House of Nikolic
Encyclopedia
The House of Nikolić was a Serbian
medieval noble family from Hum
(Herzegovina
). The family's main estate was Popovo Polje.
), had two sons: Vladimir and Bogiša. However, little is known about the first ancestors of the Nikolić family, being last mentioned in 1363, most likely as the governors of the Herzegovinian provinces. With princess Vukosava, Petar and Miliša Nikolić begin the second generation of the Nikolić family. It is known that their mother was a woman named Stanislava, but it is not certain who their father was, whether it was either Vladimir or Bogiša. Recent studies suggest that since Vladimir was older, and from other sources, we are able to assume that he was the father of three known princes. The mention of the Nikolić brothers begin after the death of King Tvrtko I of Bosnia
in 1391. As adherents of the new Bosnian king, Stephen Dabiša, their reputation visually rose that by December of 1392, the Republic of Dubrovnik granted them citizenship. Stephen Ostoja's rise to the Bosnian throne found the Nikolić brothers in an unpredicted position, as they were adherents to Queen Jelena Gruba
, who was of the House of Nikolić herself and widow of Stephen Dabiša. This caused a problem as they now had to constrainedly find refuge in Dubrovnik. Vukosav later participated in the Bosnian-Dubrovnik War of 1403-1404 as a nobleman of Duke Sandalj Hranić. Vukosav was killed in a skirmish with the Ragusans and was buried in Ston
on 28 November 1403.
Grgur Vukosalić, the son of Vukosav Nikolić, was present at historical events in Bosnia in the course of Tvrtko II
's campaign against King Stephen Ostoja. Until the independence of Grgur Vukosalić a civil war for control of the Bosnian government came, currently headed by King Stephen Ostojić of Bosnia
. As Vukosalić was on Ban Ostojić's side, he directly turned his back on his own lord, Sandalj Hranić. Through Dubrovnik's aid, passions calmed and the Nikolić family ceased trying to gain independence from the Bosnian duke. After Hranić's death, the Nikolić family was loyal to his successor, Stjepan Vukčić Kosača
. Grgur died in July 1436.
The sons of Grgur Vukosalić, Vuk and Vukašin Grgurević, continued the same attitude toward Stjepan Vukčić Kosača. Vukašin Grgurević was under Kosača in his efforts to overtake Zeta
. In 1442, Vukasin fell into Venetian captivity, but through the help of Dubrovnik, he was freed. The last mention of the Nikolić family was in 1453, where they were still under the lordship of Stjepan Vukčić Kosača. The Ottoman Empire had already started its conquest of Europe and posed a major threat to the Balkans throughout the first half of the 15th century. Finally, after decades of political and social instability, Bosnia officially fell in 1463. Herzegovina would follow in 1482, with a Hungarian-backed reinstated "Bosnian Kingdom" being the last to succumb in 1527. After the end of Bosnia, Nikolićs were left on their own to fight for survival. However, their fate is little known until the 18th century.
One day the sister was kidnapped by Turkish soldiers and sent to Turkish vassal. Nikola couldn't let his family be shamed and decided to arrange a family meeting where the brothers would decide weather to save her or not. They knew if they stood against the Turks, they would be killed sooner or later. Despite this the family decided to take the risk. In the second half of the 18th century, around 1780, the brothers saved the sister and killed the vassal. Soon after committing such a crime they all had to move from the territory. By the 19th century they settled in the area of Azbukovica and the area of today’s Ljubovija mostly in today’s west Serbia, where the set up new families.
Each brother named a new house by his first name. So they were Jovanović (from Jovan), Petrović (from Petar), Stojanović (from Stojan), Đorđević (from Đorđe) and Nikolić (from the eldest Nikola).
This is once again after a long time of being lost, the family name Nikolić of the Great Župan Nikola was reborn and has still remained with the name of Nikolić.
Their father while in his nineteen’s and in the King’s army, was lucky to survive World War II and continue the Nikolić family as the Communist's victors almost killed him, but considering his age and the Serbian origin, they freed him.
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
medieval noble family from Hum
Zahumlje
Zachlumia or Zahumlje was a medieval principality located in modern-day regions of Herzegovina and southern Dalmatia...
(Herzegovina
Herzegovina
Herzegovina is the southern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While there is no official border distinguishing it from the Bosnian region, it is generally accepted that the borders of the region are Croatia to the west, Montenegro to the south, the canton boundaries of the Herzegovina-Neretva...
). The family's main estate was Popovo Polje.
Lords of Popovo Polje
Župan Nikola, the great-grandson of Knez Miroslav (Miroslav of HumMiroslav of Hum
Miroslav Zavidović or Miroslav of Hum was a 12th-century Great Prince of Zachlumia from 1162 to 1190, an administrative division of the medieval Serbian Principality covering Herzegovina and southern Dalmatia....
), had two sons: Vladimir and Bogiša. However, little is known about the first ancestors of the Nikolić family, being last mentioned in 1363, most likely as the governors of the Herzegovinian provinces. With princess Vukosava, Petar and Miliša Nikolić begin the second generation of the Nikolić family. It is known that their mother was a woman named Stanislava, but it is not certain who their father was, whether it was either Vladimir or Bogiša. Recent studies suggest that since Vladimir was older, and from other sources, we are able to assume that he was the father of three known princes. The mention of the Nikolić brothers begin after the death of King Tvrtko I of Bosnia
Tvrtko I of Bosnia
Stjepan Tvrtko I was a ruler of medieval Bosnia. He ruled in 1353–1366 and again in 1367–1377 as Ban and in 1377–1391 as the first Bosnian King....
in 1391. As adherents of the new Bosnian king, Stephen Dabiša, their reputation visually rose that by December of 1392, the Republic of Dubrovnik granted them citizenship. Stephen Ostoja's rise to the Bosnian throne found the Nikolić brothers in an unpredicted position, as they were adherents to Queen Jelena Gruba
Jelena Gruba
Helen Gruba was the Queen regnant of Bosnia from 1395 to 1398. She was the only female ruler of Bosnia.Helen came from the noble House of Nikolić, which ruled a part of Zachlumia.-Queen consort:...
, who was of the House of Nikolić herself and widow of Stephen Dabiša. This caused a problem as they now had to constrainedly find refuge in Dubrovnik. Vukosav later participated in the Bosnian-Dubrovnik War of 1403-1404 as a nobleman of Duke Sandalj Hranić. Vukosav was killed in a skirmish with the Ragusans and was buried in Ston
Ston
Ston is a village and municipality in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County of Croatia, located at the south of isthmus of the Pelješac peninsula. The town of Ston is the center of the Ston municipality.- Demographics :...
on 28 November 1403.
Grgur Vukosalić, the son of Vukosav Nikolić, was present at historical events in Bosnia in the course of Tvrtko II
Tvrtko II of Bosnia
Stephen Tvrtko II reigned as King of Bosnia from 1404 to 1409 and again from 1421 to his death. His reigns took place during a very turbulent part of Bosnian history.-Family connections:...
's campaign against King Stephen Ostoja. Until the independence of Grgur Vukosalić a civil war for control of the Bosnian government came, currently headed by King Stephen Ostojić of Bosnia
Stephen Ostojić of Bosnia
Stephen Ostojić was King of Bosnia from 1418 until 1421.A member of the House of Kotromanić, Ostojić was the only legitimate son of King Stephen Ostoja of Bosnia, born by his second wife, Kujava Radinović...
. As Vukosalić was on Ban Ostojić's side, he directly turned his back on his own lord, Sandalj Hranić. Through Dubrovnik's aid, passions calmed and the Nikolić family ceased trying to gain independence from the Bosnian duke. After Hranić's death, the Nikolić family was loyal to his successor, Stjepan Vukčić Kosača
Stjepan Vukcic Kosaca
Stjepan Vukčić Kosača was a Herzegovina nobleman. He was a member of the House of Kosača, a Grand Duke of Herzegovina, Lord of Zahumlje and Primorje and also Herzog of Serbian Saint Sava...
. Grgur died in July 1436.
The sons of Grgur Vukosalić, Vuk and Vukašin Grgurević, continued the same attitude toward Stjepan Vukčić Kosača. Vukašin Grgurević was under Kosača in his efforts to overtake Zeta
Principality of Zeta
Zeta was a medieval state, which territory encompassed parts of present-day Montenegro and Northernwestern Albania. From 1360. to 1421. Zeta was independent state administered by local noble family Balšić. From 1185. to 1360. and from 1421. - 1451, Zeta was province of medieval Serbia...
. In 1442, Vukasin fell into Venetian captivity, but through the help of Dubrovnik, he was freed. The last mention of the Nikolić family was in 1453, where they were still under the lordship of Stjepan Vukčić Kosača. The Ottoman Empire had already started its conquest of Europe and posed a major threat to the Balkans throughout the first half of the 15th century. Finally, after decades of political and social instability, Bosnia officially fell in 1463. Herzegovina would follow in 1482, with a Hungarian-backed reinstated "Bosnian Kingdom" being the last to succumb in 1527. After the end of Bosnia, Nikolićs were left on their own to fight for survival. However, their fate is little known until the 18th century.
Family reborn
In the 18th century, it is known that the surviving members of the family lived near the border of Serbia and Montenegro as they were striped of the royal position in the country. The family counted five brothers and a sister. The oldest brother Nikola, given a name by his old descendant, was the protector and the ruler of the house.One day the sister was kidnapped by Turkish soldiers and sent to Turkish vassal. Nikola couldn't let his family be shamed and decided to arrange a family meeting where the brothers would decide weather to save her or not. They knew if they stood against the Turks, they would be killed sooner or later. Despite this the family decided to take the risk. In the second half of the 18th century, around 1780, the brothers saved the sister and killed the vassal. Soon after committing such a crime they all had to move from the territory. By the 19th century they settled in the area of Azbukovica and the area of today’s Ljubovija mostly in today’s west Serbia, where the set up new families.
Each brother named a new house by his first name. So they were Jovanović (from Jovan), Petrović (from Petar), Stojanović (from Stojan), Đorđević (from Đorđe) and Nikolić (from the eldest Nikola).
This is once again after a long time of being lost, the family name Nikolić of the Great Župan Nikola was reborn and has still remained with the name of Nikolić.
World wars and the communist Yugoslavia
Male members of the Nikolić family were in the Serbian Royal army during the World Wars. Most of them after all had to leave home and live and work abroad. It is also well known that the family still remains and that the brothers, Slobodan, Borivoje, Petar and a sister Alexandra all born around 1950 live with their own families.Their father while in his nineteen’s and in the King’s army, was lucky to survive World War II and continue the Nikolić family as the Communist's victors almost killed him, but considering his age and the Serbian origin, they freed him.