Morića Han

Morića Han is a han (that is, a roadside inn) originally built in 1551 in Sarajevo, Ottoman Empire (now Bosnia and Herzegovina). After a fire in 1697 it was reconstructed in its current form.^[1] Morića Han is one of the buildings which were financed by and belonged to Gazi Husrev-Beg's endowment (Vakuf). It is the only surviving han in Sarajevo.^[2][3][4] It is located in Baščaršija, Sarači street, in Stari Grad.

Morića Han (also spelled "khan" when translated to English) is considered a true caravanserai because, when operational, it could accommodate about 300 passengers and 70 horses.^[5] Evliya Çelebi, an Ottoman traveler, wrote about his visit to Sarajevo in 1659 and described Morića Han as Hadži-Bešir's han, because Hadži-Bešir was landlord of the han then.^[6] The modern name probably comes from the surname of the han's tenants at the beginning of the 19th century, Mustafa-aga Morić and his son Ibrahim-aga Morić.^[7] However, some sources connect the name of this han with the Morić brothers who participated in rebellions against the Ottoman Empire from 1747 to 1757.^[8][9]

The citizens of Sarajevo gathered in Morića Han on July 29, 1878, established Narodni Odbor (English: Peoples Council) and protested against the occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary.^[10][11]

Inscription from poem written by Omar Khayyám

The han has survived several fires, most recently in December 1957. It was reconstructed from 1971 to 1974 and decorated with Persian calligraphy inscriptions from poems written by Omar Khayyám. Stari Grad returned ownership of Morića Han to Gazi Husrev-Beg's endowment in 1998.^[12] Management of the endowment rents the han for business purposes that match the historical context, including a national restaurant, a Persian carpet shop, and religious societies.^[13]

Morića Han is mentioned in the sevdalinka song "Vila kliče sa vrh Trebevića" used in the movie When Father Was Away on Business, directed by Emir Kusturica.^[14]

See also

• Stari Grad, Sarajevo
• Caravanserai
• Baščaršija

References

1. ^ (in Serbo-Croatian) Naše starine, Zemaljski zavod za zaštitu spomenika kulture i prirodnih rijetkosti N. R. Bosne i Hercegovine, 1953, http://books.google.com/books?id=7B0SAAAAIAAJ&q=mori%C4%87a+han+jedini&dq=mori%C4%87a+han+jedini&hl=en&ei=VyKsTeuQLYfOswbZqamaCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAw, "Morića han, koji je u današnjem izgledu izgrađen neposredno po- s'ije požara Sarajeva 1697 godine, ..." 
2. ^ "Morića Han" (in Serbo-Croatian). Visit Sarajevo web site. http://www.visitsarajevo.ba/sightseeing/attractions/historical-sarajevo/morica-han/. Retrieved 15 April 2011. 
3. ^ (in Serbo-Croatian) Naše starine, Zemaljski zavod za zaštitu spomenika kulture i prirodnih rijetkosti N. R. Bosne i Hercegovine, 1953, http://books.google.com/books?id=7B0SAAAAIAAJ&q=mori%C4%87a+han+jedini&dq=mori%C4%87a+han+jedini&hl=en&ei=VyKsTeuQLYfOswbZqamaCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAw, "Morića han, ...pretstavlja jedini sačuvani primjerak tipa karavan-saraja kod nas." 
4. ^ (in Serbo-Croatian) Tourism potentials of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Stećak. 2009. http://www.scribd.com/doc/39938583/Tourist-Potentials-of-Bosnia-and-Herzegovina-Issue-1. Retrieved 18 April 2011. "Morića han jedini je sačuvani sarajevski han" 
5. ^ "Objekti Gazi Husrev-Begovog vakufa poslovnog karaktera Osmanlijski period Morića han" (in Serbo-Croatian). Gazi Husrev-Beg's endowement web site. http://www.vakuf-gazi.ba/objektighv.html. Retrieved 16 April 2011. "Morića han je posljednji sačuvani karavan-saraj na našim prostorima..Morića Han je u svoje vrijeme mogao da primi na konak karavan od 300 putnika i 70 konja." 
6. ^ "Objekti Gazi Husrev-Begovog vakufa poslovnog karaktera Osmanlijski period Morića han" (in Serbo-Croatian). Gazi Husrev-Beg's endowement web site. http://www.vakuf-gazi.ba/objektighv.html. Retrieved 16 April 2011. "Han je u narodu obično dobivao ime po handžiji ili po zakupcu tako da ovaj objekat putopisac Evlija Čelebija ističe još 1659. godine pod imenom Hadži Beširov han koji je tada bio handžija Gazi Husrev-begovog vakufa." 
7. ^ "Objekti Gazi Husrev-Begovog vakufa poslovnog karaktera Osmanlijski period Morića han" (in Serbo-Croatian). Gazi Husrev-Beg's endowement web site. http://www.vakuf-gazi.ba/objektighv.html. Retrieved 16 April 2011. "Današnje ime je dobio u prvoj polovini XIX stoljeća po njegovim prvim zakupcima; Mustafa-agi Moriću (umro 1815. godine) i njegovom sinu Ibrahim-agi (umro 1827. godine)." 
8. ^ Maglajić, Munib (1983) (in Serbo-Croatian), Od zbilje do pjesme: ogledi o usmenom pjesništvu, http://books.google.com/books?id=p2QdAAAAMAAJ&q=Mori%C4%87a+han&dq=Mori%C4%87a+han&hl=en&ei=XwusTd2WO4zMsgaUlKGXCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CE0Q6AEwCTgU, "Mlađeg od pogubljene braće o čijoj zlosrećnoj sudbini peva poznata osmeračka balada ... bio zakupnik hana u Saračima koji po njemu do dana današnjeg sačuvao ime kao Morića han" 
9. ^ "Morića Han". Web site Visit Sarajevo. http://www.visitsarajevo.ba/sightseeing/attractions/historical-sarajevo/morica-han/. Retrieved 18 April 2011. "It acquired its present name in the late 18th century, after the Morić brothers, who were in a perpetual state of rebellion against the authorites between 1747 and 1757." 
10. ^ "Morića han" (in Serbo-Croatian). Sarajevo.co.ba web site. http://sarajevo.co.ba/znamenitosti/morica-han/. Retrieved 18 April 2011. "1878. godine ovdje okupljene Sarajlije formirale su Narodnu vladu Bosne i Hercegovine i uputile zvaničan protest protiv austro-ugarske okupacije." 
11. ^ Mandić, Mihovil (1910) (in Serbo-Croatian). Povijest okupacije Bosne i Hercegovine, 1878. Matica Hrvatska. http://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&tbo=1&q=%22narodni+odbor%22+sarajevo+1878&btnG=Search+Books#sclient=psy&hl=en&tbo=1&tbm=bks&source=hp&q=%22narodni+odbor%22+sarajevo+1878+hanu&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=28239a8c2adb92d7. Retrieved 18 April 2011. "Zatim zamoli valija austo-ugarskog generalnog konzula, da pospješi zaposjednuće Sarajeva. U to bi Hafiz-paša oslobođen, a uspostavljen narodni odbor (29 jul.), koji vijećaše u Morića hanu (kod Begove džamije)." 
12. ^ "Objekti Gazi Husrev-Begovog vakufa poslovnog karaktera Osmanlijski period Morića han" (in Serbo-Croatian). Gazi Husrev-Beg's endowement web site. http://www.vakuf-gazi.ba/objektighv.html. Retrieved 16 April 2011. "1998. godine Odlukom Općine Stari Grad bio predat na korištenje GHb vakufu kao izvornom vlasniku." 
13. ^ "Objekti Gazi Husrev-Begovog vakufa poslovnog karaktera Osmanlijski period Morića han" (in Serbo-Croatian). Gazi Husrev-Beg's endowement web site. http://www.vakuf-gazi.ba/objektighv.html. Retrieved 16 April 2011. "Uprava Vakufa je nastojala da iznajmi prostore ovoga objekta za takve poslovne djelatnosti koje se po svojoj funkciji uklapaju u istorijski ambijent..." 
14. ^ Sidran, Abulah. "Screenplay for the When Father Was Away on Business" (in Serbo-Croatian). http://www.scribd.com/doc/20529396/Abdulah-Sidran-Otac-Na-Sluzbenom-Putu. Retrieved 18 April 2011. "Vila kliče sa vrh Trebevića: Je l’ Sarajvo gdje je nekad bilo? Je l' mejhana kraj Morića hana? Piju l’ vino mlade Sarajlije? Služi i ih krčmarica mlada? Nosi l’ mlada tri tanka fistana? Prvi plavi, što begove mami, drugi žuti, što hanume ljuti, treći b'jeli, što djevojke cv'jeli?" 

Coordinates: 43°51′35″N 18°25′48″E / 43.8597°N 18.4301°E / 43.8597; 18.4301

External links

• Text about Morića Han on Sarajevo internet portal
• Text about Morića Han on the web site of Gazi Husrev-Beg Vakuf (endowment)