Joined Jan 2017
7,817 Posts | 3,302+
Republika Srpska
So, I have recently started looking into this subject. Slavery existed in both medieval Serbia and Bosnia, there are references to slaves in the Dušan's code, where it is stated the slaves of the nobility were their eternal heritage, and that only a member of the noble family can free a family slave. However, there is still some debate on whether or not the slaves from Dušan's Code (called otroci) were actual slaves or not. Their status, judging from the Code, is similar to the status of slaves though. On the other hand, judging from other medieval Serbian documents, we see that the term otrok can be used to describe a servant, a trusted man, a feudal serf. It seems that the very term otrok was used to describe a wide variety of things, and that we can't simply say that otroks are slaves. However, slavery (actual slavery) was also widespread in the region along the sea, where there was a developed slave trade network, one of the main centers on the eastern side was Dubrovnik, although there were other cities, Kotor for example that participated in the trade. Most slaves were Slavs. From the 12th to the 14th century the trade was at its peak, and women and children were especially wanted as slaves. There were also bands of the ropci (slave-raiders) who abducted people into slavery. The Catholic Church also played a part in the whole affair, accepting slavery if the slaves were schismatics or heretics. St. Antoninus of Florence even said that the slaves can't be freed even if they accept baptism and become Catholics. Slaves were often members of the Church of Bosnia, and sometimes even the rulers of Bosnia sold their people into slavery. Of course, war captives were also sold.
In Dubrovnik 66% of slaves came from Bosnia, 7% from Usora, 6% from the regions around Sana, 5% from Hum, 4,5% from Travunia, 4,5% from the Vrbas region, 2% from Syrmia, 1,5% from Croatia, 1% from Požega, and the rest came from regions such as Trebinje, although there were slaves from even more distant regions like Hungary. Slave traders also had various background. A lot were Ragusans (from Dubrovnik), others were from Hum, Trebinje, Konavli, Bosnia, Gacko, Rudnik, Nevesinje and from other coastal cities like Split and Trogir. In Bosnia the trade was centered around the Drijeva square near Gabela. Slaves had a huge role in Dubrovnik, Slavic slaves were sometimes used as teachers of Slavic language, and the presence of slaves actually eased the pressure on the noble ......, who no longer had to do domestic duties and chores (the slaves did it), so they turned to their other duty: childbirth. Many slaves were women, mostly Orthodox or from the Bosnian Church. The price for slaves differed: 27-28 gold coins for women, 30 for men. However, you could sell a young woman for as high as 48 coins, and a young man for 50 coins. More prized were foreign slaves, for example for a Tatar, Circassian, Russian or a Saracen women the minimal price was 42 coins. Russian or Circassian women were described as gentle and more beautiful, while Tatar women were described as stronger and endurable.
Eventually, many cities banned slavery and/or slave trade (Split in 1373, Trogir and Korčula in 1397, Dubrovnik in 1416), but it was not respected. For example, in Dubrovnik in 1445 Marin de Bona and Benedetto Magrino agreed to sell 12-15 slaves. In the middle of the 15th century, many Greeks, Tatars, Russians, Muslims and blacks were sold as slaves in Dubrovnik, to the Turks, Italians, Catalans etc. After the fall of Serbia in 1459 and the fall of Skadar in 1479, many people came to Dubrovnik willing to sell themselves as slaves. Unlike in the ancient period, most slaves didn't work in the field, but were instead personal servants. The need for slaves increased in the aftermath of the Black Death, which eliminated much of the population and many of the servants. The Ottomans themselves were slavers, although slave routes changed with their arrival, with many slaves being taken to the Levant instead to the Adriatic.
In Dubrovnik 66% of slaves came from Bosnia, 7% from Usora, 6% from the regions around Sana, 5% from Hum, 4,5% from Travunia, 4,5% from the Vrbas region, 2% from Syrmia, 1,5% from Croatia, 1% from Požega, and the rest came from regions such as Trebinje, although there were slaves from even more distant regions like Hungary. Slave traders also had various background. A lot were Ragusans (from Dubrovnik), others were from Hum, Trebinje, Konavli, Bosnia, Gacko, Rudnik, Nevesinje and from other coastal cities like Split and Trogir. In Bosnia the trade was centered around the Drijeva square near Gabela. Slaves had a huge role in Dubrovnik, Slavic slaves were sometimes used as teachers of Slavic language, and the presence of slaves actually eased the pressure on the noble ......, who no longer had to do domestic duties and chores (the slaves did it), so they turned to their other duty: childbirth. Many slaves were women, mostly Orthodox or from the Bosnian Church. The price for slaves differed: 27-28 gold coins for women, 30 for men. However, you could sell a young woman for as high as 48 coins, and a young man for 50 coins. More prized were foreign slaves, for example for a Tatar, Circassian, Russian or a Saracen women the minimal price was 42 coins. Russian or Circassian women were described as gentle and more beautiful, while Tatar women were described as stronger and endurable.
Eventually, many cities banned slavery and/or slave trade (Split in 1373, Trogir and Korčula in 1397, Dubrovnik in 1416), but it was not respected. For example, in Dubrovnik in 1445 Marin de Bona and Benedetto Magrino agreed to sell 12-15 slaves. In the middle of the 15th century, many Greeks, Tatars, Russians, Muslims and blacks were sold as slaves in Dubrovnik, to the Turks, Italians, Catalans etc. After the fall of Serbia in 1459 and the fall of Skadar in 1479, many people came to Dubrovnik willing to sell themselves as slaves. Unlike in the ancient period, most slaves didn't work in the field, but were instead personal servants. The need for slaves increased in the aftermath of the Black Death, which eliminated much of the population and many of the servants. The Ottomans themselves were slavers, although slave routes changed with their arrival, with many slaves being taken to the Levant instead to the Adriatic.
