Mila Gojsalić

Who is Mila Gojsalić?

Mila Gojsalić is a Croatian folk heroine.

According to tradition, her origins are from the village of Kostanje in Dalmatian hinterland and she was a distant descendant of Croatian king Gojslav. She lived in time of Ottoman wars in Croatia. In 1530 Ottoman Ahmed-pasha gathered an army of 10 000 men with a goal to conquer Poljica. He made a camp in a place called Podgrac. Mila Gojsalić was among other local women forced to lose virginity with Ahmed-pasha. Because of that act she infiltrated the Turkish camp and blew up the munitions stockpile, killing Ahmed-pasha and numerous officers and soldiers. That act completely surprised and confused remaining Turkish soldiers who were then overrun by people of Poljica.

Ivan Meštrović sculptured the statue of her, installed above the town of Omiš, while Jakov Gotovac composed the opera to her honour. August Šenoa also wrote about her.

In her birthplace, every summer there is a cultural manifestation called The days of Mila Gojsalić. Her house is still in the village and is completely renewed.