Bošnjani
Encyclopedia
Bošnjani was the local Slavic name for inhabitants of Bosnia
during the Middle Ages
.
It appeared in a number of documents from the period, in most cases coupled with the word Good ("Dobri"). Debate on the exact nature of the term is inconclusive. Some historians believe that it indicates a unique ethnicity while others believe that it indicates a geographical identity, rather than an ethnic. Today the name is considered archaic, and is used only in the correct historical context.
The records of the term date to the 12th century in the Medieval Bosnian kingdom. Bosnia was originally a part of the early Medieval Serbian realm, but as of the 12th century, it goes on its own path as an independent Medieval realm. It is hypothesized that the presence of the Serb ethnonym is a remainder of prior Serb rule, whereas as the time passes, it is no longer present in the Late Middle Ages and solely the term Bošnjani emerges, implying the ethnogenesis of a new South Slavic tribe, whose ethnic development is obviously significantly formed by the heretic Bosnian Church
. As Bosnia has went on its own road of historical development, a new Serb state was formed to the east of the Drina
known as Rascia
. While it is memorable that Rascia or Serbia was called that by both of those names in both foreign and domestic documentary sources, it is noticeable that all Bosnian referrals to the Serbian Medieval realm are exclusively Rascian. All Serb- references in domestic Bosnian documentary sources are either early self-referrals, or the description of the Kotromanićs' crown (the Bosnian kings wore the Serb crown and styled themselves as Serb kings). This specific usage is further supportive of the ethnic origin of the Bošnjani and their theoretical constitution, keeping in memory that those living across the Drina river are "Rascians" to the end, and never acknowledging them as "Serbs".
During the Ottoman
era the preferred term for an inhabitant of Bosnia came to be Bošnjak (see also Bosniak and Bosniaks
), with the suffix "-iak" replacing the traditional "-anin". During the Austro-Hungarian era the term Bošnjak was also preferred until the beginning of the 20th century. The situation changed again in the 20th century, as Bosanac (see also Bosnian
and Bosnians
) came to be the preferred term. Following their national awakening and rebirth in the early 1990s, Bosniaks re-established the (by then) archaic term Bošnjaci (Bosniaks) for their nation based on the word's historical ethno-geographic connotations.
Bosnia (region)
Bosnia is a eponomous region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It lies mainly in the Dinaric Alps, ranging to the southern borders of the Pannonian plain, with the rivers Sava and Drina marking its northern and eastern borders. The other eponomous region, the southern, other half of the country is...
during the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
.
It appeared in a number of documents from the period, in most cases coupled with the word Good ("Dobri"). Debate on the exact nature of the term is inconclusive. Some historians believe that it indicates a unique ethnicity while others believe that it indicates a geographical identity, rather than an ethnic. Today the name is considered archaic, and is used only in the correct historical context.
The records of the term date to the 12th century in the Medieval Bosnian kingdom. Bosnia was originally a part of the early Medieval Serbian realm, but as of the 12th century, it goes on its own path as an independent Medieval realm. It is hypothesized that the presence of the Serb ethnonym is a remainder of prior Serb rule, whereas as the time passes, it is no longer present in the Late Middle Ages and solely the term Bošnjani emerges, implying the ethnogenesis of a new South Slavic tribe, whose ethnic development is obviously significantly formed by the heretic Bosnian Church
Bosnian Church
The Bosnian Church is historically thought to be an indigenous branch of the Bogomils that existed in Bosnia during the Middle Ages. Adherents of the church called themselves simply Krstjani...
. As Bosnia has went on its own road of historical development, a new Serb state was formed to the east of the Drina
Drina
The Drina is a 346 kilometer long river, which forms most of the border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. It is the longest tributary of the Sava River and the longest karst river in the Dinaric Alps which belongs to the Danube river watershed...
known as Rascia
Rascia
Rascia was a medieval region that served as the principal province of the Serbian realm. It was an administrative division under the direct rule of the monarch and sometimes as an appanage. The term has been used to refer to various Serbian states throughout the Middle Ages...
. While it is memorable that Rascia or Serbia was called that by both of those names in both foreign and domestic documentary sources, it is noticeable that all Bosnian referrals to the Serbian Medieval realm are exclusively Rascian. All Serb- references in domestic Bosnian documentary sources are either early self-referrals, or the description of the Kotromanićs' crown (the Bosnian kings wore the Serb crown and styled themselves as Serb kings). This specific usage is further supportive of the ethnic origin of the Bošnjani and their theoretical constitution, keeping in memory that those living across the Drina river are "Rascians" to the end, and never acknowledging them as "Serbs".
During the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
era the preferred term for an inhabitant of Bosnia came to be Bošnjak (see also Bosniak and Bosniaks
Bosniaks
The Bosniaks or Bosniacs are a South Slavic ethnic group, living mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a smaller minority also present in other lands of the Balkan Peninsula especially in Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia...
), with the suffix "-iak" replacing the traditional "-anin". During the Austro-Hungarian era the term Bošnjak was also preferred until the beginning of the 20th century. The situation changed again in the 20th century, as Bosanac (see also Bosnian
Bosnian
Bosnian may refer to:*Anything related to Bosnia or its inhabitants*Anything related to the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina or its inhabitants* Bosnian language, a South Slavic language spoken mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina...
and Bosnians
Bosnians
Bosnians are people who reside in, or come from, Bosnia and Herzegovina. By the modern state definition a Bosnian can be anyone who holds citizenship of the state. This includes, but is not limited to, members of the constituent ethnic groups of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Bosniaks, Bosnian Serbs and...
) came to be the preferred term. Following their national awakening and rebirth in the early 1990s, Bosniaks re-established the (by then) archaic term Bošnjaci (Bosniaks) for their nation based on the word's historical ethno-geographic connotations.
See also
- BosniansBosniansBosnians are people who reside in, or come from, Bosnia and Herzegovina. By the modern state definition a Bosnian can be anyone who holds citizenship of the state. This includes, but is not limited to, members of the constituent ethnic groups of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Bosniaks, Bosnian Serbs and...
- BosniaksBosniaksThe Bosniaks or Bosniacs are a South Slavic ethnic group, living mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a smaller minority also present in other lands of the Balkan Peninsula especially in Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia...
- Nations of Bosnia and Herzegovina