Marko Kraljevic

Prince Marko (Serbian: Kraljevic Marko; literally King Marko in English)(1335-1395) was a son of King Vukašin , of the medieval Serbian House of Mrnjavcevic , who ruled an area in what is today the central part of the Republic of Macedonia, his capital being Prilep. Macedonian sources sometimes refer to the dynasty as the "Mrnjavcevci" . The dynasty originated from the area know today as Herzegovina. After his father died fighting against the Ottoman Empire in 1371, Marko became a Turkish vassal, who later died in the Battle of Rovine.Marko was turned into a hero celebrated by many songs in Serbian, Bulgarian and Macedonian epic poetry. Folklore came to remember him as a respected protector and saviour of the local population during the Turkish yoke. It is unclear why he became such an important figure of epic poetry taking into account his relatively small historical role.
Songs attribute to Marko superhuman strength: he is said to be able to squeeze water from cornel dried for nine years; his weapon of choice is said to be a mace (Serbian: ????? or topuz) of 66 oka (85 kilograms); it is said that he chose a horse in the only one he could not throw over his shoulder. More importantly, the poems assert his knightly valour - even though he is prone to short-tempered outbursts, he remains a protector of the poor and the helpless, a guardian of the law and order, even when to his disadvantage. In one song thus he mourns killing a hero who was better than himself; in another, he decides who the rightful ruler of Serbian Empire even though his dishonesty could have benefited his own father. It is believed that he chose to die when guns were invented and when he saw that "every coward can kill a hero", even from a distance. Even in death he only sleeps, waiting in a cave until he is needed again, a typical king in the mountain motif. Marko's portrait, by Mina Karadžic Marko's portrait, by Mina KaradžicMarko's horse is named Šarac (English Dappled). His horse is depicted as a perfect match for the prince's strength, so that he drinks Marko's wine too, a typical song begins with: "He drinks wine, oh prince Marko;/half he drinks, half he gives to Šarac". Marko's chosen woman-protector is a vila called Ravijojla . His mother Jevrosima is historically unknown, although Marko and his brother Andr?ja (sometimes known as Andrijaš) both exist in the historical chronicles of King Vukašin. In Serbian epic poetry Mother Jevrosima she has become a symbol of justice, moral, and the Christian worldview.