Novo Brdo
Encyclopedia
Novo Brdo is a town and municipality
in the Pristina district of eastern Kosovo
. The population of the municipality is estimated at 6,720 people (2011).
texts. The famous Bulgarian Mediaeval writer Vladislav the Grammarian
was born there between 1410 and 1415 http://www.belschool.net/files/zapoznaisesbalgarskitepisateli/17.ppt.
Novo Brdo was a metropolis at the time, with a huge medieval fortress built on the top of an extinct volcano
cone, the remains of which can be visited today, and residential sections sprawling all around. In the outer wall of the fortress a large cross
is visible, built into the stones. The castle
, or fortress, was thought at one point to have dated back to the time of the Serbian Empire
.
The population at its height was estimated to exceed 6,720 people. There were mines and smelting furnaces for iron, lead, gold and silver ores. Novo Brdo silver is known by its argentum glame (an alloy of silver with 1/6-1/3 gold). In 1450 the mines of Novo Brdo were producing about 6,000 kg of silver per year. Novo Brdo was the last Serbian city to remain standing during the first invasion. In 1439 the capital of Smederevo
fell and Serbia resisted until finally Novo Brdo fell in 1441. Novo Brdo was by treaty restored to the Serbs in 1443.
The fortress (named in Turkish Nobırda) came under siege
for forty days by the Ottomans
, capitulating and becoming occupied by the Ottomans on June 1, 1455. This event is described by Konstantin Mihailović
from Ostrovica
near Novo Brdo, who was taken by the Ottomans along with some 300 other boys to be trained as Janissaries. All of the higher ranking Serbian officials were executed after the castle fell, with the younger men and boys being taken captive to serve in the Ottoman Army, and some 700 young Serbian women and girls being taken to be wives to Ottoman commanders. http://www.ottomanonline.net/history/5.html http://www.kosovo.net/batak5.html
By the early 20th century, Novo Brdo's population had dwindled, with most inhabitants moving to the more easily accessible area of Gnjilane
. In 1999, with the entry into Kosovo of KFOR and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK
), the area had a small military outpost occupied by US soldiers, as well as a station of International Police
and Kosovo Police
.
There is no data for 1971 and 1981, as it was part of the Pristina Municipality in those censuses. In 1961 its area was a somewhat bigger than it is today.
(? - 1463), Albanian
Catholic priest and diplomat of the League of Lezhë
.
Municipalities of Kosovo
A Municipality is the basic administrative division in Kosovo.-List of Municipalities:The first name is Serbian and the second one is Albanian:* Dečani / Deçan* Dragaš / Dragash* Đakovica / Gjakovë* Glogovac / Gllogovc * Gnjilane / Gjilan...
in the Pristina district of eastern Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
. The population of the municipality is estimated at 6,720 people (2011).
History
Novo Brdo was mentioned with its present name in historical documents as early as 1326. Previously it was known as Novaberd, Novus Mons or Novamonte in Latin and as Nyeuberghe in SaxonSaxons
The Saxons were a confederation of Germanic tribes originating on the North German plain. The Saxons earliest known area of settlement is Northern Albingia, an area approximately that of modern Holstein...
texts. The famous Bulgarian Mediaeval writer Vladislav the Grammarian
Vladislav the Grammarian
Vladislav the Grammarian was a fifteenth-century Bulgarian monk, writer, historian and theologian.He worked in both medieval Bulgaria and Serbia and is regarded as both Serbian and Bulgarian author...
was born there between 1410 and 1415 http://www.belschool.net/files/zapoznaisesbalgarskitepisateli/17.ppt.
Novo Brdo was a metropolis at the time, with a huge medieval fortress built on the top of an extinct volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
cone, the remains of which can be visited today, and residential sections sprawling all around. In the outer wall of the fortress a large cross
Cross
A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other, dividing one or two of the lines in half. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally; if they run obliquely, the design is technically termed a saltire, although the arms of a saltire need not meet...
is visible, built into the stones. The castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
, or fortress, was thought at one point to have dated back to the time of the Serbian Empire
Serbian Empire
The Serbian Empire was a short-lived medieval empire in the Balkans that emerged from the Serbian Kingdom. Stephen Uroš IV Dušan was crowned Emperor of Serbs and Greeks on 16 April, 1346, a title signifying a successorship to the Eastern Roman Empire...
.
The population at its height was estimated to exceed 6,720 people. There were mines and smelting furnaces for iron, lead, gold and silver ores. Novo Brdo silver is known by its argentum glame (an alloy of silver with 1/6-1/3 gold). In 1450 the mines of Novo Brdo were producing about 6,000 kg of silver per year. Novo Brdo was the last Serbian city to remain standing during the first invasion. In 1439 the capital of Smederevo
Smederevo
Smederevo is a city and municipality in Serbia, on the right bank of the Danube, about 40 km downstream of the capital Belgrade. According to official results of the 2011 census, the city has a population of 107,528...
fell and Serbia resisted until finally Novo Brdo fell in 1441. Novo Brdo was by treaty restored to the Serbs in 1443.
The fortress (named in Turkish Nobırda) came under siege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
for forty days by the Ottomans
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, capitulating and becoming occupied by the Ottomans on June 1, 1455. This event is described by Konstantin Mihailović
Konstantin Mihailovic
Konstantin Mihailović was a Serbian who served as a Janissary during the 15th century for the Ottoman Empire. Born in the village of Ostrovica, near Novo Brdo around 1430 , Mihailović is remembered for having kept memoirs of his service and in doing so he allowed a unique insight into life in the...
from Ostrovica
Ostrovica
Ostrovica may refer to:* Ostrovica, Croatia, village in Croatia, near Benkovac, in Lišane Ostrovičke municipality* Ostrovica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, village in Bosnia, near Kulen Vakuf* Ostrovica , village in Serbia, near Niš...
near Novo Brdo, who was taken by the Ottomans along with some 300 other boys to be trained as Janissaries. All of the higher ranking Serbian officials were executed after the castle fell, with the younger men and boys being taken captive to serve in the Ottoman Army, and some 700 young Serbian women and girls being taken to be wives to Ottoman commanders. http://www.ottomanonline.net/history/5.html http://www.kosovo.net/batak5.html
By the early 20th century, Novo Brdo's population had dwindled, with most inhabitants moving to the more easily accessible area of Gnjilane
Gnjilane
Gnjilane or Gjilan is a city and municipality in eastern Kosovo. It is the administrative center of the District of Gjilan. It is famous for having been recorded the lowest temperature in Kosovo with on 25 January 1963.-Name and history:...
. In 1999, with the entry into Kosovo of KFOR and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK
United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo
The United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo or UNMIK is the interim civilian administration in Kosovo, under the authority of the United Nations. The mission was established on 10 June 1999 by Security Council Resolution 1244...
), the area had a small military outpost occupied by US soldiers, as well as a station of International Police
International Police
The International Police is the title used for an organization of police officers representing various countries throughout the world, brought together to assist in the training, organization, stabilization of a destabilized region, or creation of indigenous police forces primarily in war-torn...
and Kosovo Police
Kosovo Police Service
Kosovo Police is the police law enforcement agency of the Republic of Kosovo.It was created in 1999 in the aftermath of the Kosovo War and subsequent withdrawal of the Yugoslav armed forces from Kosovo....
.
Population
| Ethnic Composition, Including IDPs | |||||||||
| Year/Population | Albanians | % | Serbs | % | Other | % | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 4,358 | 44.78 | 5,271 | 54.17 | 102 | 1.05 | 9,731 | ||
| 1991 | 1,845 | 40.01 | 2,666 | 57.82 | 100 | 2.17 | 4,611 | ||
| 1998 | 2,158 | 43.9 | 2,680 | 54.4 | 86 | 1.7 | 4,924 | ||
| Aug 2003 | 2,300 | 61.3 | 1,400 | 37.3 | 51 | 0.1 | 3,751 | ||
| ref: Yugoslav Population Censuses for 1961 and 1991, and OSCE estimates for 1998 and 2003 | |||||||||
There is no data for 1971 and 1981, as it was part of the Pristina Municipality in those censuses. In 1961 its area was a somewhat bigger than it is today.
Notable people
Gjergj PeliniGjergj Pelini
Gjergj Pelini was an Albanian Catholic priest and diplomat of the League of Lezhë.- Life :Pelini's birthdate is unknown, but his birthplace Novobërdë is stated in a 1441 document. From 1438 to 1463, he was the head of the Saint Mary abbey in Rotec, in nowadays Sutomore...
(? - 1463), Albanian
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
Catholic priest and diplomat of the League of Lezhë
League of Lezhë
The League of Lezhë was an alliance of Albanian Principalities forged in Lezhë on the 2nd of March 1444. It was initiated and organised by Skanderbeg with the aim of uniting the Albanian principalities that had been founded in the 12th - 14th centuries, to fight the Ottoman Armies...
.
External links
- Municipality of Novo Brdo, April 2008.
- Castle in Novo Brdo
- Novo Brdo youth and rural tourism network, local youth and rural tourism network. Arranges for bed and breakfast-houses and meals.