
Nehaj is the name of the
hill
A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. It often has a distinct summit, and is usually applied to peaks which are above elevation compared to the relative landmass, though not as prominent as Mountain, mountains. Hills ...
that is found above the center of the
town
A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city.
The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...
of
Senj
Senj is a town on the upper Adriatic coast in Croatia, in the foothills of the Mala Kapela and Velebit mountains.
The symbol of the town is the Nehaj Fortress () which was completed in 1558. For a time this was the seat of the Uskoks, who were ...
in
Croatia
Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...
. More famous is the
Nehaj Fortress
The Nehaj Fortress ( ) is a fortress on the hill Nehaj in the town of Senj, Croatia.
Name
The name ''Nehaj'' comes from the Croatian term ''Ne hajati'' , which means 'don't care'. In Croatian this fortress has also other names, which are: ''K ...
that stands on top of the hill.
The name ''Nehaj'' comes from the
Croatian term ''Ne hajati'' which means ''Don't care''.
This name was given to the hill and the Fortress by the
Uskoks
The Uskoks (, , singular: ; notes on naming) were irregular soldiers in Habsburg Croatia that inhabited areas on the eastern Adriatic coast and surrounding territories during the Ottoman wars in Europe. Bands of Uskoks fought a guerrilla wa ...
, who built on the top of this hill the
Fortress Nehaj for defensive purposes. They gave the hill and the Fortress such a name because they wanted to emphasize to the citizens of Senj, and to all of those who lived in the vicinity of the town, that they should not concern themselves with the security of the fortress, because it shall not fall as long as the Uskoks are there.
This became true, because as long as the Uskoks were upon the hill, not one aggressor succeeded to conquer the hill or the Fortress, which at the same time meant great security for the town of Senj, which is located at the foot of the hill. To the builders of this Fortress, the only and main goal was the defence of the town and the obstruction of the
Venetians and the
Turks in their invasions and conquests.
But, shortly after the Fortress was built on the top of the hill, a truce was made between the
Habsburg monarchy
The Habsburg monarchy, also known as Habsburg Empire, or Habsburg Realm (), was the collection of empires, kingdoms, duchies, counties and other polities (composite monarchy) that were ruled by the House of Habsburg. From the 18th century it is ...
and the
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice, officially the Most Serene Republic of Venice and traditionally known as La Serenissima, was a sovereign state and Maritime republics, maritime republic with its capital in Venice. Founded, according to tradition, in 697 ...
, and one of the conditions of the truce was the transmigration of the Uskoks from the Fortress Nehaj and from Senj because of the constant fear that they gave the Venetians and the Turks. This act meant the disappearance of the Uskoks from the historical stage, and the exposure of these parts to constant conquests and plundering raids of the Turks and the Venetians.
Climate
See also
*
Uskoks
The Uskoks (, , singular: ; notes on naming) were irregular soldiers in Habsburg Croatia that inhabited areas on the eastern Adriatic coast and surrounding territories during the Ottoman wars in Europe. Bands of Uskoks fought a guerrilla wa ...
*
Fortress Nehaj
References
{{coord, 44, 59, 11, N, 14, 54, 12, E, region:HR_type:city, display=title
Landforms of Lika-Senj County