The flag used during the Battle of Mohács that took place on August 29, 1526, was carefully preserved for almost five centuries in the town of Tesanj, in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“For hundreds of years, almost 500 years ago, it was in a possession of a family from Tesanj, the Sehagic family, whose predecessor was a member of that great battle that took place 491 years ago,” said Director of PI Museum of Tesanj, Ernad Prnjavorac.
The Battle of Mohács is one of the most important battles in the history of the entire Ottoman Empire, as well as in the Southeast and Central Europe. The battle took place between Suleiman the Magnificent and King Louis II. After that battle, Hungary fell under the rule of the Ottoman Empire in 1526.
On the flag is a verse from the Qur’an. The most significant proof that the flag originates from that period are few verses of a lyrical song from that time in which is mentioned the ancestor of this old, famous family, who was wounded and most likely killed in that battle.
“That was the time of the greatest expansion of the Ottoman Empire, and that is why this flag is so important, generally for the history of 16th and 17th centuries. It is important for Tesanj because it confirms that Bosnians, although Bosnia just went under the Ottoman rule back then, still participated in this battle on the side of the Ottoman Empire, and some historians claim that around 20,000 Bosniaks, including people from Tesanj, were part of the army of Sultan Suleiman.
(Source: faktor.ba)
