Fojnica Armorial
Encyclopedia
The so-called Fojnica Armorial (Serbo-Croatian
, also known as "Illyrian armorial") is an early modern roll of arms
of the Balkans
. The manuscript is named for the Franciscan monastery in Fojnica
(some 20 km from Sarajevo
, Bosnia Eyalet
, now in Bosnia and Herzegovina
), where it was kept.
The presence of the manuscript in the Fojnica monastery is first attested in the year 1800.
Alexander Soloviev dated it to in between 1675 and 1688, i.e. in the context of the revolts against Ottoman rule during the Great Turkish War
.
Other scholars have proposed dates of the late 16th or early 17th century. The title page of the armorial itself purports
a creation date of 1340.
The manuscript is an important source of the classical heraldry
of the Balkans peninsula, alongside the Korenić-Neorić Armorial
of 1595, and the "Illyrian Armorial" (Society of Antiquaries of London MS.54) collected by Edward Bourchier, 4th Earl of Bath
before 1637.
The manuscript contains a total of 139 coats of arms.
It begins with a depiction of the Bogorodica
, saints Cosmas and Damian, and Saint Jerome
. There follows a title page, written in Cyrillic, which attributes the work to one Stanislav Rubčić, in honour of king Stephen Nemanja, with the date 1340.
There is an added note in Latin, dated 1800, which testifies that the manuscript had been kept in Fojnica monastery "from time immemorial".
Then there is as page showing a combined coat of arms consisting of eleven parts.
After this, there are ten coats of arms of late medieval realms of the region, Macedonia (Macedoniae), "Illyria" (Vllvriae), Bosnia
(Bosnae), Dalmatia
(Dalmatie), Croatia
(Crovatiae), Slavonia
(Slavoniae), Bulgaria
(Bvlgariae), Serbia (Svrbiae), Rascia
(Rasciae) and "Primordia" (Primordiae), followed by coats of arms of noble families.
Serbo-Croatian
Serbo-Croatian or Serbo-Croat, less commonly Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian , is a South Slavic language with multiple standards and the primary language of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro...
, also known as "Illyrian armorial") is an early modern roll of arms
Roll of arms
A roll of arms is a collection of coats of arms, usually consisting of rows of painted pictures of shields, each shield accompanied by the name of the person bearing the arms...
of the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
. The manuscript is named for the Franciscan monastery in Fojnica
Franciscan monastery in Fojnica
Franciscan monastery of the Holy Spirit is a Bosnian Franciscan monastery in Fojnica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was founded in 1668 and it includes a library of ca...
(some 20 km from Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
, Bosnia Eyalet
Bosnia Eyalet
The Eyalet of Bosnia or Bosnia Beylerbeylik was a eyalet and beylerbeylik of the Ottoman Empire, mostly based on the territory of the present-day state of Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as most of Slavonia, Lika, and Dalmatia in present-day Croatia...
, now in 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...
), where it was kept.
The presence of the manuscript in the Fojnica monastery is first attested in the year 1800.
Alexander Soloviev dated it to in between 1675 and 1688, i.e. in the context of the revolts against Ottoman rule during the Great Turkish War
Great Turkish War
The Great Turkish War refers to a series of conflicts between the Ottoman Empire and contemporary European powers, then joined into a Holy League, during the second half of the 17th century.-1667–1683:...
.
Other scholars have proposed dates of the late 16th or early 17th century. The title page of the armorial itself purports
Pseudepigraphy
Pseudepigrapha are falsely attributed works, texts whose claimed authorship is unfounded; a work, simply, "whose real author attributed it to a figure of the past." The word "pseudepigrapha" is the plural of "pseudepigraphon" ; the Anglicized forms...
a creation date of 1340.
The manuscript is an important source of the classical heraldry
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
of the Balkans peninsula, alongside the Korenić-Neorić Armorial
Korenić-Neorić Armorial
The Korenić-Neorić Armorial is a 1595 copy of the lost original of the Ohmućević Armorial commissioned by Petar Ohmućević , a Spanish admiral of Ragusan origin, at some point between 1584 and 1594...
of 1595, and the "Illyrian Armorial" (Society of Antiquaries of London MS.54) collected by Edward Bourchier, 4th Earl of Bath
Edward Bourchier, 4th Earl of Bath
Edward Bourchier, 4th Earl of Bath , was born 27 Aug 1575 in Somerset to William Bourchier, 3rd Earl of Bath and Elizabeth Russell. Edward was married twice first on 14 July 1623 to Dorothy St John, daughter of Oliver St John, 3rd Baron St John of Bletso and Dorothy Read. They had five children...
before 1637.
The manuscript contains a total of 139 coats of arms.
It begins with a depiction of the Bogorodica
Theotokos
Theotokos is the Greek title of Mary, the mother of Jesus used especially in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches. Its literal English translations include God-bearer and the one who gives birth to God. Less literal translations include Mother of God...
, saints Cosmas and Damian, and Saint Jerome
Saint Jerome
Saint Jerome is a Christian church father, best known for translating the Bible into Latin.Saint Jerome may also refer to:*Jerome of Pavia , Bishop of Pavia...
. There follows a title page, written in Cyrillic, which attributes the work to one Stanislav Rubčić, in honour of king Stephen Nemanja, with the date 1340.
There is an added note in Latin, dated 1800, which testifies that the manuscript had been kept in Fojnica monastery "from time immemorial".
Then there is as page showing a combined coat of arms consisting of eleven parts.
After this, there are ten coats of arms of late medieval realms of the region, Macedonia (Macedoniae), "Illyria" (Vllvriae), Bosnia
Kingdom of Bosnia
The Kingdom of Bosnia or the Bosnian Kingdom was one of the medieval kingdoms of the Balkans, existing between 1377 and 1463.- Establishment :...
(Bosnae), Dalmatia
Medieval Dalmatian principalities
The Medieval Dalmatian principalities were Early Medieval states that existed in what was roughly considered southern Dalmatia. The southern part of Dalmatia was ruled by the small Slavic Principalities of Pagania/Narenta, Zahumlje/Hum, Travunia and Duklja. Pagania was a minor duchy between Cetina...
(Dalmatie), Croatia
Kingdom of Croatia (medieval)
The Kingdom of Croatia , also known as the Kingdom of the Croats , was a medieval kingdom covering most of what is today Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Balkans.Established in 925, it ruled as a sovereign state for almost two centuries...
(Crovatiae), Slavonia
Banovina of Slavonia
The Banovina of Slavonia was a province of the medieval Kingdom of Hungary and Kingdom of Croatia. It included parts of present-day Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina...
(Slavoniae), Bulgaria
Second Bulgarian Empire
The Second Bulgarian Empire was a medieval Bulgarian state which existed between 1185 and 1396 . A successor of the First Bulgarian Empire, it reached the peak of its power under Kaloyan and Ivan Asen II before gradually being conquered by the Ottomans in the late 14th-early 15th century...
(Bvlgariae), Serbia (Svrbiae), 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...
(Rasciae) and "Primordia" (Primordiae), followed by coats of arms of noble families.
See also
- Coat of arms of Bosnia
- Coat of arms of BulgariaCoat of arms of BulgariaThe coat of arms of Bulgaria consists of a crowned golden lion rampant over a dark red shield; above the shield is the Bulgarian historical crown...
- Coat of arms of CroatiaCoat of arms of CroatiaThe coat of arms of Croatia consists of one main shield and five smaller shields which form a crown over the main shield. The main coat of arms is a checkerboard that consists of 13 red and 12 silver fields. It's commonly known as šahovnica or grb...
- Golden Lion of MacedoniaGolden Lion of MacedoniaThe Golden Lion is an unofficial symbol of the Republic of Macedonia. It was used in the past for setting Macedonia free from the Ottoman Empire. Today the lion is a symbol used from many parties in Macedonia especially VMRO-DPMNE...
- Coat of arms of SerbiaCoat of arms of SerbiaThe coat of arms of Serbia is based the family arms of the former Obrenović dynasty and features the white bicephalic eagle of the Nemanjić dynasty. An ermine cape of the style once worn by kings is featured in the background. The double-headed eagle has been used since Byzantine era, the Serbian...
- Serbian crossSerbian crossThe Serbian Cross is a national symbol of Serbia, part of the Coat of Arms of Serbia, and the flag of Serbia. It is composed of a cross symbol with four C-shapes on each of its corners, in use as a national emblem since the 14th century....
- Serb heraldrySerb heraldryThe use of heraldry in Serbia or by Serbs is used by government bodies, subdivisions of the national government, organizations, corporations and by families...
- Rise of nationalism under the Ottoman EmpireRise of nationalism under the Ottoman EmpireThe rise of the Western notion of nationalism under the Ottoman Empire eventually caused the break-down of the Ottoman millet concept...