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Mustay-Bey of Lika (Bosnian: Mustaj-beg Lički) is a figure in the epic poetry of the Bosniaks, even though stories about him can be found among Bosniaks in all regions he is predominantly a character that is found in the epic poetry of Bosniaks living in the Bosnian Krajina (Frontier) region.
 | This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. (September 2024) |
Just like other Frontier Songs (Krajišničke Pjesme) the stories surrounding Mustay-Bey usually have the same theme as all other stories originating from Krajina. They are moslty about raids and fights between Muslims and Christians. Even though most of the stories are fictional the historic background is noticeable. Most of the stories about Mustay-Bey were created when a Bosnian and Croatian frontier existed, separating the Ottoman Empire from the Habsburgs and the Western world. Where frequent raids and fights between Muslims and Christians occurred.
Mustay-Bey of Lika, just like most figures in the epic tradition of Bosanska Krajina, has a semi-historical background. There is a consensus that he's based on an actual person, but this person is unknown. Various theories have been put forward, Evliya Çelebi calls him Mustaj-Beg Hasumović[1] Mustafa Imamović connects the figure of Mustay-Bey to a Mustafa Hurakalović that lived during the 17th century. Luka Marjanović, on a mission to further study this figure where he notes that according to legend Mustay-Bey hails from the Lipovača tribe from Mostar.[2]
Older Croat historians help in confirming Mustay-Bey's identity. Historical sources mention a Mustaj-Beg that in 1556, was captured by a Frankopan, which later released Mustay-Bey after being a paid a ransom of several thousand ducats.[3] This can be connected to many songs in the Krajina region having the theme of Mustay-Bey being captured and released such as "Ropstvo Mustaj-Bega i Vrišić bajraktara" (Capture of Mustay-Bey and Vrišić Bayraktar) and "Mustaj-Beg Lički u ropstvu kod zadarskoga bana" (Mustay-Bey of Lika during capture at the Ban of Zadar).
Evliya Çelebi's mention of how the Bosnian ruler Melek Ahmed-Pasha sent him to buy back a certaing Mustay-Bey Hasumović that was captured by the forces of Nikola IV Zrinski. Evliya Çelebi mentions that during his time songs about Mustay-Bey were already being sung.[4]
Mustay-Bey was most likely the largest authority in Lika and Krajina at the time, as a frontiersman (Serbo-Croatian: Krajišnik) and commander who had his headquarters in Udbina. Perhaps his importance was also contributed by the fact that after the establishment of a captaincies in Krajina, the captain of Bihać was the supreme authority over all other captaincies of Krajina.[5] In Kosta Hörmann's collections it is mentioned that he has a wife and a daughter named Zlatija.[6]
Even though legend tells of Mustay being from Herzegovina, it is undisputable that his figure was created in the Krajina region, later transmitted to other parts of Bosnia, Herzegovina and Sandžak.
Statements claiming Mustay-Bey to be a well respected figure among Krajina's population is supported by Luka Marjanović's quote:[7]
As a result of the mentioned conditions, in which people lived, fought and reconciled at that time, one person stands out, Mustaj-Beg of Lika, the most popular hero and lord of Lika and Krbava. What individual people have experienced and suffered, Mustay-Bey has aswell. From a very young age, he was elevated to a prominent position, from which he looked down on others and others at him, from the last "Turk" of Lika to the emperor in Stambol.
— Luka Marjanović
Another well known saying in the Krajina region is
That's what Mustay-Bey from Lika said, That's what all the Turks in Lika said.
This saying comes from the song "Budalina Tale dolazi u Liku" (Tale the fool arriving in Lika).[8] What is meant by the saying is that the words of Mustay-Bey are law, and the Turks mentioned refer to Islamized Slavic inhabitants of the region.
Just like most songs from Krajina, the main character very rarely acts alone, the same applies for Mustay-Bey. He's often accompanied by Đerzelez, the Hrnjica brothers or Budalina Tale. The role that Mustay-Bey plays in the tales is usually as having a leading role over his companions. For both military actions and bridal processions it was necessary to seek permission from Mustay Bey. And if Mustay decided on a battle, a cannon would be fired to inform all of Krajina that they should prepare for battle.
Mustay always had the role of authority, he was the guardian of Krajina and the personification of the legal system.[9] As the great and wise old man that he was, he never rushed recklessly into battle at any cost, but rather behaved as a leader who showed concern for the lives of his soldiers.[10]
Mustay-Bey never deviates from the knightly rules of warfare, even if it would cost him. In one tale, he forbids Meho Dizdarević from coming to the aid of Đulić, since this was Đulić's duel and his only.[11] He forbids his knights to loot Mostar, because of which, the Krajišniks return angrily to Krajina.[12] He forbids Muslims to exact revenge on Christians, because "the infidel might tribulate the Muslims later".[13]
Deaths of Mustay-Bey
Many songs mention the death of Mustay-Bey, with the protector of Krajina from the Christians, Mustay gains the role of a martyr. One song that is contained in the collection of Kosta Hormann says:
Do you realize, you insolent ones,
look, a full seven years have passed since our Beg was killed. Ah, you haven’t rushed out to go down to the Beg’s valley to see the fallen towers and the Beg’s poor people
and Bećir, Mustaj Beg’s son.
— Hörmann I, 30.16-22
Songs collected by Milman Parry and Albert Lord in Sandžak all mention a curse placed upon the bey after he fails to resist a Christian woman named Janja.[14]
“Why, Beg, are you behaving so disgracefully?
For Janja was born to a Christian woman, and was nursed on wine and brandy, but I was born to a Turkish (Muslim) mother, and was nursed on honey and sugar. Listen to me, Mustaj Beg of Lika! If you raise an army at Uzorje, and capture Janja, the sister of Jovan, then may Jovan catch you at the mountain,
and may he cut off your head, my Beg!”
— Guslar Hajro Ferizović
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