Petrinja
Encyclopedia
Petrinja is a city in central Croatia
near Sisak
in the historic region of Banovina
. The city belongs to Sisak-Moslavina County
(Sisačko-moslavačka županija).
era in the area of Zrinska Gora, which is very rich in stone.
West of Petrinja is Petrova gora
(Peter's mountain), site of the 1097 Battle of Gvozd Mountain
between King Petar Svačić
of Croatia and Coloman of Hungary
.
The first written trace of Petrinja as an inhabited settlement is the one about the benefits awarded to the inhabitants of Petrinja by the Slavonia
n duke Koloman
in 1240. This old medieval Petrinja belongs to the time of warring with the Turks
. In 1592, Petrinja was given a new location with the construction and building of a Turkish fortress at the confluence of the Petrinjčica and the Kupa rivers. The fortress was to serve the Turks in conquering Sisak
, Turopolje
and Zagreb
.
On August 10, 1594, the fortress was first liberated by the Croatian army. Therefore, August 10 has become the day of gratitude towards God and St. Lawrence, and this saint has been chosen for the patron saint of the parish and the town of Petrinja.
Over the time, Petrinja has increasingly become the place of the settlement for many craftsmen and merchants whose arrival marks the beginning of the town's development.
Petrinja was part of Napoleon's Illyria
from 1809 till 1813 when the town became a significant trade and traffic center. In the same period, the French
army planted the lindens that even today testify to the town's historical moment.
The first Catholic
parish Church of St. Lawrence was first built in 1603, but due to the time and type of building, a new one was built in 1781, in late baroque
—classic
ist style.
During the Serb occupation of Petrinja during the Croatian war of Independence
, which lasted from 1991 till 1995, the rebellious Serbs demolished the parish church to the ground, as well as all other sacral buildings and sights. After returning to their town, the inhabitants of Petrinja have reconstructed and rebuilt the church according to the sketches and blueprints of the old building, thus resuming the original function of this part of the town.
The foundations of the "Prva hrvatska tvornica salame, sušena mesa i masti" (first Croatian salami, cured meat and lard factory) were set in the year 1792, now developed into the "Gavrilović" factory, the principal factor of the area's economic development, well-known for the quality of its gastronomical products.
The influence of Croatian national revival in the 19th century was felt in Petrinja. That was the time of the founding of the Town Orchestra (1808), Music Department (1841), Library and reading-room (1842), Teachers' Training School (1862), Croatian Choir "Slavulj" (1864), Town fire-brigade (1880), First printing-house (1881).
Recent history has witnessed the Serb aggression on Croatia during which the people were exiled from their hometown of Petrinja in the period from September 1991 till May 1995. The town itself has been through a very grave destruction. On November 25, 1991 the Serb mayor of Petrinja Radovan Marković sent a message to Željko Ražnatović
to have his troops enter the city as part of a "2. motorized battalion" of the 622. Motorized Brigade of the Yugoslav People's Army
. Beholding Croatian identity, many monuments have been erected in memory of the Croatian war heroes and victims of the war.
In reconstructing and rebuilding their town, the inhabitants of Petrinja took great care of the town's urban tradition by keeping the old customs alive, celebrating Catholic holidays, and organizing numerous cultural, social and sports events.
There is a very lively tradition of the potting and ceramic crafts, which represent the main souvenir production of the items characteristic for this area, all made of high quality clay. The main souvenir is "stucka", an ornamented multi-use jar made of clay that has become a symbol of the town of Petrinja.
was made in Petrinja in 1929 by Mila Wood after his assassination the previous year. In 1936, the statue was placed in the city's central square, which was named after him. In 1963 the communist regime moved the statue to a city park. In 1991, the statue was damaged and thrown into an orchard in a nearby village. It was not found until 1998, when it was restored. In 1999, it was restored to Petrinja's central square, and was unveiled by Croatian minister of culture Božo Biškupić
.
The municipal area includes the following settlements
:
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
near Sisak
Sisak
Sisak is a city in central Croatia. The city's population in 2011 was 33,049, with a total of 49,699 in the administrative region and it is also the administrative centre of the Sisak-Moslavina county...
in the historic region of Banovina
Banija
Banovina is a geographical region in central Croatia, between the rivers Sava, Una, and Kupa. Main towns in the region include Petrinja, Glina, Kostajnica, and Dvor. The area is almost entirely located in the Sisak-Moslavina county...
. The city belongs to Sisak-Moslavina County
Sisak-Moslavina County
Sisak-Moslavina County is a Croatian county in eastern Central Croatia and southwestern Slavonia. It is named after the city of Sisak and the region Moslavina just across the river Sava. According to 2001 census it is inhabited by 185 thousand people....
(Sisačko-moslavačka županija).
History
The name of Petrinja has its roots in Latin petrus, meaning "stone". It is said that the town existed in RomanAncient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
era in the area of Zrinska Gora, which is very rich in stone.
West of Petrinja is Petrova gora
Petrova Gora
Petrova Gora is a mountain range in central Croatia. The mountain used to be named Gvozd , but was renamed after 1097 to honour Petar Svačić, the last native king of Croatia who died on the mountain in a battle against Coloman of Hungary.During World War II, Petrova Gora was the location of the...
(Peter's mountain), site of the 1097 Battle of Gvozd Mountain
Battle of Gvozd Mountain
The Battle of Gvozd Mountain took place in the year 1097 and was fought on Petrova gora in central Croatia, between the army of Croatian king Petar Svačić and King Coloman I of Hungary...
between King Petar Svačić
Petar Svacic
Petar Svačić was the last king of Croatia. It is assumed that he began as a ban serving under king Demetrius Zvonimir of Croatia and was then elected king by the Croatian feudal lords in 1093. Petar's seat of power was based in Knin. His rule was marked by a struggle for control of the country...
of Croatia and Coloman of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
.
The first written trace of Petrinja as an inhabited settlement is the one about the benefits awarded to the inhabitants of Petrinja by the Slavonia
Slavonia
Slavonia is a geographical and historical region in eastern Croatia...
n duke Koloman
Koloman
Kołomań is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Zagnańsk, within Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It lies approximately north-west of Zagnańsk and north of the regional capital Kielce....
in 1240. This old medieval Petrinja belongs to the time of warring with the Turks
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...
. In 1592, Petrinja was given a new location with the construction and building of a Turkish fortress at the confluence of the Petrinjčica and the Kupa rivers. The fortress was to serve the Turks in conquering Sisak
Sisak
Sisak is a city in central Croatia. The city's population in 2011 was 33,049, with a total of 49,699 in the administrative region and it is also the administrative centre of the Sisak-Moslavina county...
, Turopolje
Turopolje
Turopolje is a region in Croatia situated between the capital city Zagreb and Sisak. The administrative center of the region Turopolje is the town of Velika Gorica.-Overview:...
and Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
.
On August 10, 1594, the fortress was first liberated by the Croatian army. Therefore, August 10 has become the day of gratitude towards God and St. Lawrence, and this saint has been chosen for the patron saint of the parish and the town of Petrinja.
Over the time, Petrinja has increasingly become the place of the settlement for many craftsmen and merchants whose arrival marks the beginning of the town's development.
Petrinja was part of Napoleon's Illyria
Illyria
In classical antiquity, Illyria was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by the Illyrians....
from 1809 till 1813 when the town became a significant trade and traffic center. In the same period, the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
army planted the lindens that even today testify to the town's historical moment.
The first Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
parish Church of St. Lawrence was first built in 1603, but due to the time and type of building, a new one was built in 1781, in late baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
—classic
Classical architecture
Classical architecture is a mode of architecture employing vocabulary derived in part from the Greek and Roman architecture of classical antiquity, enriched by classicizing architectural practice in Europe since the Renaissance...
ist style.
During the Serb occupation of Petrinja during the Croatian war of Independence
Croatian War of Independence
The Croatian War of Independence was fought from 1991 to 1995 between forces loyal to the government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia —and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army and local Serb forces, with the JNA ending its combat...
, which lasted from 1991 till 1995, the rebellious Serbs demolished the parish church to the ground, as well as all other sacral buildings and sights. After returning to their town, the inhabitants of Petrinja have reconstructed and rebuilt the church according to the sketches and blueprints of the old building, thus resuming the original function of this part of the town.
The foundations of the "Prva hrvatska tvornica salame, sušena mesa i masti" (first Croatian salami, cured meat and lard factory) were set in the year 1792, now developed into the "Gavrilović" factory, the principal factor of the area's economic development, well-known for the quality of its gastronomical products.
The influence of Croatian national revival in the 19th century was felt in Petrinja. That was the time of the founding of the Town Orchestra (1808), Music Department (1841), Library and reading-room (1842), Teachers' Training School (1862), Croatian Choir "Slavulj" (1864), Town fire-brigade (1880), First printing-house (1881).
Recent history has witnessed the Serb aggression on Croatia during which the people were exiled from their hometown of Petrinja in the period from September 1991 till May 1995. The town itself has been through a very grave destruction. On November 25, 1991 the Serb mayor of Petrinja Radovan Marković sent a message to Željko Ražnatović
Željko Ražnatovic
Željko Ražnatović , widely known as Arkan was a Serbian career criminal and later a paramilitary leader who was notable for organizing and leading a paramilitary force in the Yugoslav Wars...
to have his troops enter the city as part of a "2. motorized battalion" of the 622. Motorized Brigade of the Yugoslav People's Army
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
. Beholding Croatian identity, many monuments have been erected in memory of the Croatian war heroes and victims of the war.
In reconstructing and rebuilding their town, the inhabitants of Petrinja took great care of the town's urban tradition by keeping the old customs alive, celebrating Catholic holidays, and organizing numerous cultural, social and sports events.
There is a very lively tradition of the potting and ceramic crafts, which represent the main souvenir production of the items characteristic for this area, all made of high quality clay. The main souvenir is "stucka", an ornamented multi-use jar made of clay that has become a symbol of the town of Petrinja.
Culture
A statue of Croatian politician Stjepan RadićStjepan Radic
Stjepan Radić was a Croatian politician and the founder of the Croatian Peasant Party in 1905. Radić is credited with galvanizing the peasantry of Croatia into a viable political force...
was made in Petrinja in 1929 by Mila Wood after his assassination the previous year. In 1936, the statue was placed in the city's central square, which was named after him. In 1963 the communist regime moved the statue to a city park. In 1991, the statue was damaged and thrown into an orchard in a nearby village. It was not found until 1998, when it was restored. In 1999, it was restored to Petrinja's central square, and was unveiled by Croatian minister of culture Božo Biškupić
Božo Biškupić
Božo Biškupić is a Croatian politician and lawyer, currently serving his third term as Minister of Culture in the Croatian Government .-Overview:Biškupić graduated from the University of Zagreb's Faculty of Law, and later earned a master's...
.
Demographics
The population of Petrinja is 15,480, while the total municipality population is 24,786 (census 2011).The municipal area includes the following settlements
Naselje
Naselje is a settlement in Croatia, usually translated as settlement. It is the smallest unit of Croatian territory. Individual settlements are by and large referred to as selo , while naselje is a statistical and administrative category. The units of local government in Croatia, cities and...
:
- Begovići, population 58
- BijelnikBijelnikBijelnik is a village in Croatia. It is connected by the D30 highway....
, population 50 - BlinjaBlinjaBlinja is a village in Croatia. It is connected by the D30 highway....
, population 61 - Brest PokupskiBrest PokupskiBrest Pokupski is a village in Banovina region of Croatia. The settlement is administered as a part of the City of Petrinja and the Sisak-Moslavina County. According to the 2001 census it has 325 inhabitants. It is connected by the D30 state road....
, population 277 - Cepeliš, population 57
- Čuntić, population 17
- Deanovići, population 26
- Dodoši, population 70
- Donja Bačuga, population 141
- Donja BudičinaDonja BudičinaDonja Budičina is a village in Banovina region of Croatia. The settlement is administered as a part of the City of Petrinja and the Sisak-Moslavina County. According to the 2001 census, the village has 247 inhabitants. It is connected by the D30 state road....
, population 229 - Donja MlinogaDonja MlinogaDonja Mlinoga is a village in Croatia....
, population 95 - Donja Pastuša, population 11
- Donje Mokrice, population 57
- DragotinciDragotinciDragotinci is a settlement in the Sveti Jurij ob Ščavnici municipality in northeastern Slovenia. Traditionally the area was part of Lower Styria...
, population 63 - Dumače, population 270
- Glinska PoljanaGlinska PoljanaGlinska Poljana is a village in Croatia....
, population 115 - GoraGoraGora may refer to:*Gora , a clan of Jats found in north India*Gora or gaura, a Hindi and Indo-Aryan word for a light-skinned person*Gora , by Indian Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore...
, population 257 - Gornja Bačuga, population 75
- Gornja MlinogaGornja MlinogaGornja Mlinoga is a village in Croatia....
, population 31 - Gornja Pastuša, population 31
- Gornje Mokrice, population 96
- Graberje, population 152
- Grabovac Banski, population 194
- HrastovicaHrastovicaHrastovica is a village to the north of Mokronog in the Mokronog-Trebelno municipality in southeastern Slovenia. It lies in the historical region of Lower Carniola. The municipality is now included in the Southeast Slovenia statistical region....
, population 459 - Hrvatski Čuntić, population 86
- JabukovacJabukovacJabukovac is a village in Serbia. It is located in the municipality of Negotin, in the Bor District, near the borders between Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria.-History:...
, population 140 - Jošavica, population 82
- Klinac, population 27
- Kraljevčani, population 61
- Križ Hrastovački, population 146
- Luščani, population 157
- Mačkovo Selo, population 36
- Mala Gorica, population 503
- Međurače, population 36
- MiočinovićiMiočinovićiMiočinovići is a village in Croatia....
, population 43 - MoščenicaMošćenicaMošćenica is a village in Croatia. It is connected by the D37 highway....
, population 2,471 - MoštanicaMoštanicaMoštanica is a village in Croatia. It is connected by the D30 highway....
, population 87 - NebojanNebojanNebojan is a village in Croatia....
, population 187 - Nova Drenčina, population 402
- Novi FarkašićNovi FarkašićNovi Farkašić is a village in Croatia....
, population 80 - Novo SelišteNovo SelišteNovo Selište is a village in Croatia. It is connected by the D37 highway....
, population 301 - PeckiPečkiPečki is a small settlement on the northern side of the Rob to Krvava Peč road in the Velike Lašče municipality in central Slovenia. The entire municipality is part of the traditional region of Lower Carniola and is now included in the Central Slovenia statistical region.-External links:*...
, population 81 - PetkovacPetkovacPetkovac is a village in the municipality of Novi Grad, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina....
, population 10 - PetrinjaPetrinjaPetrinja is a city in central Croatia near Sisak in the historic region of Banovina. The city belongs to Sisak-Moslavina County .- History :The name of Petrinja has its roots in Latin petrus, meaning "stone"...
, population 15,480 - Prnjavor Čuntićki, population 80
- Sibić, population 66
- SlanaSlanáSlaná can refer to:* Sajó river - Slaná is its Slovak name* Slaná, a village in the Czech Republic...
, population 85 - Srednje Mokrice, population 33
- StrašnikStrašnikStrašnik is a village in Croatia....
, population 193 - StražbenicaStražbenicaStražbenica is a village in the municipality of Banovići, Bosnia and Herzegovina....
, population 9 - Taborište, population 227
- Tremušnjak, population 47
- Veliki ŠušnjarVeliki ŠušnjarVeliki Šušnjar is a village in Croatia near town Petrinja....
, population 113 - Vratečko, population 59
- ŽupićŽupićŽupić is a village in Croatia. It is connected by the D37 highway....
, population 84
| Population by ethnicity | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year of census | total | Croats Croats Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have... | Serbs Serbs The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in... | others |
| 1961 | 27,517 | 14,942 (54.30%) | 11,955 (43.45%) | 620 (2.25%) |
| 1981 | 33,570 | 14,621 (43.55%) | 12,617(37.58%) | 6,332 (18.86%) |
| 1991 | 35,565 | 15,791 (44.40%) | 15,969 (44.90%) | 3,805 (10.70%) |
| 2001 | 23,413 | 19,280 (82.35%) | 2,809 (12.00%) | 1,324 (5.65%) |
Notable people
- Janko Grahor (1827.-1906.), architect
- Krsto HegedušićKrsto HegedušicKrsto Hegedušić was a Croatian painter, illustrator and theater designer. His most famous paintings depict the harsh life of the Croatian peasantry in the manner of naive art...
(1901.-1975.), artist - Branko HorvatBranko HorvatBranko Horvat was a Croatian economist and politician. He worked a long time at the Institute of Economic Sciences, the former Planning Institute of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
(1928.-2003.), economist and politician - Oton KučeraOton KuceraOton Kučera was a Croatian astronomer. He played a crucial role by popularizing science and technology in Croatia...
(1856.-1931.), astronomer - Drago Roksandić (1948-), historian
- Vlado LisjakVlado LisjakVlado Lisjak is a former Croatian Greco-Roman wrestler who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics for Yugoslavia. He won gold in the 68 kg category, beating Tapio Sipilä in the final....
(1962-), Greco-Roman wrestler - Stevan ŠupljikacStevan ŠupljikacStevan Šupljikac, known simply as Vojvoda Šupljikac was a voivode and the first Duke of the Serbian Vojvodina, in 1848.-Life:...
, military commander