Petar Vojsalić (before August 12, 1434 – after June 21, 1456) is most likely the eldest son of Duke Juraj Vojsalić and grandson of Vojislav Vukčić. Without a doubt, we can say that this is the last significant Hrvatinić who managed to break into the very top of the Bosnian feudal elite. In historical sources, he appears for the first time in his father’s charter, dated August 12, 1434, issued to the Radivojevići, which freed them from the rule of Duke Sandalj Hranić, where he is listed with the title of prince with his younger brother Juraj. After the death of his father, Duke Juraj (died after 1438), he assumed power over this branch of Hrvatinići as well as the title of a duke. He attracted attention when, together with Duke Ivaniš Pavlović, he did not attend the wedding of King Stjepan Tomaš with Katarina, the daughter of the Bosnian Grand Duke Stefan Vukčić. It is a wedding that was intended to consolidate the peace established immediately before that between the king and his duke, and this development of events for unknown reasons did not sit well with Petar Vojsalić, who refused to attend the wedding ceremony as a sign of protest. At the same time, on the other side, his relatives Dragišići, sons of Ivaniš Dragišić, had good relations with Stjepan Tomaš.
While relations with the Bosnian king were strained, Duke Petar, a staunch Catholic, became closer to the Roman Curia, with whom intensive correspondence was conducted. Thus, in 1445, Pope Eugene IV placed the duke under his protection, and a year later, on October 23, 1446, he requested that the bishop of Hvar, Toma, cancel the sentence for the tithe against Duke Petar, which was pronounced against him by the bishop of Šibenik and the Chapter of Knin. At the same time, at the request of Duke Petar himself, the Franciscan monastery that was located on his possessions was exempted from the authority of the Bosnian vicar and placed under the authority of Bishop Toma of Hvar. It seems that the Bosnian vicar sided with King Tomaš, so that would be the reason for such a request to the Pope. The next pope, Nicholas V, like his predecessor, in 1447 took Petar Vojsalić under his protection, as well as his possessions, and ordered the Franciscans to defend him from possible attacks.
A few years later, in 1451, the famous war between Ragusa and Duke Stjepan Vukčić Kosača followed, and Duke Petar sided with the Ragusans. Such a move was expected since his father Duke Juraj Vojsalić was a great opponent of Kosačas. In addition, Petar Vojsalić had possessions in western Hum that his father had acquired, so the papal letter also mentions the town of Visući under his rule. Apparently, this is the town of Visući, which was located not far from Omiš on Cetina and is mentioned in the charter of Ban Stjepan II Kotromanić from 1351. And King Stjepan Tomaš, who had reconciled with Peter Vojsalić in the meantime, sided with the Ragusans. Nevertheless, soon another conflict broke out between Duke Petar and King Tomaš, and the Pope had to intervene. Peace was achieved through the mediation of the papal legate, Hvar bishop Toma Tommasini, and the leader of the Bosnian Franciscans, Marin. The act of reconciliation itself is described in a papal letter dated July 1, 1452, where Petar Vojsalić was designated as duke of Donji Kraj. Despite the reconciliation with King Tomaš, the position of Petar Vojsalić was still unfavorable, namely Ulrich of Celje, as an ally of Duke Stjepan, attacked his possessions. Consequently, the Ragusans, fearing that Duke Petar Vojsalić would leave the coalition, asked János Hunyadi, the governor of the Kingdom of Hungary, to protect their ally. Duke Petar’s further activity in this war is not known in detail.
Duke Petar Vojsalić was married to Teodora, who was the granddaughter of Koja Zakarija, Lord of the town of Danj in today’s Albania. Her mother was Boja, widow of Balša III Balšić. Teodora had an older sister who was married to Duke Stjepan Vukčić. From his marriage to Teodora, Petar Vojsalić had a daughter, Doroteja, who is already referred to as deceased in 1456 in the sources. Therefore, she died while her father was still alive. Certain assumptions hold that Matija Vojsalić, the “king” of the artificial state installed by the Ottoman conqueror after the collapse of the Bosnian state, was the son of Petar Vojsalić. The sources do not support such hypotheses, although there is no doubt that Matija Vojsalić was one of the Hrvatinićs, given his surname.
Duke Petar Vojsalić was mentioned for the last time on June 21, 1456 in a Venetian document, when his mother-in-law Boja ceded Danj to the Venetians. It cannot be said that he left behind an heir, since the origin of the already mentioned Matija Vojsalić is questionable.
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