By Amir Isajbegović
Following the greatest archaeological discovery to date by the Foundation “Heritage Watchdogs – Bassania”—the uncovering of a remarkably well-preserved medieval fortress bearing the same name as the surrounding forest and hill, Barakovac, named after Barak Ishaković Hranić—we present to the public a historical document from the archives of the State Archive of Dubrovnik.
The document, known as the “Charter of Duke Barak”, is dated March 20, 1436. It represents a complex set of diplomatic instructions issued by the Ragusan (Dubrovnik) Rector and his council to their envoy Maroje Đurković, directing him to travel to Bosnia, seek an audience with Duke Barak, and resolve the uncertain political situation that had arisen after Ishak-beg Hranić departed for his court in Skopje. The Rector was unsure whether Ishak’s son Barak—whom his father had appointed to rule Bosnia in his absence—would continue to govern with the same authority as his father, or if one of the other Bosnian magnates might seize control.
The charter clearly illustrates the immense power and influence wielded by Ishak Hranić in Bosnia, and subsequently by his son Barak. This legacy would later be continued by another son, Isa-beg Ishaković Hranić, and later by their descendant, Mehmed-beg Isabegović Čelebi, who represented the third Ottoman generation of the Kosača lineage. It is therefore unsurprising that the Hungarian chronicler Thuróczy János, recognizing Ishak-beg’s real authority, referred to him as the “King of Bosnia”, and that Sandalj Hranić, in one of his own charters, places him alongside the Sultan himself, writing: “By the grace of God, of the great Emperor Mehmed and Duke Ishak-beg…”
The familial connection between Barak’s father and the House of Kosača is explored in detail in the genealogical monograph “The House of Those Who Plant Mulberries – A Reconstruction”, which, through extensive archival material and historical evidence, offers a distinctly different picture of medieval Bosnia prior to the fall of the Kotromanić dynasty and its incorporation into the Ottoman administrative system, contrasting sharply with mainstream interpretations.
A particularly fascinating detail in the charter’s instructions to the Ragusan envoy is that Đurković is advised to seek Duke Barak’s audience in the region between Podvisoki and Zenica. This suggests that Barak Ishaković Hranić may have been residing or receiving envoys in the royal cities of Visoki and/or Bobovac. This, in turn, raises a striking question: Where was the king from the Kotromanić dynasty, who is not mentioned anywhere in the charter?
A translation of the original Latin text is provided with this publication. Supporters and collaborators of the Foundation “Heritage Watchdogs – Bassania” may request a high-resolution scan of the document to independently translate and verify its authenticity.
HR-DADU Litterae et commissiones Levantis,
vol. 12, ff. 18-19v State Archives in Dubrovnik
March 20, 1436
Order to Maroje Đurković regarding Duke Barak the Turk, etc.
The Rector of Dubrovnik, together with his council and with the permission of the esteemed lords, commands the noble Maroje Đurković, our respected citizen, who has been assigned the task of going to Duke Barak the Turk and conveying our greetings. We instruct you, in the name of God and Saint Blaise, our patron and protector, to set out swiftly on the road you find best and safest, toward the place where you hear Duke Barak the Turk resides — somewhere in Bosnia near Podvisoki (Sot Visochi) or Zenica (Senize).
On your journey, you are first to visit and confer with Duke Stjepan, whom you may find on his estate not far from Blagaj. When you reach him, greet him with the honor befitting our lordship and deliver the letter of credence we have given you, addressed to him. You shall graciously thank him for his counsel and the assistance he has rendered to our merchants and their caravans — which, though not new, we always expect, as it has been the custom and tradition of his noble father and uncle, Prince Vukac and Duke Sandalj, who have always treated our merchants kindly and with great diligence, ensuring their safety and the openness of their routes through their lands. We earnestly request that he continue to act with the same goodwill, for his own honor and benefit, and for the benefit of his customs duties. This would greatly please both his people and us, his sincere friends. Otherwise, our merchants may be forced to take other routes, to his detriment and to our dissatisfaction.
You may further tell him that our Lordship is sending you to pay respects and render homage to Duke Barak the Turk, as is our custom, asking him kindly to recommend you to the said Barak, either through his people or by letter. Once you have obtained permission from him to continue your journey, and after again commending our merchants to his care, proceed without delay.
If you learn that Duke Radoslav (Pavlović) is not more than a day’s journey from your route, you shall visit him as well. After delivering the letter addressed to him, greet him in our name with due respect, informing him that we have sent you to pay homage to Duke Barak and asking that he kindly recommend you to him. Once you have done so, request leave to depart and continue on your way. However, if Duke Radoslav is farther than a day’s travel from your path, do not detour to see him — proceed directly to your destination.
If Duke Barak is not in the vicinity of Podvisoki or Zenica — if he has traveled elsewhere — wait for him near Vrhbosna, where he is expected to return.
When you meet Duke Barak, greet him magnificently on our behalf, as is fitting. Deliver to him the letter of credence addressed to him and the gift we have entrusted to you, doing so at the audience he grants you. Present the gift respectfully in our name, saying:
“Most noble Duke Barak (Ishaković Hranić), our Dubrovnik Lordship, with whom your illustrious father, Duke Ishak, was bound by deep affection and respect, as known to all the world, bears witness to this enduring friendship by the way our merchants have always been treated — with kindness, goodwill, and honor, as though they were within our own city of Dubrovnik.
Following the custom established with your father, I have been sent with these gifts to pay homage to Your Grace, both in gratitude for the good will we share with your father and to express our love and esteem for you, asking that you continue to show favor and friendship to our merchants, just as your father did, in whose stead you now rule.
We ask that you issue to our merchants a letter granting freedom of trade, written in the same form as that of your father, whose letter we have brought to show you. Likewise, we will present to you letters from the Lord Sultan, written to our Lordship out of consideration for our merchants, requesting that you kindly order Duke Stjepan and Duke Radoslav to ensure the safety of the roads and lands through which our merchants travel.”
If he has hesitated in the past to show us favor, assure him that we understand it was only out of caution, so as not to offend the Bosnian lords.
If Duke Barak accepts the gift and all the requests above, and grants you leave to depart, commend our merchants warmly to him. Should you receive from him a charter or letter similar to that of his father, make its contents known to our merchants for their security, then return to Dubrovnik.
However, if Barak refuses to accept the gift out of displeasure with us, remain with him one or two days, trying by gentle words to reconcile him to our Lordship and persuade him to accept it. If he still refuses, return to Duke Stjepan (if he is near Blagaj). If he is away in Cetina, wait for him there, at his mother Lady Katarina’s estate, keeping us informed by letters of all that you accomplish. When you meet Duke Stjepan, inform him how matters stand and that Barak would not accept our offering or homage. Ask him kindly, in our name, to intercede on our behalf and persuade Barak to be reconciled with our Lordship and accept the honor and gift.
While with Duke Stjepan, continue to report to us by letter and await our reply. We provide you with four pieces of Mantuan cloth and eighteen ells of crimson wool, all of which you shall present to Barak as gifts.
After issuing you these instructions, we inform you that we have received letters from Duke Stjepan and Haznadar the Turk, in which the said Duke Stjepan requests that we also send one of our men to pay respects to Haznadar. Therefore, when you reach Duke Stjepan, greet him as above, and tell him that, upon receiving his and Haznadar’s letters, our Lordship resolved to send you to honor the said Haznadar the Turk. Thank him for granting our merchants freedom of trade and for his deference toward Barak, as has been stated.
When you meet Haznadar the Turk, greet him in our name and deliver to him the letter of credence addressed to him. Present to him the two silver dishes and forty gold ducats we have entrusted to you, at such time as seems best. Tell him privately that our Lordship has received and understood his letters, and is deeply grateful for his goodwill toward our merchants and for ensuring their freedom of movement and trade. Inform him also that our merchants are currently withdrawing and fearful of the Turkish troops passing through Bosnia.
Show him the letter of safe conduct granted by the Sultan, which confirms our merchants’ freedom of passage and commerce, and ask him kindly to show it to the dukes and prominent Turkish leaders, to confirm and uphold it in the Sultan’s name. After this, retrieve the letter, obtain his leave to depart, commend our merchants to his protection, and proceed as directed in your instructions regarding Barak.
Given in Dubrovnik, March 20, 1436.