King Tvrtko I Kotromanic, in an unwrapped statue mounted on horseback, has arrived in Banja Luka. The statue of the medieval ruler is being installed at the centre of the city’s roundabout near the "Ekvator" area, symbolising a tribute to one of Bosnia’s most significant historical figures.

The monument, set to stand several metres high, is the focal point of a park nearing completion. The statue, which cost approximately 430,000 Bosnian marks (some €250,000) to produce, is positioned on a tall pedestal, with the unveiling planned for the coming days.

However, the planned installation of monuments in both Sarajevo and Banja Luka dedicated to King Tvrtko I has sparked debate across Bosnia and Herzegovina, igniting a renewed discussion over the ownership of King Tvrtko’s legacy and the medieval Bosnian kingdom. A subtle rivalry has emerged between the two cities, with questions arising over who can rightfully claim Tvrtko as their own.

The initiative to erect the statue in Banja Luka was spearheaded by Mayor Drasko Stanivukovis, intensifying the competitive tone following a similar monument’s placement in Sarajevo earlier this year. Responding to Sarajevo’s tribute, Stanivukovic remarked that Banja Luka would “correct the injustice” by honouring both King Tvrtko and Ban Kulin, with the latter being offered as a “bonus.” This led to the recent opening of the “Park of Books,” which now features a monument dedicated to Ban Kulin.

While the statue of King Tvrtko in Sarajevo appeared overnight with little fanfare, Banja Luka’s unveiling is set to be a grand event, coinciding with the final stages of work on the new park. The ceremony also aligns with the city’s ongoing election campaign, adding a political edge to the proceedings.

In a series of similar installations, Banja Luka recently unveiled seven tulip sculptures that will soon adorn a new roundabout currently under construction. These tulips join earlier additions to the city’s landscape, including a giant “clothes peg” and a stone installation near Venice Bridge, further adding to the city’s evolving urban art scene.

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Meanwhile, the city is also completing the installation of Cyrillic letters in the so-called “Cyrillic Park,” a controversial development on the site known as “Kupusiste,” which was the location of earlier public protests. Demonstrators had argued that the construction of the park would destroy a much-loved green space.

As Banja Luka prepares to reveal its tribute to King Tvrtko, the historical debate surrounding his legacy continues to stir public interest across the country.