Usora (, ) was important zemlja (; feudalna oblast ) of the medieval Bosnian state, first banate and later kingdom, although it also had some periods outside its jurisdiction and royal authority, when it was connected with neighboring banates of Slavonia, or Mačva at times. The administrative seat of this zemlja was Srebrenik, which also served as residence for its rulers for entire period of existence of the medieval Bosnian state. It took its name from the river Usora.
Etymology
The name of the land of Usora derives from the eponymous river, which runs through its territories for approximately 80 kilometers, in direction south-southwest to north-northeast, and spills into the river Bosna just south of town of Doboj.
Geography and location
Usora was the northernmost Bosnian land (zemlja), occupying very fertile Pannonian Plain, and its geographical location roughly correspond to modern-day Northern Bosnia gravitating toward Posavina. 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 land of Usora had many strong fortresses and towns on its territory, the most famous ones being Doboj (13th century), Srebrenik (1333), Dobor fortress (1387), Glaž (12th century), Soko fortress (14th century), Tešanj (14th century), Modriča town (13th century), and Maglaj (15th century).
History
The region of Usora was first mentioned in a bull (decree) dated 20 July 1244 by the King Bela IV of Hungary, in which he assigned some properties to the Bishop of Bosnia, naming the territories: quod episeopus (Bosnensis) et capitulum decimas in Vozora, in Sou, in Olfeld et in aliis supis ... habeant et percipiant (Vozora referring to Usora, Sou to Soli, and Olfeld to Donji Kraji).
Although it was nominally included into the Hungarian Crown Lands, the Banate of Bosnia was a de facto independent state for the course of its existence, including Usora, which under Bosnia always retained certain amount of autonomy.
Battles
Notable battles include Battle of Srebrenik (1363), Battle of Dobor (1394) and (1408), and the Battle of Doboj (1415). During its history, this zemlja had been separated several times from the Banate of Bosnia and later Bosnian Kingdom, mostly by the Kingdom of Hungary which appointed rulers of this region, and sometimes attached it to Slavonian Banate. Prominent families, such as Babonići had estates there while the territories were part of Slavonian Banate. Bosnian bans and kings, starting with 1324 and Stephen II Kotromanić, who reclaimed Usora, and added both Usora and Soli to his title have relinquished direct rule over Land of Usora and started appointing their vassals as rulers, ending with the last Duke of Usora, Tvrtko Stančić, who died in May 1463 during Ottoman conquest of Bosnia.
Religion
On its territory Bosnian Church flourished since the 13th century, strongly supported by local nobility. The Church held spacious land possessions, located between Dobor, in the south, and Dubnica near the Sava, in the north. Presence of Christian slavery was outlawed and frowned upon in Southeastern Europe, however, there are numerous documents citing free sales of Usoran women and children on the slave-markets of Dubrovnik Republic, as late as the mid 15th century, as they were considered adherents of heretical Bosnian Church and thus, non-Christian in the official canonical view.
Economy
Because of its geographical location, descending from the region of low hills in its south ends and spreading through north-Bosnian lowlands into the fertile Pannonian plains towards the Sava River, Usora had rich agriculture based economy. The Sava was always frequent trading route, and had rich fisheries. This economic potential, more often than not, made Usora most common battleground between Bosnians and the Hungarian kings who viewed them as subordinate. Usora was also famous for well developed falconry among its nobility.
