Artifact discovered at Kastel
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Ancient Period
Next to river Vrbas, on both of its banks, settlements of various tribes had been rising up in this gracious valley, since Palaeolithic period. They stayed, lived and developed here. It is known for sure that, in pre-Roman and Roman period, Illyrian tribe Mezeja was settled in this area. Whole region was included in the Roman province of Illyric.
Numerous artefacts, found on different locations near, what is today known as city of Banjaluka, give evidence about Roman presence in this locality. Romans were the first who discovered healing effect of mineral water springs in Banjaluka’s surroundings: Gornji Šeher, Slatina and Laktaši.
At that time habitat of Banjaluka was located on the important road and trade route, built by Romans, from Split (Salona) to Gradiška (Servitium). In today’s’ heart of the city, adorned by cultural and historical monument – fortress Kastel, Roman military fortress Castra was built, enclosing the life of Roman military settlement in itself.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, Slavic tribes were settling in this area during VI and VII century A.D. In the medieval period, next to the riverbanks of Vrbas, numerous fortresses were built. Reliable data on former settlements, and life of the population within and out of the ramparts are unfortunately still hidden in the corridors of history, calling for ethnographers and historians to reveal them.
In the old manuscripts, dated 1320, city of Vrbas was mentioned, and in 1494 Croatin-Hungarian King Vladislav II cited that Juraj Mikulašić was performing duty of castellan in Banjaluka. There are different claims on how the city got its name and none of them can be completely adopted.
Source: www.banjaluka.rs.ba |
