Herzegovina

Coordinates: 43°28′37″N 17°48′54″E / 43.47694°N 17.81500°E / 43.47694; 17.81500
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other uses, see Herzegovina (disambiguation).
Herzegovina
Hercegovina
Херцеговина
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Herzegovina (

Serbo-Croatian: Hercegovina / Херцеговина, pronounced [xɛ̌rt͡se̞ɡoʋina]) is the southern and smaller of two main geographical regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being Bosnia
. It has never had strictly defined geographical, cultural or historical borders, nor has it ever been defined as an administrative whole in the geopolitical and economic subdivision of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bosnia, the larger of the two regions, lies to the north of Herzegovina; the

Montenegrin region of Old Herzegovina lies to the southeast. The land area of Herzegovina is around 12,000 km2 (4,600 sq mi), or around 23–24% of the country. The largest city is Mostar, in the center of the region. Other large settlements include Trebinje, Široki Brijeg, Ljubuški, Čapljina, Konjic and Posušje
.

Etymology

The Ottomans were the first to officially use the name Hercegovina (English: Herzegovina;

Ottoman Turkish: هرسك‎) for the region in their administrative affairs in a letter from 1 February 1454, written by the Ottoman commander Esebeg from Skopje,[2] and established a sanjak bearing that name in 1470, the Sanjak of Herzegovina, with its first seat at Foča. They simply followed their established custom of naming places and territories they conquered by the name of its prior rulers. In this case Ottomans used Stjepan Vukčić Kosača's title, herceg, which practically became part of his name in the last few years of his life when he was commonly referred to as Herceg-Stjepan, to name a region he ruled at the time of Ottoman conquest of Bosnia in the second half of the 15th century.[3][4][5][6] Hercegovina is, thus, a possessive noun derived from Herceg-Stjepan's title-name compound and literally means 'duke's land' (hercegovina), 'herceg's land', herceg's holdings and/or territory owned/ruled by a herceg.[7]

The title herceg is a Slavic form of German

vojvoda), and the first among the Kosača dukes to use the title was Herceg-Stjepan, who became the Herceg of Hum in 1449–50. In December 1481, the lands of Stjepan Vukčić's successors were finally occupied by Ottoman
forces.

The name Herzegovina is the most important and indelible part of Herceg Stjepan's legacy, unique within the entire Serbo-Croatian speaking world of the Balkans, of one medieval person giving his name, or more precisely his noble title, which in the last few years of his life became literally inseparable from his name, to an entire region previously called Humska zemlja, or Hum for short,[7] which still exists today in the name of Bosnia and Herzegovina.[2][6]

However, this is just a superficial understanding, and cannot be attributed to Herceg-Stjepan alone, as his title was not of decisive importance after all.

Tvrtko I, while Sandalj Hranić expanded it and reaffirmed the Kosača family supremacy.[6]

While under

governance of Austria-Hungary, the region was known in German as Herzgau, which etymologically corresponds to the Slavic
name.

History

Part of a series on the
History of Herzegovina
flag Bosnia and Herzegovina portal
See also: History of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Medieval period

Stjepan II Kotromanić joined these regions to the Bosnian state, with the King Tvrtko I Kotromanić extending territories even further, beyond what is modern-day Herzegovina proper.[1]
During these times, parts of Herzegovina, or Hum, as it was called at the time, were ruled by powerful Bosnian magnates of
Bosnian Kingdom, Hum or Humska zemlja became known as Hercegovina (transl. Herzegovina), which literally means "Herzog's land".[2]

Ottoman period

Further information: Sanjak of Herzegovina
Flag of the Herzegovina Eyalet (1833–1851)
Refugees from the Herzegovina Uprising by Uroš Predić

In 1482, the lands of Stefan Vukčić's successors were occupied by Ottoman forces. The Ottomans were the first to begin officially using the name Herzegovina (Hersek) for the region.

The Bosnian

Isa-beg Ishaković mentioned the name in a letter from 1454. In the Ottoman Empire, Herzegovina was organized as a sanjak, the Sanjak of Herzegovina, within the Bosnia Eyalet
. According to the Turkish census of Herzegovina from 1477, some villages were mentioned as being "in the possession of Vlachs," while others, were listed as "Serb settlements" and mostly deserted.[10] According to Ottoman defters, at the end of 15th century in Herzegovina were at least 35,000 Vlachs.[11]

During the

Serbs rose up in Herzegovina (1596–97), but they were quickly suppressed after their defeat at the field of Gacko
.

The

Candian War of 1645 to 1669 caused great damage to the region as the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire fought for control over Dalmatia
and coastal Herzegovina.

As a result of the

Venetian Republic
's influence. The Ottomans benefitted from this in gaining the region's salt.

As a result of the

Ali-paša Rizvanbegović
. After his death, the eyalets of Bosnia and Herzegovina were merged.

The new joint entity was after 1853 commonly referred to as Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serbs in the region

Serb people
from Ottoman rule.

The Herzegovinian Serbs frequently rose up against the Ottoman rule; culminating in the

Herzegovina Uprising (1875-78), which was supported by the Principality of Serbia
and Montenegro.

Montenegro did succeed in liberating and annexing large parts of Herzegovina before the

Berlin Congress of 1878, including the Nikšić area; the historical Herzegovina region annexed to Montenegro is known as East or Old Herzegovina
.

Modern history

Flag of Herzegovina, during the Austro-Hungarian rule in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1878–1918)

As a result of the

occupied by Austria-Hungary
, only nominally remaining under Ottoman rule.

The historical Herzegovina region in the Principality of Montenegro was known as East or Old Herzegovina. The Serb population of Herzegovina and Bosnia hoped for annexation to Serbia and Montenegro. The Franciscan order opened the first university in Herzegovina in 1895 in Mostar.

In 1908, Austria-Hungary annexed the province, leading to the

Archduke Franz Ferdinand
came as a direct result of the resentment of the Serbs of Bosnia and Herzegovina against Austro-Hungarian rule.

During

Šuckori, Muslim para-militia units. Šuckori units were especially active in Herzegovina. Persecution of Serbs conducted by the Austro-Hungarian authorities was the "first incidence of active 'ethnic cleansing' in Bosnia and Herzegovina".[12]

In 1918, Herzegovina became a part of the newly formed

Herzeg-Bosnia (which later joined the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina) while eastern Herzegovina became a part of Republika Srpska
.

Geography

Herzegovina in spring at Ivan Sedlo, mountain pass between Ivan and Bjelašnica mountains.
Blidinje Plateau
.

Herzegovina is a southern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its borders and territory have never been strictly defined, be it geographically or culturally, nor has there ever been a geopolitical and economic subdivision of Bosnia and Herzegovina bearing the name.

The larger of two Bosnia and Herzegovina regions, Bosnia, is to the west and north of Herzegovina, and the border between two regions, Herzegovina and Bosnia, is unclear as it has never been strictly defined. To the south-southwest of region lies Croatian region of Dalmatia, and to the east-southeast is Montenegro.

The land area is c. 11,500 km2 (4,400 sq mi),[13] or around 23% of the total area of the present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina, to c. 12,300 km2 (4,700 sq mi), or around 24% of the country.[1]

It borders the Adriatic Sea along its 20 km (12 mi) coastline.

Neretva river
valley
Bilećko Lake

The terrain of Herzegovina is mostly hilly karst with high mountains in the north such as Čvrsnica and Prenj, except for the central valley of the river Neretva. The upper reaches of the River Neretva lie in northern Herzegovina, a heavily forested area with fast-flowing rivers and high mountains. Konjic and Jablanica lie in this area.

The Neretva rises on Lebršnik Mountain, close to the

Stari most) and continues, now wider, toward the town of Čapljina and the Neretva Delta in Croatia before emptying into the Adriatic Sea
.

Cities and towns

The largest city is Mostar, in the center of the region. Other larger towns include Trebinje, Stolac, Široki Brijeg, Posušje, Ljubuški, Tomislavgrad, Grude, Konjic, and Čapljina.[1]

Mostar is the best-known urban area and the unofficial capital. It is the only city with over 100,000 citizens. There are no other large cities in Herzegovina, though some have illustrious histories.[1]

Radimlja. Trebinje, on the Trebišnjica River, is the southernmost city in Bosnia and Herzegovina, near the Montenegro border.[1]

Međugorje
has religious importance for many Roman Catholics.

Administration

In the modern state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Herzegovina is divided between the countries' two major entities, Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Republika Srpska's part of Herzegovina, commonly referred to as East Herzegovina, or increasingly more often "Trebinje Region", is administratively divided into municipalities of Berkovići, Bileća, Gacko, Istočni Mostar, Ljubinje, Nevesinje, and Trebinje.[1]

Within the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Herzegovina is administratively divided between the cantons of Herzegovina-Neretva and West Herzegovina; the two cantons only make mention of the region in relation to other locations or geographical features. Part of the region belongs to Canton 10.[1]

Population

Main article:
Population of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ethnic composition of Herzegovina in 1991[14]

The locals of Herzegovina are known by the demonym Herzegovinians (Bosnian: Hercegovci / Херцеговци; singular masculine: Hercegovac / Херцеговац, feminine: Hercegovka / Херцеговка). While the population of Herzegovina throughout history has been ethnically mixed, the Bosnian War in the 1990s resulted in mass ethnic cleansing and large-scale displacement of peoples. The last pre-war census in 1991 recorded a population of 437,095 inhabitants.

The demographic makeup of West Herzegovina Canton, Herzegovina-Neretva Canton and East Herzegovina according to the 2013 census is:

Ethnic Composition[15]
Ethnic Group Number Percentage
Croats 212,428 55.2%
Bosniaks 94,895 24.7%
Serbs 70,952 18.4%
Others 6,483 1.7%
Total 384,743 100%

Culture

Monuments

The region has rich history and diverse culture, with variety of important monuments of cultural-historical heritage, such as the following cultural monuments;

Stećci and Tekija.[1]

Religion

The Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina guarantees freedom of religion,[16]

Music

Traditional costumes of Herzegovina
  • Serb traditional costume from Trebinje and Eastern Herzegovina
    Eastern Herzegovina
  • Folk costumes of Croatian women from Tomislavgrad Hercegovina.
    Folk costumes of Croatian women from Tomislavgrad Hercegovina.

Tourism

In 2013, tourist cluster Herzegovina was established since Herzegovina didn't have a regional tourist organisation.

West Herzegovina as well as part of the Republic of Srpska (such as Trebinje).[17]

Herzegovina's natural landmarks include many features.[1]

  • The falls of Kravica, on the Trebižat river, consist of several waterfalls near the city of Ljubuški and a popular spot for the local people to take a bath in the hot weather.
  • The Hutovo Blato is a bird reserve, one of the most important in Europe and a gathering place for many international ornithologists.
  • Ravno
    municipality. The cave has not been explored totally yet, but it is open to visitors. A large number of endemic cave-dwelling species have been discovered there, and new ones can be expected to be discovered still.
  • Buna River
    , inside a cave system.
  • Neum at the Adriatic Sea, Bosnia and Herzegovina's only coastal town, is also a tourist destination.
  • Međugorje
    has one of the most visited sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Image gallery

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "3. Hercegovačka regija". Regionalna strategija ekonomskog razvoja Hercegovine (pdf / html) (in Serbo-Croatian). Bosna i Hercegovina. November 2004. Retrieved 22 November 2020. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ a b c Vego 1982, p. 48.
  3. ^ Ćirković, Sima M. (1964). "Chepter 7: Slom Bosanske države; Part 3: Pad Bosne". Istorija srednjovekovne bosanske države (in Serbian). Serbian Literary Guild. pp. starting with 336. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  4. ISBN 0932885128
    , p. 11
  5. doi:10.1163/1573-3912_islam_COM_0126
    , 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d Ćirković 1964a, p. 272.
  7. ^ a b Vego 1982, p. 48: "Tako se pojam Humska zemlja postepeno gubi da ustupi mjesto novom imenu zemlje hercega Stjepana — Hercegovini."
  8. ^ "Borak (Han-stjenički plateau) necropolis with stećak tombstones in the village of Burati, the historic site". Commission to preserve national monuments (in Bosnian). Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  9. ^ Maslo, Amer. "M.A. Thesis: "Slavni i velmožni gospodin knez Pavle Radinović" (available for download at faculty website)" (PDF). www.ff.unsa.ba (in Bosnian). Faculty of Philosophy of University of Sarajevo – History Department. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  10. ISBN 0631204717
  11. ISBN 953-6045-03-6
  12. ^ Lampe 2000, p. 109
  13. ISSN 0350-6517
    .
  14. ^ Ethnic composition of Bosnia-Herzegovina population, by municipalities and settlements, 1991. Vol. Bilten no.234. Sarajevo: Zavod za statistiku Bosne i Hercegovine. 1991.
  15. ^ "Popis 2013 u BiH". www.statistika.ba. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  16. ^ "Freedom of religion Law..., Official Gazette of B&H 5/04". Mpr.gov.ba. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  17. ^ a b "Herzegovina more and more attractive to guests and tourism investments". croatiaweek.com. Croatia Week. 8 October 2023. Retrieved 9 October 2023.

Bibliography

External links

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