Žabljak Crnojevića

  • Siege of Shkodra (1474)
  • Siege of Shkodra
  • Invasion of Žabljak (1835)
  • Invasion of Žabljak (1852)

Žabljak Crnojevića (Montenegrin Cyrillic: Жабљак Црнојевића, pronounced [ʒâbʎaːk t͡sr̂nɔjɛv̞it͡ɕaː]), commonly referred to as Žabljak, is an abandoned medieval fortified town (fortress) in Montenegro. The fortress is located on the confluence of the Morača river in Lake Skadar.

History

It is believed that this fortress was founded in the 10th century during the reign of the Vojislavljević dynasty in then-known Dioclea, whereas the first known written testimony of the fortress originate from mid-14th century. The fortress served as the capital of Zeta under the Crnojević dynasty from 1466 till 1478, being the seat of Stefan and Ivan Crnojević. However, Ivan Crnojević was forced to move the capital in 1478 when the Ottomans seized the town during the siege of Shkodra, holding it until the decision of the Berlin Congress in 1878 when it fell under Montenegrin administration once again after 400 years of Turkish rule. The town has tall walls with towers, as well as one gate. Within the walls can be found: Ivan Crnojević's court, Church of Saint George (was turned into a mosque during Ottoman rule), housing and military facilities, a warehouse for clothes and a water tank, most of which are preserved.

In the early 17th century, the town was under Ottoman rule. The fortress had only one resident, the Dizdar Aga (Turkish official).

In the past Žabljak was home to a significant Albanian community. They were largely expelled in different waves during the late 19th century expulsion of the Albanians fleeing to Turkey, Kosovo (Pristina)[1] and Macedonia.[2][3]

Demographics

Ethnicity in 2011[4]
Ethnicity Number Percentage
Montenegrins 17 65.4%
Serbs 9 34.6%
Total 26 100%

Gallery

  • View of the castle from the village
    View of the castle from the village
  • View from the castle to the Skadar lake
    View from the castle to the Skadar lake
  • Monument to Kenjo Janković and Ceklin rebels
    Monument to Kenjo Janković and Ceklin rebels
  • The village church and graveyard under the castle
    The village church and graveyard under the castle

References

  1. ^ Malcolm, Noel (1998). Kosovo: A Short History. Macmillan. p. 229. ISBN 978-0-333-66612-8. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  2. ^ Instituti i Kulturës Popullore (1991). Kultura popullore (in Albanian). Akademia e Shkencave e RSH. p. 25. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
    Translation:

    118/5000 the process of expelling Albanians from their lands in Koloshin, Niksic Field, Zabjak and elsewhere.
  3. ^ Albania: From Anarchy to a Balkan Identity; by Miranda Vickers & James Pettifer, 1999 ISBN 1-85065-279-1; p. 181
  4. ^ MONSTAT - POPIS 2011- podaci
  • (in Serbian) Istorijski leksikon Crne Gore, 5. dio: Žabljak Crnojevića ISBN 86-7706-169-X
  • (in English) Montenegro.com: Zabljak Crnojevica
  • (in English) Visit-Montenegro: Rijeka Crnojevica
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Žabljak Crnojevića.
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