2013850th Birth Anniversary of the Kulin Ban - First Day Cover

Kulin, ban of medieval Bosnia (Ducatus Bosnensis) succeeded to the throne Ban Boric (banus Boricius de Bosna), from Croatian nobility from the area of today’s Slavonia. The question was whether Kulin was Boric’s son or close relative, remains controversial. In written sources there is no data on Kulin’s time and place of birth. His name can be interpreted as a derivative of Mikula (Nicholas) or perhaps as a nickname for people with large belly. In the letter from Pope’s legate Teobald from 1180, Nobili et potenti viro Culin bano Bosine (to the noble and powerful husband Kulin, Bosnian ban) was mentioned. Assuming that the Kulin as a young man appeared at the Banal chair, there is common opinion that he could have been born around the 1163. His leadership was marked by rise and prosperity of Banate of Bosnia; skillfully oscillate between Hungarian-Croatian kingdom and Byzantine Empire.
The contract (charter) between Republic of Dubrovnik and Kulin was interesting and important which was concluded on 29 August 1189, which guarantees freedom and unhindered trade for the merchants of Dubrovnik in Bosnia. In the village Muhasinovici near Visoko, the Cyrillic inscription from the late 12th century was discovered, indicating that the Kulin build a church and set on the lintel a description with his name and name of his wife Vojislava. By all accounts, Kulin ban was a believer and supporter of the Roman Church. However, at the end of his reign, he was accused that he protects heretics in his country. Therefore, at the meeting, held at the Bilino Polje (?) on 8th April 1203, with the Pope’s legate John de Casamaris, seven church priors confirmed their orthodoxy and loyalty to the Roman Church. After that, the sources no longer mention Kulin ban, so it is assumed that he was succeeded by his son Stjepan. In memory of successful years of reign of Kulin ban, the phrase "From Kulin ban and good days“ remained in common people. (Radoslav Dodig)