Vlachs in medieval Bosnia and Herzegovina

Vlachs in Bosnia and Herzegovina are progeny of Romanized Illyrians and Thraco-Romans, other pre-Slavic Romance-speaking people, and after arrival in the 6-8th century also of Slavic people, being Slavicized.Marko Vego argued Vlach autochthony with Vlach settlements named after Vlach tribes, Vojnići and Hardomilje, near which are found Roman forts and monuments. Bogumil Hrabak supported Vego's consideration the Vlachs preceded both Turks and Bosnians (Slavs) in Zachlumia.Dominik Mandić argued that some Vlachs from Herzegovina migrated there from Thessaly, Epirus and Macedonia before the Ottoman invasion into Southern Europe. It is argued that some also arrived from the East during the Ottoman wars.

Vlachs in Bosnian documents are first mentioned in c. 1234 by ban Matej Ninoslav. Sources from 1361, 1385, 1399, 1406, 1407, 1408 and 1417 among others mention them in relation to Bosnian bans and kings. The relationship of Vlachian katuns and feudal holdings can be traced from 14th century. By the data, from 1382 is confirmed they were under jurisdiction of the Bosnian ruler, to be later assigned to large landowners. The Vlachs and lords relationships indicate that the medieval Bosnia wasn't compact - some Vlach vassals (Gleđević) of the rulers were far from the royal lands, some Vlach vassals (Nenko Krajsalić, Radoslav Borojević) became vassals fairly late although Kosača ruled fifteen years certain lands near Eastern banks of Neretva river, some Vlach vassals (Maleš) were partially Pavlović partially Kosača vassals although being on Kosača holdings.

In 1382, Vukoslav Piščić was named as knez of all Vlachs by king Tvrtko I of Bosnia. The earliest noble landowners they were assigned to in Herzegovina was the Sanković noble family, with katun Tomić. In 1409, when Tvrtko I conquered parts of Rascia and Zeta there were located around 100 katuns. They were mentioned as "Vlachorum congregationes et cetus". In the area around Stolac and Zabljak were so many Vlachs that in the end of the 15th century the territory was as Donji Vlasi (Lower Vlachs). The Gornji Vlasi (Upper Vlachs) were only mentioned by Mavro Orbini.

...
Wikipedia