Original scientific paper
The Development and Spatial Organisation of Medieval Kostajnica
Mirela Slukan-Altić
Abstract
Based on the archival sources and archaeological research, the author analyses the conditions of the development of medieval Kostajnica with regard to the spatial organisation of medieval Croatia – that is, relations between regional urban centres and routes of traffic and trade. Based on the charters discussed in the article, it is evident that Kostajnica undoubtedly experienced significant changes in its development during the Middle Ages. From its first mentions in the thirteenth century, when it was usually qualified as an estate (terra), and later as a smaller fortification (castellum), from the fifteenth century onwards it is regularly called a castle (castrum), to be mentioned as a borough (oppidum) for the first time in a charter of 1492. These terminological changes in the status of this settlement testify to the importance of the development that Kostajnica experienced during the Middle Ages, rising from the centre of a feudal estate into a smaller fortified urban settlement – a borough.
By means of the analysis of its central functions, it may be concluded that Kostajnica at the close of the Middle Ages had developed functions in defence, economy and administration, and that, as such, it had good conditions for the development of its urban functions. Regarding the level of centrality, it had the character of a borough (oppidum), whose influence spread over the wider area on the north and south of the River Una and was, together with Dubica, the main centre of the lower Pounje (the area around the Una) during the Middle Ages.
By means of the analysis of historical sources, a reconstruction of the urban topography of Kostajnica in the Middle Ages has been made for the first time, allowing a formulation of a hypothesis of possible lines of its genesis. In the topographical sense medieval Kostajnica developed as a triangle defined by the church of St. Michael in the north, the fortification that later became the castle on the River Una and the Franciscan convent placed on the east entrance in the town. Such a topography of the town was decisively influenced by the configuration of the area and the system of traffic communications with the settlement itself. The part of Kostajnica founded around the church of St. Michael was the oldest part of the settlement, while only in later periods of the Middle Ages did the settlement spread downhill towards the Una valley and a suburbium form besides the Franciscan convent. By the building of the fortification, the suburbium on the bank and the river crossing over Una definitely took on the character of the centre of settlement and organisation of the urban lifestyle.
Keywords
Kostajnica; central functions; urban topography; the late Middle Ages; historical geography
Hrčak ID:
18616
URI
Publication date:
14.1.2008.
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