Batalo was a medieval Bosnian nobleman from Lašva. He was the holder of the medieval Bosnian title of "Tepčija". In Medieval Bosnia the title of tepčija appeared some time during 13th century and was in use until second half of the 14th century. The function of a tepčija was to oversee the country's feudal estates.
Life
Batalo belonged to the medieval Šantić family, who were lords of Lašva region. He married Resa Vukčić of the Vukčić-Hrvatinićinoble family, and sister of Bosnian Grand Duke, Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić, and had three sons, Vuk, Stefan and Ostoja, who were known by their last name Tepčić. Marrying the sister of the Bosnian Grand Duke elevated Batalo's status and gave him lordship over the medieval Sana region, or at least over some of its parts. His seat was at the fortress of Toričan, above the contemporary Varošluk village. The first mention of Batalo is found in a deed issued by KingStjepan Dabiša to the government of Dubrovnik, and dated 17 July 1392. In it, Batalo was named in it as a witness to the deed in capacity of tepčija. He was also, among others, a major influence at Bosnian Court and an adviser to Bosnian rulers from late 14th century, as well as a confidant of duke Hrvoje Vukčić. Batalo was also recognized by historians as one of the many other major Bosnian noblemen, who were followers of the Bosnian Church.
Batalo's Gospel
Batalo's Gospel is dated to 1393. The gospel was written by the scribe Stanko Kromirijanin. The tepčija Batalo Šantić was the scribe's patron. Four pages of the gospel are preserved, and are held in National Library of Russia in Saint Petersburg. On the third preserved page the scribe Stanko states that he was writing an ornate gospel for Batalo, dating its completion to 1393, two years after Tvrtko I death, during the reign of Dabiša. Here we also learn about his fortress Toričan, and his dominion over Sana, as well as name of his wife, Resa, sister of Grand Duke of Bosnia, Hrvoje Vukčić. On page two, there is a list of djed of the Bosnian Church. Researchers call this list „Red gospodina Rastudija“, and is understood as a list of names of all Bosnian Church bishops before and after him.
There were two, maybe even three levels of the office: the "Veliki Tepčija", "Tepčija" and "Mali Tepčija". "Veliki Tepčija" took care of the royal estates and held office at the ruler's court. "Tepčija", if there was "Lower Tepčija", administrated of all major feudal estates except that which belonged to the Court, where "Lower Tepčija" would than take care of rest of the land.
Batalo's mausoleum
Batalo's crypt and mausoleum was discovered in 1915 by Captain Teplý of the Austro-Hungarian army, on a hill called Crkvine. The Crkvine locality is multi-layered archaeological site, with cultural and historical continuity dating back to the neolithic, through early Roman and late antiquity, to end of the 14th century. At the entrance large block of limestone called a stećak. Frontal stone plate, dimension 17 x 24 cm, carried inscription in Cyrillic:
Original in Cyrillic script: Асє ʌєжн ɣӡʍожɴн ʍɣж mєпvнѣɖ Бɖmɖʌо ɖ пнɖ РɖΔоʍнʌ Δнѣɖк. Latin script: Ase leži] uzmo muž' t čija Batal bosan'ski a pisa Radomil' dijak'. English: Here lies mighty man Bosnian tepčija Batalo so is writing Radomil the dijak*. * dijak=scribe, and / or apprentice, disciple
