In the 10th century Bosnia became a self-reliant political unit, ruled individually through own Bans. One century later it temporarily became a subject to the influence of the Byzantine Empire, then Kingdom of Serbia, and from the 12th century Hungary.
An independent Kingdom of Bosnia emerged around fourteenth century, but it barely survived one hundred years in a tolerant religious environment that included three Christian churches: Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Bosnian Bogomil. before being overwhelmed by the Turkish Ottoman Empire
At the height of Serb power, the Turks defeated the Serb army at the Battle of Kosovo Polje on 28 June 1389. Serbia quickly capitulated and became part of the expanding Ottoman Empire.
Year 1463 is regarded as the year in which the Bosnian kingdom fell to the Ottomans, for it was at this time that Ottoman military forces occupied central Bosnia and killed the last Bosnian king Stjepan Tomašević.
After the conquest of Ottoman Turks in the years 1463-1878 Bosnia was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire, and then Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, which officially annexed this land in 1908.
During the Ottoman rule, many Muslim Bosnians became members of the Ottoman elite as soldiers, politicians, and Islamic scholars. Within Bosnia, a Bosnian Islamic culture formed — this included unique architecture, literature, and customs. Bosnia remained a key province of the Ottoman Empire for more than 400 years.
Kingdom of Bosnia (1377–1463)
