Radič, Grand Čelnik

Radič also known as Radich Postupovich (; fl. 1413–1441) was a Serbian nobleman that had the title of Grand Čelnik (count palatine), the highest dignitary after the Serbian monarch. He began his service under Prince, later Despot, Stefan Lazarević (r. 1389–1427) as čelnik, then was elevated to Grand Čelnik during the rule of Despot Đurađ Branković (r. 1427–1456). He was very wealthy, and held the silver mines in Novo Brdo of the Serbian Despotate. Radič founded and renovated several churches and monasteries which still exist, including the notable Vraćevšnica and Kastamonitou. He took monastic vows and became a monk in Kastamonitou where he spent his last years.

He held the highest position, under Stefan Lazarević and Đurađ Branković, and was the longest office-holder (čelnik), and the most powerful political figure besides the monarch in his time.

Origin and early life The bulk of both the Serbian and Ottoman army were destroyed in the Battle of Kosovo, including the Serbian Prince and Ottoman Sultan, and also Radič's father. Radič was the only one from his village who returned home alive. Radič was born in ca. 1363 or 1372, in the village of Kamenica, to a family of miners, who extracted lead, zinc and silver from the Rudnik mine. He was brought up at the court of Prince Lazar of Serbia and was friends with the heir, Stefan.

Service under Stefan Lazarević Radič had the title of čelnik under Despot Stefan Lazarević. Radič held a great estate in Upper Gruža, at the foot of the Rudnik, where he would later found Vraćevšnica. The Grand Čelnik was the highest court title of the Serbian Despotate, and the title-holders held great provinces, property, and honours, and Radič was one of the most powerful ones.

Radič's lands were the mines He founded the Vraćevšnica Monastery in 1428–1429, which lied below the Rudnik, in Vraćevštica, which was composed out of five villages: Gornja and Donja (Upper and Lower) Vraćevštica (Vraćevšnica), Grahovac, Konjuša and Brezova. Radič also received possessions in Banatska Crna Gora.

Radič also founded the monastery of the Great Annunciation (Veliko Blagoveštenje) in the village of Grabovica, near Gornji Milanovac, sometime before 1429–30.

In a 1433 charter issued to Vatopedi by Radič, confirmed by Despot Đurađ, Radič held the village of Halae, while Stevan Ratković held Cerovac, in the province of Nekudim. Radič did not stop at founding and renovating churches in his home region, as soon as he had gained wealth and status, he started reaching out to far away churches, as an example of the past noblemen and dynastic members. hegoumenos Neophytos persuaded Radič to contribute to the restoration of Kastamonitou Monastery on Mount Athos. Radič spent his last years in Kastamonitou as a monk, the monastery then became Serbian. Đurađ Branković's 1430 charter.jpg|Đurađ Branković's 1430 charter confirming Radič's gifts to the Monastery of St. Paul. Koznik77356.jpg|View of Koznik, the estate of Radič. CoA Oblačić K N Armorial.jpg|Coat of arms of the Oblačić family according to the Korenić-Neorić Armorial (1595).

Family He married Ana, and had a son, Mihailo.

Legacy He is the mythological progenitor of the Radič-Postupović family (Радич-Поступовић), which produced several Orthodox clerics. In Serbian epic poetry, Radič is called Rade Oblačić (Раде Облачић) or Oblak Radosav (Облак Радосав), and also Rajko od Rasine ("Rajko from Rasina").