation-charter-of-king-milutin-for-the-hilandar-s-pyrgos-by-the-sea

## Summary
The Foundation charter of king Milutin for the Hilandar's pyrgos by the sea is a Serbian royal charter authored by Stefan Milutin around 1302. Written in the Serbian Church Slavic language, this document serves as a foundational record addressed to the Hilandar monastery regarding the establishment of a coastal tower. It is currently preserved in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Columbia University.

## Key Facts
- **Author:** Stefan Milutin
- **Date:** Circa 1302, with sourcing circumstances suggesting a presumed date of 1300
- **Language:** Serbian Church Slavic language
- **Addressee:** Hilandar monastery
- **Location:** Columbia University, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
- **Country of Origin:** Kingdom of Serbia
- **Classification:** Royal charter and document
- **Aliases:** First charter for the pyrgos Hrusia, First charter for the pyrgos Chryseia, Charte du roi Milutin, consacrée à la fondation de la Tour de Chrysè
- **Wikipedia Presence:** Has a Wikipedia entry in Bulgarian (bg)

## FAQs
**Who created the Foundation charter of king Milutin for the Hilandar's pyrgos by the sea?**
The document was authored by Stefan Milutin, the ruler of the Kingdom of Serbia.

**Where is the original charter currently housed?**
It is located at Columbia University, specifically within the Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

**What is the subject matter of this royal charter?**
The charter is dedicated to the foundation of a tower by the sea, known as the pyrgos, for the Hilandar monastery.

**In what language was the document written?**
The text is composed in the Serbian Church Slavic language.

## Why It Matters
This document serves as a critical piece of historical evidence regarding the reign of Stefan Milutin and his relationship with the Hilandar monastery. As a royal charter, it provides legal and structural context to the monastic foundations of the early 14th century in the Kingdom of Serbia. Its preservation in a major academic repository allows for continued study of medieval Serbian legal, religious, and architectural history through primary source material.

## Notable For
- Being a specific foundational document for the "pyrgos Hrusia" or "pyrgos Chryseia" (Tower of Chrysè).
- Possessing a precise temporal origin of ca. 1302, with scholarly qualifiers pointing to 1300.
- Holding the status of a royal charter, distinguishing it as a high-level legal instrument.
- Being documented in the Serbian Church Slavic language, representative of the era's ecclesiastical and literary tradition.

## Body

### Origin and Authorship
The charter originated in the Kingdom of Serbia and was created under the authority of Stefan Milutin. The document is classified as a royal charter, serving as a formal instrument of the monarch's will and patronage. While the inception date is recorded as 1302, sourcing circumstances indicate that the document was presumably created in 1300. The text is written in the Serbian Church Slavic language, which was the standard literary language of the Serbian Orthodox Church and state administration during that period.

### Purpose and Addressee
The primary function of this document is to act as a foundation charter. It is specifically addressed to the Hilandar monastery, a major Serbian Orthodox establishment on Mount Athos. The content focuses on the foundation and endowment of a pyrgos (tower) located by the sea. This structure is referred to in various aliases within the historical record, including the "pyrgos Hrusia" and the "pyrgos Chryseia" (Tower of Chrysè).

### Location and Preservation
The physical manuscript is currently held at Columbia University in the United States. It is part of the Rare Book and Manuscript Library collection. The location of the artifact is supported by references from the university's archives, including finding aids and digitized records from the Prince Paul of Yugoslavia Papers.

### Classification and Metadata
In terms of information structure, the entity is defined as an instance of a "document" and a "royal charter." It is recognized by various multilingual titles, including the French "Charte du roi Milutin, consacrée à la fondation de la Tour de Chrysè." The document has a presence on Wikidata and Wikipedia, specifically in the Bulgarian language (bg), and maintains two sitelinks connecting to external knowledge bases.

## References

1. [Digital Scriptorium. 2022](https://archive.org/details/PrincePaulofYugoslaviaPapersSerbianCharterca.1302_20/mode/1up)
2. [Columbia University Libraries](https://findingaids.library.columbia.edu/ead/nnc-rb/ldpd_4077939/dsc/6)