Timeline
From Nemanja's Studenica to the endowments of the 20th century.
The year given for an endowment is the year of its construction or founding according to the register's data. For benefactors, the year of birth is given. Events from wider history have been added for orientation.
Middle Ages (until 1500)
- b. 1113Benefactor
Stefan Nemanja
Grand Župan. Founder of the Nemanjić dynasty and creator of a powerful Serbian state. Took monastic vows as Simeon.
- b. 1165Benefactor
Stefan the First-Crowned
First king. The first crowned king of Serbia and ktitor of Žiča Monastery.
- 1166Endowment
Monastery of Saint Nicholas
Kuršumlija. The first endowment of Stefan Nemanja, from the 12th century.
- 1171Endowment
Đurđevi Stupovi
Novi Pazar (Stari Ras). An endowment of Stefan Nemanja from the 12th century, built in gratitude to Saint George.
- b. 1175Benefactor
Rastko Nemanjić
Enlightener. The first Serbian archbishop, enlightener and ktitor. Born in the capital, Ras.
- 1190
- 1195Endowment
Pridvorica Monastery
Pridvorica, Ivanjica. A 12th-century monastery, an endowment of the Nemanjićs.
- 1198Endowment
Hilandar Monastery
Mount Athos, Greece. The imperial lavra of the Nemanjićs, the greatest Serbian shrine and an endowment of Saint Sava and Saint Simeon.
- b. 1198Benefactor
Stefan Vladislav
King. Ktitor of Mileševa, who transferred the relics of Saint Sava from Bulgaria to Serbia.
- 1206
- 1219Historical context
The Serbian Church becomes autocephalous
Saint Sava becomes the first Serbian archbishop.
- 1219
- b. 1223Benefactor
Stefan Uroš I
King. The ruler who built Sopoćani and encouraged the development of mining in Serbia.
- b. 1236
- b. 1253Benefactor
Stefan Uroš II Milutin
Greatest builder. He built and restored over 40 churches and monasteries. A holy king whose relics rest in Sofia.
- 1260
- b. 1276Benefactor
Stefan Dečanski
King. Martyr and ktitor of Visoki Dečani, one of the most beautiful Serbian churches.
- 1277
- 1313
- 1321
- 1327
- b. 1329Benefactor
Lazar Hrebeljanović
Holy Prince. Kosovo martyr, ruler of Moravian Serbia and ktitor of Ravanica.
- b. 1335Benefactor
Milica Hrebeljanović
Princess and nun. A wise ruler who led the state after Kosovo and built Ljubostinja.
- 1346Historical context
The Serbian Patriarchate is proclaimed
Stefan Dušan is crowned emperor.
- 1375
- 1388
- 1389Historical context
Battle of Kosovo
Death of Prince Lazar.
Early modern period (1500–1899)
- 1690Historical context
Great Migration of the Serbs
The resettlement of Serbs into the southern parts of Hungary; the beginning of new centres of Serbian culture.
- b. 1761Benefactor
Sava Popović Tekelija
Doctor of law. The first Serbian doctor of law, founder of the Tekelijanum and lifelong president of Matica Srpska.
- b. 1788Benefactor
Platon Atanacković
Bishop and benefactor. Bishop of Bačka, president of Matica Srpska and a great benefactor who founded the 'Platoneum' and helped establish the Serbian Law Academy.
- b. 1800Benefactor
Ilija Milosavljević Kolarac
Merchant. He left all his property for the founding of a university and a literary fund for the Serbian people.
- b. 1803Benefactor
Mihajlo Miša Anastasijević
Captain and merchant. Danube captain and the richest Serb of his time, who donated his palace to the fatherland.
- 1804Historical context
First Serbian Uprising
The beginning of the restoration of the Serbian state.
- b. 1804Benefactor
Sima Andrejević Igumanov
Merchant. A native of Prizren who devoted all his property to the upkeep of the Seminary and the education of young people.
- b. 1804Benefactor
Stevan Magazinović
Minister. He bequeathed property for the printing and free distribution of books to poor pupils.
- b. 1806Benefactor
Toma Vanđel
Merchant. A respected merchant who, with his wife Jela, founded a fund to help poor craftsmen.
- 1830Historical context
Hatt-i Sharif on the autonomy of Serbia
Prince Miloš receives the hereditary princely dignity.
- b. 1831Benefactor
Đorđe S. Vlajković
Colonel. An officer who lost a leg for the fatherland and left his property for the education of the poor.
- b. 1836Benefactor
Nikola Čupić
Enlightener. Grandson of Zmaj od Noćaj, founder of a literary fund for publishing books ('Čupić Endowment').
- 1838
- b. 1838Benefactor
Nikola Spasić
Industrialist. President of the Stock Exchange, whose endowment built hospitals and helped the poor and the sick.
- b. 1841Benefactor
Nikola and Evgenija Kiki
Merchant couple. Wealthy merchants of Cincar origin who bequeathed property for the building of a hospital and two palaces.
- b. 1842Benefactor
Milan Kujundžić Aberdar
Academician. A philosopher and politician who bequeathed his property ('Kujundžićevac') to the Serbian Academy of Sciences.
- b. 1845Benefactor
Jovan Jovanović
Benefactor. A great benefactor whose bequest helped the development of Serbian education and culture.
- b. 1849Benefactor
Velimir Mihailo Teodorović
Benefactor. Illegitimate son of Prince Mihailo, founder of the 'Velimirijanum' to support art and science.
- b. 1851Benefactor
Vladimir Vlajko Kalenić
Shoemaker. A 'shoemaker and estate manager' who left his estate to help poor students.
- b. 1854Benefactor
Luka Ćelović Trebinjac
Merchant and rentier. A modest Herzegovinian who bequeathed the entire Savamala quarter to the University of Belgrade.
- b. 1854Benefactor
Mihajlo Idvorski Pupin
Scientist. A world-renowned scientist who founded funds to help schools, the church and national education.
- 1861Endowment
Platoneum Palace
Novi Sad. An endowment of Bishop Platon, the former seat of Matica Srpska and today the home of the Novi Sad Branch of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts.
- 1863Endowment
Captain Miša's Mansion
Belgrade (Studentski Trg). Seat of the Rectorate of the University of Belgrade, an endowment of Miša Anastasijević.
- 1870Endowment
Hotel 'Opera'
Belgrade (Centre). A building between Makedonska and Braće Jugovića streets that formed the basis of the Toma Vanđel Fund.
- 1874
- 1874Endowment
Čupić Endowment
Belgrade. Nikola Čupić's literary fund for publishing books and rewarding writers, whose board began work in 1874.
- 1878Historical context
Congress of Berlin
Serbia becomes an independent state.
- 1889Endowment
Nikola Spasić Endowment Palace
33 Knez Mihailova, Belgrade. A monumental palace from 1889, the work of the architect Konstantin A. Jovanović and the seat of the Endowment.
- 1889Endowment
Building at 37 Knez Mihailova
37 Knez Mihailova, Belgrade. A residential and commercial building owned by the Endowment.
- 1889Endowment
Velimirijanum
Belgrade. An endowment of Velimir Mihailo Teodorović from 1889 for the development of science, art, trade, industry and crafts in Serbia.
The 20th century and today
- 1900Endowment
Kiki Palace
Belgrade (Centre). A magnificent palace at the corner of Knez Mihailova and Kralja Petra.
- 1903Endowment
Palace at 65 Karađorđeva
Belgrade (Savamala). One of the most beautiful buildings in the legacy of Luka Ćelović.
- 1903Endowment
Church of Saint Trifun
Topčider Cemetery, Belgrade. The endowment church at Topčider in which Nikola Spasić rests.
- 1907Endowment
Vlajko Kalenić Endowment
Belgrade (Svetogorska). A building on Svetogorska Street, an endowment of the shoemaker Vlajko Kalenić.
- 1908
- 1910Endowment
Luka Ćelović Park
Belgrade (Savamala). A park near the Faculty of Economics that Luka donated to the city.
- 1910
- 1912
- 1912Endowment
Buildings on Koče Popovića
Belgrade (Savamala). A row of buildings on the former Zagrebačka Street (1, 3-9).
- 1912Endowment
Spasić Passage
19 Knez Mihailova, Belgrade. A commercial and residential complex connecting Knez Mihailova and Obilićev Venac.
- 1912Endowment
Building on Obilićev Venac
17 Obilićev Venac, Belgrade. A residential and commercial building of the Endowment overlooking Vojvoda Vuk Park.
- 1918Historical context
Unification into the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes
Creation of a new state of the South Slavic peoples.
- 1929Endowment
Home of Merchant Youth
Belgrade (Old Town). Building of the Trade School, a personal bequest of Evgenija Kiki.
- 1929Endowment
Building at 47 Knez Mihailova
47 Knez Mihailova, Belgrade. A magnificent building at the corner of Knez Mihailova and Kralja Petra Street.
- 1929Endowment
Sloga Palace
1 Andrićev Venac, Belgrade. A monumental palace belonging to the Endowment of Milivoje Jovanović and Luka Ćelović.
- 1931Endowment
Čukur Fountain
Belgrade (Dorćol). A monument to the boy Sava Petković, built from the Toma Vanđel Fund.
- 1932Endowment
Kolarac Endowment
Belgrade (Studentski Trg). The People's University and concert hall, an endowment of Ilija M. Kolarac.
- 1932
- 1934Endowment
Hospital in Kumanovo
Kumanovo, North Macedonia. A hospital built by the Endowment for the people of Southern Serbia (today North Macedonia).
- 1934
- 1935Endowment
Zvezdara Clinical Hospital Centre (City Hospital)
Dimitrija Tucovića 161, Belgrade. The Nikola Spasić Pavilion, the first city hospital, donated to Belgrade by the endowment.
- 1935
- 1936
- 1937Endowment
Spasić Pavilion
Staro Sajmište, Belgrade. The first exhibition pavilion of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia at the Belgrade Fairground.
- 1938Endowment
Igumanov Palace
Belgrade (Terazije). The endowment of Sima Andrejević Igumanov to the Prizren Seminary.
- 1940Endowment
Nikola and Evgenija Kiki Hospital
Belgrade (Savski Venac). A hospital for poor merchants, today the Burns Clinic of the Clinical Centre of Serbia.
- 2010Historical context
Law on Endowments, Foundations and Funds
The contemporary legal framework of endowment-building in Serbia.
Literature and sources
This list is for further reading and verification. Online sources were checked on 30 September 2026; books and medieval sources are recommended reading, not sources for individual statements on this page.
Online sources
Further reading
- Sima Ćirković, Srbi među evropskim narodima. Beograd: Equilibrium, 2004.
- Istorija srpskog naroda, knj. I–VI. Beograd: Srpska književna zadruga, 1981–1994.