Risan(Montenegrin:Рисан,pronounced[rîsan]) is a town in theBay of Kotor,Montenegro.It traces its origins to the ancient settlement ofRhizon,the oldest settlement in theBay of Kotor.
Risan
Рисан | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 | |
  Risan Location within Montenegro | |
| Coordinates:42°30′53″N18°41′42″E/ 42.51472°N 18.69500°E | |
| Country | Montenegro |
| Region | Coastal |
| Municipality | Kotor |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 2,034 |
| Time zone | UTC+1(CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2(CEST) |
| Area code | 032 |
| Vehicle registration | KO |
| Part of | Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor |
| Criteria | Cultural: (i)(ii)(iii)(iv) |
| Reference | 125ter |
| Inscription | 1979 (3rdSession) |
| Extensions | 2012, 2015 |
Lying in the innermost portion of the bay, the settlement was protected from the interior by inaccessible limestone cliffs of theOrjenmountain which are the highest range of eastern Adriatic, and through several following narrow straits in theBay of Kotorfrom the open sea.
While theKrivošijekarstplateau that hangs steep above the narrow shores of Risan bay receives over 5000 mm rain annually (European record), several strong karst springs that form a short brook collect in the narrow cultivable belt at Risan.
Etymology
editThe town was calledRisiniumin Latin. It is possibly related toAlbanian"rrjedh",meaning" flow, stream "[1]
History
edit
The earliest mention ofRhizondates back to the 4th century BC, as the main fortress in theIllyrianstate whereQueen Teutatook refuge during theIllyrian Wars.The degree ofHellenizationat Rhizon was very high.[2][need quotation to verify]InRomantimes,Rhiziniumis documented as anoppidum civium Romanorum,and the most prosperous time for RomanRhiziniumcame during the 1st and 2nd centuries, when huge villas were made in the area and the city had 10,000 inhabitants. Five mosaics are the most valuable remains of that period - not only for Risan but also forMontenegro.[3]
Circa 500 it became the see of theRoman Catholic Diocese of Risano.The invasions of theAvarsandSlavsleft the city deserted. The last reference of a Romanbishopin Risan dates back to 595.
In the 10th century, theByzantine emperorConstantine Porphyrogenitusincludes Risan among the inhabited towns ofTravunia,while the priest ofDocleaconsiders Rissena to be a district.
During theMiddle Ages,Risan lost the significance it used to have in the ancient times. No later than the 13th century, the Italians provided the bulk of a henceforward unbroken series of Latin Catholic Bishops of Risano until its suppression circa 1630.
In the mid-15th century, Risan was referred to as a town ofHerceg Stjepan.In 1466, theVenetiansoffered to giveBračisland and a palace inSplitto Herceg Stjepan, in exchange for his two towns (Risan and Novi) in theBoka Kotorska. In 1482, theOttomanstook Risan, together withHerceg Novi,from Herceg Stjepan's son Vlatko, using it as a base for its corsairs to pirate Venetian shipping sailing from their nearby holdings ofCattaroandPerasto.
Only in 1688 Risan becameVenetianas part of theAlbania Venetawith the Venetian name ofRisano,enjoying a temporary economic growth. In the following centuries Risan has had the same fate as the whole ofDalmatia.It was for a few years duringWorld War IIpart of theKingdom of Italyin the ItalianGovernatorate of Dalmatiaand actually it is part of the newly independentMontenegro.
According to the 1627 population census, Risan had 800 citizens. 570 were Muslim, 150 Orthodox and 80 Catholic.
Modern Risan
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In the present-day Risan, there are no elements that could connect it to themedievaltown. Risan by the sea was probably just a settlement. However, on the Gradina hill, above the famous archeological site of Carine, a fortification is situated containing remains of an Illyrian acropolis, as well as the medieval and Turkish stratum. The position of the fortification was excellent, particularly for the control of Risan –Onogoštroute, while the hilltop itself was inaccessible.
Today Risan is a small port with roughly 2000 inhabitants (in 1900: around 5000 inhabitants; of them 80%Orthodox Christians,20%Catholics) where logs from the vast virgin forests of theBijela goraare shipped mostly toItaly.Risan is a tourist destination that has a hotel called after its most famous citizen,Queen Teuta,with accompanying fine beaches.
Risan is in the northern section of theMunicipality of Kotor
Demographics
edit| Ethnicity | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Montenegrins | 1,032 | 50.7% |
| Serbs | 589 | 28.9% |
| Croats | 31 | 1.5% |
| Russians | 15 | 0.7% |
| Egyptians | 14 | 0.7% |
| other and undeclared | 353 | 17.3% |
| Total | 2,034 | 100% |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Mayer, 1959: 95
- ^Épire, Illyrie, Macédoine: mélanges offerts au professeur Pierre Cabanes by Danièle Berranger, Pierre Cabanes, Danièle Berranger-Auserve, page 130
- ^"Rimski mozaici iz Risna – Montenegrina.net | Kultura, umjetnost i nasljeđe Crne Gore. Culture, Arts & Heritage of Montenegro".Retrieved2019-12-20.
External links and sources
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- Photos from Risan:fotokate.pl
- Photos from Risan:Postcards from the Transition
- MZ Risan
- Venetian Risan and the Bay of Cattaro (in Italian)
- GCatholic - ecclesiastical history