The role of Jazzar Pasha in the destruction of the sacral monuments on Kosovo: An example of tradition entering historiography

Historical lore about Jazzar Pasha's systematic destruction of Serbian medieval churches and monasteries in early 19th-century Kosovo, widely accepted in Serbian historiography, has been debunked. Analysis reveals that Pasha did not demolish any temples himself but instead repurposed materials from already-destroyed structures for his projects, such as water mills and the Pristina mosque. This misconception stems from 19th-century travelogue literature and oral traditions, which were later adopted as historical fact without verification. The study highlights how folklore and ethnological records can distort historical narratives, underscoring the need for critical evaluation of primary sources in historiography.

Sesum, U. (2018). The role of Jazzar Pasha in the destruction of the sacral monuments on Kosovo: An example of tradition entering historiography. Proceedings for Social Sciences Matica Srpska, (168), 849–872. https://doi.org/10.2298/zmsdn1868851s