Final ruler Vlatko Hercegović | ||
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Country Vassal to Serbian Kingdom/Empire (ca. 1331–1355)Vassal to Kingdom of Bosnia(1388–1415)Vassal to Ottoman Empire(1415–1444, 1469–1480)Vassal to Kingdom of Aragon(1444–1466) Estates Gornje Podrinje or Gornja Drina (area around the upper course of the Drina river)Hum (1388–1480)(roughly modern Herzegovina)Duchy of Saint Sava (1435–1480) Titles Grand Duke of Bosnia (Veliki Vojvoda Bosanski)Herzog (Duke) of Hum and the CoastHerzog of Saint Sava Founded first half of the 14th century | ||
The Kosača family was a Bosnian medieval noble family which ruled over parts of modern Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dalmatia (in southern Croatia), Old Herzegovina (in western Montenegro) and Raška (in southwestern Serbia), between the 14th century and the 15th century. The land they controlled was known as Hum (Zahumlje), roughly corresponding to modern region of Herzegovina, which itself was derived from the title "Herzog", which Stjepan Vukčić Kosača adopted in 1448. The family ruled as vassals to several states, including the Kingdom of Bosnia and Ottoman Empire. The Kosača family members belonged to the Bosnian Church, Catholic Church and Serbian Orthodox Church.
Contents
History
The family name Kosača was probably taken after the village of Kosače near Goražde, in the Upper Drina region of eastern Bosnia, where the Kosača family were originally estate owners.
The founder, Vuk (by which the family is also called Vukovići), was a prominent military commander under Emperor Dušan the Mighty of Serbia (r. 1331–1355) who took part in the conquests of southern Balkans. He was given lands around Upper Drina.
Vlatko Vuković, the son of Vuk, brought the family to prominence after taking part in battles against the Ottomans. He commanded the victorious Bosnian army at the Battle of Bileća (1388). At the Battle of Kosovo (1389) he commanded the left flank of the Serbian army led by Prince Lazar of Serbia, with troops that were sent by Bosnian King Tvrtko I. The battle was at first reported as a victory, also by Vlatko himself, however it has been concluded as inconclusive, with a long-term Ottoman victory.
Stjepan Vukčić Kosača in 1448 dropped his title "Vojvoda of Bosnia", assuming the title "Herceg [Duke] of Hum and the Coast". He changed it again in 1449 to "Herceg of Saint Sava" in recollection of the Serbian Orthodox saint. This title had considerable public relations value, because Sava's relics were consider miracle-working by people of all Christian faiths. The Kosačas themselves, however, were one of the few non-Orthodox noble families in Hum. His lands were known as Herzog's lands or later Herzegovina.
King Stjepan Tomaš of Bosnia married Katarina Kosača, daughter of Stjepan Vukčić, in a Catholic ceremony in May 1446 ensuring, at least for a short while, he had the support of the most powerful nobleman in the kingdom and a staunch supporter of the Bosnian Church, Stjepan Vukčić.
Members
Orthodox
Some Eastern Orthodox buildings that were built by Kosača's:
Catholic
Catholics from the region often visit Katarina Kosača's tomb in the Roman church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli. Her tombstone features a life-size portrait and the coat of arms of the Kotromanići and Kosača at each side. The inscription, originally written in Cyrillic (Inscription, external link) but in 1590 replaced with a Latin one, which reads:
Catharinae Reginae BosnensiStephani ducis santi sabbae sororiet genere Helene et domo principisStephani natae Thomae regis Bosanevsori Qvanrum vixit annorum LIIIIet obdormivit Romae anno DominiMCCCCLXXVIII dei XXV oteobrismonumentum ipsus scriptis positiv.The memory of Queen Catherine (Katarina Kosača), who was beatified after her death, is still alive in Central Bosnia, where Catholics traditionally mark 25 October with a mass in Bobovac 'at the altar of the homeland'. Some of the artifacts belonging to the Queen and the Kotromanić family were taken in 1871 by Josip Juraj Strossmayer from the Franciscan monastery in Kraljeva Sutjeska to Croatia for safekeeping until 'Bosnia is liberated'. They have never been returned.