Bosnian Music: Kemal Malovcic - Na Drini Cuprija video

The Bridge on the Drina was constructed by 16th century Bosniak nobleman Mehmet Pasa Sokolovic. Having made great advances in the ottoman army he soon became a powerful statesman well-known for his many famous architectural achievments. He rose through the ranks of the Ottoman imperial system, eventually holding positions as commander of the imperial guard (1543-1546), High Admiral of the Fleet (1546-1551), Governor-General of Rumelia (1551-1555), Third Vizier (1555-1561), Second Vizier (1561-1565) and as Grand Vizier (1565-1579) (for a total of 14 years, 3 months, 17 days) under three Sultans: Suleiman the Magnificent, Selim II, and Murad III. He was assassinated in 1579, ending a near 15-year rule as de facto ruler of the Ottoman Empire. Another unusual fact about him is that at a height of above 2 metres, he was the tallest amongst all of the Grand-Viziers that have served the Ottoman Empire. In contemporary times the bridge remains to be nothing less than a Bosniak national treasure . Therefore, all gratitude there is to those heroic Bosniak warriors who preserved the Bosniak culture from genocidal Serbhood.