The Battle of Kosovo, also known as the Battle of Kosovo Polje, which took place north of Prishtina on the morning of 15 June 1389 (28 June old style), was a major event in the Ottoman conquest of the Balkan Peninsula. Much of the factual history surrounding the battle has, however, remained obscure.
According to tradition, Sultan Murad I (r. 1359-1389), who had been occupied pacifying Asia Minor, returned to the Balkans and brought together a huge coalition of forces from among his southern Serbian, Bulgarian and Albanian vassals, many of whom were Christians, such as Constantine Dejanovich and the famed Serb leader Marko Kraljevich, enemy of Lazar. The opposing forces under Prince Lazar of Serbia und King Tvrtko of Bosnia were a coalition including Bosnian troops under Vlatko Vukovich, the Vlach contingents of Voyvode Mircea, the troops of Lazar’s son-in-law Vuk Brankovich and Albanian forces under George Balsha and Demeter Jonima.
Ottoman forces won the day and both leaders, Lazar and Sultan Murad, met their deaths. According to legend, Sultan Murad was assassinated. One version has it that the knight Milosh Obilich or Kobilich, taunted and insulted by Vuk Brankovich, slipped heroically into the imperial tent and stabbed the sultan to death, before being killed by the guards.
The Battle of Kosovo has been a central theme of southern Balkan legendry over the centuries. The splendid Serb songs of the battle are well known. There are, however, also songs preserved in the collective memory of the Albanians, that are less known in the world at large. Some of these Albanian Songs of the Battle of Kosovo are relatively complete, whereas others are sketchy. A representative sample of them is presented here in English.
Here is a synopsis, by Anna Di Lellio, of the legend that serves as a basis for the Songs of the Battle of Kosovo:
The epic tells the story of Murat, son of the first Ottoman sultan Ohran. Murat is a pious man who lives his life according to the law of Islam. One night an unsettling dream wakes him up. He tells his mother that he has seen two eagles perched on his right shoulder, stars fall to earth and the sun and the moon plunge into the ocean. The court interpreter reads this as an announcement of battle and death: the eagles have come to gather the army and conquer Kosovo, where Murat and many of his men will find their death as martyrs.
The Sultan calls on all towns to contribute troops for his campaign, and 70,000 answer the call to fight. He then gives anyone who does not have the heart to leave his family behind, or is not pious enough, permission to go back home. Only half of the men start the long march to Kosovo.
Upon reaching the ocean, the Sultan prays for God to separate the water and let the army cross on dry land. Once on the other side, again he addresses his army. He calls once again upon his men to leave behind all regrets or go back home, but also to behave like religious men or abandon the mission. 12,000 renew their vow to fight to their deaths and make their way to Thessaloniki and Skopje. There, they stop by a river to rest.
The next battle at the Kaçanik Gorge takes a heavy toll. Dust and smoke make it impossible for anyone to see the battlefield. Only when the Sultan prays to Allah does the air clear, making it possible to count the dead. Vowing vengeance, the Sultan promises that he will make his men wade knee-deep through a river of enemy blood. He then addresses the troops for the third time and asks whether anyone committed an impious act, thus causing the downfall.
When a soldier confesses to having plucked an apple from a tree, the Sultan redirects his army back to the river in search of the owner of the orchard. The soldiers must ask for his forgiveness or give him a monetary compensation. It turns out that the owner does not want any money, but asks to be appointed Grand Vizier, a demand that the Sultan accepts. The soldiers ready for battle again by performing ablutions and prayers. Arriving in Golesh, they find no water to assuage their thirst. The Sultan asks God for help, and when he strikes a boulder with his fist, water pours out copiously. On the next battle in Ferizaj, God answers the Sultan’s prayers again and makes him victorious.
Once in Prishtina, Murat sees seven fortified castles on the mountain of Çiçavica. He learns from the Grand Vizier that seven bailiffs live there and are always at war with each other. Then, he sends the local lord Millosh Kopiliq a message, in which he demands that all the keys of the castles be surrendered in order to avoid battle. Kopiliq is at first uncertain of what to do. When his wife tries to reassure him that the Sultan would not harm them, he loses his patience, punches her in the jaw, and breaks her teeth. He then sets out to reach Peja and talk to the king.
The king answers the request coming from the Ottoman camp with a vow of defiance. He orders Kopiliq to send thirty maidens to the enemy camp to distract the soldiers and spy on them. Contrary to expectations, the maidens are not robbed or molested; they are given hospitality as the Sultan has ordered. Back home to report to Kopiliq, they tell him of the good reception they have enjoyed, but also of the strength of the enemy army, unmatched by their own. Upon hearing this news, Kopiliq decides that the information needs to be dramatically changed in order not to demoralize the king into surrender. He orders the maidens to complain about mistreatment and describe a weary Ottoman army, struck by the plague.
That message inevitably provokes the king to prepare his army for battle. Kopiliq asks for time and announces his plan to meet the Sultan alone and either establish an allegiance between equals, or kill him. When he reaches the Sultan’s tent, Kopiliq tells the sentries that he wishes an audience and is let inside.
The Sheh Islami advises the Sultan not to give the visitor his hand, but rather kick him and make him grovel at his feet. That decision seals his fate. Kopiliq stabs Murat with his dagger, kills him, and flees the scene. Many Ottoman soldiers try to capture him but to no avail, till they meet an old Slav woman, who reveals the secret of Kopiliq’s seeming invulnerability: the metal armour protecting both the warrior and his horse, whose key lies hidden in Kopiliq’s whiskers.
Following the old woman’s advice, the soldiers lay their sabres on the ground, slash the horse’s ankles, and capture Kopiliq. He is about to be decapitated when he is granted his last wish: he asks for the old woman to be brought to him, so he can tell her of a well-paid job to be done on his behalf. As she approaches, Kopiliq sinks his teeth into her and flings her miles away.
When the soldiers decapitate him, Kopiliq tucks his head under his armpit and flees in the direction of Salabanj. Spotted by a girl who is washing garments in the river with her mother, he drops his head. Before dying, he curses the two women, “Headless I, may you be eyeless!” and blinds them. Had the priests gathered to mourn him managed to build a church before dawn, Kopiliq would have had a chance to come back to life. They almost succeed, but a tile is missing when the rooster crows. Kopiliq is buried where he has fallen, and water with healing powers springs miraculously from this site.
The news of the Sultan’s death reaches the court. His mother curses Kosovo and its people, and then dies heartbroken. Back in Kosovo, people mourn the loss of their homes. A mother and her daughter fleeing Kosovo sigh that they will only return when the Turks are defeated.
Songs of the Battle of Kosova of 1389
(Version One, published in 1923 by Gliša Elezović)
Once there was a Sultan Murat.
When he finished his ablutions
And he said his evening prayers,
He then went to bed for sleeping,
Fell asleep and started dreaming,
From his sleep a dream awoke him,
So the sultan stirred and got up
From his bed, and started thinking.
Once again he did ablutions,
Then returned to bed for sleeping,
And again he started dreaming,
From his sleep a dream awoke him,
So the sultan stirred and got up,
To his mother did he call out:
“Mother dear, what can you explain
To me two dreams I’ve been dreaming?”
“Tell the dreams, boy,” said the mother.
“In them did arrive two eagles,
And they perched on my right shoulder,
All the stars fell from the heavens,
Fell to earth and there did gather,
Sun and moon plunged in the ocean.”
“Good news, son,” replied the mother,
When the Lord brought back the morning,
Look how Sultan Murat acted:
“Go and call the dream exegete,
Go and call the Sheh-Islami,
Go and call the Grand Vizier,
Go and call the army general.”
All four of them were awakened,
And they hastened to the sultan,
“What is it you want, oh Father?”
“I have had a dream while sleeping,
You must now explain it to me.”
“Tell your dream,” they urged the sultan,
And the sultan started telling:
“In it there were two white eagles,
And they perched on my right shoulder,
All the stars fell from the heavens,
Fell to earth and there did gather,
Sun and moon plunged in the ocean.”
What replied the dream exegete?
“Those two eagles that arrived and
Settled, perched on your right shoulder
Came to seize the holy banner,
Came to gather up the army,
Came to set out for Kosova,
Came to occupy Kosova,
Came to give their lives in battle.
Sun and moon plunged in the ocean
Came to give their lives in battle.
Sun and moon won’t warm without you.”
Look what Sultan Murat did then:
All the towns he telegraphed with:
“Bring unto me all the army,
Bring unto me all the pashas.”
They assembled all the army,
And amassed before the sultan.
Look what Sultan Murat did then:
Lo, he seized the holy banner,
And he then approached the army:
“Listen, lads, to what I tell you,
I’ve decided I am ready,
Want to march upon Kosova.”
Then he counted all his soldiers,
Seventy thousand men he numbered,
Look what Sultan Murat said then:
“Listen, lads, to what I’m saying,
Should a man here have regrets, or
Should your parents be dear to you,
Should your children be dear to you,
Go back home, you have permission,
I will pay you to return there.”
Many soldiers left the sultan,
Forty thousand did forsake him,
Thirty thousand did stay with him.
On his march the sultan set out,
When he came upon the ocean,
Ships and vessels drew near to him,
Look what Sultan Murat did then.
Putting his men in the vessels,
Did he feel so sorry for them,
Raised his hands to the Almighty:
“Allah, oh thou God of Justice,
Pull the ocean back and let me
O’er dry land lead forth the army,
And the Lord did hear his pleading,
From both sides pulled back the waters,
With his troops he crossed the ocean,
When he reached the other coastline,
Did he pause to rest his army,
Look what Sultan Murat said then:
“Listen, lads, to what I tell you,
Should a man here have regrets, or
Should your parents be dear to you,
Should your children be dear to you,
Go back home, you have permission,
I will pay you to return there.
You who’ve eaten foods forbidden,
You who’ve not prayed for five hours,
I don’t want to have you with me,
Go back home, you have permission,
For with you will fail the fighting,
Go back e’er the waters flood in.”
Many soldiers did return home,
Eighteen thousand homewards ventured.
With the sultan stayed twelve thousand.
Look what Sultan Murat did then.
Raised his hands to the Almighty.
Listen to his exhortation:
“Well, what do you say, my fighters?”
Hear the army, what it answered:
“Listen to us, Father Sultan,
We have no regrets to be here,
May the Lord ne’er separate us,
We’ve not eaten foods forbidden,
We’ve prayed in the last five hours,
We are ready to die with you.”
Look at how the sultan rose up,
Praising Allah with the army.
When they finished their ablutions,
They at once set off for battle,
Nowhere pausing for refreshment,
Till Salonika they entered.
Forward, forward, into battle,
On to Skopje did they travel,
Stopping nowhere on their journey,
Till they entered into Skopje.
There he paused to rest the army.
Close beside them was a river,
There a soldier glimpsed an apple,
And the soldier took the apple,
Only once he bit into it,
Then he stuffed it in his pocket.
“Let’s get going,” so they set off,
One another praising Allah,
Once again they left for battle,
And it was a mighty battle.
Dust and smoke arose around them,
Many soldiers fell in fighting,
When Kaçanik Gorge they entered,
Was the fight there even stronger,
And the sultan could not stop it,
Many fellows died in battle,
Sheh-Islami perished fighting,
Sheh-Islami and his nephew,
Died in fighting the Grand Vizier,
The Grand Vizier and his scion.
Wearied was the army fighting,
Dust and smoke arose around them,
Men could not see one another.
Look what Sultan Murat did then.
Raised his hands to the Almighty:
“Allah, oh thou God of Justice,
Pull back all the smoke around me,
Let me see where stands my army,
All at once the smoke was lifted,
Murat gathered up his army,
“Are you weary, my brave fighters,
Hard-pressed, have we many losses?”
“We’re not weary, Father Sultan,
Of our men have many fallen,
Sheh-Islami is among them,
Sheh-Islami and his nephew,
Died in fighting the Grand Vizier,
The Grand Vizier and his scion.”
Sorry felt the sultan for them,
Swore an oath to the Almighty:
“I will not get through this war till
Blood is flowing round our kneecaps.”
Look what Sultan Murat said then:
“Listen, lads, to what I’m saying,
If some of you fruit have eaten
of your comrades’ toil, then stay here,
For the war’s not going well now.
Those who’ve not prayed for five hours,
Step aside because the fighting
Is not going well among us.”
To him did the army answer:
“No forbidden fruits we’ve eaten,
We’ve prayed in the last five hours.”
Then one soldier did step forward:
“I, oh sultan, saw an apple,
As we rested at the river,
And I plucked and took the apple,
Only once I bit into it,
Here it is, it’s in my pocket.”
Look what Sultan Murat said then:
“To the river, lads,” he cried out,
“Go back down beside the river,
Find for me that apple tree and
Tell what happened to its owner.
Beg forgiveness of the owner
If the man will not forgive you,
Give him money as he wishes.”
Down the hillside to the river
They returned and saw the apple
Tree upon the riverbank and
Found the owner of the orchard.
Look at what they told the owner:
“From this tree we stole an apple
And we now beg your forgiveness.”
“I will not forgive the apple.”
“Ask your price in compensation,
We will pay for it in money.”
“I will sell you nothing, but I
Want to be proclaimed Vizier.”
Look at what they told the sultan:
“He will not forgive the apple,
Nor will he accept your money,
He asks to be Grand Vizier.”
“Go,” the sultan ordered, “and bring
Back that fellow here to see me.”
Off they went and found the owner,
To the sultan did they bring him,
And the sultan made him Vizier,
On his chest he put some medals,
Look at what Murat said to them:
“Gird your weapons, lads,” he told them,
And the troops did gird their weapons.
Then they finished their ablutions,
Asked of one another pardon.
So again they rose to battle,
Nowhere did they Slavs encounter.
When they finally got to Golesh,
Nowhere was there drinking water,
And of thirst the troops were dying.
So they muttered to the sultan:
“We are all so very thirsty,
Nowhere is there drinking water.”
Look what Sultan Murat did then:
Raised his hands to the Almighty:
“Allah, oh thou God of Justice,
Give us but a drop of water!”
With his fist he beat a boulder,
God at once did give them water,
All the army drank their fill and
All the horses gulped the water,
Water flowed and was left over.
Then they finished their ablutions,
And completed all their prayers.
When the soldiers were well rested,
Did they rise again and muster,
Setting off at once for battle,
Nowhere did they Slavs encounter.
When they got to Ferizaj, did
There occur a mighty battle,
To their knees in blood they waded,
Laden mules and donkeys stumbled,
Then the Lord their prayers did answer,
And the sultan won the battle.
When the army reached Prishtina,
There the sultan deigned to come forth,
While the tents were being raised, and
Took his field glass out to have a
Look at yonder Çiçavica,
There he noticed seven towers,
Seven balozes were in them.
At the towers gazed the sultan,
All the towers had their loopholes,
In a line were all the loopholes.
Then the sultan called his Vizier:
“Tell me, what are yonder towers
With the row of loopholes in them?”
To the sultan he did answer:
“Seven balozes are in them,
Fighting one another daily
From the loopholes built into them.”
To his feet arose the sultan,
Millosh Kopiliq informing:
“Send the keys of your nine castles,
All the keys surrender to me,
Or I will with you do battle.”
To Millosh he sent the message.
He received it and did read it.
Then his wife, inquiring, uttered:
“What’s that letter you are reading?”
Millosh told her of the letter:
“To Kosova’s come the sultan
Yearning with us to do battle,
I don’t know what I should do now.”
To Millosh the wife responded:
“Come on, Millosh, do not worry,
For the sultan cannot harm us.”
Millosh was infuriated,
In the jaw he punched his wife and
Eight teeth to the floor did tumble.
To his feet arose then Millosh,
Well his saddle mare he mounted,
Off to Peć then did he gallop,
There he told the king, proclaiming:
“To Prishtina’s come the sultan,
Saying he’ll with us do battle,
What to do now?” he inquired.
To him did the king then answer:
“I to him will not surrender,
Till I run him through, won’t give in,”
Thus the king did give his answer.
“Make you ready thirty maidens,
In fine garments and fine footwear,
Give them many golden ducats
To impress the Turkish army,
To deceive the horde of soldiers.
And to spy upon his forces.”
Thus the maidens were made ready
Thirty of the finest maidens,
Taking many ducats with them:
“Journey to the sultan’s army,
Try to trick the hordes of soldiers.
While the soldiers take your money,
Find out what their army’s good for.”
To their feet did rise the maidens,
Taking pans of ducats with them,
Leaving for the sultan’s army,
Taking three full days for travel.
No one cast his eyes upon them,
No one with his hands did touch them,
No one stole the money from them,
No one sold them food for money.
In three days they told the sultan:
“We have come, the king has sent us,
We are weary of our journey,
No one gave us food for eating,
No one took our money from us.”
Then the sultan bade his soldier:
“Give them food, lads,” he commanded,
“No one rob them of their money.”
Thus they gave food to the maidens,
No one stole their money from them,
So the maidens journeyed homewards,
Went back to report to Millosh.
Millosh turned to them and spoke out:
“How’s the Turk, maids?” he inquired.
To him did the maidens answers:
“Three days did we spend there with them,
No one laid a finger on us,
No one stole our money from us,
No one cast his eyes upon us,
Hordes of soldiers has the sultan,
You’re unequal to oppose him.”
Look how Millosh then responded:
“When we to the king do venture,
You must talk to him and tell him
I will lop all of their heads off,
You just tell the king about a
Mighty plague that struck the army,
Say they’re weary, almost perished,
We were captured by the soldiers,
And the fellows took our money.”
Millosh set off with the maidens
To the king did they all venture.
There the king spoke to the maidens:
“How’s the Turk, maids?” he inquired.
To him did the maidens answer:
“A mighty plague befell the army,
They are weary, almost perished,
We were captured by the soldiers,
And the fellows took our money,
They did not have many soldiers.”
What was it the king then ordered?
Many soldiers did he gather,
Made them ready for the battle.
What was it that Millosh uttered:
“Hold your horses, king,” he ordered,
“For I too am getting ready,
I am off to see the sultan,
If the sultan gives his hand, then
I will gladly pay allegiance,
If the sultan give his leg, then
I will slay him with my dagger.”
Millosh girded on his armour,
Had a pobratim go with him,
“Oh pobratim,” he requested,
“Will you deign to set out with me?”
Thus the two men did make ready,
Well their saddle mares they mounted,
And they set off for the sultan.
Soon the sentries captured Millosh,
“Where’re you going?” did they ask him,
“I am off to see the sultan,
For I have something to tell him.”
So they took him to the sultan,
Look at what the sultan did then:
First he summoned Sheh-Islami,
“How should I react,” he asked him.
“For Millosh has come to see me?
Should I shake his hand in greeting?
Should I do so or withhold it?”
They did counsel Sultan Murat:
“When Millosh arrives, don’t give your
Hand, but rather kick the fellow.
Place him at your feet to grovel.”
To them did the sultan answer:
“Bring in Millosh, let him enter.”
Millosh then approached the sultan,
While the sultan tried to kick him,
Millosh had in hand his dagger,
With the dagger did he stab him,
Thus the sultan fell and perished.
Millosh on the spot departed,
Well his saddle mare he mounted,
Set off swiftly on his journey,
Many soldiers did pursue him,
Many soldiers tried to slay him,
But they could not catch and kill him.
When they got to Babimovci,
There they met an old Slav woman,
And they spoke to that old woman,
“What is wrong, Turks?” she inquired.
They responded, saying to her
That Millosh had slain the sultan,
“We can’t catch and kill the fellow.”
To them spoke the Slavic woman:
“Never will you catch that Millosh
For he’s wearing metal armour,
And his mare is decked in armour,
Lay your sabres on the ground to
Slash the mare above the ankles,
Slash the mare and cut her legs off,
That way you will capture Millosh,
When you’ve got Millosh surrounded,
The armour key is in his whiskers.”
What is it the soldiers did then?
On the ground they laid their sabres
O’er the route Millosh was taking,
And they slashed the horse’s ankles,
Thus the mare did topple over,
And alive they captured Millosh.
First they sought to chop his head off,
What did Millosh utter to them?
“I have one request to make you,
Summon forth that old Slav woman,
For I’m longing to behold her,
I’ve a final wish to give her,
And I have to converse with her.”
Thus they brought the Slavic woman,
Look what Millosh muttered to her:
“Come up closer to me, grandma,
For I’ve got a job to give you,
I’ve got lots of wealth to give you.”
Thus the woman did approach him
“Come yet closer to me for I’ve
Something in your ear to whisper.”
With his teeth did Millosh grab her,
Flung her off to Babimovci.
Swiftly they beheaded Millosh
What then did Millosh Kopiliq?
Tucked his head under his armpit,
Off he went and, fleeing, vanished,
On to Salabanj he travelled.
There a woman and a maiden
Who were busy washing garments
Caught a glimpse of headless Millosh.
What is it the maiden stuttered?
“Mother, mother, look and see that
Man who’s passing us is headless!”
To her did Millosh give answer:
“Headless I, may you be eyeless!”
Thereupon did Millosh perish.
* * *
All the priests for him did gather,
In their scriptures was it written:
If a church you can construct there
By the morning e’er the cocks crow,
Millosh will be resurrected.
Thus they started with the building,
Had the whole thing almost finished,
On the walls one tile was missing
When the cocks crowed in the morning.
At that place Millosh was buried,
The Almighty gave them water,
Water which had healing powers.
* * *
What did Sultan Murat’s mother
When she heard about the sultan
Who by Millosh had been slaughtered?
Greatly did the mother mourn him:
“Oh Kosova,” did she cry out,
“Damn Kosova,” did she cry out,
“That has left me without children,
Even though you harvest plenty,
May none there be blessed with fortune,
May there be no bloodless marriage!”
Having said this, did she perish.
* * *
What did say the mother’s daughter?
“Mother, where can we now go to?”
“We must flee the Turks,” she answered.
“When will we be back here, mother?”
“When the Turks, like us, are beaten.”
Çiçavica’s cut off from them,
As it is for us departing,
Then we’ll take back our Kosova.”
Songs of the Battle of Kosova of 1389
(Version Two, recorded in 1931 by Margaret Hasluck)
Once there was a Sultan Murad
Who had finished his ablution.
Then he said his evening prayers,
On his right side did he lie down,
And while resting started dreaming,
Dreaming of two doves a-flying,
On his right arm perched a black dove,
Of the dream did he say nothing.
Then he finished his ablutions,
And he said his morning prayers,
Then the Lord did make it evening,
And he finished his ablutions,
And he said his evening prayers,
On his right side did he lie down,
And again he started dreaming,
Dreaming of two doves a-flying,
On his left arm perched a white dove,
And again he went on dreaming,
In the morning he arose and
Said his morning prayers as always,
Yet the dream he told to no one.
Then the Lord did make it evening,
And he finished his ablutions,
On his right side did he lie down,
And again he started dreaming,
Dreaming of two doves a-flying,
On his left arm perched a white dove,
On his right arm perched a black dove.
In the morn what did the sultan?
Summoned, called the Grand Vizier,
Summoned, called the Sheh-Islami,
Summoned, called up all the imams,
Summoned, called the dream exegete.
To them he the dream narrated,
“If you can’t explain it to me,
I will have the heads chopped off you.”
“All the best, Sire,” they responded,
So the sultan did narrate it,
“This,” he said, “is what I dreamt of,
Towards me were two doves a-flying,
On my left arm perched a white dove,
On my right arm perched a black dove,
Through the air there flew black jackdaws.”
“All the best, Sire,” did they chorus,
“We will now the dream interpret,
Time’s come to invade Kosova,
And Kosova you will conquer,
But you’ll leave this life and perish.”
“May it be so,” he responded,
“I intend to go to battle.”
To his mother did he speak then:
“Mother, I am off to battle.”
“Why, dear son, for war’s depressing?
You’ve got Mecca and Medina,
You possess holy Damascus,
Which grows dates and rice and coffee.”
“Mother dear, what can I tell you?
When my mind dwells on Kosova,
I can’t get a wink of sleep and
Have no appetite for dinner.
Kosova grows wondrous wheat and
Seven dirhams weighs a kernel,
Think of all the mountain pastures,
With the flocks and shepherds roaming,
All those sheep bells clanking, ringing,
Milk and snow the shepherds relish,
Three score thirteen fountains flowing,
Think of all the peaks surrounding,
And the one called Çiçavica,
When I ponder on these things I
Almost lose my mind and reason.”
“All the best, son,” did she answer,
To all towns he sends forth criers,
Gathered full twelve thousand fighters,
“All ye who are faithful Muslims,
Gather ’round me for the battle,
If you’ve got your parents’ blessing.”
Thus he mustered all his army,
All the troops amassed before him,
Line by line he went and asked them,
“If you’ve not your parents’ blessing,
I will give you leave to go home.”
Not a man did him abandon.
When they came up to a river,
Could the army not traverse it,
All the soldiers gathered ’round him,
To the Lord a prayer he offered:
“Oh, Almighty, who are righteous,
If I am indeed the sultan,
Ford a path here through the water.”
And the Lord his prayer did answer.
Him a path cleft through the water.
Line by line the soldiers gathered,
Once again the sultan asked them:
“All those who regret their coming,
Skirt the path here through the water,
I will give them leave to go home.”
Not a single soldier gave up.
“We came with our parents’ blessing
We are ready now for battle.”
“Listen to me, all my soldiers,
If there’s anything you’ve need of,
You must come to me to get it,
I will give you all you’re lacking.
Only swear by the Almighty
That for gold you’ll not betray me,
That you’ll touch no fruits forbidden,
That you’ll touch not other men’s wives.”
All the army then responded,
Giving him their word of honour.
“All of us are men of honour,
And will touch nothing we shouldn’t,
And will nothing do forbidden,
Pious we leave on this journey.”
Then they set out for the battle,
Nowhere could their foes resist them,
They arrived in Salonika
Salonika did they conquer,
They continued on to Skopje,
Skopje also did they conquer.
When they got to Kaçanik
A soldier who’d been led astray
Did stretch his hand out, stole an apple,
Though he did not eat the apple,
And he put it in his kit-bag.
From that time went wrong the fighting,
Though for three days they did battle,
Kaçanik could not be taken.
So the sultan turned and called them,
Gathered ’round him all his army,
Hear what Sultan Murad uttered:
“Listen to me, oh my children,
All your sins do I forgive you,
Now I beg you, tell me truly,
Who has done a thing forbidden?
All your sins will I forgive you.”
One man did a step take forward,
Grabbed the apple from his kit-bag,
Gave the apple to the sultan,
“As we wandered through a garden,
I reached out and took this apple
From the man Jovan the Gardener.”
See how Sultan Murad acted:
Sultan Murad took the apple
Gave it to the Grand Vizier,
“Go and see Jovan the Gardener.”
With a guard they went together,
Gave the apple to its owner,
“Please forgive us for this apple.”
“I cannot forgive the deed for
For all the gold you wish to give me,
All the ducats you may offer,
I cannot forgive the apple,
Stick the apple where you found it
Or make me your Grand Vizier.”
To the sultan went the answer,
“You must make him your Vizier
Then he will forgive the apple.”
So the sultan made him Vizier,
And they ventured off to battle.
No one this time could resist them,
Kaçanik they took and conquered.
At Kosova’s plain they gathered,
See how Sultan Murad acted:
Raised a tent for every soldier,
Tents Kosova’s plain did cover.
How did all the kings react now?
Word they sent to one another,
“With the Turks we can’t do battle.”
They in Peja did assemble,
All to Peja then did hasten.
Always Peja has been crafty.
“Royal monarchs, listen to me,
With the Turk we can’t do battle,
For he has too many forces,
We will play a trick upon him.”
We’ll get ready thirty maidens,
We will dress them up in ducats,
In addition, give them money,
Send them to the Turkish army.
If our maidens they dishonour,
And they try to take their money,
We will then do battle with them.”
They got ready thirty maidens,
Dressed them up in golden ducats,
In addition, gave them money.
To the border did they send them,
To the Turkish camp the maids went,
Through the field camp did they wander
No one cast his eyes upon them.
Through the camp two days they wandered,
Till they’d almost died of hunger.
Word was sent to tell the sultan,
Tell the sultan of the maidens.
“Give them food, don’t take their money!”
Food they gave them, took no money.
So the maidens journeyed homewards,
Went their way back home to Peja,
When they got there, did they utter:
“No one cast an eye upon us.”
Then the kings spoke up, announcing:
We’ve decided to surrender,
With the Turks we can’t do battle.”
Millosh Kopiliqi spoke up:
“When we go to face the sultan,
I will be the first to enter,
If he offers me his right hand,
I will take it in submission,
If it is his foot he offers,
I will slay him with my dagger.”
With this did the leaders set off.
When they reached Kosova’s plain, they
Send a message to the sultan:
“We, the kings, will now surrender.”
“Let them enter,” bade the sultan,
And the way was led by Millosh.
As he entered the red tent, the
Sultan his left foot did offer,
With one hand did Millosh take it,
With the other thrust his dagger,
And the sultan fell and perished.
With their guns they shot at Millosh,
With their swords they tried to smite him,
But they could accomplish nothing,
He was clad in body armour.
Then spoke up an ancient woman:
“Lay your swords down,” did she cry out,
“For their blades will wound the hooves and
Then his steeds will fall and tumble,
He will fall and you will catch him.”
On the ground they spread their sabres
And the horse did fall and tumble,
After Millosh did they hasten,
Brandishing their swords to slay him.
“No, your swords will never wound him,”
Cried to them the ancient woman,
“In his bears the armour key hides,
With it you undo the armour,
Then his head you’ll get to chop off,”
Swiftly they removed his armour,
Got the head for chopping ready,
“Turks, I beg you, grant me respite,
On your souls may God have mercy,
For I have one son, my scion,
Want to give him all my money,
Bring that ancient woman to me,
I will tell her of the money.”
The old crone went up to see him,
By the nose he grabbed and seized her,
Flung her off away three hours.
On that spot they built a bridge, the
‘Ancient Woman’s Bridge’ they called it.
Bosnia turned Turk and with it
Everyone received a message,
Bidding them to talk in Bosnian.
