History of Herzegovina
Encyclopedia
The History of Herzegovina
ranges from the first Slavic migrations to the region to the most recent Bosnian War
.
A pre-Slavic, Indo-European tribal people called Illyrians were one of the first significant people to inhabit Herzegovina, along with Bosnia, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania and Greece as far back as 2000 B.C. They intermingled with the indigenous pre-Indo-European mountain population, and Illyrians were known for being a fierce mountain warrior race by the Greeks and Romans.
of Bosnia Isa-beg Ishaković mentioned the name in a letter from 1454.
Herzegovina’s unofficial capital of Mostar
was first mentioned in 1452. Only a few years later it was invaded by the Ottomans and most likely fell in the year 1466. It was during the time of Ottoman rule that the city gained importance. It soon became a kadiluk
and from 1522 it was the centre of the Herzegovina sanjak. By the late 16th century it was incorporated into the newly enlarged Bosnian pashaluk
.
The Candian War
of 1645 to 1669 caused great damage to the region as the Republic of Venice
and the Ottoman Empire fought for control over Dalmatia
and coastal Herzegovina.
As a result of the Treaty of Karlowitz
of 1699, the Ottomans gained access to the Adriatic Sea
through the Neum
-Klek
coastal area. The Republic of Dubrovnik seceded this to distance themselves from the Venetian Republic's influence. The Ottomans benefitted from this in gaining the region's salt.
As a result of the Bosnian Uprising
, Herzegovina was split from the Pashaluk of Bosnia in 1833 and was turned into separate pashaluk known as the Pashaluk of Herzegovina ruled by semi-independent vizier Ali-paša Rizvanbegović
. After his death in 1851, Pashaluk of Herzegovina was united with Pashaluk of Bosnia to form the Pashaluk of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This was the first time the region was called Bosnia and Herzegovina and the name has persisted since then.
In 1852, the region gained its own Franciscan
Custody. The custody became the Franciscan Province of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1892.
In the late Ottoman period, Croatian and Serbian serfs launched the Herzegovinian rebellion
which began a series of wars in Europe against the Ottomans. The rebellion was largely in protest of the country's tax system.
. In 1878 Austro-Hungarian armies occupied the country. The Croatian generals Josip Filipović
and Stjepan Jovanović led the invasion. Stjepan Jovanović's troops took Herzegovina, while Filipović's marched into Bosnia from Slavonia
.
The Catholic Church was reformed in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1881 following the expulsion of the Ottomans
from the country. Herzegovina's churches became a part of the Mostar-Duvno Bishopric
and the Trebinje Bishopric
. In 1890 the Trebinje Bishopric was absorbed by the Mostar-Duvno Bishopric. The Franciscan order also opened the first university in Herzegovina in 1895 in Mostar
.
, Herzegovina was a part of the Independent State of Croatia
and was administratively divided into the counties of Hum and Dubrava.
, large parts of western and central Herzegovina came under control
of the Croatian republic of Herzeg-Bosnia (which later joined the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
) while eastern Herzegovina became a part of Republika Srpska
.
Herzegovina
Herzegovina is the southern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While there is no official border distinguishing it from the Bosnian region, it is generally accepted that the borders of the region are Croatia to the west, Montenegro to the south, the canton boundaries of the Herzegovina-Neretva...
ranges from the first Slavic migrations to the region to the most recent Bosnian War
Bosnian War
The Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
.
Pre-Slavic history
See IllyriansIllyrians
The Illyrians were a group of tribes who inhabited part of the western Balkans in antiquity and the south-eastern coasts of the Italian peninsula...
A pre-Slavic, Indo-European tribal people called Illyrians were one of the first significant people to inhabit Herzegovina, along with Bosnia, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania and Greece as far back as 2000 B.C. They intermingled with the indigenous pre-Indo-European mountain population, and Illyrians were known for being a fierce mountain warrior race by the Greeks and Romans.
Ottoman era
The Ottomans were the first to begin officially using the name Herzegovina for the region. The begBey
Bey is a title for chieftain, traditionally applied to the leaders of small tribal groups. Accoding to some sources, the word "Bey" is of Turkish language In historical accounts, many Turkish, other Turkic and Persian leaders are titled Bey, Beg, Bek, Bay, Baig or Beigh. They are all the same word...
of Bosnia Isa-beg Ishaković mentioned the name in a letter from 1454.
Herzegovina’s unofficial capital of Mostar
Mostar
Mostar is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the largest and one of the most important cities in the Herzegovina region and the center of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is situated on the Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country...
was first mentioned in 1452. Only a few years later it was invaded by the Ottomans and most likely fell in the year 1466. It was during the time of Ottoman rule that the city gained importance. It soon became a kadiluk
Kadiluk
A Kadiluk, in some cases equivalent to a Kaza, was a local administrative subdivision of the Ottoman empire, which was the territory of a Kadı, or judge.There could be several kadiluks in a sanjak...
and from 1522 it was the centre of the Herzegovina sanjak. By the late 16th century it was incorporated into the newly enlarged Bosnian pashaluk
Bosnia Province, Ottoman Empire
The Bosnia Vilayet was an Ottoman vilayet, mostly based on the territory of the present-day state of Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as most of Slavonia, Lika and Dalmatia in present-day Croatia. It bordered Kosovo Vilayet to the south. Before the administrative reform in 1864, it was called the...
.
The Candian War
Siege of Candia
The Siege of Candia was a military conflict in which Ottoman forces besieged the Venetian-ruled city and were ultimately victorious. Lasting from 1648 to 1669, it was the longest siege in history.-Background:...
of 1645 to 1669 caused great damage to the region as the Republic of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
and the Ottoman Empire fought for control over Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
and coastal Herzegovina.
As a result of the Treaty of Karlowitz
Treaty of Karlowitz
The Treaty of Karlowitz was signed on 26 January 1699 in Sremski Karlovci , concluding the Austro-Ottoman War of 1683–1697 in which the Ottoman side had been defeated at the Battle of Zenta...
of 1699, the Ottomans gained access to the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
through the Neum
Neum
Neum is the only coastal town in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It comprises of coastline, the country's only access to the Adriatic Sea. As of 2009, municipal population was of 4,605 and the one of Neum main town was of 4,268 .-Features:Neum has steep hills, sandy beaches, and several large tourist...
-Klek
Klek
Klek may refer to:* Klek , a village in Serbia, in Zrenjanin municipality* Klek, Croatia, a village in southern Croatia* Klek mountain, Croatia* Klek, Bosnia and Herzegovina, a peninsula in Bosnia and Herzegovina...
coastal area. The Republic of Dubrovnik seceded this to distance themselves from the Venetian Republic's influence. The Ottomans benefitted from this in gaining the region's salt.
As a result of the Bosnian Uprising
Great Bosnian uprising
The Bosnian uprising was a revolt of Bosnian Muslims against the Ottoman Empire, which began on March 29, 1831....
, Herzegovina was split from the Pashaluk of Bosnia in 1833 and was turned into separate pashaluk known as the Pashaluk of Herzegovina ruled by semi-independent vizier Ali-paša Rizvanbegović
Ali-paša Rizvanbegovic
Ali Rizvanbegović was the Herzegovinian Muslim Bosniak Ottoman captain of Stolac from 1813 to 1833 and the semi-independent ruler of Herzegovina from 1833 to 1851.-Early Life:...
. After his death in 1851, Pashaluk of Herzegovina was united with Pashaluk of Bosnia to form the Pashaluk of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This was the first time the region was called Bosnia and Herzegovina and the name has persisted since then.
In 1852, the region gained its own Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
Custody. The custody became the Franciscan Province of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1892.
In the late Ottoman period, Croatian and Serbian serfs launched the Herzegovinian rebellion
Herzegovinian rebellion
The Herzegovina Uprising of 1875-1878 was an uprising led by Christians, firstly in Herzegovina and then in Bosnia. It is the most significant of the rebellions against Ottoman rule in Herzegovina...
which began a series of wars in Europe against the Ottomans. The rebellion was largely in protest of the country's tax system.
Austrio-Hungarian period
As a result of the Treaty of Berlin, the Ottoman Empire conceded Bosnia and Herzegovina to Austria-HungaryAustria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
. In 1878 Austro-Hungarian armies occupied the country. The Croatian generals Josip Filipović
Josip Filipović
Josip Filipović, Freiherr von Philippsberg, also Josef von Philippovich or Joseph Philippovich was a Croatian high-ranking general in the Austrian army....
and Stjepan Jovanović led the invasion. Stjepan Jovanović's troops took Herzegovina, while Filipović's marched into Bosnia from Slavonia
Slavonia
Slavonia is a geographical and historical region in eastern Croatia...
.
The Catholic Church was reformed in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1881 following the expulsion of the Ottomans
from the country. Herzegovina's churches became a part of the Mostar-Duvno Bishopric
Roman Catholic Diocese of Mostar-Duvno
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Mostar-Duvno is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church encompassing Herzegovina. The diocese, as well as the Franciscan Province, is centred in the city of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was formed on July 5, 1881...
and the Trebinje Bishopric
Roman Catholic Diocese of Trebinje-Mrkan
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Trebinje-Mrkan is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in eastern Herzegovina.It is the oldest and smallest Roman Catholic diocese of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The diocese was formed sometime before the year 1022...
. In 1890 the Trebinje Bishopric was absorbed by the Mostar-Duvno Bishopric. The Franciscan order also opened the first university in Herzegovina in 1895 in Mostar
Mostar
Mostar is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the largest and one of the most important cities in the Herzegovina region and the center of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is situated on the Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country...
.
Antebellum and World War II
During the Second World WarWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Herzegovina was a part of the Independent State of Croatia
Independent State of Croatia
The Independent State of Croatia was a World War II puppet state of Nazi Germany, established on a part of Axis-occupied Yugoslavia. The NDH was founded on 10 April 1941, after the invasion of Yugoslavia by the Axis powers. All of Bosnia and Herzegovina was annexed to NDH, together with some parts...
and was administratively divided into the counties of Hum and Dubrava.
Bosnian war
During the war in Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnian War
The Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
, large parts of western and central Herzegovina came under control
of the Croatian republic of Herzeg-Bosnia (which later joined the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the two political entities that compose the sovereign country of Bosnia and Herzegovina . The two entities are delineated by the Inter-Entity Boundary Line...
) while eastern Herzegovina became a part of Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska is one of two main political entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
.
See also
- Pashaluk of Herzegovina
- History of Bosnia and HerzegovinaHistory of Bosnia and Herzegovina-Pre-Slavic Period :Bosnia has been inhabited at least since Neolithic times. In the late Bronze Age, the Neolithic population was replaced by more warlike Indo-European tribes known as the Illyrians. Celtic migrations in the 4th and 3rd century BCE displaced many Illyrian tribes from their former...