Rubuta ci gaba don wannan sakin layi - Da farko, maimakon yarima na gida, an tsara tsakiyar Serbia a matsayin Catepanate na Ras, kuma mai kula da Byzantine ya mallake ta. Yana da babban matsayi na katepano (ko dux) kuma yana zaune a Ras. Koyaya, wannan yanayin bai daɗe ba, da zaran John I Tzimiskes ya mutu a 976, tawayen Cometopuli ya ɓarke a tsakiyar Balkans wanda ya sake dawo da jihar Bulgaria na ɗan lokaci. Yaƙe-yaƙe na shekaru da yawa na mamayar Byzantine na Bulgaria
Serbs sanya a cikin wani mawuyacin hali. Akwai bayanan wakilan Serbia na 991-992 waɗanda suka yi tafiya ta teku don saduwa da sarkin Byzantine Basil II The Bulgar-Slayer. An yi imanin cewa wannan tawagar ta fito ne daga wasu daga cikin jihohin teku na Serbia. A wannan lokacin, an yi rikodin cewa mulkin Jovan Vladimir, mai mulkin Duklja na teku a c. 1000, ya shimfiɗa a kan "yankuna na Serbia".