The Memory of the Battle of Kosovo in the Serbian National Tradition

Abstract

The specific nature of collective memory of the Serbian nation distinguishes it from other Balkan and European nations. A characteristic blend of verified historical facts and legends embodied in national traditions and literature has been subjected over the years to the processes of mythologizing and codification. They gained new symbolic meaning and became the “historical knowledge” of many citizens. The publication of the epopee of the Montenegro ruler Petar II Petrović Njegoš entitled “The Mountain Wreath” played undeniable role in the processes of codification and presentation of the myth of Kosovo in Serbian national tradition. The plurality of myths rooted in Serbian national memory prompted Pala Kolstø, a famous Norwegian historian, to create their classification. Consequently, he proposed three types of myths: ante murale, suigeneris and antiquitas. In the assumption of the Communist policy-makers, referring to the tradition of the golden age of the medieval Serbian kingdom (Nemanjić dynasty, svetosavlje, as well as the battle of Kosovo Field itself), by blurring the negative memories of internecine fights, should play an integrating role for the construction of the Yugoslavian nation. Both Serbian national mythology and an eclectic pantheon of national heroes came to life once again with the proclamation of independence by the Republic of Kosovo. Getting to know the milestones in the history of the Serbian state and the shape in which they were established in the memory of the Serbs is a sine qua non condition for the process of understanding current political and cultural situation of the Balkan Peninsula.