Battle of Bliska

Battle of Bliska
Date	August/September 1322
Location	Bliska (present day Kingdom of Croatia
Result	Victory of the coalition of noblemen and Dalmatian coastal towns against Mladen II Šubić of Bribir, Ban of Croatia
Belligerents
Royal forces of King Charles I Robert; Opposing Croatian nobility; Dalmatian coastal towns	Allies of Mladen II Šubić of Bribir
Commanders and leaders
John Babonić, Ban of Slavonia; Paul II Šubić of Bribir; Ivan Nelipić	Mladen II Šubić of Bribir, Ban of Croatia; George II Šubić of Bribir
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The Battle of Bliska (present day

Zagora, southern Croatia) was fought in 1322 between the army of a coalition of several Croatian noblemen and Dalmatian coastal towns (with the support of the king Charles I Robert of Anjou) and the forces of Mladen II Šubić of Bribir, Ban of Croatia

, and his allies. The battle resulted in the defeat of Mladen II, who lost his power.

Background

After the death of

Nelipićs, with some Dalmatian coastal towns (Šibenik, Trogir), with Stephen II Kotromanić (Croatian: Stjepan II Kotromanić), Bosnian nobleman, and again with the old adversary – the Republic of Venice

.

The turbulent events that followed in the next few years (from 1317 until 1322) were marked by and full of revolts, rebellions, sieges, armed clashes, changes of sides (going over to the opponent's side), maneuvers, and tactical deceptions of both sides.

Šubić family

.

Troop deployment

The troops of Mladen Šubić were composed from his own men, as well as that of his brother Juraj (George), who also took part in the battle. It also included the

Vlach troops as well as the lesser nobility of the Poljica region. The opposing army was composed primarily of forces loyal to the king, under Ban of Slavonia John Babonić, along with the coalition of the rebellious nobles, including Mladen's brother Paul II, who betrayed him with the intent of securing the position of ban for himself. These troops were also aided by reinforcements from the Dalmatian cities Trogir and Šibenik.^[1]

Battle

There are no detailed facts left about the battle itself, but it is known that Mladen II suffered a defeat. He himself, as well as his brother George II, saved his life and temporarily found shelter in Klis, George's fortress.

Aftermath and consequences

Not long after the battle, the king Charles I Robert appeared in southern Croatia, leading his army, trying to calm down the situation. At the assembly held in the Knin fortress on October 8, 1322, the winners of the battle of Bliska were given (or confirmed) the properties and privileges by the king, whereas Mladen II Šubić of Bribir lost his freedom and was taken to Hungary. There he spent the next twenty years or so in custody at the Court, until his death between 1341 and 1343.

The battle of Bliska meant the end of enormous power and influence of the main branch of the princes of

Frankopan

).

However, the brothers of Mladen II (

Šubić family

.

References

^ ^a ^b Karbić 2005.

Literature

Karbić, Damir (February 2005). "Šubići Bribirski do gubitka nasljedne banske časti (1322.)" [The Šubići of Bribir until the Loss of the Hereditary Position of the Croatian Ban (1322)] (PDF). Zbornik Odsjeka za povijesne znanosti Zavoda za povijesne i društvene znanosti Hrvatske akademije znanosti i umjetnosti (in Croatian). 22. Zagreb: Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts: 1–26. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
Battle of Bliska in „History of Croatia“ by Rudolf Horvat, Edition of 1924
John V. A. Fine, Jr.: 'The late medieval Balkans' (a survey) – Battle of Bliska is on the page 212

External links

[FOOTNOTEKarbić2005-1] Karbić 2005.

[1]