Bosnian banovina was a medieval state of that time, at the crossroads between East and West, and remained an independent culturally and politically for a long time.

Wise ban, and later kings and queens were a stronghold of Bosnian Church and literature. The impact of external political situation (usually Byzantine) resulted the decomposation of familial-tribal society.

So by the end of 9th century Bosnia became the country with developed feudal characteristics. Since the beginning of the 12th century Bosnian nobility started to occur, and it grew up from the familial-tribal basics. Bosnian feuds were different from the feuds of neighboring countries because it was indivisible family property. Big percentage of population of Bosnia is being consisted of dependent people who belonged to farmers (peasants) and cattle-farmers. Until the 14 century in Bosnia there was slavery.

In the developed state the ruler of Bosnia was called Ban (from Avar word bajan – rich). From the coronation of ban Tvrtko for the King (1377.), Bosnian rulers will carry this title to the loss of national independence, or to the penetration of Ottoman Empire in the region. Important role in the political life of Bosnia have played neighboring countries, and most of Hungary and Byzantium Empire. These two powerful states of that period in our region fought each other for supremacy in the Balkan peninsula. The first known Bosnian Ban the Ban Borić (1154 – 1164) lived to the end of 12th century, and it can be concluded that while ruling the Bosnia he was very young.

During his reign, Bosnia led to war between King Stephen IV of Hungary and Bynzatine emperor Manuel Komnena, for supremacy in the Balkans. Ban Borić was on the side of the king of Hungary, and with his army he participated in the war. On his way back to Bosnia he suffered a defeat of Byzantine army. After the defeat, a new ruler takes his place, Ban Kulin (1180 – 1204). He may have come to rule before 1180, but because of death of Byzantine Emperor Manule I Komnen in the same year, 1180 is the beginning year the Ban Kuling governance of Bosnia.

During this period the military and economic declination of Bynzantine Empire starts to occur. Such a situation very much uses Ban Kulin and more and more admits and recognizes the power of the King of Hungary. KULIN BAN Kulin came to prominence in Bosnia 1163 as he was under the Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Comnenus who was just taking the country from the Hungarians earlier, although it would not be until 1180 that he would place Kulin as his vassal as Ban.

His rule is often remembered as Bosnia's golden age, and he is a common hero of Bosnian national folk tales. Bosnia was autonomous and mostly at peace during his rule. As an ordered and economically prosperous soon became de facto independent state. However, in 1183, he lead his troops with the forces of the Kingdom of Hungary under King Bela that has just launched an attack on the Byzantine Empire. The cause of the war was the new imposer to the Imperial throne Andronicus Comnenus that was not recognized as legitimate by the Hungarian crown.

The united forces met little resistance in the eastern Serbian lands - the Greek squadrons were fighting among themselves as the local Byzantine commanders: Alexios Brannes supported the new Emperor, while Andronicus Lapardes opposed him - and deserted the Imperial Army, going onto adventures on his own. Without difficulties, the Greeks were pushed out of the Valley of Morava and the allied forces breached all the way to Sophia, raiding Belgrade, Braničevo, Ravno, Niš and Sophia itself. With the Hungarian withdrawal from the conflict, so did Ban Kulin stand down. In Kulin's times, the term Bosnia encompassed roughly the lands of Vrhbosna, Usora, Soli, the Lower Edges and Rama, which is approximately geographical Bosnia.

The Bogomils were expelled from Serbia by the Nemanyiden, so they settled and populated Bosnia, founding a unique Bosnian Church that greatly spread under Kulin's reign. The Serbian titular King of Zeta or Doclea Vukan Nemanjić reported the Ban to the Pope on 8 January 1199 for heresy because of that, claiming that evil stages are in store for the land of the Hungarian King. It appears that Kulin Ban and his wife, as well as his sister - the widow of Prince Miroslav - abandoned Christianity in favor of Bogumilism together with 10,000 of their Christian subjects.

Kulin also gave protection to the banished heretics from Split and Trogir - which Vukan reported to the Pope. The Pope wrote to King Emeric of Hungary to make Kulin prosecute the Bogumils or depose him. Kulin subsequently, on 8 April 1203, organized a congress in Bilino Polje which the Pope's emissaries attended - led by the Pope's legate for the Balkan peninsular, John de Kazemaris; where he officially declared his allegiance to the Roman Catholic Church and declared that he was none other than a true pious Roman Catholic Christian.

He claimed that he didn't understand where Heresy lied in Bosnia. This act seemed only political - as he only tried to save Bosnia from war and continued to practise heresy. The Pope's emissaries travelled to Hungary with Kulin's son, confirming Kulin's loyalty to the Hungarian crown and the Catholic Church. Prince Vukan was enraged and complained to the Pope that he was, in fact, lying; and demanded that the Pope command the Hungarian King to exterminate the Bosnian heretics.

Between 1202 and 1204 Kulin assisted the deposed legitimate Serbian ruler Stefan Nemanjić in his struggles against Vukan. At the end of his rule, in 1204, a certain Cotroman the German arrived to Bosnia, descendant of Cotroman the Goth from Ban Borić's time. He settled permanently in Bosnia and is to become the founder of the House of Kotromanić. Ban Kulin died in 1204 - he was succeeded by his son, Stevan.

THE CHARTER

The charter of ban Kulin to the Republic of Ragusa from 29 August 1189 is oldest preserved Bosnian monument (written in Cyrillic script ). Charter actually represent trade agreement between Bosnia and Ragusa (Republic of Dubrovnik) which regulates Ragusan trade rights in Bosnia. It is written on the old-bosnian language – Bosančica.

This document is the oldest sofar preserved Bosnian state document, but it is the oldest state document of all South-Slavic nations and states. It is preserved in three copies in Dubrovnik. Two are there, and third stolen in 19 century, is the possession of Russian Academy and Sciences at St.Petersbourgh.

Many think it is original amongst known copies. B&H has demanded Russia to give it back, but they refused, because it is the second document in age order of Slavs and it belonges to their history as well.