The oldest found and preserved Bosnian state document, the second most important Slavic document, the birth certificate of our country, our first known diplomatic, state document in the local language…
In the Dubrovnik Museum is kept one original of the Charter of Ban Kulin, as well as one transcript, and the other original is in Saint Petersburg (Russia).
“We are in Dubrovnik and the reason for our visit is to see the Charter of Ban Kulin. Forum of citizens of Zenica is keeping the memory of Ban Kulin and celebrates two important dates in April and August, Bilino Polje statement and the Charter of Ban Kulin. In April, when we marked Bilino Polje statement in Zenica, the team Preporod from Dubrovnik was in the visit and we asked for the opportunity to organize visit to the Archives of the Dubrovnik Museum so that we can see the Charter, the original of the Charter, which is kept in this museum.”
“The second copy is kept in Saint Petersburg in Russia and we are not able to see it. We insist on preserving the memories of the importance of the Charter of Ban Kulin, because it is one of the earliest written records of the existence of Bosnia, its autonomy and organization. Bosnia was organized state back then and it was able to guarantee the free trade to people of Dubrovnik. This is a very important historical document that confirms all of this,” said Tvrtko Misanovic, the President of the Forum of citizens of Zenica.
In the framework of preservation and highlighting of importance of this document, the Forum of citizens of Zenica with the Presidency of BiH made 800 gold coins to commemorate the Kulin Ban on the occasion of 800 years of Bilino Polje statement in 2003, which are awarded to deserving citizens of Zenica and beyond, to those who emphasize the importance and statehood of BiH.
During the visit to the Archives, Professor Zoran Perovic, archivist who keeps the Charter of Kulin Ban and many other important written monuments in the Dubrovnik Museum, surprised attendees, who were mostly from Zenica, by showing a book called Lettere di levante – letter of instructions on the east March 20, 1436.
“This is the first written document in which is mentioned Zenica. The letter says that the Republic of Dubrovnik ordered authorities in Zenica and Dubrovnik office in Bosnia to arrest Duke Barak who robbed Visoko and Zenica with his troops,” said Perovic.
(Source: Radiosarajevo.ba)
