Tracing National Identity and Historical Consciousness through Metahistorical Events:

The Impact of the Battles of Didgori, Lake Peipus, and Kosovo Polje on Collective Memory and Political Action

Abstract

National identity refers to the concept of nationality, which depicts how a group of people united by language, religion, ethnicity, folklore, or historical destiny, tend to build social bonds more willingly among themselves than among other people outside the group. Historically, the creation of large groups that recognized themselves as a single nation favoured the constitution of nation-states. National identities are often bolstered by metahistorical events, i.e., events which persist in one nation’s consciousness – and subconsciousness – beyond their concrete unfolding, as part of the folk’s collective memory. Often, these metahistorical events are represented by battles or wars, which either led to victory, independence, and self-determination, or to defeat, subjugation, and loss of freedom. Most nations possess metahistorical grand events upon which they have built their own national identity. This article explores the relevance of metahistorical events by comparing three battles, namely Didgori (1121), the Lake Peipus (1242), and Kosovo Polje (1389). In the case of Georgia, the battle of Didgori represents a milestone for Georgian independence and national consciousness, while in the case of Russia, the battle of Lake Peipus became the symbol of Russian fight for independence against “Western” invading forces and, finally, in the case of Serbia, the battle of Kosovo Polje epitomizes one of the most important events in Serbian history and an inspiring source for Serbian national sentiment. The article argues that the three clashes exemplified some metahistorical cornerstones for the building of the national identity and consciousness of respectively the Georgian, the Russian, and the Serbian nations. Their metahistorical scope is expressed through their exploitation by political and religious elites as tools for justifying socio-political actions in modern and contemporary history, as well as means to foster nationalistic feelings.