Page 41 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Croatia

THE HIST OR Y OF CRO A TIA  39

manning forts, as was the case with the
Bribir counts, who moved to Zrin (taking
the name of Zrinski). This intense
programme strengthened a state which
was threatened on many sides: after the
danger of the Tartars had passed, threat
of a Turkish invasion loomed.
Venice, Istria and Dalmatia
The Golden Bull of 1242 declaring Zagreb (Gradec) a Free The Adriatic coast fared differently; its fate
Royal City was linked to that of Venice. Much of Istria
belonged to the Aquileian patriarchate,
seat of the Sabor. The cities which emerged which held civil and ecclesiastical jurisdiction.
from the ruins of old Roman towns were From the year 1000, many coastal towns had
fortified: for example Križevci, proclaimed agreements of mutual assistance with Venice,
a royal city in 1252; Koprivnica, declared a which had a powerful fleet for defence
free town in 1356; and Ludbreg, which against attacks by pirates. Venice needed the
became a free town in 1320 and played an Istrian cities, which often had fortified ports,
important role in the region’s defences. for mooring its merchant fleets, which plied
The lower stretch of the Drava was the Croatian coast on their expeditions to the
strengthened, with a rebuilt Sisak and, East. In the 13th century, some cities asked
further south, a new Slavonski Brod. Zagreb to come under Venetian rule for defence
became a free royal city in 1242; Vukovar reasons, a process which in most cases took
became a free town in 1231. Thanks to tax place peacefully. In Zadar, how ever, this
advantages and non-subjection to feudal was not the case and two warring factions
lords, these towns prospered and attracted forced Venice
foreign merchants and artisans. to employ
crusaders on
The Defences their way to the
King Bela IV built forts in strategic Holy Land to
positions which were directly dependent subdue the
on royal power or granted to the great city (1202).
feudal lords. Impressive ruins remain of In 1204 Zadar
these forts, including the famous one surrendered,
of Ružica near Orahovica in Slavonia. and a year later
Samobor, in central Croatia, was enlarged Venice also
and given a fort, as were Klis, Knin and Sinj conquered Istria
in Dalmatia. Several noble families were and the city The taking of Zadar by the Venetians
also given the task of building and of Dubrovnik. depicted by Andrea Vicentino

1058 King Krešimir
enlarges his kingdom 1102 The Hungarian Royal coin 1202 To repay the debt to Venice
by uniting Croatia and king Koloman, successor of Slavonia the crusaders undertake to
conquering the to Ladislaus, is crowned king from 1200 conquer Zadar which falls after
Dalmatian islands of Croatia and Dalmatia long resistance
1050 1100 1150 1200
1000 Venice’s first armed naval 1091 Ladislaus, king of Hungary, brother 1222 With the Golden Bull the king of
expedition against pirates near of Zvonimir’s widow, unites Croatia and Hungary, Andrew II, guarantees the
mouth of Neretva river; towns on the Hungarian kingdom rights of the Croatian nobility,
islands and coast of Istria and surrendering some of his power
Dalmatia declare allegiance to Venice 1075 Zvonimir is crowned king to the aristocracy
of Croatia by Pope Gregory VII

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