Usora was a semi-independent duchy of the medievalBosnian state, although it also had some periods outside it, when it was connected with neighbouring Banates of Slavonia or Mačva. The administrative seat of this Banate was Srebrenik, which also served as residence of its rulers for entire period of existence of the medieval Bosnian state. It took its name from the river Usora.
Geography and History
The region of Usora was first mentioned in a bull by King Bela IV of Hungary dated 20 July 1244, in which he assigned some properties to the Bishop of Bosnia, naming the territories: quod episeopus et capitulum decimas in Vozora, in Sou, in Olfeld et in aliis supis... habeant et percipiant. Its territory stretched roughly from the area of Kulaši and Prnjavor to its west, to Srebrenik and Lukavac to its east, the river Sava to its north and Žepče to its south. The Banate of Usora had many strong fortresses and cities on its territory, the most famous ones being Doboj, Srebrenik, Dobor, Glaz, Soko, Tešanj, Modrić, and Maglaj. Also, due to its geographical location as the northernmost Bosnian land and its richness, Usora was, more often than not, a most common battleground between the Hungarian kings who viewed Banate of Bosnia as vassals to them. Although it was nominally a part of the Hungarian Crown Lands, the Banate of Bosnia was a de facto independent state for most of its existence, including Usora, which when under Bosnia always retained great autonomy. Notable battles include Battle of Srebrenik, Battle of Dobor, and the Battle of Doboj. This banate/duchy had been separated several times from the Banate of Bosnia and later Bosnian Kingdom in its history mostly by Kingdom of Hungary which appointed rulers of this region and sometimes attached it to Slavonian Banate. Prominent families, as Babonići had great estates, while the territories were part of Slavonian Banate. Bosnian bans and kings starting with Stephen II Kotromanić from 1324 have started appointing their rulers or had rulers that supported them, ending with the last Duke of Usora, Tvrtko Stančić who died in May 1463 during Ottoman conquest of Bosnia.
1190s-1220: Stefan, likely also ban of Soli, first historically documented ban of Usora
1220-1241: Sibislav, son of ban Stefan, supporting Hungary in its crusade against Bosnian heretics
1241–1247: Matej Ninoslav, also ban of Bosnia proper, waged defensive war against Hungary. After the loss of Usora to Hungarians, remained the ban of all other Bosnian lands until his death in 1250
1444-1463: Tvrtko Stancic, Duke of Usora, supporter of Bosnian kings Tomas Kotromanić and Stefan Tomasević, died in May 1463 while defending Bosnia from the Ottoman conquest
Last Usora rulers after Ottoman conquest of Bosnia in 1463:
1464-1477: Nicholas of Ilok, Duke of Usora, Macso, Slavonia and Dalmatia 1464-1471, and king of Bosnia 1471-1477, appointed by the king of Hungary as a ruler of buffer state against Ottomans
1465-1476: Matija Sabancic Radivojevic, son of Radivoj Ostojić, puppet Bosnian king installed by Ottomans as a counter measure to Nicholas of Ilok
1476-1476: Matija Vojsalic, second and last puppet king in Bosnia installed by Ottomans, ruled only 6 fortresses in central and south Usora
From 1322, when Stephen II Kotromanic became a ruler in Bosnia, Usora was part of his realm and included in the titles of all subsequent Bans and kings in Bosnia.
