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Vjeran Kursar, "Ambiguous Subjects and Uneasy Neighbors: Bosnian Franciscans' Attitudes Toward The Ottoman State, Turks,' and Vlachs"
Vjeran Kursar, "Ambiguous Subjects and Uneasy Neighbors: Bosnian Franciscans' Attitudes Toward The Ottoman State, Turks,' and Vlachs"
Others
LOATHING, HOSTILITY,
AND DISTRUST
IN PREMODERN
OTTOMAN LANDS
Ottoman and Turkish Studies
Series Editor
HAKAN T. KARATEKE (The University of Chicago)
Disliking
Others
LOATHING, HOSTILITY,
AND DISTRUST
IN PREMODERN
OTTOMAN LANDS
Edited by
HAKAN T. KARATEKE
H. ERDEM ÇIPA
HELGA ANETSHOFER
Boston
2018
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
The bibliographic data for this title is available from the Library of Congress.
ISBN 978-1-618118-80-6 (hardback)
ISBN 978-1-618118-81-3 (electronic)
Book design by Kryon Publishing Services (P) Ltd.
www.kryonpublishing.com
Cover design by Ivan Grave.
On the cover:
press@academicstudiespress.com
www.academicstudiespress.com
Table of Contents
vii
viii
xi
of the :
vi Table of Contents
S-
was created for Catholics who “crossed to the other side” and “became
Ambiguous Subjects and Uneasy Neighbors 149
treatment than the “infidel Turks.” This animosity was further increased
of security (
1 This saying was coined in the first half of the nineteenth century by the Serbian
-
.”
150 Vjeran Kursar
-
tion ( ) to the Franciscans and their churches. The
in Ottoman Bosnia and as such served as the basis for future imperial
and
managed to preserve these tax exemptions until the end of the seven-
teenth century.6
In addition to the
with a ceremonial robe of honor (
7 This
garment further implicated a newly established official relation between
”).
Ambiguous Subjects and Uneasy Neighbors 151
-
)—and an organization
-
the beginning of the early modern era (and thus the arch-enemy of the
sultan. Their contracts with the state were not made at the imperial level
s.10
“Ottoman
10 2 2
(J. Schacht);
152 Vjeran Kursar
rose to eighteen.11
12 The general
Ottoman Balkans.
13
toward the Ottomans may have been the result of pragmatic consider-
11 Jeleni
12
and Orthodoxy.”
13 Jeleni
Ambiguous Subjects and Uneasy Neighbors 153
s were arrested.16 -
17
and treason.18 -
ration with the enemy is stressed in the provisions of the s of
the
penalties for those “infidels and priests in the churches who are asking
infidels.”19 The real crisis followed in the second half of the seventeenth
20
Some of the monasteries were destroyed by the
Ottomans as retaliation for betrayal and siding with the enemy; others
were abandoned and eventually fell into ruin. Still other monasteries were
21 and
22
16 267.
17 267.
18 Lastri
19 ur
20
21
22
154 Vjeran Kursar
Savoy in 1697.23
best to compensate for the loss with alternative approaches: the general
absence of churches in Bosnia had driven the Franciscans to make use of
23 Skari
See Jeleni
26
Ambiguous Subjects and Uneasy Neighbors 155
27
29
Catholic Church but also key bearers of reform. The role of the Bosnian
Franciscans in the evangelization of Bosnia—as well as Catholicism in
-
ticularly important for Bosnian Catholics because confessionalization
particular state.”30 -
tion of a clear-cut identity was amplified by fears of Catholic extinc-
-
fessionalization as confessional polarization and Sunnitization—certain
31
27
28
29
30
31
156 Vjeran Kursar
Bosnian Franciscans and Catholics but also because they provide valu-
able material for the history of Bosnia in general. While each chronicle
in the sense that its author left less personal imprint on the text than the
other two chroniclers did. -
left a
in detail. Bogdanovi
context and general situation in the province of Bosnia.36
The Franciscan chroniclers received a contemporary western
37 Beni and
Bogdanovi
they taught philosophy and theology in Dalmatia before returning to
32
33 ; Beni ; and Bogdanovi .
36
37
Ambiguous Subjects and Uneasy Neighbors 157
was edu-
cated in Italy and later served in high offices of the Bosnian Franciscan
.
“WICKED” TURKS
-
tious language and self-censorship in Franciscan writings. Beni
38
39 Lastri .
.
158 Vjeran Kursar
prison.
;
the nonsense of others.
it is [actually] ours.”
Beni
the sacrilege.
Beni
Ambiguous Subjects and Uneasy Neighbors 159
poor Franciscans suffered and are still suffering these things and
called
name “tribute in blood” ( ).
the of
to collect Christian boys for .
an opportunity to elevate
) voluntarily
converted to Islam to be recruited to the s corpus. There
Lastri
”; 2
2
-
bers of his family into important state services. He also played an import-
ant role in the reestablishment of the Patriarchy of Pe (Serbian Orthodox
of s did
This
of unbelievers ( 60
The
eligible for .61 This might explain the discontent and opposi-
as a privilege
represented a heavy burden that they would have preferred to avoid. For
no. 3108.
2
60
61
Ambiguous Subjects and Uneasy Neighbors 161
Lastri
62
”(
since the
”
( ; Bosnian: ). It seems that they were influenced by the
62 Bogdanovi 89.
63
.
162 Vjeran Kursar
66 In this
-
67
The actions of such a man and his followers must have contributed to
commented in a
-
ing.”68
he was appointed
69 In
-
71
66
67
68 Bogdanovi
69
70
71
Ambiguous Subjects and Uneasy Neighbors 163
individual cases.72
(Ott. (Ott. -
-
sities.”73 The fate of the principal culprit of the Franciscan trouble—and
and sometimes loathing and hate. On such occasions “Turks” were most
to Beni
who were left literally without a roof above their heads in bitter winter.
When a “lying” envoy who was sent to the sultan to obtain a for
the repair of the monastery returned to Bosnia without even meeting the
angrily
of Greeks!”
72 Beni
73 231.
Beni
Bogdanovi
164 Vjeran Kursar
three hundred
condemned
and bandit.”76
77
to be unfaithful” because they did not respect their contract with the
79
80
-
tors of perpetual mischief and violence throughout the eighteenth century
s. The need
76 Bogdanovi
77 Bogdanovi
78 Bogdanovi 91.
79 Bogdanovi
modern Croatian and Serbian languages. The word “ ” conveys an especially
negative meaning.
80 Bogdanovi 171.
Ambiguous Subjects and Uneasy Neighbors 165
dung.”82
pay ninety
Bogdanovi
released while innocents are punished by fine and scared with threats!
83
disappearance and forced to pay not only fees for various documents that
It was in
this context that Bogdanovi cried out on the occasion of the departure of
81 See Su
82 Bogdanovi 120.
83 Bogdanovi 121.
Bogdanovi
Bogdanovi 122.
86
166 Vjeran Kursar
be demolished!”87
was beaten
several times by the
was verbally
88
more critical and suspicious stance toward the “Turks.” The general situ-
-
-
87 220.
88 Beni
89
Ambiguous Subjects and Uneasy Neighbors 167
come.90
91
was created for the Catholics who “became Turk.” Such “deserters” and
and often were charged with hatred of their former coreligionists. The
prospect of the diminution of the Catholic flock via Islamization may have
-
demning and alarming remarks—seems to testify that the process of con-
version to Islam during this period was far from over in Bosnia as well.
90 Bogdanovi 133.
91 Bogdanovi
92 .
93
168 Vjeran Kursar
and to accept it as the true faith was especially strong in the Ottoman
because a large crowd of Turkish idlers with drums and pipes would
preacher
to cause grief to
97
98
Converts to Islam from the ranks of the Christian priest-
hood were particularly encouraged by rich stipends and gifts from the
; .
96
97
98
Ambiguous Subjects and Uneasy Neighbors 169
the guardian
99
woman.100
s and
started a case in court ( ) against the Franciscans.
The Franciscans won the case but nevertheless paid 120 for various
102
99 Beni
100
women in general.
101 Beni
102 Beni
103
170 Vjeran Kursar
several sources suggest that the reality was in accordance with the very
107
This
-
fies that the Franciscans were not merely “Turkish victims” and passive
observers but active agents ready to take risks in the battle for souls with
their mighty adversary.
GOOD TURKS
-
sionally recognized as virtuous and righteous “Turkish” dignitaries who
-
Lastri published this letter alongside other important documents concerning the
Bosnian Franciscans. See Lastri
106 Lastri 128.
107 Jeleni -
.
Ambiguous Subjects and Uneasy Neighbors 171
108
his reign the poor did not know what evil was.”109 Beni and Bogdanovi
also praised the pasha as good and righteous. Beni basically repeated
-
110 Bogdanovi
112
-
ther does he act perfidiously toward the Franciscans—according to the
108
109
112 Bogdanovi
113 Bogdanovi 133.
172 Vjeran Kursar
SCHISMATIC VLACHS
The chroniclers appear to have reserved their worst treatment for fellow
and Beni -
believe that the Holy Ghost originates both from the Son and the Father [
].” The Bosnian Franciscan enmity toward Orthodox Christianity
had its local particularities as well. While Orthodox Christians were called
-
116
as a first step toward religious submission and the eventual loss of a sepa-
linguistic and other close ties between Bosnian and Croatian Catholics
Bogdanovi
261; and Beni
116 This was originally the name of the nomadic and semi-nomadic pastoral autochtho-
to use “ ” as an administrative term for all pastoral clan groups in the region.
117
Ambiguous Subjects and Uneasy Neighbors 173
of Imotski.119
Despite the otherwise-acknowledged independence of the Catholic
in the -
gering numerous litigations.120 In the Ottoman register ( ) of the
in the
golden coins as the tax.121
spheres.122 The conflict that broke out in 1661 initially was recorded in
the -
pute was transmitted and embellished by later chroniclers. 123
attempted to force Catholics and their priests to pay an annual tax but also
tried to subdue them to the “Greek rite and schism.” Catholics managed
118
119
120
121
122
123 and Lastri wrote prose versions of
Beni
174 Vjeran Kursar
again failed in subduing the Catholics. Lastri wrote that “with the mercy of
of the dragon.”
128
Lastri
Lastri
126 Following the example of the
as a synonym for “Patriarch.”
127
128
other chronicles.
Ambiguous Subjects and Uneasy Neighbors 175
-
-
Church was shifted to the inner problems such as “magic” and various
deviations in the core Catholic lands.131 In the periphery of the Catholic
“shameless person.” This loan word may have been introduced because
.
129
130 The term appears as “ -
131 68.
132
133
176 Vjeran Kursar
Dobreti
136
138
It is noteworthy
that Beni made this point despite the fact that the Franciscans them-
selves appealed to the Ottoman authorities many times in inter-Catholic
-
-
nations. The Ottoman authorities handled conflicts between Christian
It is difficult
to determine whether or not the Ottoman state wanted to keep Christians
obviously raised significant amounts of money via fees to the state trea-
sury and to the Ottoman institutions and individuals involved. Despite
state courts and admitting their own feuds to the supposedly disliked
-
178 Vjeran Kursar
intercommunal conflict.
event in 1697 involving two members of the powerful Bosnian Catholic
in litigation with the Orthodox Christian
Conflicts between the Orthodox and the Catholic Churches were not
specific to the Balkans. While the first confrontations started as early as
toward the more aggressive Catholic infiltration into the Ottoman realm
began to worsen in the first half of the seventeenth century—when the
papal office of the Congregation for the Propagation of Faith started its
activities. Conflicts ensued in the second half of the seventeenth cen-
Clash of ‘
Ambiguous Subjects and Uneasy Neighbors 179
monasteries.
introduce a new fiscal burden could trigger a fierce and uncompromising
reaction from the other.
Their otherwise unforgiving attitude toward the Orthodox Church
Bogdanovi
good workers.
sultanic monogram ( ) of the
who was very skillful in this business.”
Franciscans who served the meal on the day of the Orthodox Christian
Church and its clergy did not necessarily result in segregation and dis-
Beni
Bogdanovi
Bogdanovi from
Bogdanovi
Beni
180 Vjeran Kursar
CONCLUSION
Franciscan attitudes toward members of other communities were by and large
-
-
promising attitudes present in the Franciscan chronicles seem to have been
necessary for the affirmation and protection of the fragile Bosnian Catholic
so-called
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sources
Unpublished Sources
Published Sources
Beni
Bogdanovi
7
ur
Lastri Filip.
Nikola.
182 Vjeran Kursar
1999.
Barbari
a.”
21 (1909):
Studies
In
In
Spaces in Istanbul.”
Iva. .
.
Ambiguous Subjects and Uneasy Neighbors 183
. anska
Orthodox Patriarchates during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.”
Norman. .
Duki Davor.
Foti
primer sremskih manastira.”
edited and with
. Translated by
.”
a.” In
184 Vjeran Kursar
2 (1987):
Jeleni .
1990.
-
la-lasvanin.
Ambiguous Subjects and Uneasy Neighbors 185
Nilevi
.
Skari
oko.
Su u.”
a.”
186 Vjeran Kursar
in
O
Hercegovine.” In Filip Lastri