BOBOVAC
THE CAPITAL OF BOSNIAN RULERS IN THE 14TH AND 15TH CENTURY
Having had primarily defensive-strategic importance, Bobovac had always provided
efficient protection to Bosnian rulers, from ban Stjepan II (1322 – 1353) and
king Tvrtko I Kotromanić (1353 – 1391) to Stjepan Tomašević (1461 – 1463). As
numerous others town across Europe, it was built in several phases, lasting more
than a century (beginning of the 14th century – first decade of the 15th
century). With 1100m of walls 100 -150cm thick, ban-royal castle and 4 palaces
(three of which were part of the castle), town's gates, church objects,
capitols, findings of fresco paintings and various handcrafts, church bells,
royal mausoleum stressing the sacral-cultural significance of the whole complex
and 11 imposing towers Bobovac is a testimony of its European orientation and
quality of living.
Its primary purpose, architectural style and especially its political
significance that went beyond borders of the Bosnian medieval state gave Bobovac
the same role that towns such as Stolni Biograd (Szekesfehervár) and Višegrad
had in the Hungarian kingdom. Their common role model was the town of Aachen
with church and castle built by Charlemagne, the style of which spread across
medieval Europe. Political significance of Bobovac was reflected in the fact
that Bosnian crown was kept within its walls. In efforts to take hold of the
crown, Bobovac was attacked in the 15th century by the most powerful European
ruler of the time Sigismund Luksembueški.
In May 1463 Bobovac was conquered by the Ottoman Empire, thus marking the end of
its political significance and glory as the capital of the Bosnian kingdom.
ROYAL MAUSOLEUM
The royal mausoleum in Bobovac was designed as a classical church to be
used for the castle’s needs. In the first decades of the 15th century, under the
king Stjepan Ostoja, the church was transformed into a tomb chapel dedicated to
St. Michael, protector of the knighthood. The church was given rich stone
decoration – doors and windows ornamentation, anthropomorphic consoles and
sculptures of a saint and lion. The whole mausoleum was also decorated with
fresco paintings, with an account of the Judgement Day being the most
significant one. Late gothic – renaissance characteristics of fragments enable
them to be dated to the period between 1420 and 1463. Based on the stylistic
resemblance of Bobovac fragments and fresco paintings from the chapel of St.
Duje from Split, it is possible that the author of Bobovas paintings could have
been the famous Zadar/Split painter Dujan Vušković.
Findings from the tomb chapel – mausoleum, the place of burial of the kings
Stjepan Ostoja (1398 – 1404, 1409 – 1418), Tvrtko II Tvrtković (1404 – 1408;
1420 – 1443) and Tvrtko’s wife Doroteja Gorjanska, especially three tombstones,
deserve special attention. They were made of red marble brought from the north
(Siklos, Ostrogon or Erdelj) and were unique in BiH. Marble plates laid on
specifically adapted sarcophagi about 90cm in height. Casts resembling faces of
the deceased were on each plate, with markings of the royal authority and
writings on the edges. There can still be resembled the physiognomy of one face,
extremities, clothing (armour) combined with a shield and weapons – decorated
sword sheath, parts of sword handles and sword belt. One spear, two heralded
shields, sceptre, specific symbols of the royal authority and heraldic symbols
(royal crowns with initials T and ST – Tvrtko II and Stjepan
Tomaš). Dragons with wide open mouths spewing fire, a paw, part of the head with
ear and part of a hairy trunk can all be recognized on the shields. Among other
symbols there are also angels – almost complete figure on one fragment – who
appear to be holding the crown and royal veil. Only fragments of the writings
remain: NE MEMORIE MAGNI OLIM DNI ET… USSORE ET SALIS… DNI. Location of
the sarcophagi, along the altar space, points to the complete adoption of the
western European burial concept.
There are some indications that there was a lying dragon or lion at the feet of
the deceased on at least one plate. Dragon’s jaws found on one plate greatly
resemble those from the coat of arms of the king’s Sigismund Luksemburski
councillor Janoš Stibor and it is possible they might be the same symbol. The
dragon in Janoš Stibor’s coat of arms personifies the medal of the dragon’s
order that was established by king Sigismund in 1408. The tombstone from Bobovac
points that Bosnian king Stjepan Ostoja might have received this medal. By their
basic characteristics – writing, language, iconographic composition, realistic
details, sensuality and appearance of faces (mouths) – these plates are
generally classified as late gothic castle art of the eastern-central Europe.
Text prepared by: prof. dr Dubravko Lovrenović
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