Miloš Obilić
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Miloš Obilić (Serbian Cyrillic: Милош Обилић; also: Miloš Kobilić; Kobila, Kobilović; Koviljić; Obilović or Dragilović) was a Serbian knight who, at the Battle of Kosovo between the Serbian Empire and the Ottoman Empire, assassinated the Ottoman Sultan Murad I. He is a major figure in Serbian epic poetry, and is a legendary, as well as a historical persona.He was member of Order of the Dragon , one of the most powerfull knight orders in medevial Europe.
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[edit] In legend
In folk epic and legends, Miloš was celebrated as the hero of supernatural birth and strength (his mother was a fairy, demonic creature or his father was a dragon; he had got his strength from the milk of the mare). He had the extraordinary horse called Ždral. His blood brothers were knight Milan Toplica and knight Ivan Kosančić, and his fiancee or wife was Mara, daughter of Prince Lazar.
[edit] Battle of Kosovo
According to the most popular version of the legend, on June 15, 1389 (Julian calendar) (June 28, Gregorian calendar), during the first Battle of Kosovo, Miloš made his way into the Ottoman camp pretending that he wanted to surrender, and at an opportune moment forced his way into the Sultan's tent and stabbed him. Another legend tells about the treason of Vuk Branković, Serbian feudal lord and son in law of the Serbian prince Lazar, who betrayed Miloš because of earlier disagreements. Miloš wanted to clear his name of false accusations made by Vuk Branković, and prove his loyalty to prince Lazar. Other variants of songs and legends state that Miloš was captured by a demonic creature similar to a witch, or old woman ("baba"), who advised the Turks how to kill Miloš's horse and find the keys of his armour, which were hidden in his moustashes. Miloš gained his revenge by killing the old woman on a bridge, which is presently called Babin Most. According to some (Turkish) sources, the sultan Murad I was killed after the battle, when the Serbian soldier, who pretended to be dead, killed the sultan when he got close to him.
[edit] In the popular imagination
This event and the Kosovo battle itself is deeply embedded in the Serbian national consciousness, history, and poetry. This deed was proclaimed as Miloš Obilić's innermost desire to pay tribute to his people and to sacrifice himself in order to strike a blow against tyranny and the Christian fight against Islam. In Miloš's character, the popular tradition modelled the ideal hero type that encouraged further fights for liberation.
