Stefan the First-Crowned was a Serbian ruler who reigned as Grand Prince from 1196 and later became the first King of Serbia in 1217. A prominent member of the Nemanjić dynasty, he transformed his nation from a grand principality into a kingdom. He worked closely with his brother, Saint Sava, to help establish the Serbian Orthodox Church. His leadership helped secure Serbian independence during a period of intense regional conflict involving the Byzantine Empire, Hungary, and various crusader states.