Jump to content

Pljevlja

Coordinates:43°21′24″N19°21′30″E/ 43.356667°N 19.358333°E/43.356667; 19.35833343°21′24″N19°21′30″E/ 43.35667°N 19.35833°E/43.35667; 19.35833
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pljevlja
Пљевља
Grad Pljevlja
Town of Pljevlja
Church of St. Paraskeva
Hotel Pljevlja
“December 1st” monument
Park Vodice
Pljevlja is located in Montenegro
Pljevlja
Pljevlja
Location within Montenegro
Pljevlja is located in Europe
Pljevlja
Pljevlja
Pljevlja (Europe)
Coordinates:43°21′24″N19°21′30″E/ 43.356667°N 19.358333°E/43.356667; 19.35833343°21′24″N19°21′30″E/ 43.35667°N 19.35833°E/43.35667; 19.35833
CountryMontenegro
RegionNorthern Montenegro
MunicipalityPljevlja
FoundedBetween the 6th and 7th centuries
Settlements153
Government
• TypeMayor-Assembly
MayorDario Vraneš (NSD)
• Assembly PresidentJovana Tošić (DCG)
• Ruling coalitionDFDCGESSNPURA
Area
Townandmunicipality1,346 km2(520 sq mi)
Elevation
770 m (2,530 ft)
Population
(2023 census)
• Rank9th in Montenegro
• Density27/km2(70/sq mi)
Urban
16,419Decrease
Rural
8,123Decrease
• Municipality
24,542Decrease
Demonym(s)Pljevljan(s) (en)
Pljevljak(cnr,male)
Pljevljanka (cnr,female)
Time zoneUTC+1
• Summer (DST)UTC+2(CEST)
Postal code
84210
Area code+382 52
ISO 3166-2 codeME-14
Car platesPV
ClimateCfb
Websitehttp://www.pljevlja.me/

Pljevlja[a][b][c](Montenegrin:Пљевља,[d]pronounced[pʎêʋʎa]) is atownand the center ofPljevlja Municipalitylocated inMontenegroin thenorthern region.The town lies at an altitude of 770 m (2,530 ft). In the Middle Ages, Pljevlja had been a crossroad of the important commercial roads and cultural streams, with important roads connecting the littoral with the Balkan interior. In 2023, the municipality of Pljevlja had a population of 24,542, while the city itself had a population of 16,419. The municipality borders those ofŽabljak,Bijelo PoljeandMojkovacin Montenegro, as well asBosnia and Herzegovinato the west andSerbiato the northeast. With a total area of 1,346 km2(520 sq mi), it is the third largest municipality inMontenegro.[1]

History[edit]

Prehistory and antiquity[edit]

The first traces of human life in the region date between 50,000 and 40,000BC,while reliable findings show that theĆehotina Rivervalley was inhabited no later than 30,000 BC. The oldest traces of human presence in the town area, a flint tool, had been found in the cave under Gospić Peak. The traces of settlements in the later stages of theStone Agewere found in two large archaeological sites calledMališina StijenaandMedena Stijena(around 10,000 stone tools and arms), dating to 12,000–8,000 BC. During theBronzeandIron Age,since around 2,000 BC up until the Roman conquests, a large number of necropolises with tumuli, as well as fortified settlements rose along the Ćehotina valley, especially around villages of Mataruge, Kakmuža, Hoćevina and Gotovuša. The tumuli found in Ljutići, Gotovuša and Borovica have been archeologically researched.

Roman era[edit]

The Romans had a town built on the ruins of their town, and it was calledMunicipium S,located in the Komini neighbourhood. Several hundred artifacts from the Komini necropolis including adiatretaorcage cup,a glass vase trimmed with blue glass threads, are kept in theHeritage Museum Pljevlja.

Middle Ages[edit]

In the Middle Ages, the region of Pljevlja was also a part of nucleus of theSerbsnstate under theNemanjić dynasty,until the end of the rule of the EmperorStefan Dušan.After his death, Pljevlja was under the rule of Serbian autonomous rulers Vojislav Vojinović andNikola Altomanović.After the defeat of Altomanović 1373 by the joint forces of Serbian lordLazar HrebeljanovićandBosnian Ban Tvrtko I,the region of Pljevlja became part of the eastern section of theKingdom of Bosnia,subsequently part ofSandalj Hranić's province and later theDuchy of Saint Sava.

Ottoman Empire[edit]

Pljevlja was located within theOttomanSanjak of Novi Pazar.In 1880 the town became the capital of the Pljevaljski Sanjak (Sanjak of Taşlıca) of the Ottoman Empire, which existed until theFirst Balkan Warin 1912.

In 1465, theOttoman Empireconquered Pljevlja.[2]During the Ottoman offensive, the fortress of Kukanj, the residence ofStjepan Vukčić Kosača,was destroyed. Fearing an onslaught, many merchants, almost all feudal land owners and wealthier population fled from Pljevlja, seeking refuge in theRepublic of Venice,Republic of Ragusa,or further north into theKingdom of HungaryorAustrian Empire.In Turkish, the town was known asTaslıca( "rocky" ).

In the Ottomandefter(census book) of 1475/76, the majority of local inhabitants wereEastern Orthodox Christian,numbering some 101 households. The town was expanded into akasaba,a larger Ottoman city without a fortress. The 15th and 16th centuries were a period of much construction in the city: in 1465 theHoly Trinity Monasterywas founded, in 1569 Husein-paša'smosquewas built and during the 16th century the city got a sewage system. When the center ofSanjak of Herzegovinawas moved to Pljevlja from Foča in 1572, the city started to change rapidly: urban housing increased: 72 houses in 1468, 150 in 1516, 300 in 1570; in the 17th century Pljevlja had around 650 houses in the city center and over 400 in the surrounding area. The first Muslim religious school (madrasa), was built in the 17th century; water-works were constructed in the 18th century. The Russian consul visited Pljevlja in the 19th century and wrote that Pljevlja was a very beautiful oriental city with gardens and fountains, mosques and churches and over 800 houses in the city center (7,000 citizens) which made Pljevlja the second largest city in the Herzegovina Sanjak besidesMostar.After two big fires that burned the city center to the ground, the city's economy was ruined. That was the reason for displacing the center of Herzegovina toMostarin 1833. After 1833 the city stagnated in both an economic and cultural sense.

In 1875, after a failed uprising, mass emigration took place around Pljevlja in the direction of Užice, Valjevo and the Drina river basin.[3]

Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman control after the Berlin Congress[edit]

As a result of theCongress of Berlinin 1878, Pljevlja and the rest of theSandžakregion were given toAustria-Hungary,interrupting Ottoman rule in the area for the first time in four centuries. However, by 1879, a special convention betweenAustria-HungaryandOttoman Empiretransferred western parts of theSanjak of Novi Pazarinto dual jurisdiction between Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire. In 1880, Pljevlja was named the capital of the newly formed Sanjak of Pljevlja (in Turkish:Taşlıca Sancağı). Administration remained in Turkish hands, with Austro-Hungarian military presence in the cities of Pljevlja,PrijepoljeandPriboj.Some 5,000 Austro-Hungarian soldiers and their families came to Pljevlja. As a result, Austro-Hungarian businesses expanded in Pljevlja; the first modern drug store was opened in 1879, a photo store in 1892, and a hospital in 1880. TheAustro-Hungarian Armybuilt the first brewery in Pljevlja in 1889.[4]The Pljevlja brewery's annual production was limited to 2,000 hectoliters, and demand was greater than what the brewery could produce.[4]As a result, the Austro-Hungarian garrison in Pljevlja consumed most of the beer produced there.[4]

In 1901, thePljevlja Gymnasiumwas built by theSerbian Orthodox Church,with the approval of the Ottoman administration. As a result of theBosnian crisis,Austria-Hungary withdrew its forces from Pljevlja in 1908. From 1908 to 1912, Pljevlja remained under the control ofYoung Turks. In the first days of theFirst Balkan WarPljevlja was freed on October 26, 1912.

Incorporation into Montenegro and Yugoslavia[edit]

On October 8, 1912,Montenegrowas the first of the Balkan states to declare war on the Ottoman Empire, starting the First Balkan War. As a result, territories with significant populations of Serbs and Montenegrins were subject to conflict between the Ottoman occupation and incoming armies of Serbia and Montenegro. This was particularly the case with Sandžak, in which Pljevlja had been wedged in an Ottoman Sanjak between Montenegro and Serbia. By October 28, 1912, Ottoman forces had been completely removed from Pljevlja when theRoyal Serbian Army'sJavorskabrigade arrived, which was accompanied by 150 soldiers from Montenegro.[5]With the departure of Ottoman forces, Montenegro and Serbia eliminated the Ottoman "wedge" in the Sandžak and now shared a border. On November 13, 1913, a formal border agreement between Serbia and Montenegro was signed by Serbian general Miloš Božanović and Montenegro's Minister of Education and Religious Affairs, Mirko Mijušković. As a result of this agreement, Pljevlja was formally incorporated into the Kingdom of Montenegro.[5]

From 1929 to 1941, Pljevlja was part of theZeta Banovinaof theKingdom of Yugoslavia.At the beginning of theSecond World WarPljevlja, like the rest of Sandžak, was occupied by NDHUstašeforces. Notable Muslims from Pljevlja, Bijelo Polje and Prijepolje wrote to Pavelić and expressed their loyalty to theIndependent State of Croatiaallegedly in the name of all Muslims of Sandjak.[6]By September 1941 Ustaše left Sandžak which was occupied by Italian forces withinItalian governorate of Montenegro.TheBattle of Pljevlja,fought on 1 December 1941 between attackingPartisansand the Italian Pljevlja garrison, was the biggest battle of theUprising in Montenegro.In April 1942 Italians established a battalion ofSandžak Muslim militiainMetaljka,near Čajniče, composed of about 500 Muslims from villages around Pljevlja and Čajniče. A little later a command post of Sandžak Muslim militia was established inBukovica,near Pljevlja. In February 1943, over five hundred civilians were killed during theBukovica massacre.

Since the end of 1943 Pljevlja belonged to theGerman occupied territory of Montenegroand after the war to YugoslavSocialist Republic of Montenegro.

Breakup of Yugoslavia[edit]

During thebreakup of Yugoslavia,Pljevlja was the site of intense tension, with its Muslim community subject to intimidation and violence. On August 6, 1992, a local warlord namedMilika "Čeko" Dačevićwalked into Pljevlja's police headquarters to ask that a vehicle which was seized be returned to his personal envoy, threatening to "declare war" on Pljevlja.[7]Over half of the police force turned themselves over to Dačević during his custody in what was essentially a coup d'état on a municipal level.[7][8][9]In addition to the stand-off with Dačević, his militia included forces of the Kornjača brothers fromČajniče,who helped blocked off the town from a garrison of the Yugoslav People's Army.[8]Duško Kornjača threatened to kill all of the Muslims in Pljevlja unless Dačević was released.[7]The militia's control over Pljevlja was strong enough that the Yugoslav People's Army garrison in Pljevlja, composed of only 73 soldiers,[7]refused to confront them.[8]On August 7, 1992,Momir Bulatovićand Yugoslav PresidentDobrica Ćosićcame to Pljevlja to negotiate with all parties involved.[9]As a result, Bulatović along with Ćosić promised the Islamic community in Pljevlja that they would attempt to disarm the paramilitaries[10]and add reinforcements of the Yugoslav People's Army to patrol the town.[8]To satisfy the militia, Bulatović and Ćosić asked the local Muslims not to seek autonomy, although they had not done so over the course of the meeting.[10]In spite of the resolution, Pljevlja's Muslim community suffered various incidents up to 1995, particularly in the village ofBukovicawhere 6 Muslim inhabitants were killed from 1992 onwards.[11]

Contemporary history[edit]

In 2008, some members of the municipal assembly of Pljevlja threatened a secession from Montenegro following the Montenegrinrecognition of Kosovo.[12]On 2 September 2020, glass was broken on the door of theIslamic Communityof Pljevlja and a message was left saying "The black bird has taken off, Pljevlja will beSrebrenica."[13]

Administration[edit]

City Assembly[edit]

Party/Coalition Seats Local government
NSD,DNP
12 / 58
Government
DPS,Bosniak Party
9 / 58
Opposition
Democratic Montenegro
4 / 58
Government
Europe Now!
4 / 58
Government
Pokret za Pljevlja
2 / 58
Government
SNP,URA
2 / 58
Government
Independent
1 / 58
Opposition

Geography[edit]

The city lies at an altitude of 770 m (2,530 ft). The municipality borders those ofŽabljak,Bijelo PoljeandMojkovacin Montenegro, as well as the republics ofSerbiaandBosnia and Herzegovina.With a total area of 1,346 km2(520 sq mi), it is the third largest municipality in Montenegro.

Climate[edit]

Climate data for Pljevlja (1961–1990, extremes 1948–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 16.4
(61.5)
22.7
(72.9)
25.0
(77.0)
29.3
(84.7)
33.1
(91.6)
34.7
(94.5)
37.3
(99.1)
38.7
(101.7)
36.3
(97.3)
29.5
(85.1)
25.6
(78.1)
17.3
(63.1)
38.7
(101.7)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 1.8
(35.2)
5.3
(41.5)
9.7
(49.5)
14.2
(57.6)
19.5
(67.1)
22.5
(72.5)
24.8
(76.6)
25.2
(77.4)
21.7
(71.1)
16.5
(61.7)
9.5
(49.1)
3.0
(37.4)
14.5
(58.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) −2.8
(27.0)
−0.1
(31.8)
3.6
(38.5)
8.0
(46.4)
12.8
(55.0)
15.5
(59.9)
17.4
(63.3)
17.0
(62.6)
13.6
(56.5)
9.0
(48.2)
3.9
(39.0)
−1.2
(29.8)
8.1
(46.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −6.9
(19.6)
−4.6
(23.7)
−1.5
(29.3)
2.2
(36.0)
6.3
(43.3)
9.4
(48.9)
10.6
(51.1)
10.2
(50.4)
7.5
(45.5)
3.5
(38.3)
−0.4
(31.3)
−4.9
(23.2)
2.6
(36.7)
Record low °C (°F) −29.4
(−20.9)
−26.2
(−15.2)
−21
(−6)
−10.1
(13.8)
−3.8
(25.2)
−2.0
(28.4)
2.2
(36.0)
−0.2
(31.6)
−6.4
(20.5)
−7.6
(18.3)
−23.4
(−10.1)
−27
(−17)
−29.4
(−20.9)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches) 58.3
(2.30)
48.1
(1.89)
48.2
(1.90)
60.7
(2.39)
68.8
(2.71)
91.4
(3.60)
72.8
(2.87)
67.0
(2.64)
69.5
(2.74)
68.5
(2.70)
82.5
(3.25)
66.3
(2.61)
802.1
(31.6)
Average precipitation days(≥ 0.1 mm) 13 12 13 13 13 14 11 10 10 9 12 13 143
Averagerelative humidity(%) 83 78 73 70 71 74 72 72 76 78 81 85 76
Mean monthlysunshine hours 50.8 79.0 125.8 146.6 174.2 179.7 236.3 224.0 171.4 132.2 72.6 35.7 1,628.3
Source: Hydrological and Meteorological Service of Montenegro[14][15]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
19216,356
19315,900−7.2%
19486,101+3.4%
19537,202+18.0%
196110,552+46.5%
197114,511+37.5%
198116,792+15.7%
199120,887+24.4%
200321,337+2.2%
201119,136−10.3%
202316,419−14.2%
Population size may be affected by changes in administrative divisions.[16][17][18] [19][20]

Pljevlja is the administrative center of Pljevlja municipality, which has a population of 24,542. As of the last census data in 2023, town of Pljevlja itself has 16,419 citizens, and is the only town in the municipality with a population of over 1,000.

Ethnic groups[edit]

The town's population in 2011 census was 49.23%Serbs,26.54%Montenegrins,17.58%Bosniaksorethnic Muslims,and 0.56% are other ethnic minorities. A total of 5.28% of the population have not declared their ethnicity.[21]

Languages[edit]

Montenegrin,Serbian,Bosnian,andCroatianare mutually intelligible as standard varieties of theSerbo-Croatian language.Serbian language speaks 65.34% and it‘s the most spoken language in the town. The second most spoken is Montenegrin (28.49%), and Bosnian speaks 4.58% of population. A total of 4.52% of the population have not declared their language.[22]

Religion[edit]

Religion in Pljevlja (2011)[23]

Islam(23.29%)
Irreligion(3.19%)
Other religions (1.07%)

In the past, a total of 26 mosques were built in the area of the city and surrounding settlements. There were 9 of them in Pljevlja, and today four of them exist and serve their purpose, while one is being rebuilt.[24]

There are two Orthodox Christian churches andMonastery of the Holy Trinity.[25]

Husein Pasha‘s Mosque
Monastery of the Holy Trinity

Economy[edit]

Coal mine near Pljevlja

Pljevlja is also one of the main economic engines ofMontenegro.The onlythermal power plantin Montenegro, which provides 45% of the electric power supply for Montenegro, is situated outside Pljevlja as well as the biggestcoal minewith 100% of the coal production in Montenegro.Zincandleadcan be found inŠuplja stijena mine.The richest municipality with forest in Montenegro is Pljevlja and its lumber industry. Agriculture is widespread in the whole municipality.Pljevaljski sir(Pljevlja's cheese,from Пљеваљски сир) is considered a delicacy.

Transport[edit]

The main transit road connections are:

Education[edit]

Tanasije Pejatović Gymnasium

The first educational life began at theMonastery of the Holy Trinity,as well as in Muslim schools madrasas and rushdiyes, and in the mosques themselves. The school in the monastery has been working continuously since the 16th century. Rushdiyes worked from the end of the 16th to the end of the 18th century. The first elementary school in Pljevlja started working in 1823.

A very important date in the history of education in Pljevlja is the opening ofTanasije Pejatović Gymnasium,on September 17, 1901.[26]The first manager was Tanasije Pejatović (until then the substitute of Skopje Gymnasium) and the teacher - Stevan Samardžić (until then a teacher in Nova Varoš).[27]Enrollment lasted until November 5, 1901. 44 male and 16 female students entered the first mixed high school class; within the gymnasium, an all-female Workers' School with 26 girls began its work. From November 22, other teachers also started to work for the department. The gymnasium, however, soon completely burned on the 30th October 1904 and with it all its archives. The gymnasium was rebuilt and is still working today.

Prof. Tanasije Pejatović, first director of Gymnasium

There are three elementary and two highschools in Pljevlja.

Secondary Vocational School
Ristan Pavlović elementary school

Culture[edit]

Culture Center Pljevlja
Pljevlja diatreta atHeritage Museum Pljevlja

Culture and education are all present throughout history of Pljevlja and its region. The first educational life, churches and monasteries, as well as in the mosques some time later.Monastery of the Holy Trinityis the richest treasury of cultural and spiritual life of the Orthodox Christians from the Middle Ages to the present times. The school in the Holy Trinity Monastery has been working continuously since the 16th century. In 1823, a primary school in Pljevlja started working. The school in Dovolja monastery worked since the 18th century. The very important date in the history of education in Pljevlja is the opening of thePljevaljska Gymnasiumin 1901. TheHeritage Museum Pljevljais a treasure trove of rich historical and cultural heritage of the city and region.

Main features of the town include:

Sport[edit]

The main football team isFK Rudar Pljevlja,which play in the country'stop tier.They share theirGradski stadionwith lower league sideFK Pljevlja 1997.The town's basketball team isKK Rudar Pljevljaand the handball team isRK Rudar Pljevlja.

International relations[edit]

Twin towns – sister cities[edit]

Pljevlja Municipality istwinnedwith:[28][29]

Symbols[edit]

Thecoat of arms of Pljevljahas three lines near the bottom that represents the three rivers that run through the cities: Breznica,Ćehotina,and Vezičnica. First layer is clock tower from the center of Pljevlja and in the back are town-hall and the largest arc of bridge over Tara river which connects municipality of Pljevlja with the rest of theMontenegro.Colours are blue, white and red which represent thepan-Slavictricolour system.

Notable people[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^Written identically inBosnian,CroatianandSerbian.
  2. ^Albanian:Plevla.
  3. ^Turkish:Taşlıca.
  4. ^Written identically inSerbian Cyrillic

References[edit]

  1. ^"Pljevlja".waytomonte.Retrieved31 July2022.
  2. ^Vasić 2005,p. 85.
  3. ^Jovan Cvijić, Balkansko poluostrvo i južnoslovenske zemlje, Belgrade: Zavod za izdavanje udžbenika, 1966, pp. 151-152.
  4. ^abcGoran Malidžan (March 10, 2013)."Od "pljevaljskog" ne ostade ni pjena".Vijesti(in Serbian).RetrievedMarch 2,2019.
  5. ^abAdnan Prekić (December 12, 2012)."Politika Crne Gore u pljevaljskom kraju 1912/13 godine u izvještajima ministarstava Kraljevine Crne Gore"(in Serbian).RetrievedMarch 2,2019.
  6. ^Knežević, Danilo (1969).Prilog u krvi: Pljevlja 1941-1945.Opštinski odbor SUBNOR-a.
  7. ^abcd"Kako su se paravojne jedinice otele kontroli".e-novine(in Serbian). May 20, 2011.RetrievedFebruary 12,2019.
  8. ^abcdK. Radević (September 27, 2010)."CRNOGORSKI ZLOČIN - BULATOVIĆ: PITAO SAM MILA O ČEMU SE RADI".Bošnjaci.net(in Bosnian).RetrievedFebruary 12,2019.
  9. ^abMorrison 2009,p. 120.
  10. ^abMorrison 2009,p. 121.
  11. ^Jakub Durgut (February 18, 2017)."Zločini bez kazne"(in Serbian).Danas.RetrievedFebruary 12,2019.
  12. ^Скупштина Црне Горе о демонстрацијама(in Serbian). Rts.rs. 2008-10-15.Retrieved2010-04-28.
  13. ^"Polomljena stakla na vratima Islamske zajednice u PV, Kadribašić: Ako ne pronađu krivce policija odgovorna".vijesti.me(in Serbian).Retrieved2 September2020.
  14. ^"Climate: Pljevlja"(in Montenegrin). Hydrological and Meteorological Service of Montenegro.Retrieved7 March2021.
  15. ^"Dnevni prosjeci i ekstremi"(in Montenegrin). Hydrological and Meteorological Service of Montenegro.Retrieved7 March2021.
  16. ^"Pljevaljski srez u Kraljevini Jugoslaviji".PV Informer.Retrieved5 July2019.
  17. ^Становништво, упоредни преглед броја становника 1948, 1953, 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991, 2003, подаци по насељима.Подгорица: Републички завод за статистику. September 2005. COBISS-ID 8764176.
  18. ^"Popis stanovništva, domaćinstava i stanova u Crnoj Gori 2011. godine"(PDF).MONSTAT.Retrieved12 July2011.
  19. ^"Popis stanovništva, domaćinstava i stanova u Crnoj Gori 2011. godine".MONSTAT.Retrieved12 July2011.
  20. ^"Preliminary results of the 2023 Census of Population, Households, and Dwellings".Monstat.Retrieved25 January2024.
  21. ^"Popis 2011".Retrieved2011-09-29.
  22. ^"Popis 2011".Retrieved2011-09-29.
  23. ^"Montenegrin census (2011)".MONSTAT.Retrieved15 January2012.
  24. ^"U proteklih 70 godina Islamskoj zajednici u Pljevljima oduzeto i uništeno mnogo vjerskih, kulturnih i poslovnih objekata".Retrieved2021-01-01.
  25. ^"Pljevlja".Retrieved2021-01-01.
  26. ^"Xenia Slavica: papers presented to Gojko Ružičić on the occasion of his seventy-fifth birthday, 2 February 1969 - Ghent University Library".
  27. ^Петровић, Милић (2009).Историја Пљеваља.ISBN978-9940-512-03-3.
  28. ^"U Domu kulture obilježeno svečano otvaranje adaptiranih prostorija Muzeja, Biblioteke i Galerije".pljevlja.me(in Montenegrin). Pljevlja. 2019-11-19.Retrieved2020-06-22.
  29. ^"Bratimljenje"(PDF).database.uom.me(in Montenegrin). Zajednica opština Crne Gore. January 2013. p. 33.Retrieved2019-12-29.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]