The persecution of Bogomils in Serbia, particularly under the Nemanjić dynasty, is a significant and often brutal chapter in medieval Serbian history. While the term "genocide" is a modern legal concept, historical accounts describe widespread and severe measures taken against the Bogomils, including executions, mutilations, expulsions, and destruction of their property and religious texts. These actions were driven by a combination of religious orthodoxy and political consolidation, as the Nemanjić rulers sought to establish a unified Orthodox Christian state.

According to www.iAsk.Ai - Ask AI: The persecution of Bogomils in Serbia began in the late 12th century, coinciding with the rise of Stefan Nemanja and the establishment of an independent Serbian state. Nemanja viewed Bogomils as "heretics" and adherents of a "hateful and unpleasant faith." [1] [2]

Stefan Nemanja's Campaign Against Bogomils

Stefan Nemanja initiated a brutal campaign against the Bogomils in Raška (medieval Serbia) around the late 1170s. [1] [2] He convened a church-state assembly with the aim of organizing their destruction. [1] This assembly, held in Ras near the old Church of St. Peter in 1186, revealed that Bogomils had significant support among Serbian nobles, some of whom opposed Nemanja's intentions and left the gathering. [1] [2]

Despite this opposition, Nemanja proceeded with severe punishments. According to Stefan Prvovenčani, Nemanja's son, Nemanja "exposed their godlessness, and some he burned, others he punished with various penalties, others he banished from his state, and gathering their homes and all their possessions, he distributed them to the outcast and the poor." [1] [2] A particularly gruesome detail recorded is that Nemanja "cut out the tongue of their teacher and leader from his throat, because he did not confess Christ the Son of God, and burned his unholy books, and sent him into exile, threatening that he should never confess or mention the thrice-cursed name." [1] [2] This military action escalated into a civil war within Raška, indicating the significant presence and resilience of the Bogomils. [1] [2] Nemanja's goal was to completely eradicate this "cursed faith" from his state. [1]

The motivations behind Nemanja's actions were complex. While religious deviation was cited, historians suggest that the Bogomils' sharp criticism of the church and state played a crucial role. [1] They challenged the church's wealth and dogmas, arguing that its practices, such as allowing warfare, were incompatible with Christian teachings like "thou shalt not kill." [1] Furthermore, Bogomils rejected participation in public life, including military service, which was seen as a threat to Nemanja's consolidating state power. [1] [2] Their influence extended beyond the poor, with many adherents found among the wealthy and nobility, making them a significant political concern. [1] [2]

Continuation of Persecution by Nemanjić Successors

The persecution of Bogomils did not end with Stefan Nemanja. His son, Saint Sava, the first Serbian Archbishop, continued the policy of suppression. [1] [2] After establishing the independent Serbian Orthodox Church in 1219 and becoming its head, Sava convened a synod in Žiča in 1221. [1] [2] At this synod, he delivered a fiery speech advocating for the condemnation and physical destruction of Bogomils. [1] The synod's decision explicitly cursed Bogomils, referring to them as "wicked heretics, thrice-cursed babuns, who falsely call themselves Christians, and who mock our true faith." [1] [2] They were condemned for altering holy texts, rejecting the Orthodox Church, mocking the cross and icons, and refusing to bow before them. [1] [2]

Sava's efforts included examining and baptizing Bogomil leaders, with some being personally interrogated by him. [2] Noble Bogomils were offered gifts and honors to convert to Orthodoxy, while those who refused were humiliated and expelled from the country. [2]

Later Nemanjić rulers also maintained strict measures against Bogomils. Stefan Dragutin, who ruled parts of Mačva and Bosnia in the late 13th century, actively worked to prevent the spread of Bogomil teachings. [2] He built monasteries along the Drina River to counter their influence. [2] Stefan Dušan the Mighty, in the 14th century, included severe provisions against Bogomils in his Dušan's Code (1349). [2] Article 10 stated: "And whoever is found to be a heretic, living among Christians, let him be branded on the face and banished, and whoever conceals him, let him also be branded." [2] Article 85 imposed fines and beatings for uttering "babunski reč" (Bogomil words), which implied discussing religious dogmas, criticizing the church, advocating for equality, or showing disobedience to authorities. [2] The continued need for such laws indicates that Bogomilism remained deeply rooted in the region. [2]

Impact and Legacy

The intense persecution led to significant demographic shifts. Many surviving Bogomils fled to neighboring Bosnia, which was then under the rule of Kulin Ban, who was sympathetic to them. [1] [2] This migration contributed to Bosnia becoming a center for Bogomilism, leading to further conflicts with the Pope and Hungary. [1] Some scholars suggest that the Torbeši and Gorani people, found in mountainous regions, might be descendants of these persecuted Bogomils. [2]

The destruction of Bogomil texts during these persecutions resulted in a significant loss of historical and cultural heritage, making it challenging to fully understand their beliefs from their own perspective. [2] Most information about them comes from the writings of their adversaries. [2]

Modern interpretations of these events vary. Some historians, like Milorad Tomanić, explicitly qualify Nemanja's actions as genocide. [2] Legal scholar Kosta Čavoški draws parallels between these medieval religious persecutions and 20th-century totalitarianism, highlighting the suppression of dissent and the imposition of a single truth. [2] Within the Serbian Orthodox Church, some justify Nemanja's actions, viewing Bogomilism as a "disease" that needed to be eradicated. [2]

The Bogomils' resistance to established authority and their emphasis on equality resonate with later movements of social and political dissent. [5] Their "babunski reči" were seen as dangerous because they challenged the feudal order and the alliance between the church and state. [5]

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