There is something special in having monuments that tell you the lives of your predecessors. Big, magnificent and unique pieces of history take you to the passed times and make you forget everyday troubles. In this post I will give you the breath of Croatian history through Fortress of Gripe in the beautiful town of Split.
| "Cannon", photographer: Marja Radic |
In long history of Croatia we were in many wars with various countries. One of them was Ottoman Empire. As a part of Venetian Republic, Croats gave their contribution in defending their own land during two Ottoman-Venetian wars: War of Cyprus (1570.-1573.) and Cretan war (1645.-1669.). Venice defended Dalmatia to prevent penetration of the Turks in the Apennine peninsula, protect Christian civilization, and the biggest reason for that was successful trade that took place in times of peace with the Turks over the Split merchant scaffolding.
Battles in Ottoman-Venetian wars
In the war of Cyprus the Turks conquered the forts in Split field and thus became immediate neighbors of their people. Venetians decided to declare Split an "open city" so at that time Split was poorly defended with outdated citadels.
Cretan war was the most difficult to Split and other Dalmatian towns because of that. The Turks first attacked Split in 1645 with two thousand soldiers, but the military from Zadar saved the city.
Venetians began building a fortress Gripe in this war. While it was still unfinished, in 1657 the heaviest Turkish siege of Split took place. Devastating everything in their way, the Ottomans managed to conquer the fort. Split went on a counterattack and returned its valuable fortress. There are three more attacks on the Gripe fort, one of which ended with the Turkish conquest, but the brave citizens, with the help of people from Trogir, Brač and Hvar expelled the Turks behind small town Solin.
After heavy losses and futile siege of fortress, the Turks retreated to Trogir, attacking town of Marina, where women dressed as men fought side by side with their husbands. Then the Turks retreated with the army in Bosnia. Split and the coastal Dalmatia were finally saved.
Monument to Honor the History of Our Fathers
It was built during the Cretan war in five stages. Gripe fortress corresponded to the strategic requirements of that age, mainly focused on artillery and rush defense. It consists of a belt of strong sloping walls and four protruding bastions provided with strong earthy embankments. If the fifth one was built, the fort would have the appearance of a turtle with legs and head stretched out. On their platforms the cannons were placed. It is not known exactly how armed it was, but presumably the fort had about 20 cannons.
The entry consisted of a semicircular entrance with a wooden bridge that was lifted and closed. The gate, which makes representative portal of the fortress, was made in a Baroque style. It was destroyed in World War II, during the Italian occupation, because it was small for large trucks that entered the fortress.
| "Entrance to the Fortress", photographer: Marja Radic |
In 1851, during the Austrian government, the fortress was transformed into a so called defensive barrack. The conversion of its rooms was made in the middle of the last century. The Croatian Maritime Museum, Art Academy and National Archives are placed in its center. Natural environment and highlighted position fortress Gripe serves as a stage for concerts and performances of the Split Summer Festival.
In that way a part of Croatian history still lives and making us proud of that glory days of our fathers.
You might also want to read more abot Croatia in the article "6 Things You Should Know About Croatia"
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Marja Radic is a historian, journalist and blogger from Split, Croatia. She believes that history is true life's teacher and politics an instrument for implementing those lessons. That's why she started a blog For My History Lovers which you can follow on Facebook.
