Grad Herceg Novi

GENERAL DATAS

Archeological findings from Luštica witness the beginnings of the civilization in this region, back from the Neolithic and early bronze age. Evidence of humans living in Herceg Novi dates from its first known inhabitants – Illyrians.
Commercial opportunities attracted Greek traders in the 5th century B.C. In the 3rd century A.D., after defeating Illyrians, Roman Empire took over this region. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, in 476, Byzantium ruled for six centuries. In the 7th century, the Slovenian tribes densely inhabited this region and around the area of today’s Herceg Novi, the Dračevica parish was formed. Already from the 10th century, Dračevica loses its independence, becoming the pray of the Zeta dukes, but not for long because the period of the Nemanjić family was coming. Upon the death of Czar Dušan, Dračevica was governed by duke Vojislav Vojinović, and later on by the Balšić family.

The city of Herceg Novi was founded in 1382, when the Bosnian ban (provincial lord) King Tvrtko I Kotromanić instituted it in the Bay of Topla, with an intent to give it a commercial, maritime and craft role, and named it Sveti Stefan (St. Stephen).

As one the youngest cities on the Adriatic coast, it was called Novi (New), Castrum Novum, Castel Nuovo. It acquired its current name during the reign of Herceg (Duke) Stjepan Vukčić Kosača, when the city experienced its greatest progress. The Turks conquered it in 1482 and, with a short pause between 1538 and 1539, when it was overtaken by the Spaniards, they ruled for about 200 years up until 1687.

Austro-Hungary controlled Herceg Novi until 1806, Russia for a year between 1806 and 1807, and France between 1807 and 1813. Even the temporary government of Montenegro and Boka Kotorska had control over Herceg Novi between 1813-1814. However, the city was under Austro-Hungarian control until 1918.

Henceforth many nations and civilizations dwelled on its soil, leaving deep traces on its history, culture and overall development. After the Turkish rule, the city was conquered by the Venetians, who reigned until the end of the Venetian Republic in 1797. From then on, there were frequent changes in the administration of Herceg Novi.

The Austrians ruled until 1806. Hereafter, the administration was overtaken by the Russians, until 1807, and then the French governed until 1814. In the period from 1813 to 1814, the city was temporarily administered by the government of Montenegro and Bay of Kotor. From 1814 to 1918, the city was under the Austro-Hungarian administration.

Then the Serbs, Croats and Slovenians united to form a kingdom, somewhat later called Yugoslavia, and in 1923, the Bay of Boka precinct was annexed to it. In 1941, the city was occupied by the Italians, then the Germans, until the liberation on October 28, 1944.