Maria ...von Bosnien: bosanska vojvotkinja – njemačka grofica / Maria …von Bosnien: Bosnian Dutchess – German Countess

Abstract

This paper examines the origin and life of a mid 14th century Bosnian Duchess who married count Ulrich X von Helfenstein from the German region of Swabia. The author analyses domestic, Hungarian and German data as well as information provided by Oswald Gabelkover, the chronicler of the Helfenstein counts, and also other chroniclers from the 15th and 16th century. Particular attention is devoted to literature material that is to a great extent unknown to the domestic academic community. The author emphasized the attempt to resolve the genealogic problem by linking the origin of Marija to the Bosnian Ban Stjepan II Kotromanić who, according to such arrangement, should be her father. The paper hints at the forgotten significant woman of Bosnian and German Middle Ages who is in numerous German sources mentioned as Maria Gräfin von Helfenstein Herzogin von Bosnien.