Duchy of Saint Sava
1453 CE – 1474 CE · Capital: Blagaj · 2,778 km²
The Duchy of Saint Sava (Serbo-Croatian: Vojvodstvo Svetog Save / Војводство Светог Саве) was a late medieval polity in southeastern Europe, that existed from 1448 up to 1482, when it was absorbed by the Ottoman Empire. It was founded and controlled by the Kosača noble family, whose rulers held the title Duke of Saint Sava (Serbo-Croatian: Vojvoda Svetog Save / Војвода Светог Саве). Their domains included southern parts of modern-day Bosnia and Herzegovina, extending to southern parts of modern-day coastal Croatia, northwestern Montenegro and southwestern Serbia.
From Wikipedia: Duchy of Saint Sava (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Government, Society and Religion
- Government
- Feudal state
Decline and Fall
Since the end of the Ottoman-Venetian war (1463–1479), duke Vlatko was left without further support from his main ally, the Venetian Republic. As a result of Ottoman expansion during the previous years, territory of the formerly wast Duchy of Saint Sava was gradually reduced to its southeastern regions around Novi. In attempt to gain support against Ottomans, duke Vlatko tried to strengthen his ties with the Kingdom of Hungary and the Kingdom of Naples, thus provoking new sultan Bayezid II (1481–1512). In autumn 1481, Ottoman forces invaded the Duchy and besieged Novi, that was defended by duke Vlatko, aided by allied forces sent by Hungarian king. Outnumbered by invading forces, defenders resisted until December/January (1481/1482) when Novi fell into Ottoman hands. Thus, the last remnant of the Duchy of Saint Sava was finally conquered, and incorporated into the Sanjak of Herzegovina.
From Wikipedia: Duchy of Saint Sava · History: Fall of the Duchy (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Ended
- 1474 CE
Legacy in the Modern World
Title of the Duke (Herceg) of Saint Sava would later give the name to the historical region of Herzegovina (hercegovina / herceštvo = Land of the Herceg), as the Ottomans used the term "Hersek Sancağı" (Sanjak of the Herzeg) for the newly formed Sanjak of Herzegovina.
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In spite of the fall (1482), traditions related to the Duchy of Saint Sava continued to play significant role in regional geopolitics, particularly in later Venetian and Habsburg plans to reconquer the territory from the Ottomans, thus resulting in frequent mentions of the former Duchy in 16th-18th century sources, as well in early cartography. Both exiled dukes, Vladislav and Vlatko, and their descendants who lived in Hungary and Venice, kept the title "Duke of Saint Sava" and used it until the extinction of the Kosača family in the 17th century.
From Wikipedia: Duchy of Saint Sava · History: Legacy (CC BY-SA 4.0)
