Stefan Vukčić

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Stefan Vukčić (also Stjepan, Stipan, Stevan) (1404-1466) of the house of Kosača was a duke (herzog) and governor (voivod) of Bosnia, Primorje and Zahumlje (Hum/Chelm). It was Stefan's ducal title "Herceg" that gave rise to the name Herzegovina when he asserted the independence of the territory in 1435 and 1448. The title is today carried in the name of the country Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in the name of the Montenegrin city of Herceg Novi.

After 1320s, Zahumlje and Travunia became part of the Bosnian kingdom. In a document sent to Friedrich III on January 20, 1448, Stefan Vukčić Kosača called himself Herzog of Saint Sava, lord of Hum and Primorje, great duke of the Bosnian kingdom (Herzog means duke in German) and so the lands he controlled became (much later) known as Herzog's lands or Herzegovina.

In 1482 Herzog was overpowered by Ottoman forces led by his own son, Ahmed Hercegović, who accepted Islam. In the Ottoman Empire, Herzegovina was organized as a province (sanjak) within the state (pashaluk) of Bosnia. The name of the country was changed to Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1853, as a result of a twist of political events. It was part of the Ottoman Empire for a bit less than four centuries.

[edit] The Dukes of St. Sava

This family descended from one Vuk of the house of Kosača; he had two sons:

   A1. Vlatko Vuković, Gov of Croatia
   A2. Hranja, Grand Duke of Bosnia; m.Anka; they had issue:
       B1. Sandalj Hranić Kosača, Grand Duke of Bosnia, Knez of Zahumlje, +1435; 1m: NN; 2m: 1396 Jelena N; 3m: 1405 Katarina, dau.of Vuk Vukčić, Ban of Croatia and Dalmatia; 4m: Jelena, dau.of Knez Lazar of Serbia
           C1. Stjepan Vukčić Kosača, Gr Duke of Bosnia, Lord of Zahumlje and Primorje, Duke of St.Sava, +1466; 1m: 1424 Jelena of Zeta (+1453); 2m: 1455 Varvara (possibly of the del Balzo family); 3m: Cecilie, a German lady
               D1. Vladislav, Duke of St.Sava, Lord of Krain (Herr von Krain), *ca 1427, +1487/89; m.1455 Kyra Ana, dau.of Georgios Kantakuzenos
                   E1. Petar Balša, Duke of St. Sava, +after 1511; m.Quirina, dau.of Francesco Quirini, Archbishop of Sebenico (Šibenik) and Lesina
                       F1. Matija Balša, Duke of St.Sava, +ca 1533; m.Irina Jakšić (+after 1539)
                           G1. Miklos Balša, Duke of St.Sava, +after 1556
                               H1. Ivan
                               H2. Andrija
                               H3. Tomas
                               H4. a daughter
                           G2. a daughter, +after 1552
                       F2. Vladislav Hercegović, a monk, +after 1514
               D2. Vlatko Hercegović, Duke of St.Sava, *ca 1426, +on the Island of Rab ca 1489; 1m: 1455 N von Cilli; 2m: 1474 Margherita di Marzano
                   E1. Jovan Hercegović, Duke of St.Sava, +after 1546; m.Sofia Sossia, from Vicenza
                       F1. Vlatko; m.Taddea Belasij
                           G1. Giovanni, lived in Dubrovnik; m.Isabella Zorzi
                               H1. Vlatko, lived in Dubrovnik, +after 1570; m.N Loredano
                                   I1. Elisabeta; m.1615 Angelo Zorzi
                       F2. Ferante; m.1564 Faustina Erizzo
                       F3. Isabella; m.Pompeo Avogrado
                       F4. Sava; m.1544 Paolo Boldu
                   E2. Marija; m.Antonio Pesare
               D3. Stjepan Hercegović, became a Moslem (Ahmed Hercegović) and was Grand Vizier and Grand Admiral to the Sultan; m.1482 Fatima, dau.of Sultan Bayezid II; he left descendants
               D4. Katarina, beatified, *1424, +Rome 25. November 1478, bur Ara Coeli, Rome; m.1446 King Stjepan Tomašević of Bosnia (+1461)
           C2. Teodora, +1450; m.1421/22 Radoslav Pavlević, Gr Duke of Bosnia
       B2. Vukac, +1432; m.Katharina N
       B3. Vuk Hranić, +1425
           C1. Ivan Vuković
               D1. Adam Vuković