Banovitch Strahinya

Also known as: Banovitch / Strahinya · Family: Serbians · Role: hero · First appears: Chapter V · Banovitch Strahinya · Part 1

In Chapter V · Banovitch Strahinya, Strahinya’s wife was carried off by Vlah-Ali, who had attacked and pillaged Strahinya’s castle. When a letter came from his mother, Strahinya sought help from Youg Bogdan, his father-in-law, but Bogdan refused to let his sons join the rescue. Strahinya rode out alone on Dyogo, refusing the servants’ help, with Caraman the greyhound alongside him.

On the way, Strahinya met the old dervish, whom he had once held captive and treated humanely. The dervish called him “my brother-in-God”; Strahinya forgave his ransom and declared him his brother-in-God. At Vlah-Ali’s tent, Strahinya’s wife recognized him and roused Vlah-Ali. During their fierce combat, Caraman distracted the Turk, allowing Strahinya to kill him, and Strahinya carried his wife to her father’s castle.

There, Strahinya told Bogdan and his sons of his wife’s conduct. When they would have killed her, he stopped them, saying, “She is but a frail and easily misguided woman!” He said he would not kill her and that she would remain as dear to him as ever.