Gazi Husrev-bey in controversial historiographical perspectives
Authors:   Institute of History, University of Sarajevo, Smajić Ramiza 
Published: June 2022

While former Yugoslav historiography had a kind of schedule of scientific research centers (Zagreb for Latin work, Sarajevo for work in Turkish, and Belgrade for work on Visant sources) the end of the 20th century developed new national historiographies that approach the history of the Ottoman period from its point of view. Since this period constitutes a common past of the people of large part of the Balkans, today we can analyze how and what extent regional historiographies explore common historical figures and events. Although historiography can be followed by Gazi Husrev-bey's life and military journey through the Balkan territories, the perception of his character and work remained within the margins of the basic facts of the historical reality of the 16th century. Given the areas where the mention of Gazi Husrev's name and works remained widely present, the research corps on this topic is diverse, but in the foreground based on samples of archival material and representative units of domestic and foreign historiographic literature. The basic thesis I would like to present is that even the most established facts of the past cannot avoid contradictions and debatable interpretations, largely dependent on the point of view or focus shaped by stereotypes, exclusive hypotheses through the paradigm of social awareness as well as the interests of time and politics in some historiographic circles. Through sel examples of research approaches, it can be noted that they are related to the lack of involvement of scientists in incorporating research results into the education system. In addition, the Bologna system has narrowed research topics and they are mainly related to today's borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is absurd for the processing of the Ottoman period of the Bosnian Ayalat, which formed one of the administrative units of the Ottoman State. Changes to the borders with the collapse of the Ottoman state have left a large part of the Bosnian people in other Balkan areas. Their collective memory and attitude towards historical figures are mostly about folk songs, while the research of historical facts on the same topics is left to national historiographies that still retain antagonistic attitude towards the Other. This is best seen through the revitalization of theories about the „dark Turkish times“ and „haters of Christianity“. Due to numerous gaps in knowledge and material traces of the past, younger generations of researchers in the neighborhood, however, are asking logical questions such as: Why renounce the Ottoman heritage because of the collective aversion to the State which once they were part of. This presentation is just a small example of these common historiographical wanderings. According to what has been researched and known about the character and work of Gazi Husrev-bey, this historical personality can be a pattern of local and regional research tendencies. Persistence in such approaches seriously calls into question the responsibility of historians. Bosnia and Herzegovina's experience of a historiographical approach to the topic of famous personalities and events is increasingly indicating self-isolationism.