Kingdom of Bosnia
Encyclopedia
The Kingdom of Bosnia or the Bosnian Kingdom was one of the medieval kingdoms of the Balkans, existing between 1377 and 1463.
reached its peak under ban Tvrtko I
of the House of Kotromanić
, who had himself crowned on 26 October 1377. By doing so, he became a ruler of an independent kingdom.
. He was involved in offensives against the Byzantines, in alliance with Hungary and Rascia, reaching as far south as Braničevo.
(1180–1204) to Bosnia. Kulin was second Bosnian ban, and he led Bosnia successfully to a war in 1183 together with its Béla III of Hungary
, Prince Miroslav of Zahumlje
, and Serbian ruler Stefan Nemanja
. This war eventually liberated Bosnia from Byzantine rule, but it returned it under the Hungarian crown. The rest of Kulin's rule seems to have been peaceful for Bosnia, and so the period of Kulin's reign has traditionally been remembered as the Age of peace and prosperity. In 1189, Ban Kulin issued the first written Bosnian document, in Bosančica
, regarding the trade relations with Dubrovnik
(Ragusa).
Kulin's rule also marked the start of a controversy with the Bosnian Church
, an indigenous Christian sect considered heretical by both the Roman Catholic
and Eastern Orthodox church
.
In 1203, the Serbian Prince Vukan of Duklja
and Zeta accused Kulin of heresy and lodged an official appeal to the pope
. Kulin cunningly saved Bosnia from a Crusade that the pope was preparing to launch, stating that he was always a faithful Catholic
. In response to Hungarian attempts to use church politics regarding the issue as a way to reclaim sovereignty over Bosnia, Kulin held a council of local church leaders to renounce the heresy in 1203. Despite this, Hungarian ambitions remained unchanged long after Kulin's death in 1204, waning only after an unsuccessful invasion on Bosnia in 1254.
Kulin's policy was poorly continued since the Ban's death in 1204 by his son and heir, Ban Stjepan Kulinić
, who seems to have remained aligned with the Catholic Church. Stjepan was eventually deposed in 1232.
The Bosnian Krstjani under the Byzantium influence placed as a new ban - a nobleman called Matej Ninoslav
(1232–1250). Around this time, a relative of Matej, Prijezda I
, converted back to Catholicism (he previously switched to the Bosnian Church for a short period of time). Matej Ninoslav quickly changed his fanatical Catholic and anti-Bosnian Church attitude and eventually became a protector of the Krstjani. In 1234 King Andrew II of Hungary
gave the Banate of Bosnia to herceg Coloman. To make matters worse, the legitimate successor for the Bosnian throne of the House of Kulinić
, Count Sibislav of Usora, son of former Ban Stjepan started to attack Ninoslav's positions attempting to take Bosnia for himself. Pope Gregory IX
replaced the Bosnian Bishop
that was a member of the Bosnian Church in 1235 by Johann, a member of the Dominican Order
, and confirmed herceg Coloman as the new legitimate Ban of Bosnia. The crusaders
led by Dominican Bishop Johann and Hungarian herceg Coloman invaded Bosnia and led a long war that lasted for full five years. The war only funnelled more support to Ban Matej Ninoslav, as only Count Sibislav took the Pope's side in the Crusade. Matej issued an edict to the Republic of Dubrovnik on 22 May 1240, stating that he placed it under his protectorate in the case of a Serbian attack from Rascia
by King Stephen Vladislav I of Serbia. The support from Dubrovnik
was essential to support Matej Ninoslav's warfare.
It was also a response due to the very bad relations between Bosnia
and Serbia
, as Serbia sent no aid to Matej contrary to the traditional alliance. Coloman passed the title of ruler of Bosnia to Matej's distant cousin, Prijezda
, but Prijezda managed to govern Bosnia only for two or three years. In 1241, the Tartars have invaded Hungary, so Coloman had to fall back from Bosnia. Matej Ninoslav immediately retook control over Bosnia, while Prijezda fled to Hungary
in exile. The edict to Dubrovnik
was re-issued in March 1244. Matej involved in the civil war that erupted in Croatia between Trogir
and Split
, talking Split's side. King Bela IV of Hungary
was greatly frustrated and considered this a conspiracy, so he sent an Army
to Bosnia, but Matej subsequently made peace. In 1248, Ban Ninoslav cunningly saved Bosnia from yet another Pope
's Crusade requested by the Hungarian
Archbishop
.
(1250–1287) as Ban of Bosnia. Ban Prijezda ruthlessly persecuted the Bosnian Church
. In 1254 the Bosnian Ban shortly conquered Zahumlje
from King Stephen Uroš I of Serbia during Hungary's war against Serbia
which was joined to Bosnia, but the peace restored Zahumlje to Serbia.
During Stjepan II's reign, all three Churches were present in Bosnia. Roman Catholic Christians lived in the urban parts of his realm, while the minority which was made of adherents of the Bosnian Church
inhabited some of the rural areas. Orthodox Christians held predominance in the eastern parts of Hum
and in the eastern border regions of Podrinje.
Throughout the Middle Ages, Herzegovina was made up of separate small duchies: Zahumlje
(Hum), centered around the town of Blagaj
and Travunia
-Konavli, centered on the town of Trebinje
. These states were sometimes ruled by semi-independent Princes, mostly under actual control of Serbian Prince
s or in some cases Bulgaria
n. Over the course of several centuries, they were under Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian rule. Their territories included modern Herzegovina
and parts of Montenegro
and southern Dalmatia
. The name Herzegovina was adopted when Duke (Herceg) of St. Sava
Stjepan Vukčić Kosača
asserted its independence in 1435/1448.
The religion of the original Slavic population of Bosnia and Herzegovina was mixed: there were Catholic
and Orthodox Christians, but most of the indigenous population simply called themselves a "Good Christians" and belonged to the indigenous Bosnian Church
. This church was very similar to Catholicism and Orthodoxy but under a separate bishop, and it was accused by the Catholic and Orthodox authorities of being a dualist heresy
and linked to the Bogomils (Patarens).
The ban
s and kings of Bosnia were Catholics during their reign, except for Stjepan Ostoja who showed some interest in the Bosnian Church while he was on the throne. There were, however, several important noblemen who were Krstjani, such as Hrvoje Vukčić
, the Radenović-Pavlović family, Sandalj Hranić, Stjepan Vukčić, and Paul Klešić. It was common for the Holy See
to have the Bosnian rulers renounce any relation to the Bosnian Church or even perform conversions, in return for support.
who came into power in 1353. Tvrtko I made Bosnia an independent state and is thought by many historians to have been initially crowned in Mile near today city of Visoko
where was a state residency by that time.
Stjepan Tvrtko I's full title listed subject peoples and geographical dependencies, following the Byzantine norm. At the peak of his power, he was King of Serbia
, Croatia
, Bosnia, Hum, Usora, Soli, Dalmatia
, Donji Kraji etc.
had already started its invasion of Europe
and posed a major threat to the Balkans
throughout the first half of the 15th century. Finally, under King Stjepan Tomašević Bosnia officially fell in 1463 and became the westernmost province of the Ottoman Empire
. Herzegovina fell to the Turks in 1482. It took another century for the western parts of today's Bosnia to succumb to Ottoman attacks.
Establishment
By the mid-14th century, BosniaBosnia (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...
reached its peak under ban Tvrtko I
Tvrtko I of Bosnia
Stjepan Tvrtko I was a ruler of medieval Bosnia. He ruled in 1353–1366 and again in 1367–1377 as Ban and in 1377–1391 as the first Bosnian King....
of the House of Kotromanić
House of Kotromanic
The Kotromanić dynasty was a ruling house that ruled in the medieval Bosnia and the surrounding lands, from the 13th century as Bans until the crowning with the Bosnian crowns in 1377 and then as kings until the Ottoman conquest conquest in 1463....
, who had himself crowned on 26 October 1377. By doing so, he became a ruler of an independent kingdom.
Prologue
During the 12th century, rulers within Bosnia acted increasingly autonomously from Hungary and/or Byzantium. Realistically, outside powers had little control of the mountainous and somewhat peripheral regions which made Bosnia. Notably, Ban Borić appears as a prominent figure in 1154, as an ally of the King of HungaryKing of Hungary
The King of Hungary was the head of state of the Kingdom of Hungary from 1000 to 1918.The style of title "Apostolic King" was confirmed by Pope Clement XIII in 1758 and used afterwards by all the Kings of Hungary, so after this date the kings are referred to as "Apostolic King of...
. He was involved in offensives against the Byzantines, in alliance with Hungary and Rascia, reaching as far south as Braničevo.
Reign of Kulin Ban
The Byzantine Empire under Manuel I Comnenus conquered Bosnia from the Hungarians in 1166 and brought the native ruler Ban KulinBan Kulin
Ban Kulin was a notable Ban of Bosnia who ruled from 1180 to 1204 first as a vassal of the Byzantine Empire and then of the Kingdom of Hungary. He was brought to the power by Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Comnenus. He had a son, Stjepan Kulinić who succeeded him as Bosnian Ban...
(1180–1204) to Bosnia. Kulin was second Bosnian ban, and he led Bosnia successfully to a war in 1183 together with its Béla III of Hungary
Béla III of Hungary
Béla III was King of Hungary and Croatia . He was educated in the court of the Byzantine Emperor Manuel I who was planning to ensure his succession in the Byzantine Empire till the birth of his own son...
, Prince Miroslav of Zahumlje
Miroslav of Hum
Miroslav Zavidović or Miroslav of Hum was a 12th-century Great Prince of Zachlumia from 1162 to 1190, an administrative division of the medieval Serbian Principality covering Herzegovina and southern Dalmatia....
, and Serbian ruler Stefan Nemanja
Stefan Nemanja
Stefan Nemanja was the Grand Prince of the Grand Principality of Serbia from 1166 to 1196, a heir of the Vukanović dynasty that marked the beginning of a greater Serbian realm .He is remembered for his contributions to Serbian culture and...
. This war eventually liberated Bosnia from Byzantine rule, but it returned it under the Hungarian crown. The rest of Kulin's rule seems to have been peaceful for Bosnia, and so the period of Kulin's reign has traditionally been remembered as the Age of peace and prosperity. In 1189, Ban Kulin issued the first written Bosnian document, in Bosančica
Bosnian Cyrillic
Bosnian Cyrillic or Croatian Cyrillic, widely known as Bosančica, is an extinct Cyrillic script, that originated in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was widely used in Bosnia and Croatia . Its name in Bosnian and Croatian is bosančica or bosanica, which can literally be translated as Bosnian script...
, regarding the trade relations with Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its total population is 42,641...
(Ragusa).
Kulin's rule also marked the start of a controversy with the 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...
, an indigenous Christian sect considered heretical by both the Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and Eastern Orthodox church
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
.
In 1203, the Serbian Prince Vukan of Duklja
Duklja
Doclea or Duklja was a medieval state with hereditary lands roughly encompassing the territories of present-day southeastern Montenegro, from Kotor on the west to the river Bojana on the east and to the sources of Zeta and Morača rivers on the north....
and Zeta accused Kulin of heresy and lodged an official appeal to the pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
. Kulin cunningly saved Bosnia from a Crusade that the pope was preparing to launch, stating that he was always a faithful Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
. In response to Hungarian attempts to use church politics regarding the issue as a way to reclaim sovereignty over Bosnia, Kulin held a council of local church leaders to renounce the heresy in 1203. Despite this, Hungarian ambitions remained unchanged long after Kulin's death in 1204, waning only after an unsuccessful invasion on Bosnia in 1254.
Kulin's policy was poorly continued since the Ban's death in 1204 by his son and heir, Ban Stjepan Kulinić
Stjepan Kulinic
Stephen Kulinić , son of Bosnia's Ban Kulin, was a Bosnian Ban in 1204–1232. He was a faithful Catholic and thus a supporter of the Hungarian Crown, but not very popular in Bosnia - as he turned away from his father's policies and prosecuted the Bogumils...
, who seems to have remained aligned with the Catholic Church. Stjepan was eventually deposed in 1232.
The Bosnian Krstjani under the Byzantium influence placed as a new ban - a nobleman called Matej Ninoslav
Matej Ninoslav
Matej Ninoslav , son of Radivoj, was a Bosnian Ban . Most of Bosnia was under the Kingdom of Hungary from 1235 to 1241. Ninoslav was also a Prince of Split in 1242–1244 during the local civil war. Ninoslav established control of most of Bosnia after the Hungarian withdrawal...
(1232–1250). Around this time, a relative of Matej, Prijezda I
Prijezda I
Prijezda I was a Bosnian Ban as a vassal of the Hungarian Kingdom reigning 1250–1287. He was probably the founder of the House of Kotromanić.- From Christianity to Heresy and backwards :...
, converted back to Catholicism (he previously switched to the Bosnian Church for a short period of time). Matej Ninoslav quickly changed his fanatical Catholic and anti-Bosnian Church attitude and eventually became a protector of the Krstjani. In 1234 King Andrew II of Hungary
Andrew II of Hungary
Andrew II the Jerosolimitan was King of Hungary and Croatia . He was the younger son of King Béla III of Hungary, who invested him with the government of the Principality of Halych...
gave the Banate of Bosnia to herceg Coloman. To make matters worse, the legitimate successor for the Bosnian throne of the House of Kulinić
House of Kulinic
The Kulinić dynasty was a medieval Bosnian ruling family from the second half of the 12th century to the first half of the 13th century. Its founder, Kulin, was made Bosnia's Ban by the Eastern Roman Emperor Manuel I Comnenus in 1180, but he was present in Bosnia political and social life since...
, Count Sibislav of Usora, son of former Ban Stjepan started to attack Ninoslav's positions attempting to take Bosnia for himself. Pope Gregory IX
Pope Gregory IX
Pope Gregory IX, born Ugolino di Conti, was pope from March 19, 1227 to August 22, 1241.The successor of Pope Honorius III , he fully inherited the traditions of Pope Gregory VII and of his uncle Pope Innocent III , and zealously continued their policy of Papal supremacy.-Early life:Ugolino was...
replaced the Bosnian Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
that was a member of the Bosnian Church in 1235 by Johann, a member of the Dominican Order
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
, and confirmed herceg Coloman as the new legitimate Ban of Bosnia. The crusaders
Crusaders
The Crusaders are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Christchurch that competes in the Super Rugby competition. They are the most successful team in Super Rugby history with seven titles...
led by Dominican Bishop Johann and Hungarian herceg Coloman invaded Bosnia and led a long war that lasted for full five years. The war only funnelled more support to Ban Matej Ninoslav, as only Count Sibislav took the Pope's side in the Crusade. Matej issued an edict to the Republic of Dubrovnik on 22 May 1240, stating that he placed it under his protectorate in the case of a Serbian attack from 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...
by King Stephen Vladislav I of Serbia. The support from Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its total population is 42,641...
was essential to support Matej Ninoslav's warfare.
It was also a response due to the very bad relations between Bosnia
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...
and Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, as Serbia sent no aid to Matej contrary to the traditional alliance. Coloman passed the title of ruler of Bosnia to Matej's distant cousin, Prijezda
Prijezda I
Prijezda I was a Bosnian Ban as a vassal of the Hungarian Kingdom reigning 1250–1287. He was probably the founder of the House of Kotromanić.- From Christianity to Heresy and backwards :...
, but Prijezda managed to govern Bosnia only for two or three years. In 1241, the Tartars have invaded Hungary, so Coloman had to fall back from Bosnia. Matej Ninoslav immediately retook control over Bosnia, while Prijezda fled to Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
in exile. The edict to Dubrovnik
Republic of Ragusa
The Republic of Ragusa or Republic of Dubrovnik was a maritime republic centered on the city of Dubrovnik in Dalmatia , that existed from 1358 to 1808...
was re-issued in March 1244. Matej involved in the civil war that erupted in Croatia between Trogir
Trogir
Trogir is a historic town and harbour on the Adriatic coast in Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia, with a population of 12,995 and a total municipality population of 13,322 . The historic city of Trogir is situated on a small island between the Croatian mainland and the island of Čiovo...
and Split
Split (city)
Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and...
, talking Split's side. King Bela IV of Hungary
Béla IV of Hungary
Béla IV , King of Hungary and of Croatia , duke of Styria 1254–58. One of the most famous kings of Hungary, he distinguished himself through his policy of strengthening of the royal power following the example of his grandfather Bela III, and by the rebuilding Hungary after the catastrophe of the...
was greatly frustrated and considered this a conspiracy, so he sent an Army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
to Bosnia, but Matej subsequently made peace. In 1248, Ban Ninoslav cunningly saved Bosnia from yet another Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
's Crusade requested by the Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
.
Questionability of the Bosnian throne
The question of inheriting the Bosnian throne was brought. Ninoslav's sons fought valiantly for the title, but the King of Hungary managed to reinstall Prijezda IPrijezda I
Prijezda I was a Bosnian Ban as a vassal of the Hungarian Kingdom reigning 1250–1287. He was probably the founder of the House of Kotromanić.- From Christianity to Heresy and backwards :...
(1250–1287) as Ban of Bosnia. Ban Prijezda ruthlessly persecuted the 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...
. In 1254 the Bosnian Ban shortly conquered Zahumlje
Zahumlje
Zachlumia or Zahumlje was a medieval principality located in modern-day regions of Herzegovina and southern Dalmatia...
from King Stephen Uroš I of Serbia during Hungary's war against Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
which was joined to Bosnia, but the peace restored Zahumlje to Serbia.
During Stjepan II's reign, all three Churches were present in Bosnia. Roman Catholic Christians lived in the urban parts of his realm, while the minority which was made of adherents of the 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...
inhabited some of the rural areas. Orthodox Christians held predominance in the eastern parts of Hum
Zahumlje
Zachlumia or Zahumlje was a medieval principality located in modern-day regions of Herzegovina and southern Dalmatia...
and in the eastern border regions of Podrinje.
Throughout the Middle Ages, Herzegovina was made up of separate small duchies: Zahumlje
Zahumlje
Zachlumia or Zahumlje was a medieval principality located in modern-day regions of Herzegovina and southern Dalmatia...
(Hum), centered around the town of Blagaj
Blagaj
Blagaj is a village-town in the south-eastern region of the Mostar basin, in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It stands at the edge of Bišće plain and is one of the most valuable mixed urban and rural structures in Bosnia and Herzegovina, distinguished from other similar...
and Travunia
Travunia
Travunia was a medieval region, administrative unit and principality, which was part of Medieval Serbia , and in its last years, the Bosnian Kingdom . The county became hereditary in a number of noble houses, often kin to the ruling dynasty. The region came under Ottoman rule in 1482...
-Konavli, centered on the town of Trebinje
Trebinje
Trebinje is the southernmost municipality and town in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is administratively part of the Republika Srpska entity and is located in southeastern Herzegovina, some from the Adriatic Sea....
. These states were sometimes ruled by semi-independent Princes, mostly under actual control of Serbian Prince
Prince
Prince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
s or in some cases Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n. Over the course of several centuries, they were under Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian rule. Their territories included modern Herzegovina
Herzegovina
Herzegovina is the southern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While there is no official border distinguishing it from the Bosnian region, it is generally accepted that the borders of the region are Croatia to the west, Montenegro to the south, the canton boundaries of the Herzegovina-Neretva...
and parts of Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
and southern Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
. The name Herzegovina was adopted when Duke (Herceg) of St. Sava
Saint Sava
Saint Sava was a Serbian Prince and Orthodox monk, the first Archbishop of the autocephalous Serbian Church, the founder of Serbian law and literature, and a diplomat. Sava was born Rastko Nemanjić , the youngest son of Serbian Grand Župan Stefan Nemanja , and ruled the appanage of Hum briefly in...
Stjepan Vukčić Kosača
Stjepan Vukcic Kosaca
Stjepan Vukčić Kosača was a Herzegovina nobleman. He was a member of the House of Kosača, a Grand Duke of Herzegovina, Lord of Zahumlje and Primorje and also Herzog of Serbian Saint Sava...
asserted its independence in 1435/1448.
The religion of the original Slavic population of Bosnia and Herzegovina was mixed: there were Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and Orthodox Christians, but most of the indigenous population simply called themselves a "Good Christians" and belonged to the indigenous 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...
. This church was very similar to Catholicism and Orthodoxy but under a separate bishop, and it was accused by the Catholic and Orthodox authorities of being a dualist heresy
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
and linked to the Bogomils (Patarens).
The ban
Ban (title)
Ban was a title used in several states in central and south-eastern Europe between the 7th century and the 20th century.-Etymology:The word ban has entered the English language probably as a borrowing from South Slavic ban, meaning "lord, master; ruler". The Slavic word is probably borrowed from...
s and kings of Bosnia were Catholics during their reign, except for Stjepan Ostoja who showed some interest in the Bosnian Church while he was on the throne. There were, however, several important noblemen who were Krstjani, such as Hrvoje Vukčić
Hrvoje Vukcic
Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić was a Ban of Croatia, Grand Duke of Bosnia and a Herzog of Split. He was the most prominent member of the Croatian noble House of Hrvatinić and the strongest of the three main large feudalists of early feudal medieval Bosnia...
, the Radenović-Pavlović family, Sandalj Hranić, Stjepan Vukčić, and Paul Klešić. It was common for the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
to have the Bosnian rulers renounce any relation to the Bosnian Church or even perform conversions, in return for support.
Tvrtko I
By the mid-14th century, Bosnia reached a peak under Ban Tvrtko ITvrtko I of Bosnia
Stjepan Tvrtko I was a ruler of medieval Bosnia. He ruled in 1353–1366 and again in 1367–1377 as Ban and in 1377–1391 as the first Bosnian King....
who came into power in 1353. Tvrtko I made Bosnia an independent state and is thought by many historians to have been initially crowned in Mile near today city of Visoko
Visoko
Visoko is a city and municipality in central Bosnia and Herzegovina of rich historical heritage. It was an early centre of the Bosnian medieval state, and the site where the first Bosnian king Tvrtko I was crowned. Located between Zenica and Sarajevo, Visoko lies on the Bosna river where the...
where was a state residency by that time.
- 1377, he was crowned in a Franciscan monastery in Mile, in the city of Visoko near what is today SarajevoSarajevoSarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
.
- by 1390, Tvrtko I expanded his realm to include a part of CroatiaCroatiaCroatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
and DalmatiaDalmatiaDalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
, and assumed the title of King of Rascia, Bosnia, Dalmatia, Croatia and the Littoral.
Stjepan Tvrtko I's full title listed subject peoples and geographical dependencies, following the Byzantine norm. At the peak of his power, he was King of Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, Bosnia, Hum, Usora, Soli, Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
, Donji Kraji etc.
Decline
After the death of Tvrtko I, the power of the Bosnian state slowly faded away. The Ottoman EmpireOttoman 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...
had already started its invasion of Europe
Ottoman wars in Europe
The wars of the Ottoman Empire in Europe are also sometimes referred to as the Ottoman Wars or as Turkish Wars, particularly in older, European texts.- Rise :...
and posed a major threat to the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
throughout the first half of the 15th century. Finally, under King Stjepan Tomašević Bosnia officially fell in 1463 and became the westernmost province of the Ottoman Empire
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...
. Herzegovina fell to the Turks in 1482. It took another century for the western parts of today's Bosnia to succumb to Ottoman attacks.
See also
- History of Bosnia and HerzegovinaHistory of Bosnia and Herzegovina-Pre-Slavic Period :Bosnia has been inhabited at least since Neolithic times. In the late Bronze Age, the Neolithic population was replaced by more warlike Indo-European tribes known as the Illyrians. Celtic migrations in the 4th and 3rd century BCE displaced many Illyrian tribes from their former...
- List of rulers of Bosnia