Hrvoje Vukčić’s Rule in Omiš and The Struggle For His Succession Cover Image

Омиш под влашћу Хрвоја Вукчића и борба за његово наслеђе
Hrvoje Vukčić’s Rule in Omiš and The Struggle For His Succession

Author(s): Neven Isailović
Subject(s): Social history, 13th to 14th Centuries, 15th Century
Published by: Istorijski institut, Beograd

Summary/Abstract: According to the available sources, Great Duke of Bosnia Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić initially came into possesion of Omiš by conquest sometime between 1399 and the spring of 1401, gained full control of it in 1404 after the deposal of King Ostoja and held it until his death, early in 1416. Most of the time he recognized supremacy of one of the two contending kings of Hungary – first of Ladislaus of Naples (1401-1408) and then of Sigismund of Luxemburg (1408- 1413), but he usually acted on his own. During the last three years of his life he defended the town as an independent lord. There is no proof that he acquired Omiš through his marriage with Jelena, the sister of the count Ivaniš II Nelipčić. The beginning of Hrvoje’s rule was marked by his efforts to organize a virtually independent territory consisting of the coast between the rivers of Cetina and Neretva (the area known as Omiš and Krajina) together with the islands of Brač, Hvar and Korčula, acting as the representative of the pretender Ladislaus of Naples. Following the attack of King Sigismund on Bosnia in 1408, Hrvoje changed sides and was confirmed in his possessions by the king, although his power was slightly diminished. Hrvoje’s territories were imperiled after he had fallen out with King Sigismund in the spring of 1413, following the charges of Duke’s cooperation with the Turks. As his only possession in Dalmatia remained the fortress of Omiš, it became the center of his activities for regaining the lost territories in the region. Many political players entered the fight for Dalmatia. The great interest in Omiš was primarily the consequence of the intention of involved political parties to unite, under their rule, the areas of Omiš, Krajina and the Islands, whereby they would gain an important strategic spot with a harbour and long coastline. The Kingdom of Hungary tried to reunite Dalmatia under its rule once again. The Republic of Venice strived to take over the territories it had bought for a great amount of money from Ladislaus of Naples. The coastal cities – Split, Trogir and Dubrovnik were endangered by the piracy of the citizens of Omiš and therefore their counterattack was a natural reaction. Croatian nobles in Dalmatia also tried to expand their power and authority to Omiš. After Hrvoje’s death and since none of the parties engaged in the struggle gained the upper hand, the circumstances and her ability made Hrvoje’s widow Jelena the lord of Omiš, whereas her act of giving it away to her brother, which silently ended the crisis, seems to have been arbitrary and not a result of some agreement of succession of Hrvoje’s lands and possesions. Hungary made no complaint, as Nelipičić was its loyal subject, but Bosnia and Venice soon after (in the early 1420’s) renewed their demands for Omiš.

  • Issue Year: 2007
  • Issue No: 54
  • Page Range: 127-146
  • Page Count: 20
  • Language: Serbian