John Van Antwerp Fine Jr.

Last updated

John V. A. Fine Jr. (born 1939) is an American historian and author. He is professor of Balkan and Byzantine history at the University of Michigan and has written several books on the subject.

Contents

Early life and education

He was born in 1939 and grew up in Princeton, New Jersey. His father, John Van Antwerp Fine Sr. (1903–87), was Professor of Greek History in the Classics Department of Princeton University. [1] His mother, Elizabeth Bunting Fine, was also a classicist and taught Latin and Greek at Miss Fine’s School.

Fine Jr.'s undergraduate and graduate training was at Harvard University, where he studied Byzantium, the Balkans, and medieval Russia. He earned his Ph.D. from Harvard in 1968 and began teaching at the University of Michigan in 1969.

Career and academic interests

Medievalist Paul Stephenson, lead professor at the School of History and Heritage, University of Lincoln, and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, expressed high regard for Fine's work and compared him with the likes of Paul M. Barford, Simon Franklin, Jonathan Shepard. [2]

His academic interests range from theology and the history of Christianity to Byzantium and the medieval and modern Balkans. His publications have become standard in the field, notably his surveys of the Medieval Balkans (1983 and 1987). He has also revolutionized the way scholars understand the Bosnian Church (first published in 1975; republished in England in 2006), showing that it was not heretical.

In 2006, Fine published a study of notions of ethnicity in Croatia from the medieval period to the nineteenth century titled When Ethnicity Did Not Matter in the Balkans. In 2008, Emily Greble Balić, gave a positive review stating that "(o)ne of the book's great strengths is Fine's analysis of premodern "ethnic" identity". [3] In 2009, John K. Cox of North Dakota State University reviewed it largely positively, noting some points of criticism. [4] James P. Krokar review from 2009 was also positive, stating that the book is "extremely important" addition to "South Slavic history, and to the debate on the modernity of the nation." [5] The same year, Neven Budak of the University of Zagreb gave a mixed review, noting both some positive and negative aspects. On the negative side, Budak complained alleging "ideological prejudices" and "preconceived conclusions". He claimed that "the author did not prepare methodologically, nor did he become acquainted with the relevant works of non-Croatian authors", that Fine's approach to the topic "contrary to stated intentions - is traditionalist in its method, superficial and unreliable", alleging inappropriate "attitude towards Croats". [6]

Studies on Bosnian history

Fine has also contributed to the understanding of Bosnian history, working to correct popular misconceptions, especially during the Balkan wars of the 1990s. He co-authored Bosnia and Hercegovina: A Tradition Betrayed with former student Robert J. Donia (1994), a work published in England, the US, and in Bosnian translation in war-time Sarajevo (1995). He traveled to and lectured in the besieged cities of Sarajevo and Mostar during the war.

Works

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zachlumia</span> Medieval Balkan principality

Zachlumia or Zachumlia, also Hum, was a medieval principality located in the modern-day regions of Herzegovina and southern Dalmatia. In some periods it was a fully independent or semi-independent South Slavic principality. It maintained relations with various foreign and neighbouring powers and later was subjected to Kingdom of Hungary, Kingdom of Serbia, Kingdom of Bosnia, and at the end to the Ottoman Empire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croatia in personal union with Hungary</span> Personal union of two kingdoms

The Kingdom of Croatia entered a personal union with the Kingdom of Hungary in 1102, after a period of rule of kings from the Trpimirović and Svetoslavić dynasties and a succession crisis following the death of king Demetrius Zvonimir. With the coronation of King Coloman of Hungary as "King of Croatia and Dalmatia" in 1102 in Biograd, the realm passed to the Árpád dynasty until 1301, when the (male) line of the dynasty died out. Then, kings from the Capetian House of Anjou, who were also cognatic descendants of the Árpád kings, ruled the kingdoms. Later centuries were characterized by conflicts with the Mongols, who sacked Zagreb in 1242, competition with Venice for control over Dalmatian coastal cities, and internal warfare among Croatian nobility. Various individuals emerged during the period, such as Paul I Šubić of Bribir, who was representing the most powerful Croatian dynasty at the time, the Šubić noble family. These powerful individuals were on occasion able to de facto secure great deal of independence for their fiefdoms. The Ottoman incursion into Europe in the 16th century significantly reduced Croatian territories and left the country weak and divided. After the death of Louis II in 1526 during the Battle of Mohács and a brief period of dynastic dispute, both crowns passed to the Austrian House of Habsburg, and the realms became part of the Habsburg monarchy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomislav of Croatia</span> King of Croatia

Tomislav was the first king of Croatia. He became Duke of Croatia c. 910 and was crowned king in 925, reigning until 928. During Tomislav's rule, Croatia forged an alliance with the Byzantine Empire against Bulgaria. Croatia's struggles with the First Bulgarian Empire eventually led to war, which culminated in the decisive Battle of the Bosnian Highlands in 926. In the north, Croatia often clashed with the Principality of Hungary; the state retained its borders and, to some extent, expanded with the disintegrated Lower Pannonia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trpimir II of Croatia</span> King of Croatia

Trpimir II was King of Croatia from 928 to 935. He was from the Trpimirović dynasty. Trpimir was probably the son of Duke Muncimir and younger brother of King Tomislav.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić</span> 14th-century Bosnian nobleman

Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić was a medieval Bosnian nobleman and magnate, Grand Duke of Bosnia, Knyaz of Donji Kraji, and Duke of Split. He was the most prominent member of the Hrvatinić noble family, and one of the major feudal lords in Kingdom of Bosnia. He was Grand Duke of Bosnia under three Bosnian kings: King Tvrtko I, King Stephen Dabiša and King Stephen Ostoja. In 1403 Ladislaus of Naples named him his deputy for Dalmatia, and bestowed him with a title Duke of Split, later Herzog of Split. He played a crucial role in the dynastic struggles between the Anjou and Luxembourg claimants to the Hungarian-Croatian throne at the end of the 14th century, as well as in the emergence of the Bosnian Kingdom as a regional power during the same period.

Vladislav or Ladislas was the Duke of Croatia. In sources he is mentioned as the Duke of Dalmatia and Liburnia, having succeeded his uncle Borna, a Frankish vassal. He is mentioned only in the 9th-century Royal Frankish Annals, regarding year 821. Borna had died between January and October 821, during a war against Frankish rebel Ljudevit, Duke of Pannonian Croatia. Borna's nephew Vladislav succeeded him, by the people's will and emperor's approval. Vladislav ruled from Nin as a loyal vassal of the Frankish Emperor Lothair I. In historiography, his realm has been referred to as Dalmatian Croatia or Littoral Croatia, where he was succeeded by Duke Mislav.

Borna was the duke of Croatia from c. 810 to 821 and vassal of the Frankish Empire. He resided in Nin and was the ruler of most of the Croats in northern Dalmatia.

Bernardin Pavlović was a Franciscan writer from Dubrovnik, born in Ston. He had two works printed in Venice in 1747 which he wrote were "in Croatian". The title of the second work notes it's printed in "our worthy Croatian language" for "the use of the Croatian people", which was noticed by Vatroslav Jagić and later by John V. A. Fine as one of increasingly many examples of how the term Croatian came into use in addition to the existing more generic Illyrian (Slavic) terminology in Dalmatia.

John the Deacon was a Venetian deacon, secretary to the doge of Venice and a chronicler.

Pomorje, also known as the Lands of Pomorje, is a medieval term, used in Byzantine title, and at end of the 12th century, during the reign of Stefan Nemanja (1166–1196), inherited by Serbian monarchs, thus becoming part of the Serbian title, whose rulers were styled with the title: "crowned king and autocrat of all Serbian and coastal lands".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prozor Fortress</span>

Prozor Fortress is a medieval fortress situated in the continental part of Split-Dalmatia County, in inland Dalmatia, just above the town of Vrlika in Croatia. From its origin as a small stronghold built by the ancient Illyrian tribe Dalmatae, it developed into a fortress in the 15th century, during the reign of Bosnian feudal lord Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hrvoje's Missal</span>

The Hrvoje's Missal is a 15th-century missal written in Glagolitic alphabet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radoslav of Serbia</span> Knez, Archont, Prince

Radoslav was a Serbian Prince who ruled over the early medieval Principality of Serbia at the beginning of the 9th century. He succeeded his father, prince Višeslav, who ruled at the end of the 8th century. Radoslav was succeeded by his son, prince Prosigoj.

The "Lands of the Hungarian Crown" was the titular expression of Hungarian pretensions to the various territories that the King of Hungary ruled nominally or absolutely.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duchy of Croatia</span> State in the northwest Balkan Peninsula from the 7th century to c. 925

The Duchy of Croatia was a medieval state that was established by White Croats who migrated into the area of the former Roman province of Dalmatia c. 7th century CE. Throughout its existence the Duchy had several seats – namely, Klis, Solin, Knin, Bijaći and Nin. It comprised the littoral – the coastal part of today's Croatia except Istria, and included a large part of the mountainous hinterland as well. The Duchy was in the center of competition between the Carolingian Empire and the Byzantine Empire for rule over the area. Croatian rivalry with Venice emerged in the first decades of the 9th century and would continue through the following centuries. Croatia also waged battles with the Bulgarian Empire and with the Arabs; it also sought to extend its control over important coastal cities under the rule of Byzantium. Croatia experienced periods of vassalage to the Franks or to the Byzantines and of de facto independence until 879, when Duke Branimir was recognized as an independent ruler by Pope John VIII. The Duchy was ruled by the Trpimirović and Domagojević dynasties from 845 to 1091. Around 925, during the rule of Tomislav, Croatia became a kingdom.

Soli (<i>zemlja</i>) Medieval region of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Soli or was a zemlja of the medieval Bosnian state, located in today's northern Bosnia and Herzegovina, centered around the town of Tuzla. Initially, a Slavic župa, the County of Soli became an integral part of Kulin's Bosnia and later both of Banate of Bosnia and of the Kingdom of Bosnia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eparchy of Dalmatia</span>

The Eparchy of Dalmatia is a diocese or eparchy of the Serbian Orthodox Church, having jurisdiction over the region of Dalmatia, in Croatia. Since 2017, Serbian Orthodox Bishop of Dalmatia is Nikodim Kosović.

Pietro Gozze or Petar Gučetić (1493–1564), called Doctor Illyricus, was a Ragusan Catholic prelate who served as the bishop of Ston (1551–1564).

Liudemuhls or Ljudemisl was a medieval Slavic duke, vassal to the Franks, who was in power in 823 in parts of Dalmatia known as the Duchy of the Croats.

References

  1. "John Van Antwerp Fine". The New York Times . 20 January 1987. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  2. Stephenson, Paul (1 January 2004). "Review: Barford, Early Slavs". The Medieval Review. Indiana University. ISSN   1096-746X . Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  3. Balić, Emily Greble (12 March 2008). "When Ethnicity Did Not Matter in the Balkans: A Study of Identity in Pre-Nationalist Croatia, Dalmatia, and Slavonia in the Medieval and Early-Modern Periods (review)". Journal of Interdisciplinary History. 38 (4): 616–617. doi:10.1162/jinh.2008.38.4.616. ISSN   1530-9169 . Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  4. Cox, John K. (Spring 2009). "Review: When Ethnicity Did Not Matter in the Balkans: A Study of Identity in Pre-Nationalist Croatia, Dalmatia, and Slavonia in the Medieval and Early-Modern Periods by John V. A. Fine, Jr". The Slavic and East European Journal . American Association of Teachers of Slavic and East European Languages. 53 (1): 142–44. JSTOR   40651096.
  5. Krokar, James P. (28 April 2009). "John V. A. Fine Jr. When Ethnicity Did Not Matter in the Balkans: A Study of Identity in Pre-Nationalist Croatia, Dalmatia, and Slavonia in the Medieval and Early-Modern Periods. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press, 2006. Pp. 652, maps". Austrian History Yearbook. 39: 200–202. doi:10.1017/S0667237808001181. ISSN   1558-5255.
  6. Budak, Neven (18 November 2009). "Kako se doista s jugonostalgičarskih pozicija može negirati hrvatska povijest ili o knjizi Johna V. A. Fine Ml. When Ethnicity did not Matter in the Balkans". Journal of the Institute of Croatian History (in Croatian). Zagreb: hrcak.srce.hr. 41 (1): 487–495. ISSN   0353-295X . Retrieved 17 December 2019.

Further reading