Radič Sanković

For other people with the same name, see Radič.

Radič Sanković was a 14th-century voivode (military commander), and nobleman in present-day Herzegovina, that at his height of power held Nevesinje, Popovo Polje and Konavle, being one of the most powerful de facto-independent lords of the Kingdom of Bosnia during the rules of Stephen Dabiša (1391-1395) and Queen Helen (1395-1398), and in alliance with usurper Stephen Ostoja (1398-1404) during the civil wars, until his death.

Life

Radič was the son of Sanko Miltenović, the eponymous founder of the House of Sanković (the progenitor was Dražen Bogopenec,[1] a lord of Hum under King Stephen Uroš II Milutin of Serbia, fl. 1306). He and his brother Beljak inherited the lands of Nevesinje and Popovo Polje (in Herzegovina) and part of Konavli (southernmost Dalmatia) upon the death of his father. He had brothers Beljak, Budelja, Sančin and sister Dragana. In 1388, he and fellow nobleman Vlatko Vuković led the Bosnian army against the Ottomans at Bileća.[2]

In 1392, Radič and Beljak tried to sell Konavli to the Republic of Ragusa.[3] The same year on May 15, he issued a charter to Dubrovnik merchants enabling them to trade on his territories.[4] However, a council meeting was convoked by the king or nobility that objected the sale.[5] Vlatko Vuković (Kosače) and Pavle Radenović (Pavlovići) were sent against Radič in December of 1391 after receiving the council's blessings.[5] The two captured Radič and occupied Konavli, dividing it between themselves, despite protests from Ragusa.[5] Vuković died shortly after this, and was succeeded by his nephew Sandalj Hranić, who continued to struggle against Radič.[5] Radič regained freedom in 1398, immediately seeking to restore his lost lands, becoming an important ally of Stephen Ostoja.[6] In 1399, he sells the Lisac field to Ragusa for 500 perpers.[7] He also became a member of the Ragusan Great council. Radič participated in the Bosnian-Dubrovnik War in 1403-1404, leading the attacks on Dubrovnik in the name of Ban Stjepan Ostoja. Hranić captured and blinded Radič, and held him in prison until his death in 1404.[5] The area of Nevesinje to the coast was taken by Hranić.[5]

References

  1. ^ Željko Fajfrić, Kotromanići, Šid 2000, ch. 4
  2. ^ Finkel, Caroline, Osman's Dream, (Basic Books, 2005), pp. 20-21
  3. ^ Fine, 1994, p. 471
  4. ^ Klaić, 1882, p. 210
  5. ^ a b c d e f Fine, 1994, p. 456
  6. ^ Fine, 1994, p. 459
  7. ^ Glasnik Zemaljskog muzeja u Bosni i Hercegovini , Vol. 20, 1908, p. 422

Sources