Kninska Krajina

Kninska Krajina (English:"Knin region") is a geographical region in Croatia. It is located around the town of Knin in northern Dalmatia. Before the Croatian War for Independence during the 1990s, the region was mainly populated by ethnic Serbs.

Geography

Kninska Krajina is situated between Bukovica in the southwest, Lika in the northwest, Drniška krajina (in Zagora) in the south, Cetinska krajina in the southwest, and (Završje) Bosnia and Herzegovina in the east.

History

Since 7th century Kninska krajina was inhabited mainly by Croats and also there was notable Vlach population.

During the early Croatian medieval kingdom, the area was one of the seats of Croatian king. The city of Knin, was a seat of Croatian king, as well as the original area of some privileged Croat tribes, that had right to choose the Croat king.

In 15th century Turks occupied Kninska krajina and forced local Croats (including Vlachs) to leave. Also, new Turkish rulers populated the heavily abandoned and war-devastated areas with new residents.

In 1990, self-proclaimed Serbian autonomous region known as SAO Kninska Krajina was formed and was named after this geographical region. It was subsequently transformed into SAO Krajina and included into Republic of Serbian Krajina. In 1995, Serbs fled Krajina after the Croatian Operation Storm.

References

*Dr Jovan Plavša, Stanovništvo Kninske Krajine, Novi Sad, 1997.
* [http://www.tomislavjonjic.iz.hr/V_5_martic.html A review of book] by Milisav Sekulić: "Knin je pao u Beogradu"

ee also

*Geography of Croatia