Tešanj
Encyclopedia
Tešanj is a city and municipality in the northern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina
, located near Teslić
, Doboj
and Zavidovići
. Administrativley, it belongs to the Zenica-Doboj Canton
of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
.
Between the second half of the 15th century and the first half of the 16th century, the history of Tešanj was rather chaotic. Since Bosnia was considered a buffer state by the Ottomans, it changed rulers quite often, alternating between Ottoman and Hungarian occupation. Between 1463 and 1476 Tešanj was the center of the Bosnian kingdom and the residence of Duke Radivoj Kotromanić.
From 1512 (or 1520-21) on, Tešanj was under continuous rule of the Ottoman empire. The most Ottoman influential ruler of Tešanj was the Bosnian Sandžak-bey Gazi Ferhad-bey. It is under his authority that the city rapidly developed. His most significant contribution was the Ferhadija Mosque (1563), which still stands in the old town, dating back to the 16th century. Gazi Ferhad-bey died in 1568 and was buried in the yard of the mosque. The epitaph on his tombstone was in Arabic, and is the oldest Islamic record in Tešanj.
The old Eminagić House is the oldest house of Tešanj, still standing the tooth of time, and is said to have been built at the end of the 17th century.
The Old Town is dominated by the well-preserved fortress, called "Gradina", overlooking the whole city. Upper City Center expands around the castle, rather on the bottom of this castle. Very early this castle became a center of economic and cultural life of Tešanj. This was developed along with retail and trade in Tešanj. The city center developed strongly in 17 and 18 Century, when there were around 40 stores and trades operating.
The Hour tower was built in the 17th century. From the total of 21 hour towers that were built in the whole Bosnia and Herzegovina, this tower is one of the four towers that are still working properly. It is 18.5 meters tall. Up until 1890 this tower showed alaturk time, but the same year, Fehim-beg Smailbegović brought a new clock, which showed European time. This hour clock is still working.
Grave of the poet Musa Ćazim Ćatić
is located on cemetery "Obješenica", in the city center. Even though he was born in Odžak in year 1880, he dedicated his whole life and work to the city Tešanj, where is also died in 1915.
, Slavs and Turks. During the reign of Turks
, the castle had a permanent army.
The town of Tešanj itself had 5,253 residents in 1981, and 6,058 in 1991. Note Muslims are Bosniaks.
.
, Jablanica, Jelah-polje, Kalošević, Karadaglije, Koprivci, Kraševo, Lepenica, Logobare, Lončari, Ljetinić, Marin Han, Mrkotić, Miljanovci, Medakovo, Mekiš, Novo Selo, Novi Miljanovci, Oraš Planje, Piljužići, Potočani, Putešić, Raduša, Rosulje, Ripna, Šije, Tešanj, Trepče, Tešanjka, Tugovići, Vrela, Vukovo, Hrvatinovići
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
, located near Teslić
Teslic
Teslić is a town and municipality in north-central Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situated in the central part of the Republika Srpska entity. Teslić is located on the Usora River.-History:...
, Doboj
Doboj
Doboj is a city and a municipality in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina, situated in the northern part of the Republika Srpska entity on the river Bosna. Doboj is the largest national railway junction; as such, the seats of the Republika Srpska Railways, and the Railways Corporation of Bosnia and...
and Zavidovići
Zavidovici
Zavidovići is a town and municipality in Eastern-central Bosnia and Herzegovina, located between Doboj and Zenica on the confluence of rivers Bosna, Krivaja and Gostović. It sits in a valley surrounded by many mountains of which the largest is Klek...
. Administrativley, it belongs to the Zenica-Doboj Canton
Zenica-Doboj Canton
The Zenica-Doboj Canton is one of the cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Geography:This canton is situated in the central part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The cantonal capital is Zenica and the other town mentioned in the name is Doboj, which is in Republika Srpska, but part of the...
of 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...
.
About Tešanj
Tešanj is located on an altitude of 230 meters and developed around the river Tešanjka.History
The present name of the city is for the first time mentioned in 1461 in a charter from King Stephen Tomašević to his uncle Radivoj Krstić. The charter stated that King Stephen Tomašević grants him, among other possessions "i na Usori grad Tešanj- the city of Tešanj, in the Usora region".Between the second half of the 15th century and the first half of the 16th century, the history of Tešanj was rather chaotic. Since Bosnia was considered a buffer state by the Ottomans, it changed rulers quite often, alternating between Ottoman and Hungarian occupation. Between 1463 and 1476 Tešanj was the center of the Bosnian kingdom and the residence of Duke Radivoj Kotromanić.
From 1512 (or 1520-21) on, Tešanj was under continuous rule of the Ottoman empire. The most Ottoman influential ruler of Tešanj was the Bosnian Sandžak-bey Gazi Ferhad-bey. It is under his authority that the city rapidly developed. His most significant contribution was the Ferhadija Mosque (1563), which still stands in the old town, dating back to the 16th century. Gazi Ferhad-bey died in 1568 and was buried in the yard of the mosque. The epitaph on his tombstone was in Arabic, and is the oldest Islamic record in Tešanj.
The old Eminagić House is the oldest house of Tešanj, still standing the tooth of time, and is said to have been built at the end of the 17th century.
The Old Town is dominated by the well-preserved fortress, called "Gradina", overlooking the whole city. Upper City Center expands around the castle, rather on the bottom of this castle. Very early this castle became a center of economic and cultural life of Tešanj. This was developed along with retail and trade in Tešanj. The city center developed strongly in 17 and 18 Century, when there were around 40 stores and trades operating.
The Hour tower was built in the 17th century. From the total of 21 hour towers that were built in the whole Bosnia and Herzegovina, this tower is one of the four towers that are still working properly. It is 18.5 meters tall. Up until 1890 this tower showed alaturk time, but the same year, Fehim-beg Smailbegović brought a new clock, which showed European time. This hour clock is still working.
Grave of the poet Musa Ćazim Ćatić
Musa Cazim Catic
Musa Ćazim Ćatić was a Bosnian Muslim poet of Croat orientation. He is currently featured on the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina 50 km note ....
is located on cemetery "Obješenica", in the city center. Even though he was born in Odžak in year 1880, he dedicated his whole life and work to the city Tešanj, where is also died in 1915.
Tešanj Castle
Tešanj Castle is one of the most significant and largest castles in BiH. Its area is 6296 square metres (7,530 sq yd). When this castle was built is not known. It was built and renovated for a long period. Because the way it was positioned it was mostly for defense from invaders. Together with the city center it forms a balanced area of Bosnian style. The building of this Castle was started as early as the reign of Ilira. It was built onto the Castle by RomansAncient 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....
, Slavs and Turks. During the reign of 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...
, the castle had a permanent army.
Demographics
| Ethnic Composition | |||||||||||||
| Year | Serb | % | Muslims | % | Croats | % | Yugoslavs | % | Others | % | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 3,464 | 11.87% | 18,270 | 62.61% | 6,332 | 21.70% | 1,003 | 3.44% | 113 | 0.39% | 29,182 | ||
| 1971 | 2,692 | 7.76% | 24,208 | 69.78% | 7,603 | 21.92% | 39 | 0.11% | 151 | 0.44% | 34,693 | ||
| 1981 | 3,152 | 7.21% | 30,653 | 70.16% | 8,548 | 19.56% | 1,012 | 2.32% | 327 | 0.75% | 43,692 | ||
| 1991 | 3,078 | 6.36% | 34,938 | 72.20% | 8,952 | 18.50% | 1,038 | 2.15% | 384 | 0.79% | 48,390 | ||
The town of Tešanj itself had 5,253 residents in 1981, and 6,058 in 1991. Note Muslims are Bosniaks.
1999
In 1999, the municipality of Tešanj had 52,249 residents including 13,798 refugees and displaced persons the town had 5,668 residents. The vast majority of residents are ethnic BosniaksBosniaks
The Bosniaks or Bosniacs are a South Slavic ethnic group, living mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a smaller minority also present in other lands of the Balkan Peninsula especially in Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia...
.
Places in the municipality
Bukva, Blaževci, Bobare, Cerovac, Čaglici, Čifluk, Dobropolje, Drinčići, Džemilić Planje, Jevadžije, JelahJelah
Jelah is a town on river Usora in the northern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, located near Teslić, Doboj and Tešanj. It is administratively part of the Zenica-Doboj Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
, Jablanica, Jelah-polje, Kalošević, Karadaglije, Koprivci, Kraševo, Lepenica, Logobare, Lončari, Ljetinić, Marin Han, Mrkotić, Miljanovci, Medakovo, Mekiš, Novo Selo, Novi Miljanovci, Oraš Planje, Piljužići, Potočani, Putešić, Raduša, Rosulje, Ripna, Šije, Tešanj, Trepče, Tešanjka, Tugovići, Vrela, Vukovo, Hrvatinovići
Famous people from Tešanj
- Ahmet Turkovic, actor,
- Amir Brka, writer,
- Omer Pobrić, Sevdah Institute founder,
- Huso Hodžić, WW2 People's Hero,
- Nisim Albahari, WW2 People's Hero,
- Ćazim Golalić, WW2 People's Hero,
- Musa Ćazim ĆatićMusa Cazim CaticMusa Ćazim Ćatić was a Bosnian Muslim poet of Croat orientation. He is currently featured on the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina 50 km note ....
, poet, - Otto LangOtto LangOtto Emil Lang, PC, OC, QC, is a Canadian politician.In 1963, he was appointed Dean of Law at the University of Saskatchewan, the youngest person to be appointed to that position, and served until 1969....
, Film producer, - Kemal Korajlić, WW2 Lieutenant-General and WW2 People's Hero,
- Enis BešlagićEnis BešlagicEnis Bešlagić is an actor and TV personality from Bosnia and Herzegovina.- External links :...
, Actor - Ademaga Mešić, Ustaša Deputy-Leader,
- Stevo Petranović, Theater director and founder the first theater in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Rešad Kadić, Writer,
External links
- Official Tešanj site
- http://www.tesanj.org/
- http://www.tesanj.net/
- Tragovima bosanskog kraljevstva - Tourist route for medieval (English)
- Trail of the Bosnian Kingdom - Cultural Tourism in Tesanj
- http://www.tesanjweb.com/ Nezavisni info portal