Enter the Bosnian Dragon

Rebellions against the Ottoman Empire were not solely the province of the Christian Ottoman subjects.  On 29 March 1831 an army of Bosnian subjects, 1/3 of them Christian, marched toward the Ottoman headquarters in Travnik.  At its head was the son of a Bosnian noble family, the Captain of Gradačac, Husein Gradaščević, the Dragon of Bosnia. 

Gradaščević would win initial victories, but ultimately go down in defeat against the might of the Ottoman Empire. Still, his legend became something for Bosnians of all faiths to rally around as the Sick Man of Europe continued on the path toward obsolescence. Gradaščević’s progressive views would mirror those of a century later, before the devastating war in the 90s.  

“In Bosnia, the Sound of the church bells never bothered the call to prayer of the Muezzin.“

To read the story of the Dragon of Bosnia, please click here.  

To read more about the Balkans during the Ottoman Empire, please click here.