Miloš Obilić
Miloš Obilić (Serbian Cyrillic: Милош Обилић) (died June 29 1389) was a Serbian knight from Zeta (Montenegro) who, at the Battle of Kosovo between the Serbian Empire and the Ottoman Empire, killed the Ottoman Sultan Murad I. He is associated with Đurađ II Stracimirović of the ruling House of Balšić of Zeta, that is not fully historically recorded to have fought at the Battle of Kosovo. He is a major figure in Serbian epic poetry, and is a legendary, as well as a historical persona. He was a founder of Order of the Dragon of St. George, an order of knights - not to be confused with the Order of the Dragon founded by Sigismund, King of Hungary.
In legend
In folk epic and legends, Miloš was celebrated as the hero of supernatural birth and strength (his mother was a fairy, demonic creature or his father was a dragon; he had got his strength from the milk of the mare). He had the extraordinary horse called Ždral. His blood brothers were knight Milan Toplica and knight Ivan Kosančić, and his fiancee or wife was Mara, daughter of Prince Lazar.
Battle of Kosovo
According to the most popular version of the legend, on June 15, 1389 (Julian calendar) (June 28, Gregorian calendar), during the first Battle of Kosovo, Miloš made his way into the Ottoman camp pretending that he wanted to surrender, and at an opportune moment forced his way into the Sultan's tent and stabbed him. Obilic was consequently "slashed to pieces" by the Sultan's bodyguards.[1]
Another legend tells about the treason of Vuk Branković, Serbian feudal lord and son in law of the Serbian prince Lazar, who betrayed Miloš because of earlier disagreements. Miloš wanted to clear his name of false accusations made by Vuk Branković, and prove his loyalty to prince Lazar. Other variants of songs and legends state that Miloš was captured by a Baba Yaga, who advised the Turks how to kill Miloš's horse and find the keys of his armour, which were hidden in his moustaches. Miloš gained his revenge by killing the old woman on a bridge, which is presently called Babin Most (Old Woman's Bridge).
However, according to the earliest preserved record, a letter of Florentine senate to the King Tvrtko I of Bosnia, dated 20 October 1389, Murad was killed during the battle. The killer is not named but it was one of 12 Serbian noblemen managed to break through the Ottoman ranks:
Fortunate, most fortunate are those hands of the twelve loyal lords who, having opened their way with the sword and having penetrated the enemy lines and the circle of chained camels, heroically reached the tent of Amurat himself. Fortunate above all is that one who so forcefully killed such a strong vojvoda by stabbing him with a sword in the throat and belly. And blessed are all those who gave their lives and blood through the glorious manner of martyrdom as victims of the dead leader over hiss ugly corpse.
In Ottoman records
Based on Ottoman Imperial historical records, it is believed that Sultan Murad I was killed by Miloš Obilić who, pretending to be dead, killed Murad while he walked on the battlefield after the fighting had finished. After Murad died of his wounds on June 28th, Milos was executed the next day.
In the popular imagination
This event and the Kosovo battle itself is deeply embedded in the Serbs and South Slavs in general national consciousness, history, and poetry. This deed was proclaimed as Miloš Obilić's innermost desire to pay tribute to his people and to sacrifice himself in order to strike a blow against tyranny and the Christian fight against Islam. In Miloš's character, the popular tradition modeled the ideal hero type that encouraged further fights
The Serbian football club FK Obilić, made infamous by its former owner the Serbian warlord Željko Ražnatović aka Arkan, is named after the legendary knight.
References
- ^ The Desperate Act: The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo By Roberta Strauss Feuerlicht, pg. 22