Old Herzegovina

Old Herzegovina (Montenegrin/Serbian: Стара Херцеговина, Stara Hercegovina) is a historical region in Montenegro, which is not part of the current state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The area includes part of present-day Montenegro, with the coastal area of Herceg Novi, the region around Nikšić, and the mountainous area spanning towards Pljevlja. The area is also assumed to include Prijepolje, which is currently in Serbia, and the areas around Foča, Kalinovik, and Goražde), which are today included in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska.

The name comes from the medieval Duchy of St. Sava, established by Stefan Vukčić Kosača within the Kingdom of Bosnia. Until the Congress of Berlin in 1878, Old Herzegovina was part of the Pashalik of Bosnia within the Ottoman Empire. It was then annexed to the Principality of Montenegro, except for the northern areas that remained in Habsburg-administrated Bosnia.

See also

Herzegovina

Herzegovina (/ˌhɛərtsᵻˈɡoʊvᵻnə/ or /ˌhɜːrtsəɡoʊˈviːnə/;Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian: Hercegovina, Херцеговина, [xɛ̌rtsɛɡov̞ina]) is the southern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While there is no official border distinguishing it from the Bosnian region, it is generally accepted that the borders of the region are Croatia to the southwest, Montenegro to the east, Mount Maglić to the northeast, and Mount Ivan to the north. Measurements of the area range from 11,419 km² (4,409 sq mi), or around 22% of the total area of the present-day country, to 12,276 km² (4,740 sq mi), around 24% of the country.

The name Herzegovina means "duke's land", referring to the medieval duchy of Stjepan Vukčić Kosača who took title "Herzeg of Saint Sava". Herceg is derived from the German title Herzog.

Geography

The terrain of Herzegovina is mostly hilly karst with high mountains in the north such as Čvrsnica and Prenj, except for the central valley of the river Neretva River. The largest city is Mostar, in the center of the region. Other larger towns include Trebinje, Stolac, Široki Brijeg, Konjic, and Čapljina. Borders between Bosnia and Herzegovina are unclear and often disputed.