Sevnica
Encyclopedia
Sevnica is a town and a municipality
in central Slovenia
.
The town itself is situated on the left bank of the Sava River, and is one of the three major settlements in the Lower Sava Valley. The municipality is now included in the Lower Sava statistical region
. The old town of Sevnica lies beneath Sevnica Castle
, which is perched on the top of Castle Hill, while the new part of town stretches along the plain among the hills up the Sava Valley, forming another town core at the confluence of the Sevnična and Sava rivers.
For centuries, the town of Sevnica was situated on the border of two historical regions of the Habsburg Empire: Carniola
and Styria. It was first mentioned in written documents dating to 1275 by its German name Liehtenwalde. At that time, it was one of the most important settlements in the Windic March
(or Slovene March). In 1322 it acquired the status of a market town
, with extended market rights in 1513. Between the 14th and 17th centuries, it suffered greatly from frequent Ottoman raids
and never fully recovered its previous wealth. In the 16th century it was an important center of Protestant reformation
in the Slovene Lands
; the Slovene Lutheran author Jurij Dalmatin
also preached in the town.
In the 18th century, it was included in the administrative sub-region of Lower Carniola
. Between 1809 and 1813, it was a border town between the French
-administered Illyrian Provinces
and the Austrian Empire
. In the mid-19th century, it became an important center of the Slovene national revival; in 1869, it hosted one of the first mass rallies in favor of a United Slovenia
.
In 1862 it received a railway connection, which boosted the local economy.
During World War II
, when the area was annexed to the Third Reich, the majority of its Slovene inhabitants were expelled and replaced by ethnic Germans resettled from Gottschee County
. Many locals died in Nazi concentration camps
. After the war, the town started developing as an industrial center in the newly named Lower Sava Valley.
The parish church
in the town is dedicated to Saint Nicholas
and belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Celje
. It was built in 1862 on the site of a 15th-century building. Other churches in town are dedicated to Saint Florian
, the Mother of God and Saint Anne
, all belonging to the same parish.
, handball player Matjaž Mlakar
, historian Janko Prunk
(from Loka pri Zidanem Mostu
), and writer Ludvik Mrzel (also from Loka pri Zidanem Mostu).
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
in central Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
.
The town itself is situated on the left bank of the Sava River, and is one of the three major settlements in the Lower Sava Valley. The municipality is now included in the Lower Sava statistical region
Spodnjeposavska statistical region
The Lower Sava statistical region is a statistical region in Slovenia. It is almost identical with the Posavje region. The largest town in the region is Krško. It is the second smallest region in Slovenia, but it has very good traffic connections...
. The old town of Sevnica lies beneath Sevnica Castle
Sevnica Castle
Sevnica Castle is a Slovenian castle in the Sava River valley. Situated atop a hill, it dominates the old town of Sevnica and offers views the surrounding countryside.-History:...
, which is perched on the top of Castle Hill, while the new part of town stretches along the plain among the hills up the Sava Valley, forming another town core at the confluence of the Sevnična and Sava rivers.
History
Carniola
Carniola was a historical region that comprised parts of what is now Slovenia. As part of Austria-Hungary, the region was a crown land officially known as the Duchy of Carniola until 1918. In 1849, the region was subdivided into Upper Carniola, Lower Carniola, and Inner Carniola...
and Styria. It was first mentioned in written documents dating to 1275 by its German name Liehtenwalde. At that time, it was one of the most important settlements in the Windic March
Windic march
The Windic march or marca Vindica was a province of the Holy Roman Empire in the Middle Ages, corresponding more or less to modern Lower Carniola in Slovenia. In Medieval German language, the term "Windisch" was a common name for some Slavic peoples The Windic march or marca Vindica was a...
(or Slovene March). In 1322 it acquired the status of a market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
, with extended market rights in 1513. Between the 14th and 17th centuries, it suffered greatly from frequent Ottoman raids
Ottoman wars in Europe
The wars of the Ottoman Empire in Europe are also sometimes referred to as the Ottoman Wars or as Turkish Wars, particularly in older, European texts.- Rise :...
and never fully recovered its previous wealth. In the 16th century it was an important center of Protestant reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
in the Slovene Lands
Slovene Lands
Slovene Lands or Slovenian Lands is the historical denomination for the whole of the Slovene-inhabited territories in Central Europe. It more or less corresponds to modern Slovenia and the adjacent territories in Italy, Austria and Hungary in which autochthonous Slovene minorities live.-...
; the Slovene Lutheran author Jurij Dalmatin
Jurij Dalmatin
Jurij Dalmatin was a Slovene Lutheran minister, writer and translator.Born in Krško in around 1546, Dalmatin became a preacher in Ljubljana in 1572. He was the author of several religious books, such as Karšanske lepe molitve , Ta kratki würtemberški katekizmus , and Agenda...
also preached in the town.
In the 18th century, it was included in the administrative sub-region of Lower Carniola
Lower Carniola
Lower Carniola was a kreis of the historical Habsburg crown land of Carniola from 1849 till 1919 and is nowadays a traditional region of Slovenia. Its center is Novo Mesto, while other urban centers include Kočevje, Grosuplje, Krško, Trebnje, Mirna, Črnomelj, Semič, and Metlika.-See also:* Upper...
. Between 1809 and 1813, it was a border town between the French
First French Empire
The First French Empire , also known as the Greater French Empire or Napoleonic Empire, was the empire of Napoleon I of France...
-administered Illyrian Provinces
Illyrian provinces
The Illyrian Provinces was an autonomous province of the Napoleonic French Empire on the north and east coasts of the Adriatic Sea between 1809 and 1816. Its capital was established at Laybach...
and the Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
. In the mid-19th century, it became an important center of the Slovene national revival; in 1869, it hosted one of the first mass rallies in favor of a United Slovenia
United Slovenia
United Slovenia is the name of an unrealized political programme of the Slovene national movement, formulated during the Spring of Nations in 1848...
.
In 1862 it received a railway connection, which boosted the local economy.
During World War II
World 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...
, when the area was annexed to the Third Reich, the majority of its Slovene inhabitants were expelled and replaced by ethnic Germans resettled from Gottschee County
Gottschee County
Gottschee County refers to the former German speaking region in the Duchy of Carniola , a crownland of the Habsburg Empire, located in modern day Slovenia...
. Many locals died in Nazi concentration camps
Nazi concentration camps
Nazi Germany maintained concentration camps throughout the territories it controlled. The first Nazi concentration camps set up in Germany were greatly expanded after the Reichstag fire of 1933, and were intended to hold political prisoners and opponents of the regime...
. After the war, the town started developing as an industrial center in the newly named Lower Sava Valley.
The parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
in the town is dedicated to Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas , also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra . Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker...
and belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Celje
Roman Catholic Diocese of Celje
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Celje ; is a diocese located in the city of Celje in the Ecclesiastical province of Maribor in Slovenia.-Leadership:* Bishops of Celje ** Anton Stres...
. It was built in 1862 on the site of a 15th-century building. Other churches in town are dedicated to Saint Florian
Saint Florian
Florian lived in the time of the Roman emperors Diocletian and Maximian, and was commander of the imperial army in the Roman province of Noricum. In addition to his military duties, he was also responsible for organizing firefighting brigades....
, the Mother of God and Saint Anne
Saint Anne
Saint Hanna of David's house and line, was the mother of the Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus Christ according to Christian and Islamic tradition. English Anne is derived from Greek rendering of her Hebrew name Hannah...
, all belonging to the same parish.
Prominent locals
Notable people from the municipality of Sevnica include Melania Knauss, the model and spouse of Donald TrumpDonald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
, handball player Matjaž Mlakar
Matjaž Mlakar
Matjaž Mlakar is a professional handball player currently playing for RK Gorenje.-Career:*National team: Slovenian.*Clubs: Sevnica, RK Gorenje, Celje Pivovarna Lasko*Career: 1990-References:...
, historian Janko Prunk
Janko Prunk
Janko Prunk is a Slovenian historian of modern history. He has published articles and monographs on analytical politology, modern history, the genesis of modern political formations, and the history of social and political philosophy in Slovenia...
(from Loka pri Zidanem Mostu
Loka pri Zidanem Mostu
Loka pri Zidanem Mostu is a village on the left bank of the Sava River in the Municipality of Sevnica in central Slovenia. The area is part of the historical region of Lower Styria. The municipality is now included in the Lower Sava statistical region....
), and writer Ludvik Mrzel (also from Loka pri Zidanem Mostu).
External links
- Sevnica, official page of the municipality (in Slovene)
- Municipality of Sevnica on Geopedia