The Defense of Mostar From the Attack of the Uskok in 1690 Through the Poetry of the Poet Bulbuli Mostar

Abstract

This paper analyses a poem in manuscript by Bulbulija Mostarac which was completed in 1692. The poem is included in the multi-tome book Tarih-i Enveri (MEK, IV: 239-240). The paper gives a description of the event that triggered the poem, as well as the historical background of it and the stereotype analysis of the description of opponent, defender and hero figure. The victory of Osman-aga Halebić, who defended Mostar from the army led by Stojan Jankovic, is described here. Character typification is standard and descriptions are picturesque and straightforward. The language is very simple, without complex Persian genitive structures. Despite the fact that the poet writes about a big victory, the poem structure indirectly indicates that the then readers were being directed towards individual cognition of spiritual dimension of faith rather than to making a collective myth based on the described victory.