Prokuplje Fortress
the public
Prokuplje Fortress (Serbian: Прокупље) was a medieval fortified town, located above modern day Prokuplje, Serbia. It is surrounded by Toplica river from three sides.[1]
History
The settlement was known as Hammeum under the rule of Roman Empire, Complos under Byzantium and Toplica during the earliest stages of Serbian rule.[2] Although the locality was settled before, various research provided that the remaining walls were built in the late 14th century, during the rule of Prince Lazar of Serbia, as a defense from the Ottoman invasion. During that period, the fortified town was named as City of St. Procopius, or simply Prokuplje, based on the name of a saint, whose remains were kept in the city since 1386. During this time Serbia developed a sort of wine which was called Prokupac (from the grape of the same name), indicating that the city had a thriving wine-making industry. Under Lazar Hrebeljanović and Stefan Lazarević, Prokuplje enjoyed the same status as Kruševac, Stalać, Bovan, Petrus, and Leskovac. It was an important trading city on the trade route towards the Adriatic coast and Ragusa, as merchants from Dubrovnik enjoyed a good status within the city, as testified by the Latin church which the Ragusan merchants used. It was one of two churches in the core of the old town of Prokuplje, the other being a Serbian Orthodox church.
Prokuplje was first temporarily occupied by the Ottomans in 1440, and then eventually conquered long-term in 1454 during the Ottoman invasion of the Serbian Despotate. Soon afterward, they restored the damaged citadel, where Ottoman crew settled in, while the lower boroughs were inhabited by Ottoman common folk. The fortress was also known as Hissar at this time, as this is the Turkish word for fortress.
Characteristics
The fortress consists of a citadel with oval foundation, situated on the highest plateau, from where two concentric bulwarks descend forming two lower boroughs on accessible areas of the hillside. The interior of the citadel was as big as 500 square metres (5,400 sq ft) of surface and had its own water supply via a large water cistern.
The tower of Jug Bogdan, which was an outpost, is in the best shape out of all remains. It is located on Toplica riverbank. Presumably, it served to control crossing over the river, but also to ensure water-supply to the fortress. Jug Bogdan is the name of a Serb voivode Vratko Nemanjić in Serbian epic poetry.
The site on and around Hisar Hill is rich with valuable archeological findings from various eras; there were remains of Roman baths and fortifications, as well as pre-Roman and Byzantine foundations under sections of the lower town. The most common findings include spears and swords, tools for leather works, and ceramic pottery.
Lately, the project of reconstruction and restoration has begun in earnest.
References
External links
- Prokuplje history
- v
- t
- e
fortresses
& palaces
- Amidža Konak
- Anište
- Atanas
- Banovina Palace
- Bač Fortress
- Belgrade Fortress
- Bishop' s Palace in Novi Sad
- Bishop' s Palace in Vršac
- Bisingen Nippenburg Palace in Vršac
- Borač Fortress
- Building of the Patriarchate
- Braničevo Fortress
- Castle Šlos in Golubinci
- Seat of the Church and people's funds in Sremski Karlovci
- Dardana Fortress*
- Diana Fortress
- Fantast
- Fetislam
- Gamzigrad
- Golubac
- Gradište*
- Grand palace Danijel in Stari Lec
- Grand palace Lazarević in Veliko Središte
- Harilaq Fortress
- Jeleč
- Jerinin Grad, Brangović
- Jerinin Grad, Grabovac
- Kapetanovo
- Kovin
- Koznik
- Kruševac Fortress
- Kurvingrad
- Maglič
- Manasija
- Markovo Kale
- Mileševac Fortress
- Morović Fortress
- Nenadović Tower
- Niš Fortress
- Novi dvor
- Novo Brdo Fortress*
- Ostrvica
- Patriarchate Court in Sremski Karlovci
- Palace Baba Pusta in Aleksa Šantić
- Palace Bezeredi in Čelarevo
- Palace Biserno Ostrvo in Bačko Gradište
- Palace Bisingen in Vlajkovac
- Palace Bisinger in Vlajkovac
- Palace Damaskin in Hajdučica
- Palace Danijel in Konak
- Palace Dunđerski in Kulpin
- Palace Eđešeg in Novi Sad
- Palace Gomboš in Bečej
- Palace Hadik in Futog
- Palace Hercl in Vrbas
- Palace Hertelendi in Bočar
- Palace Ilion in Sremski Karlovci
- Palace in Gornja Rogatica
- Palace Ingus in Hajdukovo
- Palace in Karađorđevo
- Palace in Melenci
- Palace Jagodić near Konak
- Palace Jovanović in Sočica
- Palace Kapetanovo in Stari Lec
- Palace Karas in Horgoš
- Palace Kaštel in Bačka Topola
- Palace Kaštel in Panonija
- Palace Kiš in Elemir
- Palace Kovač in Riđica
- Palace Lazar in Ečka
- Palace Maldegem in Novi Kneževac
- Palace Marcibanji-Lederer in Čoka
- Palace Marcibanji in Sremska Kamenica
- Palace Nojhauzen in Srpska Crnja
- Palace of Laslo Karačonji in Novo Miloševo
- Palace of Miloš Bajić in Bočar
- Palace Redl in Rastina
- Palace Rogendorf in Banatski Dvor
- Palace Servijski-Šulpe in Novi Kneževac
- Palace Sečenji in Temerin
- Palace Sokolac in Novi Bečej
- Palace Stratimirović in Kulpin
- Palace Tabori in Vrbas
- Palace Talijan in Novi Kneževac
- Palace Zako in Bajša
- Palace Zobnatica in Bačka Topola
- Palace Špicer in Beočin
- Pančevo Fortress
- Petrovaradin Fortress
- Pirot Fortress
- Prilepac
- Prizrenac (fortress)*
- Prizren Fortress*
- Prokuplje Fortress
- Ram Fortress
- Ravanica
- Ruthenian Court in Šid
- Small palace Danijel in Stari Lec
- Small palace Lazarević in Veliko Središte
- Smederevo Fortress
- Soko Grad
- Soko Grad
- Stalać Fortress
- Stari dvor
- Stari Grad
- Stari Ras
- Trojanov Grad
- Toman Villa in Vrbas
- Vidin Grad
- Villa Danijel in Zrenjanin
- Villa Divan, Sajan
- Villa Elek, Zrenjanin
- Villa Engelman in Gunaroš
- Villa Ertl in Odžaci
- Villa in Kikinda
- Villa in Kula
- Villa in Palić
- Villa in Savino Selo
- Villa Lujza in Palić
- Villa Mavrokordato in Kikinda
- Villa Pece in Mali Iđoš
- Villa Pejačević in Jarkovci
- Villa Rizenfelder in Kikinda
- Villa Stanković in Čortanovci
- Villa Vamošer in Bački Monoštor
- Villa Vlaškalić, Mošorin
- Villa Šulho Vebera in Padej
- Vojinovića Tower
- Vršac Castle
- Zatrič*
- Zelen-grad
- Zemun Fortress
- Zvečan Fortress*
- Šabac Fortress
- Žrnov
* is used for castles located in the disputed territory of Kosovo