Lašva Valley

Lašva Valley
Lašva Valley
valley
	UTC+1 (Central European Time)

The Lašva Valley (Bosnian: Lašvanska dolina|Лашванска долина) is a 17 kilometers long valley in

Bosna River. The Lašva River basin covers the territory of four municipalities: Travnik, Novi Travnik, Vitez and Busovača.^[3]

The favorable geographical position of the Lašva Valley enabled the beginning of civilization along the Lašva River. However, due to the unprotected and open area numerous occupiers chose the mountainous regions to protect themselves. The earliest known remnants of civilized people were the Romans. Romans were adapt to the terrain and surrounding because of military might, which was of the utmost importance for survival.

Due to the presence of the

Turbe and Mosunj, where a settlement named Bistue is thought to have existed.^[4]

Pre-Ottoman period

The name "Lašva" was first used as a regional term in the 13th century.

Roman Catholic churches existing in the Lašva Valley^{[citation needed]}, although only one can be confirmed by the gifting of the Bosnian Ban Matthew Ninoslaus

in 1250.

The Lašva Valley is thought of having its own seat of power before the arrival of the

Bosnia

.

"Lašva" is only mentioned once in the 15th century by King Sigismund of Hungary on 5 September 1425. On that date the king rewarded his son the Paku estate in the county of Vuku for his loyalty to the king which he earned through battles against the Ottoman Empire.

In the book "Roots and Life," translated from "Korijeni i Život," the advent of Ottoman expansion is mentioned. "The coming of the Ottomans and their military victories at Jajce in 1463 saw the putting out of fire in chimneys at age old houses and churches. With the arrival of the new oppressive and bloodthirsty masters from the East, people began to flee over the borders to the south and north, while others sought refuge in mountains led by the Franciscans."

The last battle against Ottoman expansion in the Lašva Valley was lost on May 1463, when

Stephen Tomašević at Milodraž in today's Brestovsko; located between Kiseljak and Busovača.^[5]

Ottoman Period

Fatih Sultan Mehmet

instituting religious freedom in Bosnia.

Upon the

Roman Catholic

population.

Due to the sheer size of the

monasteries were not allowed to be built on the foundation of old ones and consequently only three remained at; Fojnica, Kreševo and Kraljeva Sutjeska

.

At the dawn of Ottoman rule, the Lašva Valley began to be called "nahija Lašva," which was centered at

Bosnia.^[5]

Post-Ottoman Period

The Lašva Valley, as well as

Austro-Hungarian rule transformed the Lašva Valley into a capable area worthy of competing against larger and more established regions. The 19th century also saw the materialization of South Slavic nationalism along with the idea of a united South Slavic state.^{[citation needed}

]

Modern Day

The region saw fierce fighting between the

Croat-Bosniak War. Today the region is recovering from the war and has emerged as an economic powerhouse in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with cities such as Vitez

leading the way.

Demographics

Municipality	Nationality								Total
Municipality	Muslims	%	Croats	%	Serbs	%	Other	%	Total
Travnik	31,813	45.4	25,945	37.0	7,300	10.4	5,032	7.2	70,090
Novi Travnik	11,625	37.9	12,162	39.6	4,097	13.3	2,829	9.2	30,713
Vitez	11,514	41.3	12,675	45.5	1,501	5.4	2,169	7.8	27,859
Busovača	8,451	44.8	9,093	48.2	623	3.3	712	3.8	18,879
1991 census

Municipality	Nationality								Total
Municipality	Bosniaks	%	Croats	%	Serbs	%	Other	%	Total
Travnik	35,648	66.7	15,102	28.2	644	1.2	2,092	3.9	53,482
Novi Travnik	12,067	50.6	11,002	46.2	367	1.5	396	1.7	23.832
Vitez	10,513	40.7	14.350	55.5	333	1.3	640	2.5	25,836
Busovača	8,681	48.5	8,873	49.5	205	1.1	151	0.8	17,910
2013 census

References

^ "Estimation total number of present population by age, sex and cantons and municipality, June 30, 2007". Federal Office of Statistics, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Archived from the original on April 10, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
^ Lašva Valley OpenStreetMap
^ 3 Pogodnost zemljišta Lašvanske doline za voćarsku proizvodnju
^ Vitez Web. Lasvanska Dolina i njena proslost. Retrieved August 8, 2008, from "Lasvanska dolina". Archived from the original on 2008-07-21. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
^ ^a ^b Vitez Web. August 8, 2008

[FZS-1] "Estimation total number of present population by age, sex and cantons and municipality, June 30, 2007". Federal Office of Statistics, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Archived from the original on April 10, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-03.

[2] Lašva Valley OpenStreetMap

[3] 3 Pogodnost zemljišta Lašvanske doline za voćarsku proizvodnju

[4] Vitez Web. Lasvanska Dolina i njena proslost. Retrieved August 8, 2008, from "Lasvanska dolina". Archived from the original on 2008-07-21. Retrieved 2008-08-09.

[Vitez_Web._August_8,_2008-5] Vitez Web. August 8, 2008

[3]

[4]

[5]