Senj is an old village founded more than 3000 years at Mount Cook, east of the Senja today.
Mid II. Ct. Kr. in these regions and the Romans gradually take control of the city, which in their time called Senia. During their rule Senia has become a major trade, transportation and cultural center of this part of the Adriatic coast. Were built: the town hall, plumbing, baths (baths), temples (dedicated to the gods of Diana, the Magna Mater / Cybele and the libero) and other buildings, as testified by numerous archaeological finds of stone monuments, statues of deities, architecture and cemeteries found in this area.
During V, VI. and VII. century, during the Migration Period, penetrating from the east barbarian tribes that interrupted the golden age of the city.
On the ruins of ancient Croats in the Middle Ages raise a new city in its name preserves the ancient traditions of Senia, ie today Senj. It was not until mid-December. century city is again mentioned in written sources. Then a change in the geopolitical balance, and shifting the center of the state towards the interior of Senj again got in importance. In 1169th established the diocese, which indicates the significance and importance of the city. Since 1184th the city belongs to the Knights Templar order in which it will remain held them to 70-year XIII. c. After the Templars take it the princes of Krk, later known Frankopani (Frankapans), under whose administration will renew its former glory. Again, developing trade and the growing importance of the traffic routes and ports. Economic progress has created a basis for building a city of numerous churches and monasteries in the city and its surroundings.
In the Middle Ages famous Senj Glagolitic alphabet, the letter probably created back in September. century for the evangelization of the Slavs. From XII. century Glagolitic there is only on Croatian territory, and is particularly developed in the area of Senj. In 1248, Senj, the Bishop permission of Pope Innocent IV. became the sole bishop in the Catholic world that can use the Glagolitic and the vernacular in the liturgy.
Ottoman campaigns in this area are particularly intensified in the first half of the XVI century, when the neighboring places completely deserted, and the town became a shelter for refugees from the occupied areas. Since refugees are formed military units, the famous Uskoks to the beginning 20-ies XVII. c. successfully defended Senj and inflict heavy losses on the armies of the Ottoman Empire and Venice. For purposes of defense on the hill sit 1558th The completed construction of the fortress Nehaj which was located Uskočka crew. Because of the heroic resistance of multi stronger enemy, these brave fighters entered the legend and folk song, and the emerging political situation in the XVII. century have become an obstacle and a danger to a new, peaceful policy of the Habsburg Monarchy under the Ottoman Empire and Venice, and were evacuated to other Croatian regions.
Peaceful times allowed the restoration of trade in Senj, and thus was secured and the economic prosperity of the city. This was especially evident in the second half of XVIII. and the first half of the XIX. century, when running a large construction works (construction of the new Josephine road, restoration of the port, construction of large, so called. Carskih magazine, flood control, etc.). Then begins a new golden age of the city that would become one of the most important economic and cultural centers of the then Croatian. Senjska port became one of the most important in the country. Passing through the import and export grain of salt and wood. Senj became an important cultural center and its intellectuals and citizens are bearers of the Croatian national ideology. The city was born and lived most famous Croatian writers and poets of that time: Silvia Strahimir Kranjčević (1865th-1908th), Vjenceslav Novak (1859th-1905th), Milutin Cihlar Nehajev (1880th to 1931st), Milan Ogrizovic (1877 . - 1923). ...
Construction of the railway line Zagreb - Rijeka (1873.) That is bypassed Senj had disastrous consequences for the economy and the commercial value of the city. The lack of economic prosperity and the marginalization of the traffic direction had a negative effect on all other aspects of life in the city and wider area, so that by the end of XIX. century, a migration of the population. This will be intensified in the twentieth century, especially after the end of World War II, when economic and political reasons for joining. In the Second World War, the old town was severely damaged in bombing, in which the missing part of a highly valuable cultural heritage. But a lot of the monuments and preserved, as Senj today makes it interesting for both local and foreign visitors.
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