History
The Durmitor region, a mountainous territory rich in history and breathtaking nature, stretches between two, perhaps the most beautiful Montenegrin rivers, Tara and Piva, on one side, and all the way to the western branches of the vast Sinjajevina to Scepan polje, on the other. Although high and sometimes inaccessible, this territory remembers turbulent events and numerous tribes and peoples who visited it. The first settlements were created by the Illyrians, more precisely their tribe Autariati. Suppressed by the Celts, they left this area as early as the 4th century BC. With the arrival of the Romans, the Durmitor region became part of their territory until the 7th century, when it was settled by Slavic tribes. The Roman population they found was called Vlachs. Vlach, as an ethnographic term, later acquired the meaning of a person who is engaged in cattle breeding, regardless of nationality. Since early times, therefore, livestock breeding has been the primary activity of the population, which relied largely on favorable geographical circumstances, especially a large number of quality pastures.
When it comes to the etymology of the river Durmitor, there are several opinions. For some, the Latin word dormire, which means to sleep, is the real root of this word, for others it is Celtic drummer which means the water from the mountain is a real spring.
When the first Slavic states were created in the Balkans, this area became part of the early feudal Serbian state from the 9th century, which was ruled by the prefect Vlastimir. Administratively, it was divided into counties, and it covered a wider territory. When the state in Zeta was formed in the first half of the 11th century, the Durmitor area became part of it. Somewhat later, this area was dominated by the old state of Raska, ruled by Vukan, Nemanja and others, who fought with Byzantium for a long time.
The arrival of the Turks also meant a new struggle for the population of the Durmitor region. From 1482 to 1857, during the Turkish rule in the Balkans, the people of Durmitor continuously resisted the great empire, regardless of the cruel campaigns undertaken by the Turks. The people of this region particularly distinguished themselves with their courage in several battles when the more numerous and powerful Turkish army suffered losses of several thousand men. In 1862, a great victory was won in Saranci.
This region is particularly interesting for one event in Montenegrin history. In 1840, Smail-aga Cengic was killed on Mljet. In the long-standing struggle, the population of this region suffered great sacrifices, but thanks to the persistent struggle and freedom-loving tradition, the Turks never managed to settle their subjects in this area and establish their rule. During the centuries of existence in this area, tribal rule and real tribal life were built. At first, the area was divided into Drobnjak and Piva, and later other tribes were formed on the territory of Drobnjak, such as the Uskoks, Jezers and Saranacs. The center of these tribes was Zabljak. In 1878, the Durmitor area became part of Montenegro, becoming part of an administratively recognized state.
Several churches and monasteries have played a major cultural and historical role in this region – the Piva Monastery from 1573, the Bijela Monastery from the 18th century, the Dobrilovina Monastery, which according to some sources dates back to the Nemanjic era, as well as the Podmalinsko and Dovolja monasteries. The church in Krs, as well as the one in Zabljak, were built in honor of great victories over the Turkish army. The Turks burned the monasteries on several occasions, but the people of this region restored and preserved them, so the Piva Monastery is one of the most important buildings in this area in terms of preserved cultural and historical values.
In the period between 1857 and 1878, this area was a border territory and was still exposed to minor conflicts with Turkish military detachments. Somewhat later, it was connected with Pljevlja and Bijelo Polje, thus creating a solid libertarian territory in the north of Montenegro. During the First World War, the Durmitor region was also exposed to attacks by the occupiers, but resistance was offered throughout the war, most often through Komit groups and detachments.
In the interwar period, the Durmitor area was part of the Šavnički district, with the municipalities of Planino – Pivska, Žuto – Pivska, then Jezerska, which included Žabljak itself, Drobnjak, with Šavnik, and Uskočka and Saranska. During this period, livestock farming was dominant in this area, and there was also some work on the exploitation of Durmitor forests to a lesser extent. Two small sawmills and several schools were opened during this period, and of particular importance was the opening of the Niksic – Savnik – Zabljak – Pljevlja road. With the formation of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, active political and party life was established in this area for the first time, dominated by the Agrarian and Democratic Parties and, on the eve of World War II, the Communist Party, which was extremely important for this area. The significance of the Communist Party for this area was great. Despite the major bans and the influence of the authorities on reducing the party's activities, the communist party, thanks to numerous students and intellectuals, encouraged the people of Durmitor and Zabljak to resist - namely, when a proposal was made to name Zabljak Alexander's City, after King Alexander, the majority of the people rose up and prevented such an attempt. The people of this region condemned Yugoslavia's accession to the Tripartite Pact, showing that they valued freedom above all else. Zabljak was then the site of large demonstrations.
Zabljak and Durmitor with their people made the greatest contribution and sacrifice in World War II. In just seven days after the uprising against the fascists was launched, Zabljak was liberated, and the people began to form the organs of the insurgent government. The contribution of the Durmitor people's liberation partisan movement remained written in golden letters when it comes to anti-fascist activity in the Balkans. The Durmitor Republic, as this area was called, survived many attacks, and at one time was also the stronghold of the Grand Staff led by Josip Broz Tito. This small area had over two and a half thousand victims during the war, and produced 15 national heroes. After World War II, Zabljak developed from a small town into a tourist town. Today, it is becoming the leading winter center in the region, which uses the beauty of the nature in which it is located in the right way to affirm itself as a place for rest, as well as the country in which it is located.
