Fortifications of Motovun in the Medieval and Early Modern Period

Abstract

Motovun is a town located in a favourable strategic position that controls the valley of the river Mirna towards its exit to the sea. Thanks to its favourable location and interesting terrain configuration, Motovun has been attractive for settlement since prehistoric times. The richness of natural resources, such as the unusual appearance of water sources at the very top of the hill, provided the conditions for the development of the urban centre in the Middle Ages. Nevertheless, the political turmoil of the Middle Ages brought Motovun to the unenviable position of a border fortress whose territories were constantly under attack by neighbouring forces. A powerful system of fortifications protected the castle for centuries and was an insurmountable obstacle for most invaders. This paper presents an analysis of the development and purpose of the fortification elements of Motovun, as well as the reasons for their subsequent decay. It also provides information on the soldiers and guards, as well as the equipment that they had at their disposal and used to repel enemy attacks. Furthermore, the paper provides an analysis of the clauses present in the Statute of Motovun related to the fortification elements, their maintenance and general defence of the town’s territory. The aim of this paper was to provide an overview of Motovun’s fortifications in the context of their importance for a medieval town, thus the last chapter presents examples of military operations conducted on the territory of Motovun, as well as border conflicts that marked the history of the castle and give a concrete purpose to the presence of such an extensive system of fortifications.