Zadar

Zadar (Italian Zara) is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea, with a population of 72,718 (2001). Absolute majority of its citizens are Croats with 92.77% (2001 census).

History

In the 9th century BC Zadar was settled by the Liburnians, a tribe of Illyrians. After 59 BC Zadar became a Roman municipium, and in 48 BC a colony of Roman citizens. It maintained its autonomy throughout the Middle Ages. Upon the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the destruction of Salona in the early 7th century, Zadar became the capital of the Byzantine province of Dalmatia, as well as the governor's headquarters.

Related Topics:
9th century BC - Liburn - Illyria - 59 BC - Roman - 48 BC - Middle Ages - Western Roman Empire - Salona - 7th century - Byzantine - Dalmatia

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In the early 9th century it came under the Franks, while it was given back to Byzantium in 812, under the Peace Treaty of Aachen. In the 10th, and especially in the 11th century, although it survived the migration of Slavs, the rulers of the town were the Croats. From 1105, when it recognized the rule of the first Hungarian-Croatian king Coloman, Zadar began to be involved in frequent wars with Venice.

Related Topics:
9th century - Franks - Aachen - 10th - 11th century - Slavs - Croats - Hungarian - Croatia - Coloman - Venice

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Zadar was under the Republic of Venice between 1111 and 1154 and between 1160 and 1183, before it was finally taken by the Venetians and the knights of the Fourth Crusade in 1202. The Crusaders had promised the Venetians a certain amount of money to pay for ships for transport to Egypt, but when they could not pay, the Venetians diverted the Crusade to Zadar. King Emeric of Hungary had declared that he would join the Crusade, and there was a controversy among the knights and clergy over whether or not a supposedly divine army could attack a fellow Christian. Nevertheless, Zadar was destroyed and taken, and Pope Innocent III excommunicated everyone involved.

Related Topics:
Republic of Venice - Fourth Crusade - 1202 - Crusaders - Egypt - Emeric of Hungary - Pope Innocent III

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After several insurrections (1242-1243, 1320s, 1345-1346), Zadar came under the rule of the Hungarian-Croatian king Louis I (under the Zadar Peace Treaty in 1358). After the death of Louis, Zadar recognized the rule of king Sigismund, and after him, that of Ladislas of Naples, who in 1409 sold Zadar and "his rights" on Dalmatia to Venice.

Related Topics:
Louis I - Sigismund - Ladislas of Naples

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From this time on Zadar started to decline, because the Venetians considerably limited the town's political and economic autonomy. When in the early 16th century the Ottoman Turks conquered the Zadar hinterland, the town became an important stronghold ensuring the Venetian trade in the Adriatic, as well as the administrative centre of the Venetian possessions in Dalmatia and a cultural centre.

Related Topics:
16th century - Ottoman Turks

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After the fall of Venice (1797) with the Treaty of Campo Formio, Zadar came under Austrian rule under which it remained until 1918, except for the period of French rule (1805-1813), all this time remaining the capital of Dalmatia.

Related Topics:
Treaty of Campo Formio - Austria - 1918 - French

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During the period of French rule, the first newspaper in the Croatian language, 'Kraljski Dalmatin', was published in Zadar (1806-1810). In the second half of the 19th century, Zadar was a centre of the movement for the cultural and national revival in Dalmatia. However, under the Treaty of Rapallo, 1920, Zadar was ceded to Italy.

Related Topics:
Newspaper - 19th century - Treaty of Rapallo, 1920 - Italy

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Nazi Germany occupied the city in World War II, as it was once one of the best-fortified cities in the world, and Zadar was bombed 72 times by the air forces of Britain and the United States. Afterwards it was joined again with Croatia (at the time in Yugoslavia). Consequently, much of Zadar's Italian population left for Italy as refugees, among whom was Ottavio Missoni, owner of the renowned fashion company Missoni.

Related Topics:
Nazi Germany - World War II - Air force - Britain - United States - Yugoslavia - Ottavio Missoni - Missoni

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Since World War II the city has developed as a strong economic and tourist centre. In 1991 Serbian irregulars and the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) attacked Zadar and it found itself on the very edge of occupied territory as a shelling target. Connections with the capital Zagreb were severed for over a year, the only link being via the island of Pag. Zadar was once again severely damaged in the war, including its historical bastions and churches. The siege of the city lasted until January 1993, when the hinterland of Zadar was liberated. However, the attacks continued up to 1995, when the war in Croatia finally ended.

Related Topics:
World War II - 1991 - Yugoslav People's Army - Zagreb - Pag - Siege - 1993 - 1995

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