The Fortress of Zvečan (Serbian: Тврђава Звечан / Tvrđava Zvečan, Звечански град / Zvešanski grad; Albanian: Kalaja e Zveçanit), also known as Zvečan/Zveçan medieval fortress[1] and Fortress of Mitrovica (Albanian: Kalaja e Mitrovicës), located in the northwest of the city of North Mitrovica, in Kosovo, is an enormous castle and one of the oldest fortresses in Southeastern Europe.[2] It was built on the top of the extinct volcano vent, overlooking the Ibar river.[3] Zvečan Fortress was declared Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1990, and it was protected by the Republic of Serbia.
It represents one of the oldest Balkanmedievalfortresses, although its exact date of construction is unknown.[3] The underlying construction dates from the period of Classical antiquity, and it is not unlikely that the location was fortified in prehistoric times. The fortress was alluded to for the first time in 1091 during border battles between Serbs and Byzantines.[4] As a border fort of Grand Principality of Serbia, the fortress gained importance in 1093, when the Serbian ruler Vukan, launched his conquest of the Kosovo region (then part of the Byzantine Empire) from there.[3] Part of the fortress was designated as one of the courts of the Serbian House of Nemanjić.[3]
In the 12th century, the fort would play a pivotal role in the struggle of expanding the Serbian state under the Nemanjić dynasty.[3]
View of the Zvečan Fortress
Thick and high walls of Zvečan fortress at the House of Nemanjić’s time, served not only for protection against the enemy’s assaults but also as a shelter for the merchants from Dubrovnik as well as a dungeon for the overthrown rulers of the Nemanjić’s lineage. Thus Konstantin Nemanić, Stefan Dečanski’s stepbrother, was buried here in 1322.[citation needed]
It was the place where Stefan Uroš III was imprisoned and died in 1331.[5] For some time, the ruler of Zvečan was Grand Prince Lazar’s son-in-law, the chieftain Musa, at the time of Czar Uroš.[3] By the end of 14th century Zvečan was under the rule of Vuk Branković. In 1389, it was captured by the Ottoman Turks after the Battle of Kosovo, and it remained an active military site well into the 18th century, after which it was abandoned.[6]
Zvečan finally fell into Turkish power in 1455, when the Turkish population colonized these areas. Among whom Feriz Ćefalija was mentioned to have an authorization from the Sultan and Pasha from Skopje to make trading connections with Dubrovnik. By its subjection to Turkish rule, Zvečan lost its importance as a military fort[7] and the authors of the travel books from the 16th century, Benedicte Kuripešić and Evlija Čelebija referred to its as a deserted town on the hill to the north of Kosovska Mitrovica.[citation needed] In 1660, Čelebija describes it as "consisting of 300 houses with tiled roofs, a congregational mosque, a khan, a bathhouse and several fine shops".[4]
Under Turkish-Ottoman rule, Zvečan was neglected and was in the possession of the Bosnian Vilayet. Eventually, Mitrovica became a kadiluk (district) of the Bosnian vilayet and Zvečan, along with Kosovska Mitrovica, remained in that administrative until 1877, and it, as it too was a part of Mitrovica, belonged to the Priština region (Sandžak) until the region's annexation by the Kingdom of Serbia in the First Balkan War, in 1912.[citation needed]
From 1912-45, little was done on the research and restoration of Zvečan; it was only after 1945 when many archeological excavations were carried out in the town which was put under the protection of the state. There is a need for complete reconstruction of the fortress in order to prevent it from further ruining.[citation needed]
^Urošević, Atanasije (20 April 1957). Bulletin de l'Academie Serbe des Sciences. Section des Sciences Sociales. Srpska akademija nauka i umetnosti. p. 34.
Sourcesedit
Božović, Ružica (2015). "Medieval Town-Fortress of Zvecan" (PDF). Facta Universitatis: Architecture and Civil Engineering. 13 (2): 137–153. doi:10.2298/FUACE15020137B.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zvečan Fortress.
January 01, 1970
zvečan, fortress, fortress, zvečan, serbian, Тврђава, Звечан, tvrđava, zvečan, Звечански, град, zvešanski, grad, albanian, kalaja, zveçanit, also, known, zvečan, zveçan, medieval, fortress, fortress, mitrovica, albanian, kalaja, mitrovicës, located, northwest,. The Fortress of Zvecan Serbian Tvrђava Zvechan Tvrđava Zvecan Zvechanski grad Zvesanski grad Albanian Kalaja e Zvecanit also known as Zvecan Zvecan medieval fortress 1 and Fortress of Mitrovica Albanian Kalaja e Mitrovices located in the northwest of the city of North Mitrovica in Kosovo is an enormous castle and one of the oldest fortresses in Southeastern Europe 2 It was built on the top of the extinct volcano vent overlooking the Ibar river 3 Zvecan Fortress was declared Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1990 and it was protected by the Republic of Serbia ZvecanZvecanZvechanNorth Mitrovica KosovoOverview of the Zvecan fortressTypeFortificationSite historyBuilt11th centuryBuilt byVukan VukanovicMaterialsStone Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 SourcesHistory editIt represents one of the oldest Balkan medieval fortresses although its exact date of construction is unknown 3 The underlying construction dates from the period of Classical antiquity and it is not unlikely that the location was fortified in prehistoric times The fortress was alluded to for the first time in 1091 during border battles between Serbs and Byzantines 4 As a border fort of Grand Principality of Serbia the fortress gained importance in 1093 when the Serbian ruler Vukan launched his conquest of the Kosovo region then part of the Byzantine Empire from there 3 Part of the fortress was designated as one of the courts of the Serbian House of Nemanjic 3 nbsp nbsp Left Vukan Grand Prince of Serbia launched his conquest of Byzantine territories from the Zvecan FortressRight Stefan Decanski King of Serbia died in Zvecan Fortress In the 12th century the fort would play a pivotal role in the struggle of expanding the Serbian state under the Nemanjic dynasty 3 nbsp View of the Zvecan Fortress Thick and high walls of Zvecan fortress at the House of Nemanjic s time served not only for protection against the enemy s assaults but also as a shelter for the merchants from Dubrovnik as well as a dungeon for the overthrown rulers of the Nemanjic s lineage Thus Konstantin Nemanic Stefan Decanski s stepbrother was buried here in 1322 citation needed It was the place where Stefan Uros III was imprisoned and died in 1331 5 For some time the ruler of Zvecan was Grand Prince Lazar s son in law the chieftain Musa at the time of Czar Uros 3 By the end of 14th century Zvecan was under the rule of Vuk Brankovic In 1389 it was captured by the Ottoman Turks after the Battle of Kosovo and it remained an active military site well into the 18th century after which it was abandoned 6 Zvecan finally fell into Turkish power in 1455 when the Turkish population colonized these areas Among whom Feriz Cefalija was mentioned to have an authorization from the Sultan and Pasha from Skopje to make trading connections with Dubrovnik By its subjection to Turkish rule Zvecan lost its importance as a military fort 7 and the authors of the travel books from the 16th century Benedicte Kuripesic and Evlija Celebija referred to its as a deserted town on the hill to the north of Kosovska Mitrovica citation needed In 1660 Celebija describes it as consisting of 300 houses with tiled roofs a congregational mosque a khan a bathhouse and several fine shops 4 Under Turkish Ottoman rule Zvecan was neglected and was in the possession of the Bosnian Vilayet Eventually Mitrovica became a kadiluk district of the Bosnian vilayet and Zvecan along with Kosovska Mitrovica remained in that administrative until 1877 and it as it too was a part of Mitrovica belonged to the Pristina region Sandzak until the region s annexation by the Kingdom of Serbia in the First Balkan War in 1912 citation needed From 1912 45 little was done on the research and restoration of Zvecan it was only after 1945 when many archeological excavations were carried out in the town which was put under the protection of the state There is a need for complete reconstruction of the fortress in order to prevent it from further ruining citation needed See also editMonument of Culture of Exceptional Importance List of castles in KosovoReferences edit Municipal Profile 2018 Mitrovice Mitrovica Region Zvecan Zvecan PDF Organisation for Security and Co operation in Europe p 4 Bozovic 2015 p 141 a b c d e f Bozovic 2015 p 139 a b Elsie Robert 2010 Historical Dictionary of Kosovo Scarecrow Press p 296 ISBN 978 0 8108 7483 1 Otte T G 2016 An Historian in Peace and War The Diaries of Harold Temperley Routledge p 489 ISBN 978 1 3171 8192 7 Bozovic 2015 p 140 Urosevic Atanasije 20 April 1957 Bulletin de l Academie Serbe des Sciences Section des Sciences Sociales Srpska akademija nauka i umetnosti p 34 Sources editBozovic Ruzica 2015 Medieval Town Fortress of Zvecan PDF Facta Universitatis Architecture and Civil Engineering 13 2 137 153 doi 10 2298 FUACE15020137B 42 54 15 N 20 50 46 E 42 90417 N 20 84611 E 42 90417 20 84611 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zvecan Fortress Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zvecan Fortress amp oldid 1219263300, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
