Odnosi Bosne i Srbije u vrijeme Stjepana II Kotromanića
The Relations between Bosnia and Serbia in the Time of Stjepan II Kotromanić

Summary/Abstract: Having considered the question of the Orthodox Church in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the widest possible spectre, Nilević presented a valuable work to historiography, which he extensively enriched with his research of the archives in Dubrovnik. After a detailed review of the part of Nilević’s book in which he examined the period of Stjepan II Kotromanić, we can conclude that it presents a weaker segment in his monograph study. A selective presentation of data adopted from previous researchers which did not agree on crucial questions brought about a certain degree of inconsistence in his book. The mentioned disagreements between various chapters which treat the first half of the 14th century have been left almost without any interpretation on the author’s behalf. In his aim to include as many interpretations as was possible, Nilević made some errors about the time of Stjepan II which, as opposed to other chapters, was left confusing and incoherent. One of the aims of this paper is to show that the evolution of historiography did not follow the analysis of events from the first half of the 14th century with the same tempo (especially regarding the relations between Serbia and Bosnia) as it did with the 15th century. The other aim is to show some questions which still remain open and the problems which still wait to be solved. The presented review of Nilević’s work, in regard to the value it has, only illustrates a greater necessity for new interpretations according to modern scientific achievements. The derivatives of historiography, which were left over from the beginnings of modern research of history in these areas, are still ever present, especially for the time of the first half of the 14th century, even outliving the book written by Boris Nilević. However, the modern development of science does not allow the easy acceptance of confessional disqualifications, which can be found in abundance in medieval Bosnia, combining them with political and other aspirations. The same can be said of the Bogomil myth, which is still present in some scientific circles, and the stereotypical isolation of the Bosnian land, a view ultimately abandoned by science almost two decades ago, showing clear evolutional lines present in general European development. On the basis of everything presented, we can say that the scientific study of the Serb Orthodox Church (and many other subjects also) started with Ilarion Ruvarac, and finished at the end of the 20th century with Boris Nilević’s book, whose value in historiography remains inestimable until this day.

• Details
• Contents