Stjepan Vukčić Kosača (Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian: Stjepan Vukčić Kosača, Serbian Cyrillic: Стефан Вукчић Косача, pronounced [stjɛ̂paːn ʋûkt͡ʃit͡ɕ kɔ̌sat͡ʃa]) (1404–1466) was a Herzegovina nobleman. He was a member of the House of Kosača, a Grand Duke (Voivode) of Herzegovina, Lord of Zahumlje and Primorje and also Herzog of Serbian Saint Sava. It was Stjepan's ducal title "Herzog" that gave rise to the name Herzegovina when he asserted the independence of the territory in 1435 and 1448. The title is today carried in the name of the country Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in the name of the Bay of Kotor city of Herceg Novi.
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After 1320s, Zahumlje and Travunia became part of the Bosnian kingdom. On 15 February 1444, Stephen signed a treaty with Alfonso V, King of Aragon and Naples, becoming his vassal in exchange for king's help against Stjepan's enemies, namely King Stephen Thomas of Bosnia, Duke Ivaniš Pavlović and Venice. In the same treaty Stjepan promised to pay regular tribute to Alfonso instead to Ottoman sultan as he did until then.[1]
The Dubrovnik nobility accepted “Bosnae vojevodem Sandalj et consanguineous eius, knez Vukac, knez Vuk et Stephanum, filium knez Vukac” among the Ragusian nobles and granted them “domum in urbe” by charter dated 29 Jun 1419. Stjepan Vukčić Kosača in 1448 dropped his title "Vojvode of Bosnia", assuming the title "Herceg [Duke] of Hum and the Coast".[2] He changed it again in 1449 to "Herceg of Saint Sava" in recollection of the Serbian saint.[2] This title had considerable public relations value, because Sava's relics were consider miracle-working by people of all Christian faiths.[2] His lands were known as Herzog's lands or later Herzegovina.[2]
In 1451 Stjepan Vukčić Kosača attacked Dubrovnik, and laid siege to the city. He had earlier been made a Ragusan nobleman and, consequently, the Ragusan government now proclaimed him a traitor. A reward of 15,000 ducats, a palace in Dubrovnik worth 2,000 ducats, and an annual income of 300 ducats was offered to anyone who would kill him,[3] along with the promise of hereditary Ragusan nobility which also helped hold this promise to whomever did the deed.[3] Stjepan was so scared by the threat that he finally raised the siege.[3]
Stjepan Vukčić died in 1466, and was succeeded by his eldest son Vladislav Hercegović. In 1482 he was overpowered by Ottoman forces led by Stjepan Vukčić's youngest son, Hersekzade Ahmed Pasha, who converted to Islam prior to that. In the Ottoman Empire, Herzegovina was organized as a province (sanjak) within the state (pashaluk) of Bosnia. The name of the country was changed to Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1853, as a result of a twist of political events. It was part of the Ottoman Empire for a bit less than four centuries.
Stjepan founded the Serbian Orthodox Zagrađe Monastery near his realm's seat in Herceg Novi, modern-day Montenegro, and the Serb orthodox monastery of Savina, also near Herceg Novi.
Stjepan Vukčić was married three times: in 1424 to Jelena Balšić (died in 1453); in 1455 to Barbara (possibly of the del Balzo family, died in 1459); and in 1460 to Cecilie, a German lady. With Jelena, he had at least three children:
Stjepan and his second wife Barbara had three children:
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sandalj Hranić |
Vojvode of Bosnia 1435–1448 |
Succeeded by Abolished |
| Preceded by New |
Herceg of Hum and the Coast 1448–1449 |
Succeeded by Abolished |
| Preceded by New |
Herceg of Saint Sava 1449–1466 |
Succeeded by Vladislav Hercegović |