Bosnia South_Slavs

the charter of ban kulin oldest document of kind among south slavic languages , in saint petersburg museum.

modern knowledge of political situation in western balkans during middle ages unclear. upon arrival, slavs brought them tribal social structure fell apart , gave way feudalism frankish penetration region in late 9th century. around time slavs christianized. bosnia , herzegovina, because of geographic position , terrain, 1 of last areas go through process, presumably originated urban centers along dalmatian coast.

the high middle ages political circumstance led area of bosnia being contested between kingdom of hungary , byzantine empire. following shift of power between 2 in 12th century, bosnia found outside control of both , emerged independent state under rule of local bans.

kulin, though nominal vassal of hungary, first bosnian ruler de facto sovereign. kulin s rule marked start of controversy bosnian church. in response hungarian attempts use church politics regarding issue way reclaim sovereignty on bosnia, kulin held council of local church leaders renounce heresy , embraced catholicism in 1203. despite this, hungarian ambitions remained unchanged long after kulin s death in 1204, waning after unsuccessful invasion in 1254.

map showing expansion of bosnian kingdom

bosnian history until 14th century marked power struggle between Šubić , kotromanić families. conflict came end in 1322, when stephen ii kotromanić became ban. time of death in 1353, successful in annexing territories north , west, zahumlje , parts of dalmatia. succeeded nephew tvrtko who, following prolonged struggle nobility , inter-family strife, gained full control of country in 1367. on 26 october 1377 tvrtko of bosnia crowned himself king of serbia, bosnia, pomorje, , western lands . based on archaeological evidence, crowned in mile near visoko in church built in time of stephen ii kotromanić s reign, buried alongside uncle stjepan ii. following death in 1391 however, bosnia fell long period of decline. ottoman empire had started conquest of europe , posed major threat balkans throughout first half of 15th century. finally, after decades of political , social instability, kingdom of bosnia ceased exist in 1463.