Hrelja

Hrelja, known in Balkan epic as Relja Krilatica, the Winged One (died 1342), was a Serbian magnate who served kings Milutin, Dečanski and Dušan from Štip and Strumica. In 1334–1335 he rebuilt the church of Rila Monastery, adding the defensive tower named after him.

In the late 1330s, from a border domain between Serbia, Bulgaria and Byzantium, he broke away and ruled from Strumica, formally recognising Byzantine authority. In the next Byzantine civil war he backed John VI Kantakouzenos, who gave him Melnik and the title protosebastos. When Kantakouzenos fled to Dušan's court in 1342 and gave up his ally for Serbian help, Hrelja submitted to Dušan again and ceded Melnik.

He died at Rila on 27 December 1342, tonsured as the monk Hariton and buried in the church he had rebuilt; Bulgarian tradition blames Serb mercenaries hired by Dušan.