Knin
Encyclopedia : K : KN : KNI : Knin
| Knin
|
| County | Šibenik-Knin |
| Area | 355 km² |
| Population (2001) | 15,190 |
| Mayor | Josipa Rimac |
Knin is a historical town in the
Šibenik-Knin county of
Croatia, located near the source of the river
Krka at
[44°02′18″N, 16°11′59″E], in the
Dalmatian hinterland, on the railroad
Zagreb–
Split. Knin briefly rose to prominence twice in history, as a one-time capital of both the
medieval Croatian state and of the unrecognized, and now defunct
Republic of Serbian Krajina.
Demography
In the 2001 census, the population of Knin was 11,128 in the city and 15,190 in the municipality, and the majority of its citizens were Croats with 76.45% and Serbs with 20.8%. Before the
Croatian War of Independence 87% of the population of the municipality and 79% of the city were Serbs. During the war most of the non-Serb population left Knin, while in the last days of the war Serbs themselves left the city before it was retaken by the Croatian forces.
Knin's population is in more flux than that of other Croatian cities given that it has a major refugee problem: both with a large number of Croats who immigrated there and Serbs from Knin who are still refugees. By average resident age, Knin is the youngest city in Croatia. Although Croats now form majority in the city Serbs form majority in most villages around.
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History
In the vicinity of today's Knin there was a town called
Burnum which served as an
Illyrian and
Roman military camp in the
1st century BC.
Knin is mentioned in the 10th century in the history of Constantine Porphyrogenitus as a center of parish. Croatian diocese was founded 1040 and its jurisdiction extended to the Drava river, with the "Croatian bishop" at its head.
Knin was also the capital of the Kingdom of Croatia around 1080 during the rule of King Dmitar Zvonimir. Between the 10th and the 13th century, Knin was a notable military fort.
Its strategic position played an important role in many wars and power changes — beginning with the Croatian rulers, then Hungarian kings of Croatia, the Venetians, Turks, to the Austrians and the French.
On May 29, 1522, the fort of Knin fell to the Ottoman Empire, and Croatian folk massivly left the town. The town was populated with Serb refugees by the Ottomans. Century and a half later, on September 11, 1688, it was captured by the Venetian Republic. Subsequently, the Croatian population partially returned and the Franciscans built a monastery and a church there in 1708.
Knin passed on to the Habsburgs together with Dalmatia in 1797 according to the Treaty of Campoformio. After the peace in Pozun in 1805, the French Empire gained the city and incorporated it into the Illyrian Provinces in 1809. By 1813, the Austrians regained the control over the town. By the end of the 19th century, as a part of the Habsburg domain of Dalmatia, Knin grew steadily becoming an important commercial as well as the road and railway center. In 1867, Knin became a part of Dalmatia - a territorial entity within Cisleithania. After the First World War Knin became a part of the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs in 1918, which subsequently became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Kingdom of Yugoslavia since 1929).
In the beginning of the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s, when Croatia gained independence after the dissolution of Yugoslavia, Knin became the main stronghold of the rebel Serbs. When the self-styled Republic of Serbian Krajina was formed in 1991, Knin became its capital. Croats became affraid of rebel and they wanted to make Croatia land where only Croats live so they attacked Knin in operation called Storm. This was massacre, over 200 000 Serbian people became refuees and they moved to Serbia, a lot of them died and today Croatia don't want to recognize that they attacked Knin in political goals.
The end of the war saw Knin mostly abandoned by the Serbs. Over time, many of the Serbs returned and the population is now mixed.
Heritage
In Knin area there are plenty of cultural, historical and natural monuments.
The huge medieval fortress Spas (from 10th century dominates the centre of town, its present aspect dates back to the beginning of the 18th century. This is one of the largest fortification buildings in Dalmatia. It is divided into the upper, medium and lower town, connected by drawbridges.
Recently discovered Roman town Burnum is 18 km far from Knin in direction Kistanje. There are the remainings of the biggest amphitheater in Dalmatia build 77 BC, during the rule of Vespasian which could host 8000 people.
Nearby villages Biskupija and Kapitul are extremely interesting archeological sites from 10th century where the many remainings of the medieval Croatian culture are found: churches, graves, decorations, epigraphs...
In the near of Knin is the source of the river Krka (Krčić) and in the direction Šibenik and the Krka National Park.
Towns and Villages in Municipality
External links
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