The Role of Jazzar Pasha in the Destruction of the Sacral Monuments on Kosovo (Aa Example of Tradition Entering Historiography) Cover Image

Улога Јашар-Паше Џинолија у разарању српских сакралних споменика на Косову (пример уласка предања у историографију)
The Role of Jazzar Pasha in the Destruction of the Sacral Monuments on Kosovo (Aa Example of Tradition Entering Historiography)

Author(s): Uroš Šešum
Subject(s): Cultural history, Political history, Social history, Politics and society, Sociology of Culture, 19th Century
Published by: Матица српска
Keywords: Kosovo and Metohija; Gračanica; Jashar Pasha; Samodreža; Vojsilovica; Miloš Milojević; Panta Srećković; Branislav Nušić

Summary/Abstract: Serbian lore from Kosovo, regarding systematic destruction of Serbian medieval churches and monasteries, committed by the local and semi-independent Jashar pasha in the early 19th century, was introduced in Serbian historiography by way of Serbian travelogue literature during the second half of 19th and early 20th century. According to lore, Pasha destroyed monasteries Vojsilovica and Burinci, Samodreža church and several other village churches for the purpose of using building materials for his water mills. Allegedly, construction materials of destroyed church in Lipljan and several surrounding village churches were used for construction of the bridge on river Sitnica, while, also allegedly, he took the floor from Gračanica monastery for his hamam. Lead from the monastery roof was used to cover the mosque in Priština. After a critical analysis of such lore, it can be stated that Pasha did not demolish a singe church or monastery, but in fact, for his projects, he used materials from the already destroyed temples. These writings of lore, combined with the local population’s perception of him as a cruel master, left a historic view of him as being the main destroyer of Serbian medieval churches and monasteries. Release of lore version of Serbian history, made by folklore writers, contributed to the rapid dissemination of inaccurate information. This had an encouraging affect which, as time went on, associated Pasha’s name with the large number of destroyed churches. In Serbian historiography such usage of travelogue literature from the 19th century and further developed oral tradition recorded by ethnologists as relevant historical sources, have led to the adoption of unverified data as historical fact.

  • Issue Year: 2018
  • Issue No: 168
  • Page Range: 849-872
  • Page Count: 24
  • Language: Serbian