Kosovo Field (Kosovo Polje), the core region of the newly independent Kosovo, experienced
several key historical events, each of which left important memories in the space.
As political control over territory changed, different memories connected to the area
became stronger, while others were pushed into the background. The first battle of
Kosovo (1389) and the death of their ruler Lazar, is a key event in Serbian history,
identified through spectacular landmarks in the region. Connected to this event, Turkish
monuments also exist, commemorating the death of the martyr Sultan Murad I. Following
independence, memorials of Albanian fighters started mushrooming as a core element
of Kosovar identity building, with the martyrdom of the “legendary commander” Adem
Jashari being central to this emblematic memory project. All three nations have an
“official” martyr connected to the space, around which different nation-building narratives
have been constructed. As the struggle over the control and influence of the region
continues, so does the competition of different memories and memorials. Territorialisation
and de-territorialisation of memories are ongoing projects in the country by the three
nations, linked to competing nation-buildings and political power struggles.
