Marko Kraljevic was a 15th century Serbian prince and vassal of the Ottoman Empire who fought against them. Over time, he became the subject of oral folk poems that transformed him into a legendary hero known for his superhuman strength, bravery, and defiance of the Turks. The poems portrayed him as the ideal hero who defended Christians and embodied values like fairness, truthfulness, and defending the poor. While the historical Marko was a vassal of the Turks, the legendary Marko came to represent Serbian national pride and freedom from foreign domination.

2. Marko Kraljevic was a real person. History knows about
him. He was the son of King Vukasin. Marko’s capital
was Prilep and he was a Turkish vassal from 1371 to
1395. He died during the Battle of Rovine in the war
between Turks and the Romanian Voivode Mircea. He
was buried in Hilandar, but his grave is not marked.
People made Marko into a legend, a great myth. They
made many poems about him. Everything they wanted,
they weaved into the character of their hero. That is
how Marko from the poems and the legends surpassed
Marko from history.
What people’s imagination creates is always stronger
and more long lasting then the regular life.

4. People believe that, before the battle in
which he died, he said: “I ask and pray
to Lord to be a helper for all Christians,
and let me be the first among the dead
in this war.” In these words we can see
sympathy as well.

5. He was very sympathetic towards his nation. We can see that
characteristic in his conversation with the Kosovo Maiden. He asks
her to tell him where the Arab is. He wants to save his nation from the
tyranny and disgrace and to reclaim its honour. Despite being a great
hero, Marko cries out of sadness for his nation.
Marko feels that the fate of his nation is his fate. He feels sympathy for
the nation in pain and tears.
He says: “To have revenge or to die.” Marko is a HERO in anguish
and a FRIEND in trouble.

6. Despite being a vassal, he is not a slave, but A
MAN WHO WANTS A COMPLETE FREEDOM
FOR HIMSELF AND HIS NATION. That is why
he has a wish to break everything that others
force upon him. We can see that in the poem
“Marko Drinks Wine at Ramadan.” Marko rejects
everything that the Sultan orders during the
Ramadan. He drinks wine, wears green dolama,
wears his sabre and dances kolo. He is a Christian
and he believes that that doesn’t relate to him.
What speaks from him is: VANITY, SPITE, WISH
TO BE ABOVE THE ALIEN.

7. After the exhaustion because of the time
spent in jail, Marko prepares for 3 months
for a duel against the strongest Turkish
soldier Musa Kesedzija. He will be ready
for the duel when he breaks the cornel
wood which was drying in the attic for 9
years and two drops of water leak from it.
He is persistent at that.

8. Truth is the most important for him. He may admit that someone is
stronger and better than him at duels.
“After Kraljevic Marko had seen that,
His white face got covered with tears:
Oh my God, oh my sweet sweet Lord!
I have murdered one better than myself.” (Marko Kraljevic and
Musa Kesedzija)
He has characteristics which are better than the characteristics of other
heroes.
People see the humane above the heroic in him.

9. Marko is the greatest Serbian hero. He always wins and is always
unmatched at something, as a person or as a hero.

11. Marko is disobedient and prone to trouble. He
doesn’t respect the Ramadan although he is a
Turkish vassal. He does everything opposite
of what the Sultan orders. During the
Ramadan:
1. Marko drinks wine,
2. Marko wears green dolama,
3. Marko wears his sabre,
4. Marko dances kolo.

12. He forces Turkish soldiers to drink wine during the Ramadan
although their religion doesn’t allow that.

13. When he heard from the blacksmith Novak that he had made a better
sabre for Musa Kesedzija, he cut Novak’s whole arm.
“Better sabre, and to the better hero.”

14. He wants to scare others and to show who
he is.
“Deli-Musa, move out of my way,
either move far, or bow down to me.”

15. He tricked Musa Kesedzija cunningly. He diverted his attention by
summoning fairies from the clouds. Then he took out his knife and
ripped his stomach.

16. Marko spends a lot on luxurious
clothes, weapons, and drinks.

17. He becomes angry and
starts fights easily.

18. When he feels that he will die, Marko
says goodbye to his horse Sarac by
cutting its head.

20. People remember Marko Kraljevic as the man created by the poetic
imagination and legends. In poems he is: the best, the greatest, the
strongest hero. No man like him had been born, nor will anyone
like him exist. No one had had that kind of strength; no one had
ridden a horse like him; no one had carried that kind of weapon;
and no one had drunk that much wine nor lived that long. He
was: FAIR, TRUTHFUL, DEFENDER OF THE POOR, HATER OF
TYRANNY. In short, he was AN IDEAL HERO. People were
creating his character for centuries. Marko was encouraging the
people, urging them not to give up, to stay strong in trouble and
to fight for their dignity and freedom. That is why he lives long,
longer than others. According to poems , he lived for 300 years,
and his horse Sarac for 160 years. But everything that is born has
to die. And so did Marko.
E.S.“SVETI SAVA”
Kragujevac january 2017 Bogdan Mihailovic VI 3