Grgo Martić

Grgo Martić (24 January 1822 – 30 August 1905), also known as Grga or Mato Martić, was a Bosnian friar, writer, and translator in the Franciscan Province of Bosna Srebrena.

In his youth, he was a supporter of Illyrian movement as a nationalist and romanticist, before switching to a more moderate view.

Martić worked as a writer and translator, translating works of Homer, Martić's work is included into both Bosnian-Herzegovinian and Croatian literary anthologies.

His life has also been commemorated with a postage stamp from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Central place in Old Town of Sarajevo, in front of the Sarajevo Cathedral, bears the name of fra Grgo Martić. A monument in his honor is erected in front of a church in Posušje, while another is also erected in Zagreb. Also, two monuments were erected to Grgo Martić in Kreševo. A commemorative stone cross with a plaque stands in the village Rastovača noting his birthplace, his life and his work.

Literary works

Slavodobitnica svijetlomu gospodaru Omer-paši (epic poem, 1852) Narodne pjesme bosanske i hercegovačke (with Ivan Frano Jukić), I (1858) Osvetnici, I-III (ep, 1861/65.), IV (1878.), V (1881.), VI (1881.), VII (1883) Početni zemljopis za katoličke učionice u Bosni (epic poem, 1884) Narodne pjesme o boju na Kosovu godine 1389. (1886) Obrana Biograda godine 1456. (ep, 1887) Pjesnička djela fra Grge Martića, 1-7 (1888) Pjesnička djela fra Grge Martića, I (1893) Zapamćenja/1829–1878, po kazivanju autorovu zabilježio janko Koharić (1906.) Izabrani spisi (1956)