Duchy of Herzegovina
Encyclopedia
Duchy of Saint Sava
was a late medieval monarchy amid the Ottoman
conquest of the Balkans. It was ruled by Stefan
and his son Vladislav, of the Kosača family.
The first ruler was titled "Voivode of Saint Sava" (after the first Serbian Patriarch, Saint Sava
), his rank in German - Herzog (Duke), would later give the name to the present-day region of Herzegovina
, thus it has also been named the "Duchy of Herzegovina" in modern sources, as the Ottomans used Hersek Sancağı ("Sanjak of the lands of the Herzog").
on January 20, 1448, Stephen Vukčić Kosača styled himself "Duke of Saint Sava
(Vojvoda Svetog Save), lord of Hum and Primorje (Gospodar Humski i Primorski), Grand Duke (Herzog), and forced Bosnia to recognize him as such.
On 15 February 1444, Stephen signed a treaty with Alfonso V
, King of Aragon and Naples
, becoming his vassal in exchange for the king's help against Stjepan's enemies, namely King Stephen Thomas of Bosnia, Duke Ivaniš Pavlović and Venice. In the same treaty Stjepan promised to pay regular tribute to Alfonso instead to Ottoman sultan as he had done until then.
Stjepan Vukčić died in 1466, and was succeeded by his eldest son Vladislav Hercegović. In 1482 he was overpowered by Ottoman
forces led by Stjepan Vukčić's youngest son, Hersekli Ahmed Pasha, who converted to Islam
prior to that. In the Ottoman Empire, Herzegovina was organized as a province (sanjak
) within the state (pashaluk
) of Bosnia. The name of the country was changed to Bosnia and Herzegovina
in 1853, as a result of a twist of political events. It was part of the Ottoman Empire for a bit less than four centuries.
Stjepan founded the Serbian Orthodox Zagrađe Monastery near his realm's seat in Herceg Novi
, modern-day Montenegro
, and the Savina Monastery, also near Herceg Novi
.
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...
was a late medieval monarchy amid 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...
conquest of the Balkans. It was ruled by Stefan
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...
and his son Vladislav, of the Kosača family.
The first ruler was titled "Voivode of Saint Sava" (after the first Serbian Patriarch, Saint 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...
), his rank in German - Herzog (Duke), would later give the name to the present-day region of 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...
, thus it has also been named the "Duchy of Herzegovina" in modern sources, as the Ottomans used Hersek Sancağı ("Sanjak of the lands of the Herzog").
History
In a document sent to Holy Roman Emperor Frederick IIIFrederick III, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick the Peaceful KG was Duke of Austria as Frederick V from 1424, the successor of Albert II as German King as Frederick IV from 1440, and Holy Roman Emperor as Frederick III from 1452...
on January 20, 1448, Stephen Vukčić Kosača styled himself "Duke of Saint 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...
(Vojvoda Svetog Save), lord of Hum and Primorje (Gospodar Humski i Primorski), Grand Duke (Herzog), and forced Bosnia to recognize him as such.
On 15 February 1444, Stephen signed a treaty with Alfonso V
Alfonso V of Aragon
Alfonso the Magnanimous KG was the King of Aragon , Valencia , Majorca, Sardinia and Corsica , and Sicily and Count of Barcelona from 1416 and King of Naples from 1442 until his death...
, King of Aragon and Naples
Crown of Aragon
The Crown of Aragon Corona d'Aragón Corona d'Aragó Corona Aragonum controlling a large portion of the present-day eastern Spain and southeastern France, as well as some of the major islands and mainland possessions stretching across the Mediterranean as far as Greece...
, becoming his vassal in exchange for the king's help against Stjepan's enemies, namely King Stephen Thomas of Bosnia, Duke Ivaniš Pavlović and Venice. In the same treaty Stjepan promised to pay regular tribute to Alfonso instead to Ottoman sultan as he had done until then.
Stjepan Vukčić died in 1466, and was succeeded by his eldest son Vladislav Hercegović. In 1482 he was overpowered by 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...
forces led by Stjepan Vukčić's youngest son, Hersekli Ahmed Pasha, who converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
prior to that. In the Ottoman Empire, Herzegovina was organized as a province (sanjak
Sanjak
Sanjaks were administrative divisions of the Ottoman Empire. Sanjak, and the variant spellings sandjak, sanjaq, and sinjaq, are English transliterations of the Turkish word sancak, meaning district, banner, or flag...
) within the state (pashaluk
Pashaluk
Pashaluk or Pashalik is a term for one type of the Subdivisions of the Ottoman Empire.It is the abstract word derived from pasha, denoting the quality, office or jurisdiction of a pasha or the territory administered by him....
) of Bosnia. The name of the country was changed to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
in 1853, as a result of a twist of political events. It was part of the Ottoman Empire for a bit less than four centuries.
Stjepan founded the Serbian Orthodox Zagrađe Monastery near his realm's seat in Herceg Novi
Herceg Novi
Herceg Novi is a coastal town in Montenegro located at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor and at the foot of Mount Orjen. It is the administrative center of the Herceg Novi Municipality with around 33,000 inhabitants...
, modern-day 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 the Savina Monastery, also near Herceg Novi
Herceg Novi
Herceg Novi is a coastal town in Montenegro located at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor and at the foot of Mount Orjen. It is the administrative center of the Herceg Novi Municipality with around 33,000 inhabitants...
.