Grand Duke of Bosnia


Grand Duke of Bosnia was a court title in the Kingdom of Bosnia, bestowed by the King to highest military commanders, usually reserved for most influential and most capable among highest Bosnian nobility. To interpret it as an office post rather than a court rank could be more accurate.

History

Unlike usage in Western Europe or Central Europe, as well as in various Slavic lands from Central to North-East Europe, where analogy between Grand Duke and Grand Prince was significant, with both titles corresponding to sovereign lower than King but higher than Duke, in Bosnia title Grand Duke corresponded more to Byzantine military title megas doux.
Like in rest of South Slavic neighboring states, and among their nobility, in Bosnia also existed the title knez or veliki knez, nominally analogous to Prince and Grand Prince, but in fact was medium to major feudal landlord, with corresponding influence in the Bosnian Stanak, Whole of Bosnia ), which was institute of assembly of all Bosnian nobility, regardless of rank and status. Generally, Slavic word knez is often referred to ruler, sometimes analogous to King, thus veliki knez was more like High king than Grand duke.
However, in neighboring countries title Duke, in Slavic Vojvoda, also had military signification, but in that sense "Grand Duke" was specifically, even exclusively, Bosnian title.
Accordingly, title the Grand Duke of Bosnia was explicitly given by Bosnian ruler, at the time Ban or King/Queen respectively, to his/her highest-ranking military commanders. As such, it was an actually more like an office rather than a court rank, although it was also a grade in the court order of precedence, and was often held by one individual at the time, rarely two.

Title-holders