Zadar History of Zadar

Zadar is an ancient city, built in the center of the Croatian Adriatic, and is full of historical and cultural monuments. It is three thousand years old, a city with a long, tumultuous and dynamic history, often destroyed, looted and devastated, but every time emerging from the ruins stronger, richer and more beautiful.

Zadar appeared for the first time in history in the 4th century BC as a settlement of the Illyrian tribe of Liburnians. The name Jader appeared, and through history changed into Idassa (Greek), Jadera (Roman), Diadora and Zara (during Venetian and later Italian rule) up to today’s name of Zadar.

After the year 59 BC, Zadar became a Roman municipium, and in 48 B.C. a colony of Roman citizens. Under Roman rule, Zadar acquired the characteristics of a city with a regular road network, a main square - the forum, and next to it an elevated capitolium with a temple.

In the 7th century, Zadar became the capital of the Byzantine province of Dalmatia. At the beginning of the 9th century, Zadar was mentioned as the seat of Bishop Donatus and the Byzantine leader Paulus. During this time, a church was erected on the Roman forum, the Church of the Holy Trinity, today's St. Donatus', which is considered to be the symbol of the city.

Significant colonisation of Zadar by Croats took place in the 10th century. The foundations of the Romanesque Church of St. Mary, the Church of St. Grisogono and the Cathedral of St Anastasia have been preserved from this period.

In 1202, the city was conquered and burned by the Crusaders and Venetians. The first Gothic churches in Dalmatia, those of St. Francis and St. Dominic, were built after this time. Among the treasures of the period, the gold-plated silver sarcophagus of St. Simon should be highlighted.

The 15th and 16th centuries are marked by the significant activities of Croatian authors who wrote in the Croatian language (Petar Zoranić, Brne Krnarutić, Šime Budinić, Jerolim Vidulić, etc).

The Austrians (1797) took over the government of Zadar from the Venetians, and were followed by the French (1806 to 1813). Zadar again fell under Austrian rule until 1918, but maintained its status as the capital of the Kingdom of Dalmatia, the seat of the Dalmatian Parliament (established in 1861) and the religious seat for the whole of Dalmatia.

With the Treaty of Rapallo in 1920, Zadar came under Italian rule as an enclave on the eastern coast of the Adriatic. Zadar remained part of Italy until the end of World War II. During the war, as a result of heavy Allied bombing, 80% of the historical centre of the city was destroyed. Almost completely destroyed and abandoned, it finally became part of Croatia (within the framework of the Federation of Yugoslavia).

Following the Republic of Croatia’s declaration of independence and the subsequent Serbian aggression on Croatian territory, Zadar and its surroundings were attacked in October 1991 with a destructive force aimed at conquering and destroying the city and its region. The city itself was completely surrounded and repeatedly shelled and devastated. Significant damage was caused to Zadar's cultural heritage.

Today, Zadar is a preserved monument to the various historical periods and cultures that have established the boundaries and visible contours of their urban appearance.

Source: http://www.tzzadar.hr/

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