The Inscription on the Marble Pillar at Kosovo

One of the works of Despot Stefan Lazarević is the Inscription on the Kosovo Marble Pillar, which was most likely composed between 1402 and 1404. This solemn inscription was carved into a stone pillar that had been erected on the Field of Kosovo, that is, on the spot where the Serbian and Turkish armies clashed in the Battle of Kosovo in 1389. Besides being an exalted heroic record, this text is also a testimony to a profound national tragedy, to which it bears witness, leaving a powerful historical and poetic echo through the centuries. The marble pillar, which Despot Stefan raised in honor of his father, Holy Prince Lazar, and of the fallen Serbian warriors, was not only a symbol of remembrance of the suffering of the Serbian Prince and his brave army, but also a message to future generations about the greatness of sacrifice for freedom. The inscription itself, in the form of a poetically shaped narrative, is one of the earliest recorded Serbian epitaphs, and by its style and message it rises above an ordinary historical testimony. It was a powerful reminder of the Battle of Kosovo, the fateful conflict that marked the destiny of the Serbian people. It is believed that this inscription was composed after the Battle of Ankara (Angora) in 1402, when Stefan Lazarević, as a participant in that great conflict between Tamerlane and the Ottomans, strengthened his political influence and received the title of despot. It was precisely in that period that a heightened awareness of the historical role of the Battle of Kosovo prompted him to immortalize the heroism of his father and of the Serbian army through these words carved in stone. According to the testimony of Konstantin Mihailović of Ostrovica (c. 1435–1501), a tall stone pillar had been erected on the spot where Prince Lazar was captured. In his memoirs, written at the end of the 15th century, Mihailović states that near the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos, called Samodreža, a tall pillar stands as a sign of the capture of Prince Lazar. It is believed that it was on this very pillar that Despot Stefan's inscription was carved. What became of this pillar is not known. Although the pillar itself no longer exists, the text of the inscription has been preserved in a copy that is today kept in the Patriarchal Library in Belgrade, catalogued under number 167. According to the research of Đorđe Sp. Radojičić, on the basis of the watermarks on the paper it has been established that this copy was made between 1573 and 1588.