[from chapter 5]
pp. 79-80: from Constantine the Philosopher's Life of Despot Stefan Lazarevic; Constantine was a Bulgarian who had fled to Serbia and was aat the court of Lazar's son, Stefan Lazarevic.
Then Orkhan also died and his youngest son, named Amurat, rose up and subjugated most of the western lands. Then he took up arms against the pious Prince Lazar. But this one [Lazar] could not bear to wait and to neglect his people - in fact, Christ's [people] - so that they would be cut down and torn apart. [He decided] rather either to destroy these shameful ones or to die himself and thus become a martyr. Inspired by these thoughts, he rose up and marched against the Ishmaelites. And there was a battle on a place called Kosovo which happened as follows. Among the soldiers who were fighting in the front lines was one of very noble birth who was slandered before his lord by certain jealous ones and marked as disloyal. In order to demonstrate his loyalty as well as his bravery, this one found the favorable time and rushed to the great leader himself as though he were a deserter, and they opened the way for him. And when he was near, he dashed forward at once and thrust a sword into that very haughty and terrible autocrat, and then he himself fell there at their hands.
Af first those around Lazar overcome and were victorious. But it was not yet the time of deliverance. Then the son of that emperor rallied again in that very battle and overcame. And God allowed this so that this great one [Lazar] and those with him might be wreathed with the crown of martyrdom. And what happened after this? He attained the blessed end through decapitation. Before this, however, his dear comrades came forward with many sad entreaties to die before him so that they would not see his death. This battle was in the year 6897 [1389], the month of June, the fifteenth day.
pp. 83-84: Konstantin Mihailovic from Ostrovica, wrote Memoirs of a Janissary or Turkish Chronicle, about 1497:
After King Uros, the Srbian kingdom was transformed into a principality because they [the Serbians] themselves chose as their lord Prince Lazar, who had [for his wife] a niece of King Uros by the name of Milica. And so it was that some were friendly to him and others were not, just as happens everywhere today among both laymen and clergy. Wherever there is not harmony, neither can there be any good.
When Emperor Murad heard that Prince Lazar was the successor of his lord in the Serbian kingdom, he collected his army and advanced into Serbia to Kosovo Polje. Prince Lazar did not hesitate but gathered his army and arrived at that place. He set up camp opposite the emperor on the other side at Smogovo aat the edge of the river Lab.
And then on Wednesday, the say of St. Vitus, there began a violent battle, and it lasted until Friday. Lords who supported Prince Lazar fought bravely, loyally, and honorably at his side; others, however, observed the battle looking through their fingers. Because of this disloyalty and dissension and the jealousies of evil and wicked people, the battle was lost on Friday at noon.
And here Milos Kobila, Prince Lazar's knight, killed Emperor Murad. And then the emperor's son, Mustafa, was killed, but his other son, Ildirim Bayezid - which means the heavenly thunder - ascended the imperial throne. And Prince Lazar was captured near a church of the Virgin known as Samodreza. On that place was erected a tall, marble column as a sign that Prince Lazar was captured there. Also captured with him was Krajmir, the vojvoda of Toplica, and many other lords were destroyed on that place.
And after those who were disloyal had watched the battle, they remained as traitors. That was not good for them later, because after a short time the emperor, leading them away one by one, ordered them all killed. He said, 'Since you were so disloyal to your own lord in his misfortune, you would do the same to me.'
Then Prince Lazar and Vojvoda Krajmir were brought before Bayezid. Emperor Murad, his father, and Mustafa, his brother, both lay on stretcheres. Bayezid said to Prince Lazar: 'See how my father and my brother lie on stretchers. How did you dare to muster up the courage to oppose him?' Prince Lazar remained silent. Then Vojvoda Krajmir spoke: 'Dear Prince, answer the emperor, for the head is not like the willow's stump which grows a second time.' Then Prince lazar said to the emperor: 'It is a great wonder how your father dared to attack the Serbian kingdom. And I say to you, Emperor Bayezid, if I had known earlier what I now see with my eyes, you too would have had to lie on a third stretcher. But the Lord God himself willed this because of our sins. So be the will of God.' With that Emperor Bayezid ordered Lazar to be beheaded. But Krajmir, having pleaded with the emperor and kneeling, held a skirt under the head of Prince Lazar so that it would not fall to the earth. And when it fell into the skirt, he pressed this head to his own head and said: 'I swore to the Lord God: wherever be the head of Prince Lazar, there also must mine lie.' And then he too was beheaded, and both heads fell together to the earth.
At that time a janissary brought in the head of Milos Kobila and threw it in front of the emperor near the other two heads and said: 'Fortunate Lord, these are the heads of your most terrible enemies.'
Then the Rasani or Serbs who were near Emperor Bayezid begged for the body of Prince Lazar and carried it to a monastery which is called Ravanica, and there buried him and proclaimed him a saint.
After the victory Bayezid remained on Kosovo Polje and on this battlefield and then made a sign where his father was killed: on four columns an arch was made and covered with lead and it stands today. And having placed his father and brother in coffins, he sent them to Brusa where their funerals were conducted. And so this unfortunate battle was completed because of the disloyalty of evil people. Emperor Uros and Prince Lazar, two lords hwo loyally fought for the Christian faith, were killed by infidels in a short time and departed from this world.
pp. 85-87: Benedict Kuripesic, who wrote in 1530, three decades after Mihailovic's Chronicle, a travel description of the Balkan peninsula in which he also included a description of the Battle of Kosovo. He was a Latin translator in an austrian embassy to Istanbul and the court of Suleyman the Magnificant.
Here on Kosovo Polje is found a tomb - a tall, one-story, four sided tower with a round roof of lead and beautifully decorated. In it is buried the body of Murat, the eighth Turkish emperor, who began to rule in 1422 and ruled twenty-nine years. On that place an old Serbian knight Milos Kobilovic, cut him [Murat] open with a knife when he and his army attacked the despot who was at that time prince or duke of Serbia. It is recorded in history how it happened.
When the Turkish emperor Murat and his army turned against the prince or duke and came to Kosovo Polje, this one [Lazar] gathered his army and turned against the emperor with the goal of fighting him. Milos Kobilovic was in that army. Kobilovic was a well-known and celebrated knight. Every day on the border he did many heroic deeds, and even today Croats and others in those regions sing about them. Nevertheless, many slandered him before his lord, the despot, and claimed that he had plotted and made a pact with the enemy. This occurred only because of jealousy which even now happens quite often in this corrupt world. He fell into disfavor with his lord who showed no love or gratitude for his service as he always had earlier. Because of this the old knight suffered greatly.
In that time the prince gave a dinner in the camp. He seated many young nobles and courtiers around the table and showed them honor, but the old knight was only permitted to stand by the table. Then Kobilovic, who was innocent, saw that the prince openly showed his disfavor toward him. It was hard on him and he was saddened because of it. He decided to prove his innocence and to avenge the slander.
When dinner ended he began with a heavy heart to speak to his lord, the duke: 'Lord, have you forgotten how many times in your service I heroically pledged my life for you against your enemies? Have I not demonstrated my heroism in many ways? Have you forgotten this when you allow me, your old servant to stand by the table and, to my disgrace, show much honor to the younger ones (who have not yet seen that which I have done)? Therefore, lord, let God help you, I now go to prove my loyal service so that you will see how much more worthy of honor I am than are these who sit at your table. I will do that which the others will not do, and I will finish your war even though I will have to lose my life before that.'
After that Milos Kobilovic went to the camp of the Turkish emperor. When the duke and his men found out about this they thought that he [Kobilovic] would attack them and so they rebuked him. And when the Turkish emperor heard that Kobilovic was approaching, he rejoiced, thinking that he would be a friend. And they welcomed him. But he was pretending and allowed them to think this way. They received him warmly, acknolwedging his heroic deeds, and announced him to the emperor who ordered that they bring him to him. Then he requested to talk privately with the emperor about important things. The emperor agreed to this, thinking that he would explain how to defeat the duke. When they were alone and when the emperor offered him his right foot to kiss (as was the custom in the presence of Turkish emperors) the old knight said: 'It is not appropriate for a Christian to kiss your foot, therefore you will now receive your reward.'
When he bowed to kiss the foot, he drew a knife from his sleeve and ripped open the Turkish emperor from the bottom to the heart. And with a scream he gave up his spirit. A panic ensued and the knight ran to his horse and mounted him. But theykilled him on the horse. When the Serbian army heard the scream and knew that Kobilovic had cut down the emperor and then died himself, the prince realized that he had lost his loyal servant. And then the Turks, having lost their leader, fled. And so the duke, his army, land and people were saved this time from the Turks.
Oh, Kobilovic, did not everyone think that you would get revenge on your displeased lord and your jealous ones with their misfortune and that you would surrender them into the arms of the enemy? But you got revenge in a Christian way and turned evil to good. You gave your life for your slanderers and saved your homeland from the enemy's hand. In this you remind us of two Romans: Gaius Mucius Scaevola, who burned his own hand so that he could not carry out his plan in a similar situation, and Marcus Curtius, who jumped into a ravine and died in order to save his homeland.
From that time on not a single Turkish emperor allows anyone to kiss his foot, only his hand. Whomever the emperor receives and to whomever he offers his hand to kiss, that one is held by both arms by two pashas so that no one can do what Kobilovic did.l That is everything, Oh Kobilovic, in memory of your heroism!
pp. 93-95: From the second half of the fifteenth century, Ducas, in his History of the Byzantines, shows a warm emphathy for the Serbs:
In that same year Orkhan, the ruler of the Turks, died bequeathing his dominion to his son Murad who, having become the master of the Thracian cities, besieged Adrianople and took possession of all of Thessaly with the exception of Thessaloniki. Since he now held practically all the lands of the Romans, he advanced to the Triballi [Serbs]. He destroyed many of their fortresses and towns and took their inhabitants captive; he then transported them to the Asiatic shore over the straits of the Chersonese. When Lazar, the son of Sstefan, kral of Serbia, and himself kral of Serbia at that time, beheld these things, he assembled all his forces and joined battle with the tyrant; many fell on both sides. There took place afterwards an incredibly novel stratagem. A young Serb nobleman, who was more daring than any other man of his time, separated himself from the Christian phalanx, as though he were deserting, and fell into the midst of the Turkish ranks. When the Turks immediately laid hands on him, he called out the ruler's name, saying, 'I wish to see him and tell him something secretly so that he can win this battle; this is the reason I have deserted.' They presented him to the ruler. As Murad motioned with his hand for the youth to approach, he rushed forward and, when near enough, mortally wounded Murad by plunging a sword into his heart; he then was hacked to pieces by Murad's axe-bearers and bodyguards.
When the Turks behld this unexpected and novel deed, they could not allow such an evil suddenly to befall them before their eyes without retaliating. They conceived a clever and very deceptive plan. Pitching a tent in the center of the battle formations, they placed the half dead Murad within and, undaunted by the many dangers, fought their way like rabid dogs to the front ranks. The Serbs, on the other hand, were ignorant of the great deed accomplished on their behalf by the brave youth which had resulted in the loss to the Turks of their ruler. Because their worthy commander was losing the anticipated victory, they despaired and faintheartedly resisted the Turks and the battle came to an end. Lazar was captured with most of the nobles. The Turks led Lazar and all his subordinates into the tent where Murad lay breathing his last and slew them. Thus both they and Murad suffered death together.
Neither the right wing nor the left was aware of what was happening since these actions took place in the rear. The commander of the right wing was Sawdji [Yakub], the eldest of Murad's sons, while the left wing was led by his second son Bayazid, terrifying and mighty above all others. Bayazid was recalled by Murad's chief counselors, called viziers in their tongue, who revealed to him what had happened and showed him his father's corpse. Neither weeping nor displaying any signs of mourning, he summoned Sawdji his brother, pretenting that he was being summoned by their father to discuss more effective tactics. Sawdji, ignorant of what had happened, came willingly to see his father, but was seized by his brother, who gouged out his eyes.
Bayazid was acclaimed ruler of the Turks. He was a feared man, precipitate in deeds of war, persecutor of Christians as no other around him, and in the religion of the Arabs a most ardent disciple of Muhammad, whose unlawful commandments were observed to the utmost, never sleeping, spending his nights contriving intrigues and machinations against the rational flock of Christians.
pp. 95-97: The Ottoman historian Mehmed Nesri, writing in 1512, was influenced by the popular Serbian tradition of Kosovo:
After the heathen was defeated Murad was perplexed because he still had been given no sign that he would die a martyr. But as he and some of his courtiers wee surveying a mound of dead bodies, [there was on that field] a heathen known as Milos Kobila. This damned soul was an excellent and great knight. At a feast given by Lazar he had said: 'I wlil go and kill the Turkish lord.' He had hidden on his body a steel dagger. Arriving with this goal in mind, he got into a fight with the gazis and was wounded. Then this heathen, wounded and completely covered with blood, hid himself in that mound of dead bodies. When Gazi Murat happened upon this one, the heathen stumbled and came toward the Lord. When the guards tried to stop him, Gazi Murat instead declared, 'Doubtlessly he has a wish. Let him come forward.'
This damned one had the dagger hidden in his sleeve. He came forward pretending that he would kiss the sultan's foot, but suddenly he stabbed him. When that which is fated to be happens, the eyes are blinded. He was destined to die here. At that hour his soul, a heavenly bird like an angel, soared to the heavens. He was a warrior for the faith and now he died a martyr's death. That heathen was immediately cut into pieces on the spot. Over the sultan they quickly erected a tent.
pp. 99-100: about same time as Nesri's history, appeared an anonymous translatin of Ducas' History of the Byzantines. This translator was familiar with the evolving legend of Kosovo. We do not know who the translator was, but some believe him to be a Venetian, others a Dalmatian Slav. The translation was made into Italian, and as was typical of 'translations' at that time, was much rewritten:
Several times Murad had attempted to win Milos Kobilic to his side by the way of promises which were relayed to Milos in several letters and by secret messengers. Milos was a captain of Lazar's, a man of such ability and strength in both body and mind that he had no equal in the world. Because of his sincere love and loyalty for Lazar, however, Milos showed all of the letters to his prince. And Lazar after a certain consideration ordered Milos to respond to Murad and to indicate that he desired to fulfill his wishes.
On the day before the infamous and unlucky battle Lazar assembled hs lords for a toast, which was the custom of his court. And as an amiable and good lord he drank a toast to each of his men. And when it was Milos' turn, Lazar raised a large golden goblet of costly wine and he presented it to Milos with the words: 'Most excellent lord, accept this toast and the goblet which I give you - for my sake. But it grieves me greatly to have learned the terrible news that you have been unfaithful to your Lord.'
Then Milos respectfully took the goblet and spoke with an obvious countenance: 'Lord Despot, I thank you for this toast and for the golden goblet which you have presented to me. But it grieves me very much that my loyalty has been doubted. Early tomorrow morning, if God fulfills my highest thoughts, it wll become apparent whether I am loyal or disloyal to my Lord.'
And as the day for the battle dawned, Milos, with the words of his Lord's toast and his own generous answer in his mind, mounted his mighty horse. He grabbed a spear of shining iron and went off toward the enemy camp.
Like a deserter he crossed the Sitnica River which separated the two armies and called with a loud and friendly voice to Murad. He was received by the Turks as a friend, and he spoke to the multitude standing there: 'Where is our Lord Murad? I am Milos who has longed to be under his dominion. Bring me before him; I carry a secret in my breast, which can only be disclosed to His Highness.'
So he was led to the great tent of the Lord, brought in as one who had been longing to come, and ws received with joyful countenance. The Lord extended his foot to him so that he, according to the custom of the court, could kiss it. As Milos cast a glance at the face of the tyrant, he began to burn with anger, hatred, and disdain. He grabbed the extended foot with great violence, pulled it with much force, and threw the sultan headlong into the ground. Then suddenly he uncovered a polished and very sharp dagger, which he had carried hidden for this purpose, and wounded Murad by piercing him in the heart. And after a short time following this wound, the barbarian gave up his spirit.
After the heroic Christ fulfilled his promise and gloriously overcame so powerful an enemy, this one [Milos] tried to open up a path through the amazed and perplexed multitude of satraps and followers of Murad, attacking one and then the other until he reached his horse. And while he was putting his foot in the left stirrup, this glorious Knight of Christ was surrounded by Janissaries; and before he could get into the saddle, he died from the countless wounds which this vile superior force inflicted on him.
Later in the 'translation' the writer describes Lazar's capture by the Turks. He saw the dead Murad and heard that Milos had killed him. According to the 'translator' Lazar raised his head and hands to heaven and said:
Oh God in Heaven, Creator of the whole universe, without thy will not a single leaf moves on the tree. If it pleases your Majesty that I should be deprived of every hope for myself and for my principality, then receive my soul in your kingdom which I offer you with joy. For now I see before I die that my enemy and yours has ended his life at the hand of my knight.
pp. 105-110: Much later, in 1601, Mavro Orbini published his history of the Slavs, Il Regno degli Slavi, which contains most of what would become the 'final' version of the Kosovo legend. Orbini came to have an important influence in the further development of a national consciousness among the Serbs in the 18th c. It was published first in 1722 in Russia:
Murat, the first by that name, took the throne after the death of hs brother, Suleiman. Wishing to expand the borders of the emire into Europe, he crossed the aforementioned river and arrived at the river Strumica with the plan to attack the lands of Prince Lazar, because Lazar (according to Leunclavius) assisted the Hungarians and encouraged them to attack the Turks. When Lazar and other serbian and Bosnian lords and princes discovered this, they readied their troops without delay and set off to meet the Turks who had already crossed the Strumica. They set up their camp not far from the Turks.
Prince Lazar was the chief commander of the Christian camp. He had married (so it is said) his daughter Mara to Vuk Brankovic, and his daughter Vukosava to Milos Kobilic who was born in Tjentiste near Novi Pazar and was educated at Lazar's court. A quarrel broke out between these two sisters. Vukosava praised her husband and proclaimed hm to be more worthy than Vuk Brankovic. This greatly offended Vuk's wife, Mara, and she slapped her sister. When Vukosava told this to her husband, he immediately sought out Vuk, showered him with many insults, and challenged him to a duel to see if what his wife had said was true. And although Lazar attempted to make peace between them, he was not able to prevent them from coming to blows to that each could show his worth. When Milos knocked Vuk from his horse in the duel, the lords who were standing nearby would not allow him to continue his attack. After this Prince Lazar and other lords reconciled the two, but the peace was a false one and not from the heart. From then on Vuk never missed one opportunity to slander Milos before his father-in-law.
Now that Lazar had to attack the Turks, his son-in-law Vuk cautioned him to watch Milos because he should know that he [Milos] was secretly plotting with the Turks to betray him. Wanting to verify this, Lazar called a number of lords and army captains to a dinner with a plan to censure Milos for this treason. If he convinced himself that there was a crime he oculd punish Milos (because Slavs have a tradition of uncovering secrets with wine and not with torture), but if he found that Milos was innocent he could free himself form the doubt which had already begun to torment him. Therefore, during the dinner Prince Lazar, holding a full goblet of wine in his right hand, turned to Milos and said, 'I give you this together with the goblet as a gift, Milos, in spite of the fact that you have been accused before me of treason.' Milos, however, showed no sign on his face that would betray that wrong and drank up the goblet of wine. Then, having arisen, he said: 'This is not the time, my lord and prince Lazar, to quarrel, because the enemy is already in his battle formation. Tomorrow morning I wlil show with my own act that my accuser is the slanderer and liar and that I have always been loyal to my lord.' Lazar said nothing in response, but invited him to sit down once more. But Milos did not sleep at all that night; and at the first crack of dawn, when no one was watching, he mounted his horse and with his spear turned backwards (which, among the Slavs, is the sign of a deserter) he rode to the camp of the Turks where he was held in high esteem. For this reason he was immediately brought into the tent of the Turkish emperor who showed great pleasure at this arrival. And here, having thrown himself to the ground (which is a custom with the Turks) he bowed before the emperor; and while he kept his head bowed in order to kiss his hand, he secretly drew out a dager which he had carried hidden in his shirt and stabbed Murad in the belly. And while he tried with all his might to escape from the tent, the emperor's body guards wounded him. And in the end he died here.
Chalcocondyles expresses the possibility thatMilos fatallywounded Murad with a spear and that he was not stopped by the janissaries. Nevertheless, as has been said, Milos did not carry a spear in order to kill the Turk; rather he carried it to show thathe was deserting the Christians. He did not kill the barbarian with a spear (as some beliee) but rather with a dagger. Because of this (as Chalcocondyles and Leunclavius report) from that time on the Turks had a law which required two guards to hold the arms of anyone who came to kiss the hand of their ruler. In this way no one would be able to cause harm to his person as Milos did to Murad.
After Milos had fled [left for the Turkish camp] in the manner mentioned above and the news spread throughout the Christian camp, many began to fear the outcome and saw no possibility that they would be saved. They did not know yet what had happened with the Turk. Some attempted to persuade the others that it would be better to flee the war, lay down their arms, and surrender themselves to the enemy.
When Prince Lazar saw this, he called his people to him and said the following to them: 'Tenacity and daring with contempt only for death itself - these are virtues which raised you above the stars for the glory of all of Serbia. My brave comrades, what has happened to these rare virtues? What can we do? We can die, but only as common men. We can lose our lives, but only to our own credit and to the detriment of the enemy. We can arrange things so that we receive that final end which all who are born must reach, but only to our benefit and to the destruction of the enemy. Is it not beter to die gloriously than to live in disgrace? Is it every possible to die in a better way than to desire the death in advance? Tell me, if you refuse to be their slaves, why will you not die like the others, when all must die. You will certainly die some day, but not only will you suffer endless torment, disgrace, rebuke and shame, but so will your whole country. Since you must die sometime, is it not better to die armed and as a noble man rather than to die naked and in chains and slaughtered like animals? If you believe that everyone must die, what kind of naivete is to fear something which no one can escape? Death cannot be avoided by putting it off; but because of this, manylessen their glory when they try to escape. Is death anything different than the completion and end of all evil? Our mind tells us that deatah does not have to be difficult because it happens in a moment. It need not be bitter because with it ceases all pain and suffering. And surely it is neither boring nor pitiful because it only happens once. If death is like this, therefore, why do we fear it so? Why do we flee from a single death? Do we think we will die a thousand times in a moment? Let any thought to surrender and slavery escape your mind and escape your indomitable Slavic blood. If we cannot live any longer, let us die among our enemies. We will die armed against the armed enemy. Other peoples die quietly, defeated by the years, enfeebled by time, tormented by fever and thousands of different ills. Only the Slav die by the sword; yes, by the sword only the Slavs die. But we also destroy part of the enemy and retaliate so that that very enemy, even if they are the victors, alwaysmourn their own death. And who knows, if we decide to be Slavs, which means to be glorious victors in battle for all the places upon which we tread and upon which our ancestors tread, or if we at least decide to be people who can handle a sword and know how to kill bravely and be killed - who knows, perhaps we will kill them just as well as they kill us? Fortune aids the brave, and it is not numbers which bring victory but rather the bravery of the soldier and the wisdom of the commander. On our side is all justice because the enemy came into our land and conquered many places. We are in great distress, and this usually makes even the greatest cowards courageous. We have so many weapons that if we used them bravely they would either open the road to us everywhere or create for us such a great society that the very enemy and others would mourn our death. Therefore, since we are completely in despair for our salvation, let us risk everything and bravely attack the enemy. You will see how despair always brings a person out ofmisfortune and leads most often to the highest level of satisfaction about which one could hardly dream.'
But his soldiers would not allow him to continue. And then the old enthusiasm seized them once again; and all of them from all sside, burning with ancient slavic passion, cried, 'To Battle! To Battle!'
In the meantime, the pashas and other Turkish commanders, although they were very grieved because of the death of their lord, didnot give in to tears. Rather they kept his death secret with great discretion from both the enemy and from the Turks who still did not know what had happened. This people is very steadfast in silence and in keeping a secret which was so unfavorable to them. It was not possible with either intimidation or promises to extract a single word which would make known that which their lords wanted to keep secret. Therefore, before news spread of that which would have been very dangerous to them, the Turkish commanders put the army in formation. And that which needed to be done for the glory of their own lord, each did for his own salvation. Thus with great courage they attacked the enemy, but the Christians did not resist with any less courage.
The battle was terrible on both sides. Everywhere they fell - here Christians, there Turks who could hardly withstand the rage of the Rascians and other Slavs. Some of the Turks abandoned their position and withdrew to the rear with the idea of fleeing. Then the Turkish commanders began to cry in one voice: 'To where are you fleeing, Moslems? To the right behind the Strumica is the enemy. And to the left the Aegean Sea blocks your flight. Is it not honorable to die in battle like men rather than flee the enemy and drown in the waves like cattle? What happened, O Turks, to that spirit and bravery with which you yearned for empire in Europe when you crossed the Hellespont? Or did you come here only so that a greater glory and image of the slavic people would come from our shame?' Not only these exhortations and words of the commanders but also (as often happens) desperate thoughts about their own salvation ignited the spirits of the Turks. Thus, having regained their courage and force, they began with even great strength to attack once more and fell on the enemy with cries and tumult.
When Prince Lazar, who was fighting relentlessly, saw this and when he realized that his horse was exhausted because the battle had lastedfrom sunrise until aftr 8:00 a.m., he left tht horse and mounted a fresh one. His men had seen him, stained with his own blood and that of the enemy, fighting bravely in the front lines. But they lost sight of him at that brief moment when he changed horses. Thinking he had fallen dead to the ground, all of them in alarm began to retreat in chaos. And even though Lazar did appear and began to unite his troops, they continued to run away. Therefore he was forced to turn behind the main part of the army and flee in order to save himself. Avoiding the main road so that he would not come across the enemy, he fell suddenly with his horse into an unseen hole covered with earth and branches which the peasants had dug in order to catch some beast. Here the enemy, who had pursued him, found him and killed him. According to the account of Filippo Lonicero in his first volume and according to the Turkish chronicles, Lazar was captured alive and beheaded in the enemy camp. Then he was buried in Ravanica in a very beautiful church which was built of mixed marble. There you can still see his body in a golden woven covering which, they say, was made by his wife Milica.
The place where this battle took place is called Kosovo polje. It is locataed on the borders of Raska and Bulgaria. The Hungarians call it Rigomezev, and the Latins Campo Merula. Francesco Sansovino calls it the depraved Camp Cassovino. In the middle of this field flows the river Sitnica which comes out of the Illyrian mountains and flows into the Danube. On that place Murad's battered body, with its entrails removed, was buried. There you can still see a tower which is called Murad's grave and pyramid. Then his body was taken not to Sofija (as some say) but to Brusa and was interred in a grave of his ancestors which lies near the baths of Brusa. As a memorial, Milos' arm is covered in silver and displayed at the grave.
pp. 111-120.Another version of the Kosovo legend, dating from the early 18th century, circulated in the Vojvodina, and it would be the "final and most complete expression of the long evolving Kosovo legend." The Tale of the Battle of Kosovo [Prica o boju kosovskom], is much longer than earlier versions; when read one after the other, you can see how legends begin and develop over time:
The autocrat prince Lazar was born of most noble parents. When he was eighteen his parents presented him for service to Tsar Stefan [Dusan], the son of King Decani and the father of Tsar Uros. Seeing his good qualities and courage the tsar made him first in the palace and gave him in marriage his relative Milica, the daughter of Jug Bogdanovic. A short time later Tsar Stefan died and his young son Uros assumed the throne.
Then King Vukasin Mrnjavcevic, despot Ugljesa, and Vojvoda Gojko killed the young tsar Uros during a hunt. Because of this the Serbian land experienced much evil and pain. God saw the injustice and brought the Turks against them on the river Marica near Cernomen. Their army was destroyed, and only a few survived. God's judgement prevailed, for how else can one explain the fact that four thousand Turkish soldiers defeated a Mrnjavcevic army of seventy thousand? And all three were killed because of their injustice, jealousy, and murder.
Then with God's will Prince Lazar came to the Serbian throne with the blessing of the four patriarchs and the whole Serbian council. As Lord of Serbia Prince Lazar did all good things, showed concern for mercy and justice, and had a kind eye and generous hand.
Prince Lazar rode back from the hunt to his castle with his two sons-in-law while his two daughters watched their arrival from a high watchtower. Vidosava was upset that Kobilic [Obilic] rode to the right of Lazar and Brankovic to the left. She told Jela and others this, and Jela responded that Lazar would not have placed him on his right side if he did not recognize Milos' value, intelligence, and bravery. At this Vidosava leapt up like a haughty maiden and struck her sister in the face. Her ring bloodied Jela's face and the blood flowed down her cheeks.
At that moment Lazar arrived at the castle with his sons-in-law; Lazar's servants took his horse and Jela took Milos' horse. Jela shielded her face with a scarf, but Milos asked Jela what had happened, and she told him that her sister had struck her. Milos heaved a great sigh, took Vuk Brankovic by the arm and led him far from the castle. In conversation with Brankovic, Milos exhorted him to reprimand hs haughty maiden so that she would not speak evil words or call honorable people names. He swore to Vuk with God at his right hand that if Vuk did not reprimand Vidosava, then when they were on the field of Kosovo he would grab him by the belt, pull him from his saddle, and throw him from hand to hand under his horse like a lamb between wolves. Then he would throw him against the earth and stone like a hungry eagle throws the turtle. And he owuld carry him away in his right hand as a gift to his fiance just as a greyhound carries the hare. Wounded that Vidosava called his mother a mare, Milos Obilic said that everyone knows that he is Obilic and not Kobilic and that he is a true knight. Having heard these terrible words, Vuk Brankovic turned pale from fright and he was not able to speak. From that moment on Milos had no evil intentions against Vuk. He sent Vuk on his way, returned to his own army, and never again mentioned the matter.
Milos loyally served Prince Lazar; but Vuk Brankovic went to Lazar, spoke lies to him, and slandered Milos because he wished to cause confusion in the Serbian army. He told Lazar that everything will tremble and that he will break out in a deathly sweat because of the rumors that Milos will betray him on Kosovo during the battle with the Turks. Prince Lazar rebuked him for these words and told him that Milos is his feathered shield, all his strength and vigor. Lazar prophesied that Milos would leave a monument on Kosovo and thus that came to pass. What a pity that Milos could not hear how they spoke about him at that council, especially the conversation of Lazar and Vuk when the disloyal Vuk wove the net of lies about Milos and then ran away.
Princess Milica urged Lazar to stay until he knew the truth about Milos. But Lazar replied that he would not stay even if he knew that he would not return from Kosovo. Then she begged him to fulfill one desire and wished Lazar and the Serbian state all good things. She implored Lazar not to take her nine Jugovic brothers into battle lest the line of Jug Bogdanovic die out. Lazar answered that his strength lies in her nine brothers. He emphasized their bravery and said that the Turkish tsar is fearful of them. Then she asked him to leave one brother home so that old Jug Bogdanovic would not be left without progeny. But Lazar assured her that it would be disgraceful for one to remain. All the other soldiers would say that he was neither a hero nor a man born of heroic lineage. He took his leave of Milica and told her that her tears pierced his heart. Then Lazar mounted his horse, turned his army to Kosovo, besieged Kosovo, and never returned.
Prince Lazar sent Milan Toplicanin to spy on the Turkish army. Milan was away many days and the Serbs began to miss him and cry for him. At this time Vuk Brankovic tried to convince Lazar that Milan and Milos were preparing some kind of deception. He secretly began to persuade Lazar that Milan Toplicanin, Ivan Kosancic, and Milos Obilic wanted to betray him on Kosovo and surrender to the Turkish tsar Murat. In order to convince him of the truth of his accusation Vuk told Lazar that he [the prince] will believe it himself when he sees how Milos and Milan meet in front of the whole army and how Milos advises Milan concerning what to say to the Serbs.
When he returned, Milan first described for Milos in great detail the size and strength of the Turkish army. He said that the powerful Turkish army covered the whole field and that it was terrible to look at. It was crowded with horses and knights. The battle spears were planted in the ground; the standards, white and red, were like clouds; and the tents were white like snow. Knowing the bravery of the Serbian soldiers, but fearing their despair if they discovered the size and strength of the Turkish army, Milos Obilic advised Milan Toplicanin not to tell the Serbs the truth. Therefore, Toplicanin fabricated a story about a weak Turkish army consisting only of the impoverished, some fools, and artisans. These were men without weapons who did not know how to fight and who came to the field only to feed themselves. This caused joy in the Serbian army; and Milos Obilic was also joyful, singing a song about how he would shed blood for the Christian faith and revenge himself upon the Turks. In his song he said that the Turks had heard of him but that they had not yet tasted his sword. He swore by his head, his sword, and his life that he would leave a monument on Kosovo.
Then Milos prophesied what would happen [on Kosovo] and Prince Lazar and Princess Milica prophesied as well. Their two daughters made the clear water of Krusevac cloudy with blood. They drowned all the lords in it, devastated all the Serbian land, and destroyed the Christian churches and monasteries.
It was the 14th of June when the moon was full, and Prince Lazar was destined to die on the day of Amos the prophet. On Saturday evening, the eve of the day of Amos, Lazar invited all his lords to supper and seated them in their proper places. On his right side he placed his father-in-law, old Jug Bogdanovic; on his left side Vuk Brankovic and Music stefan of noble lineage; and around them Damjan Sainovic who wore a hide of lynx; Vukosav the Brave; and the three terrible lions who battle the Turks: Rad and Radonja, and Hrelja Omucevic; the well-known Ugljesa; Stanisa and Radivoj who have few retainers with them when they do battle; Marcinko who carries a spear and does not fear death; Orlin, Marin, and Djurica; Petar Kostiljevic; Starac Niklen who battles without fear; Stojan with the terrible eyes; the nine Jugovici who go into battle and wear down the Turks; Zivan, Djurica and Petar Osinjanin; Matijas; Pavel Orlovic; Ivan Kosancic; Milan Toplicanin; and the fiery dragon, Milos Obilic.
Vuk Brankovic, sitting at Lazar's side, slandered three knights whom Lazar had seated in the back. He told Lazar that these three were preparing his death and tht they would surrender him tomorrow to the Turks and betray him on Kosovo. The Turkish army was very much afraid of the brave Serbian soldiers, the likes of whom the Serbian land would never produce again; but the disloyal and lying Brankovic smeared the reputations of Milos and other brave lords. Then Lazar began to eat and the others after him. He held the goblet of wine for a long time in his hand and all who saw hm waited expectedly to hear what he would say.
He said that since its beginning the Serbian land had been obedient, honorable, and reputable, but that from this day some disloyalty had raised its head. He did not hide from his lords the deep wound he felt because his three lords - Ivan Kosancic, Milan Toplicanin and Milos Obilic - wanted to surrender to the Turks. But he also indicated that he doubted this to be true. Nevertheless, Lazar was most upset with Milos Obilic for he had taken him as a son, given him his daughter, and placed him as a commander over the army. Lazar asked Milos why he would betray him and go to the Turkish tsar on Kosovo field. And then even though he doubted the truth about Milos' disloyalty, Prince lazar with suspicion turned to Milos before all those at dinner and toasted him: 'Be loyal, drink the wine, and accept the golden goblet as a gift.'
At these words Milos jumped to his feet, thanked Lazar for the toast, and responded. He pointed out that the disloyal one was sitting at his side; this was the one who lied and slandered the whole Serbian army. Milos promised that the next day - Sunday, the day of Amos the prophet and Vitus - the Serbian and Turkish armies would see who is loyal and who is not. He promised that he would go to the Turkish camp, kill Murat, show the sign of victory, and return. He said that he did not know what would happen; he only knew that he would do it. Then he jumped up from the table like a whirlwind and together with Toplicanin and Kosancic left for his tent.
The three took a solemn oath to one another to be loyal until death. They drank wine together and then gave their horses some oats. The next day at dawn the three turned toward the Turkish camp. Guards saw them from a distance and informed the Turkish tsar of their arrival. Thinking that they wanted to surrender, the tsar ordered them to be admitted and commanded his soldiers to prepare for a wonderful reception. Thus the whole Turkish army was outfitted as though the tsar himself would pass by.
The Serbian heroes were first met by some officers who asked about Lazar and the Serbian army. Milos answered that the army was ready on Kosovo field, that it was large and strong and that all were ready to attack like hungry wolves, eagles and falcons - like a wolf when he sees a lamb in the flock and chases away the sheep in order to capture the lamb; like an eagle when he sees a flock of chickens and attacks to seize one of them; and like a falcon when he sees a flock of doves take flight and forces them to the ground. He told the Turks that like the shepherdess in her dream who sees her shepherd, so he knows what they are thinking.
In response the officeers told Milos that they wee sorry but that they would do to the Serbian army that which he wanted to do to the Turkish army. They told him to go to Tsar Murad where he would receive everything he wanted. Then they informed him that the pashas, begs and viziers were not going to the battle; instead there would be others who wear the hides of wolves and lynx and attach eagles' feathers to their saddles. And they only await the orders of the tsar to devour the Serbs alive. Milos answered them: 'The wolf tears at the skin and devours the meat; the eagle when it attacks the flock of chickens does nothing but catch them; and the falcom when he attacks the flock of doves grabs them and is happy.'
Milos Obilic, Milan Toplicanin, and Ivan Kosancic arrived in the Turkish camp and went to the tent of Tsar Murad. The whole Turkish army with weapons in hand watched them and marveled at them. When they arrived at the tent some pashas came to them in order ot take Milos' horse. Milos would not give the pashas his horse and told them that Turkish law does not permit Turks to take the horses of Christians. Then Ivan Kosancic took Milos' horse, and Obilic approached Murad's tent. But because the tsar did not pen the door to Milos immediately, Milos became angry and jumped back on his horse. Then the tsar ordered Milos to come into his tent. As Milan Toplicanin began to prepare his horse, Obilic told him: 'Don't hurry, my falcom. Just wait a while and soon you will soar into the flock.'
The tsar offered Milos his hand so that he could kiss it, but the grand vizier advised him to offer the heathen his foot rather than his hand. Murad did this and promised Milos that he would give him great power. But Milos refused saying that he was already rich under Prince Lazar and that he would now accept the tsar's life as a gift. Milos grabbed the tsar by his foot, took out a knife and ripped him open to the chest. Milos then turned back because he forgot to show the sign of victory as he had promised Lazar and the Serbian lords.
Obilic took the tsar's sword and began to kill those around hm. Because of this a fear of Milos took hold of the Turks. Milos returned, and with one leap reached the door of the tent, with another leap tore all the supports from the tent, and with a third leap jumped on his horse. Such wonder had not been seen before and all the Turks were afraid. Then a great cry came from the tent that Milos had killed the sultan. At that Ivan Kosancic struck the grand vizier in the head with a mace and killed him; and then he began to cut down the Turks with his sword. Milan Toplicanin who came into the battle behind Kosancic then remembered Prince Lazar and said, 'Prince Lazar, do you now see how the unfaithful Milan kills Turks?' And Milos Obilic entered the fray as well. He knocked several [turks] to the ground, and the whole army fled from him. Ivan Kosancic was killed first and Milos shed tears. Then there were two falcons left on the battlefield. The Turks cut off the right hand of Milan Toplicanin, and he cried out: 'Now I am disloyal to you, Prince Lazar, because I do not have the right hand of a hero.' Milos saw him under the horses' hooves and his heart ached from sadness. Wishing to avenge his two friends, Obilic attacked the Turks with greater strength. His sword played in his hand, and he knocked them to the ground two and three at a time. The Turks fled form him, and no one was able to get to him because of his armor.
Milos the fiery dragon wanted to leave the Turkish camp like a hurricane and return to Prince Lazar, but in that moment a woman's voice cried out to the Turks, 'Sad Turks, you cannot catch the falcon without a net because he has armor on. Therefore, pile up swords and feathered shields in front of Milos and his horse in order to stop them.' So the Turks cut down Milos' horse, but Milos jumped from the horse. And with his spear he leapt a distance of thirty elbows, and then forty elbows, but on his third jump his spear broke. Then Milos fell into the hands of the Turks as though he were dead, but the Turks tied him and led him alive to the tsar's tent. Murad was not dead yet, and hs janissaries advised him either to kill Milos and show the sign of victory or to tell them how to kill him. But Murad ordered them to keep Milos alive until he [Murad] died, since every man loves his own death.
Murad ordered his pashas and viziers to prepare themselves to go to the camp of Prince Lazar so that Murad would know who the victor was before he died. With drums beating and flags waving the Turks set off for Lazar's camp. At that time Lazar was in church with his lords celebrating the liturgy of St. John. Lazar's guards saw the Turks coming and informed him, whereupon he ordered the battle to begin. At that moment everyone realized that the three traitors - Milos Obilic, Ivan Kosancic and Milan Toplicanin - were not there, and evereyone screamed like hungry wolves. Vuk Brankovic encouraged Prince Lazar to flee because there was no other solution. But Lazar told Vuk that neither he nor his horse would flee, and he called everyone to shed his blood for the Christian faith. Lazar then gave the sign of the cross with his sword and with a martyr's voice he called the brave serbian knights to shed their blood and to redeem their lives with their deaths. For the orthodox faith, for God's churches and monasteries, and for the homeland, he called them to show their heroism with him on Kosovo field. And he said that anyone who did not love the mercy of God should flee with the disloyal and merciless Vuk Brankovic.
The armies fell on one another with such strength that there arose a great noise from the clanging of weapons, the shrieking of horses, and the cries of the knights. The earth trembled from the terrible battle and from the dust, smoke and arrows. One could not see the earth because of the dead bodies, wounded knights and the horses which swam in the blood. Blood flowed over the field like a river. The old man Niklen took a sword and knocked them to the ground two and three at a time. The arrogant Marcinko showed his bravery, fearing not the Turks and thinking not of death. Behind him the three fiery wolves fought and killed many Turks. Radonja and Bogdan, the nine Jugovici, Ivan and Djurica, Vojvoda stepan, Pavel Orlovic, Radovan, Gojko, Stojan and Petar Osinjanin - they all fell together. they were like the winds of a hurricane - each of them heroes, all proud, noble lords who wanted to die for the Christian faith. They showed their courage and owuld have defeated the tsar's whole army if it had not been for the treason of Vuk Brankovic.
Lazar was captured alive and taken with several nobles to the tsar's tent. The Turks told Murad that they had own and they gave Lazar to him as a gift without reward. Then Murad ordered them to take three blocks of white stone and put them on the place where Milos had leapt three times. He told them to make a marble column and write on it: Milos stabbed the tsar and then he himself was killed. Then he ordered them to make a grave of marble and write on it: Here lies the tsar with Milos by his side. Tsar Murad also commanded that when he was dead, they should cut off Lazar's head, place it at the feet of Murad and Milos, and place Milos' head next to his own. But Milos begged Murad not to place his head next to the tsar's but rather to place it under Lazar's feet so that he could serve him even after death. The tsar then gve that order.
Lazar reprimanded Obilic for what he had done. Milos answered that Lazar's relationship with Brankovic was an abomination; neveertheless, today the prince saw his [Vuk's] loyalty and disloyalty, but he did not see how his troops were so 'disloyal' and what they did no Kosovo. Obilic told Lazar that if everyone were so 'disloyal,' he would not be weeping under a Turkish tent. Lazar spoke with admiration about Milos' blessed right arm, his loyalty, his shining face, his power, and his virtue. He acknowledged that he showed his bravery on Kosovo, that he killed the sultan and left his monument for all the ages. Nevertheless, he castigated him because it was his fault that the Turks would not allow Lazar to celebrate the saint's day with his Serbian lords. And he accused Milos of losing the empire because he started the battle withoug an agreement. He said that he does not cry for himself since everyone has to die, but he cries because he lost all of his lords on Kosovo - proud and brave brothers, kings and bans, dukes, plumed soldiers, and heroes. They all died before his very eyes, and joy turned to great sorrow. Serbia would never raise such heroes again. Lazar prayed that God would accept his soul.
From this time the Turks took over Serbia, conquered the cities and land, and broke the wings of the Serbs. The Serbs lost all their lords, remained without a leader, and became enslaved to another lord.