Stjepan Tomaševic
Encyclopedia
Stephen Tomašević was the last King of Bosnia (1461–1463) and also the last Despot of Serbia
(1459).
and a half-sister named Catherine.
His paternal grandfather was King Stephen Ostoja of Bosnia. Stephen Ostoja is considered a member of the House of Kotromanić
but his exact relation to his predecessors is unknown. He was possibly an illegitimate son of King Stephen Tvrtko I of Bosnia
.
and a number of other towns previously held by the House of Branković
. In 1459, Stephen Thomas entered negotiations with Helena Palaiologina
, widow of Lazar. The result of the negotiations was the marriage of Stephen Tomašević to Helena Branković
, the eldest daughter of Lazar and Palaiologina. The marriage took place at Smederevo
on
1 April 1459. The younger Helena changed her name to "Maria" at the time of her wedding. Tomašević replaced the deposed Stefan on the throne of Serbia.
However, Tomašević was supposed to marry an illegitimate daughter of Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan, probably Drusiana Sforza. His father sent the Duke a letter of apology for breaking their deal.
His reign in Serbia was short-lived. On 20 June 1459, forces under Mehmed II
of the Ottoman Empire
managed to capture Smederevo and proceeded to annex the remnants of the Serbian state to their realm. Stephen Tomašević and Maria fled to Bosnia, seeking refuge at the court of his father.
for help in the face of an impending Ottoman invasion. In November , 1461, a papal legate
presented Stephen Tomašević with a royal crown, offered by the Pope.
Later, in 1463, he sent for help from the Venetians
. However, none ever reached Bosnia. In 1463, Sultan Mehmed II
led an army into the country. The royal city of Bobovac
soon fell, leaving Stephen Tomašević to retreat to Jajce
and later to Ključ
. The Bosnian Kingdom was soon conquered by the Ottoman Empire. The King was captured in Ključ, and despite promises to the contrary, brought back to Jajce and beheaded on the nearby field known as Carevo Polje
(Tzar's Field).
According to Fine, Queen Maria survived by fleeing to the coast of the Adriatic Sea
. According to "The Fall of Constantinople 1453" (1965) by Steven Runciman
, Maria later joined the harem
of an unnamed Turkish general. The "Massarelli manuscript" of the 16th reports that Stephen Tomašević and Maria had children. However, none are mentioned by name. Their eventual fates are unknown.
In 1888, renowned Croat archeologist Ćiro Truhelka
excavated a locality in Jajce
known as "Kraljev Grob" (King's Tomb) and found a skeleton of a decapitated adult male. Though there is no direct evidence that these are the remains of Stephen Tomašević, folk tradition and circumstantial evidence make it almost a foregone conclusion that they are. The remains have since been housed, with minor interceptions, in the Franciscan
monastery in Jajce
.
History of Medieval Serbia
Тhe medieval history of Serbia begins in the 5th century AD with the Slavic invasion of the Balkans, and lasts until the Ottoman occupation of 1540.- Slavic invasion :...
(1459).
Family
He was the son of King Stephen Thomas of Bosnia. According to the "Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten" (1978) by Detlev Schwennicke, his mother was Vojača, first wife of his father. Catherine of St Sava was his stepmother, by whom he had a half-brother named SigismundIshak-bey Kraloglu
Ishak-bey Kraloglu or Sigismund of Bosnia was one of the last known members of the House of Kotromanić.- Childhood :...
and a half-sister named Catherine.
His paternal grandfather was King Stephen Ostoja of Bosnia. Stephen Ostoja is considered a member 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....
but his exact relation to his predecessors is unknown. He was possibly an illegitimate son of King Stephen Tvrtko I of Bosnia
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....
.
Despot
Lazar Branković of Serbia died in 1458. He was succeeded by his older brother Stefan Branković, a blind man. Stephen Thomas took advantage of the occasion to campaign against Serbia. He managed to capture SrebrenicaSrebrenica
Srebrenica is a town and municipality in the east of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the Bosnian Serb entity of Republika Srpska. Srebrenica is a small mountain town, its main industry being salt mining and a nearby spa. During the Bosnian War, the town was the site of the July 1995 massacre,...
and a number of other towns previously held by the House of Branković
House of Brankovic
House of Branković or Brankovići was a noble Serbian medieval dynasty. The family descent via female line through marriage from the Royal House of Nemanjić. The families rise to prominence during the time of disintegration of Serbian Empire under the last ruler of House of Nemanjić...
. In 1459, Stephen Thomas entered negotiations with Helena Palaiologina
Helena Palaiologina of Morea
Helena Palaiologina was a Byzantine despotess of Serbia as the wife of Despot Lazar Branković, who ruled from 1456 until his death in 1458. Together they had three daughters....
, widow of Lazar. The result of the negotiations was the marriage of Stephen Tomašević to Helena Branković
Mary of Serbia, Queen of Bosnia
Helena of Serbia, later known as Maria was the last Queen of Bosnia and Despoina of Serbia.-Background:...
, the eldest daughter of Lazar and Palaiologina. The marriage took place at Smederevo
Smederevo
Smederevo is a city and municipality in Serbia, on the right bank of the Danube, about 40 km downstream of the capital Belgrade. According to official results of the 2011 census, the city has a population of 107,528...
on
1 April 1459. The younger Helena changed her name to "Maria" at the time of her wedding. Tomašević replaced the deposed Stefan on the throne of Serbia.
However, Tomašević was supposed to marry an illegitimate daughter of Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan, probably Drusiana Sforza. His father sent the Duke a letter of apology for breaking their deal.
His reign in Serbia was short-lived. On 20 June 1459, forces under Mehmed II
Mehmed II
Mehmed II , was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire for a short time from 1444 to September 1446, and later from...
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...
managed to capture Smederevo and proceeded to annex the remnants of the Serbian state to their realm. Stephen Tomašević and Maria fled to Bosnia, seeking refuge at the court of his father.
King
On 10 July 1461, Stephen Thomas died. Stephen Tomašević succeeded him as King of Bosnia. In 1461, Stephen Tomašević sent to Pope Pius IIPope Pius II
Pope Pius II, born Enea Silvio Piccolomini was Pope from August 19, 1458 until his death in 1464. Pius II was born at Corsignano in the Sienese territory of a noble but decayed family...
for help in the face of an impending Ottoman invasion. In November , 1461, a papal legate
Papal legate
A papal legate – from the Latin, authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic Church. He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters....
presented Stephen Tomašević with a royal crown, offered by the Pope.
Later, in 1463, he sent for help from the Venetians
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
. However, none ever reached Bosnia. In 1463, Sultan Mehmed II
Mehmed II
Mehmed II , was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire for a short time from 1444 to September 1446, and later from...
led an army into the country. The royal city of Bobovac
Bobovac
Bobovac is a fortified city of medieval Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located near today's Vareš.The city was built during the reign of Stephen II, Ban of Bosnia, and was first mentioned in a document dating from 1349...
soon fell, leaving Stephen Tomašević to retreat to Jajce
Jajce
Jajce is a city and municipality located in the central part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is part of the Central Bosnia Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity...
and later to Ključ
Kljuc
Ključ is a town and municipality by the same name in western Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, specifically the Una-Sana Canton. The name of the town and the municipality translates to "Key" in Bosnian....
. The Bosnian Kingdom was soon conquered by the Ottoman Empire. The King was captured in Ključ, and despite promises to the contrary, brought back to Jajce and beheaded on the nearby field known as Carevo Polje
Carevo Polje
Carevo Polje is a village in the municipality of Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the place where, in 1463, Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror ordered the execution of the last King of Bosnia, Stephen Tomašević.-References:...
(Tzar's Field).
According to Fine, Queen Maria survived by fleeing to the coast of the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
. According to "The Fall of Constantinople 1453" (1965) by Steven Runciman
Steven Runciman
The Hon. Sir James Cochran Stevenson Runciman CH — known as Steven Runciman — was a British historian known for his work on the Middle Ages...
, Maria later joined the harem
Harem
Harem refers to the sphere of women in what is usually a polygynous household and their enclosed quarters which are forbidden to men...
of an unnamed Turkish general. The "Massarelli manuscript" of the 16th reports that Stephen Tomašević and Maria had children. However, none are mentioned by name. Their eventual fates are unknown.
In 1888, renowned Croat archeologist Ćiro Truhelka
Ciro Truhelka
Ćiro Truhelka was a Croatian archaeologist.Truhelka finished grade school and gymnasium in Osijek and went to university in Zagreb. He was the first custodian of the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
excavated a locality in Jajce
Jajce
Jajce is a city and municipality located in the central part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is part of the Central Bosnia Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity...
known as "Kraljev Grob" (King's Tomb) and found a skeleton of a decapitated adult male. Though there is no direct evidence that these are the remains of Stephen Tomašević, folk tradition and circumstantial evidence make it almost a foregone conclusion that they are. The remains have since been housed, with minor interceptions, in the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
monastery in Jajce
Jajce
Jajce is a city and municipality located in the central part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is part of the Central Bosnia Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity...
.