Grbalj had been a "župa" (county) of the medieval Serbian state of Duklja, and subsequently part of the Grand Principality of Serbia (1091–1217), the medieval Kingdom of Serbia (1217–1346), and the Serbian Empire (1346–1371) until its fall. It was also the personal estate of Stefan Vukanović Nemanjić (fl. 1252). Most of Grbalj became part of the Principality of Zeta (1371-1378). Grbalj was part of the Serbian Despotate from 1421-1439. The regional, "1427 Code of Grbalj" was issued at the župa's Podlastva Monastery. During a transitional period of government, a peasant rebellion erupted in Grbalj (Zeta coast) against Kotor regarding the effects of control by Venice (1451-1452). As part of his efforts to align himself with Venice, Stefanica Crnojević suppressed the rebellion, devastating the region.