Authority and Jurisdiction in Medieval Balkans. Part I

The Case of Bosnia and Kotor – The Centre of the Dispute, 10th–12th Century

Abstract

This study explores the complex ecclesiastical landscape of the Western Balkans between the 10th and 12th centuries, focusing on the bishoprics of Bosnia and Kotor as central nodes in jurisdictional disputes among competing archbishoprics, primarily Split, Dubrovnik, Bar, and Bari. The article critically examines the formation, legitimacy, and contested authority of these dioceses. It highlights the strategic use of fabricated documents and invented traditions, such as the “iura antiqua” and the Letopis of the Priest of Duklja, as tools for asserting ecclesiastical primacy. Special attention is given to the symbolic and political dimensions of ecclesiastical authority, including the reception of Great Moravian religious traditions and the persistence of the Slavic liturgy in Bosnia. The article also investigates the emergence of the Bosnian Church as a heterodox Christian institution and the evolving relationship between Bosnia, the Papacy, and the Hungarian crown. Ultimately, the study reveals how ecclesiastical rivalries were deeply intertwined with political ambitions, shaping the religious and geopolitical contours of the medieval Balkans.