Vlatko Vukovic

Serbian Duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca is the master of the upper Podrinje, Dabra and Hum. An ally of the Serbian prince Lazar in the battle of Kosovo Polje. After the death of the father of the Serbian duke Vuk Kosaca in 1359, he took over the duchy of Kosaca. He bore the title of Serbian duke. In 1392, the process of independence of the Principality of Herzegovina began.

Year of birth: unknown

Place of birth: Kosace village

Father’s name: Serbian Duke Vuk Kosaca

Mother’s name: unknown

Descendants: There were no male descendants

Wife: Ljubica

Religious affiliation: Orthodox Christian

Year of death: 1393

In 1359, after the death of the father of the Serbian duke Vuk Kosaca, the Serbian duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca took over the duchy and became the ruler of the territory of the Kosaca family. He had a younger brother (Serbian Duke Hrana Vukovic Kosaca).

The religious affiliation of the Serbian duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca was without a doubt the Orthodox Christian faith. This is indicated by historical documents as well as the practice of Orthodox Christian religious customs before the battles. Before the battle on Kosovo Polje, the army, as well as the Serbian duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca himself, took communion in the church of the Holy Archangel Michael in Meka Gruda, which belongs to the Serbian Orthodox Church. This clearly indicates to us that the Serbian duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca was a believer in the Serbian Orthodox Church and that as such he was buried according to the customs of the Orthodox Christian religion. The entire Kosaca family followed the legacy of Saint Sava, which resulted in the title of Herceg from Saint Sava being carried by Stefan Vukcic Kosaca himself.

The initial territories that were taken over by the Serbian duke Valtko Vukovic Kosaca from his father Vuk Kosaca stretched in the area of ​​the place Rudina and to the property around the river Drina near the place Ustikolina. As a young man, Serbian Duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca learned a lot from his experienced warrior father and Serbian Duke Vuk Kosaca. The very beginning of the takeover of the duchy is shrouded in secrecy because there are no documents that accompany it. It is known that the Serbian duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca, as a young man, proved himself in battle and that gave him the opportunity to climb the social ladder of the Kingdom of Bosnia. The striking force of King Tvrtko I was the Serbian duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca himself. In the period of the expansion of the Bosnian state to coastal places, the wars were led by the Serbian duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca himself. At that time, King Tvrtko I had three aristocratic families in the southern territories. Kosace, Sankovice and Pavlovice. The mowers were in the lead in terms of their strength, which is why they could afford the largest expansion of territories and possessions. At the very beginning of the reign of the Serbian duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca, his estates were small and fragmented. Since he was the strongest and conquered the territories in the name of the crown of Company I at his own expense, so he took them under his control. This process of conquest and takeover lasted from 1373 to 1377. The extensions went to the east, to the south and to the west. The eastern borders were expanded in the Drina area all the way to Polimlje and Mileseva, the southern borders were expanded at the expense of Balsic, who took the possessions of Travunija. Expansion of the territory around the river Drina to the place Brodar and even the occupation of the Durdevac fortress. Eastern conquests and expansions took place in Polimlje (Mileseva) all the way to the Lim River. The southern expansion took place in the area of ​​Zeta to the town of Novi and to the parish of Dracevica. Sankovici around Konavle and Pavlovici around Trebinje got small territories. There they consolidated power. Serbian Duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca did not expand at the expense of his allies Sankovic and Pavlovic, but he appropriated most of the conquered new territories. Company I could not oppose him, but wanted him more as an ally. Over time, Serbian Duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca became stronger and more independent. He respected the small estates of his allies Pavlović who had estates in Ustikolina. Without interfering with the collection of customs duties and the trade that was located there. Over time, as the most powerful duke, he was in charge of guarding the outer borders and envelopes of the then kingdom. Due to the inability to restore order in the area of ​​Konavle, Serbian Duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca appropriates Konavle to his territories, which he will later bequeath to his son, Serbian Duke Sandalj Hranic Kosaca. The reason for the confiscation of the territory of Konavle was that, the Pavlovics tried to sell Konavle to the Republic of Dubrovnik without the knowledge of Kosaca and Sankovic in 1391. Due to that decision, the Serbian duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca took Konavle. A small part of Konavle belonged to the Pavlovics. Due to that division, there will be a conflict between the Kosaca and Pavlovic families in the future.

The seat of the Kosaca family was in the village of Kosaca near Ustikolina

Serbian Duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca was first mentioned in historical documents in April 1378 in the charter of the King of Bosnia, Company I, in negotiations with the Republic of Dubrovnik. It was about the production and trade of salt that took place in Novi (Herceg Novi). Tvrtko I greatly appreciated the Duke of Serbia, Vlatak Vukovic Kosaca, and all the negotiations he led, the first man his name was Vlatko. Negotiations continued throughout the year because they were difficult. The reason for their weight was the war between the Venetian Republic and Genoa, in which Dubrovnik was drawn. They had to be very careful about the export of food due to the war and reluctantly agreed to trade permits. Serbian Duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca managed to get permits in the fall of 1378.

The charter also mentions the oil trade. In the autumn of 1378 (September 17, 1378 and October 29, 1878), the duke received a trade permit from the Republic of Dubrovnik.

It is mentioned in the charter of Tvrtko I from 12.03.1380. year, receiving the title of Hrvoje Vukcic from his father. Serbian Duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca is mentioned here as a witness among the nobles. This speaks of his position in the then kingdom. Among the witnesses, his brother, Serbian Duke Hrana Vukovic Kosaca (father of Serbian Duke Sandalj Hranic Kosaca) is also mentioned.

From that, it can be concluded that Vlatko was highly esteemed by King Tvrtko I.

Tvrtko I wrote a charter dated 03.12.1382. year, when he abolished the square for the sale of salt in Novi. Serbian Duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca is also mentioned among the three witnesses. The people of Dubrovnik greatly appreciated the Serbian duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca, and in order to pay tribute to him, on August 3, 1381. years, they sent a boat for his wife to wait for her. 11/29/3881 years ago they decided to give him valuable gifts. It was 20 cubits of the finest silk.

After the death of the Hungarian King Lajos the Great on September 11, 1382. riots broke out in Hungary in the year 2000 because there were no direct male heirs. It was assumed that there would be unrest in the Hungarian kingdom. Since Dubrovnik (which was under Hungarian rule) was interesting for Bosnia, the negotiator of the Serbian duke, Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca, was sent to surrender. He went to observe the situation and developments so that the kingdom would be ready for the eventual takeover of Dubrovnik.

In 1386, the Turkish army attacked Rudine, and there the Serbian duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca won the first victory over the Turkish invaders and stopped the looting and destruction of his territories in Rudine and its surroundings. In the defense of the territory of Rudin, he had the great help of his younger brother, the Duke of Serbia, Hrana Vukovic Kosaca.

In 1387, Serbian Duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca took part in negotiations with Dubrovnik, where he fell under the rule of Tvrtko I. The only condition was that if there was a war between the Kingdom of Bosnia and Hungary, the people of Dubrovnik would be neutral.

In 1388, Serbian Duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca took part in negotiations with protovestiary Trip Buca, trying to persuade Dalmatian cities to surrender and be under the rule of Tvrtko I. They refused, which angered King Tvrtko I and Serbian Duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca. After that, the war began which caused great damage to Dalmatian towns.

They gave large gifts to Serbian Duke Vlatko Vukovic (50 pounds of silver). to appease him and change his decision to attack them.

In 1388, Serbian Duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca became very famous when the Turkish army tried to occupy Hum and the southern parts of Dalmatia with 18,000 soldiers. Serbian Duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca led an army of 7,000 soldiers. The Turkish army was led by Lala Shahim. The battle took place on August 27, 1888. years near Bileca. Vlatko’s army won the victory and beat the Turkish army to its feet. A small number of Turkish soldiers survived. The Turkish army remembered that defeat and did not try to take Herzegovina long after that. After that magnificent victory, the Serbian duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca gained great autonomy from Tvrtko I.

It was a sure path to independence and the formation of the Principality of Herzegovina

At the very beginning of 1389, the Serbian duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca set out to take the towns of Dlamatina and put them under his control. He also offered them a peaceful solution to avoid destruction. Everything went according to plan, but then the Turkish army set out to conquer Kosovo, and Serbian Duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca went to help his ally, Serbian Prince Lazar.

06/28/1389 year, Serbian Duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca with his 7000 soldiers went to help Prince Lazar in the battle of Kosovo Polje. Due to the danger of Turkish conquests and the coming threats, the duke goes to help stop the penetration of the Turkish army. Vlatko’s army formed the right wing of the Serbian army and was under direct attack by Bayezid I, a very awkward opponent. After both rulers lost their lives on Kosovo Polje, both armies withdrew and there was practically a draw. Proof of this is that the Turkish army did not continue to penetrate into Serbia for 70 years and into the Principality of Herzegovina for 77 years. The penetration of the Turkish army was stopped, and Vlatko returned to Herzegovina and informed Company I, from Trogir, to Florence about the victory, which further forwarded the Pope’s vote on the victory of the Christian army. The then pope ordered that all churches throughout Europe announce the victory of the Christian army in Kosovo. Notre Dame Cathedral is 29.06.1389. announced the victory of the Christian army on Kosovo Polje.

Serbian Duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca becomes a significant historical figure in Europe.

The Hungarian state is recovering and continues to attack Herzegovina. Several battles took place, but Vlatko’s army managed to stop the penetration of the Hungarian army.

In 1390, the Serbian duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca forced the Dalmatian towns to negotiate but failed to conquer them (Split, Trogir, Sibenik and the islands of Hvar, Brac and Korcula). He expanded the territories to Travunija, Hum and Konavle.

Death of King Tvrtko I 17.03.1391. year meant the beginning of independence of the country under the rule of Kosaca. Serbian Duke Vlatko Vukovic attacked Kosaca on January 2, 1939. year brothers Sankovic and captured Konavle so that he conquered the territories that will be determined after him by the nephew of Duke Sandalj Hranic. Due to the wounds he received in the previous wars, Serbian Duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca fell ill. The famous Dubrovnik doctor Albert joined the treatment process. In that period, Serbian Duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca defined the territory of his state, the Principality of Herzegovina. It did not have a special name then, because only with the Duke of St. Sava Stefan Vukcic Kosaca and the Serbian Prince Ivan Vukovic Kosaca did that area get the name Principality of Herzegovina. Serbian Duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca was ill and tired of strong wars in that period. His choice as heir fell to his nephew, the Serbian duke Sandalj Hranic Kosaca (the eldest son of his brother, the Serbian duke Hrana Vukovic Kosaca). Since the Serbian duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca had no male descendants and the title could be inherited only by a male member of the Kosaca family, it was the nephew of the Serbian duke Sandalj Hranic Kosaca. In the Kosaca family, the uncle-nephew relationship occupies a special place and will thus remain as a strong link in the Vukovic Kosaca family. Serbian Duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca was preparing his son, Serbian Duke Sandalj Hranic Kosaca, to take over the title. He taught him state affairs and negotiating skills. This will prove useful, so it will be historically shown that the Serbian duke Sandalj Hranic Kosaca was a good student. He is mentioned as a witness in the documents of King Dabisa from 15.04.1392. year (although the Serbian duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca is still alive). The Serbian duke Sandalj Hranic Kosaca himself was born in 1370 and could follow the work of his uncle and the skills of management, negotiation and warfare. Serbian Duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca is mentioned in August 1392 for depositing property near Marusa. It is believed that the death of the Grand Duke of Serbia, Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca, occurred at the beginning January or February in 1393. The withdrawal of the deposit of the Serbian duke Vlatko Vukovic Kosaca took place in March 1393, which indicates that he was no longer alive in that period. He was succeeded by the Grand Duke of Serbia, Sandalj Hranic Kosaca, in 1393.

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