Žabljak Crnojevića

"See also Žabljak."

Žabljak Crnojevića (Serbian Cyrillic: Жабљак Црнојевића) (commonly referred to as Žabljak); _tr. Yabliyak) is an abandoned medieval fortified town (fortress) in the Podgorca Municipality in Montenegro, several kilometres south of the City of Podgorica. The fortress itself is located on the confluence of the Morača river in Lake Scutari. It is believed that this fortress was founded in the 10th century during the reign of the Vojislavljević dynasty in then-known Dioclea, whereas the first known written testimony of the fortress originate from mid-15th century. The fortress served as the capital of Zeta under the Crnojević dynasty from 1466 till 1478, being the seat of Stefan and Ivan Crnojević. However, Ivan Crnojević was forced to move the capital in 1478 as the Turks seized the town that same year, holding it until the decision of the Berlin Congress in 1878 when it fell under Montenegrin administration once again after 400 years of Turkish rule. The town has tall walls with towers, as well as one gate. Within the walls can be found: Ivan Crnojević's court, Church of Saint George (was turned into a mosque during Ottoman rule), housing and military facilities, a warehouse for clothes and a water tank, most of which are preserved.

Demographics

In the early 17th century, the town was under Turkish rule. The fortress had only one resident, the Dizdar Aga (Turkish official).

Of the 250 houses, the majority were Serb.

References

*sr icon Istorijski leksikon Crne Gore, 5. dio: "Žabljak Crnojevića" ISBN 86-7706-169-X
*en icon [http://www.cetinje.cg.yu/engleski/Znamenitosti%201.html Prijestonica Cetinje: Buildings]
*en icon [http://www.montenegro.com/phototrips/central/Zabljak_Crnojevica.html Montenegro.com: Zabljak Crnojevica]
*en icon [http://www.visit-montenegro.org/english/priroda/rijeka.htm Visit-Montenegro: Rijeka Crnojevica]