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So let me introduce to you, Podvelezje - The most awesome place to live.
Lets start by history. In middle ages, prior to conquest of the area by Bosnian banate, the inhabitants of Podvelezje were mostly Vlachs, with shepherding and guarding caravans being the main source of income. After conquest, the population changes to a great degree. Bosniaks move in, and bring Bosnian church, and catholicism with them. Those migrants to Podvelezje raise the Church of St. Peter. Several Bosnian church followers move in and start families as well.
Spoiler!
Podvelezje under Kosaca rule:
In medieval period, the area of Podvelezje was covered by Oaken forrests acording to historical documents, which were heavily deforested when the lumber was exported to Dubrovnik for shipmaking. No fortresess were built due to isolation and relative closeness of Blagaj castle.
(A look towards Podvelezje from Blagaj castle)
On 15th february 1444 Podvelezje area became part of Aragon, when Stjepan Kosaca swore fealthy to Alfonso V, King of Naples and Aragon.
Ottoman rule:
Podvelezje came under Ottoman rule when son of Herzog Stjepan Kosaca, Ahmet Pasha (Formerly Stjepan) ocupied the area at around 1480 for the Ottomans. He also granted religious freedom to Bosnian church who were persecuted up to that point, as was agreed by Alfonso V and Stjepan Kosaca.
Due to nomadic nature of the inhabitants and isolation, the area didnt have any Ottoman officials or Sipahi's who would own the land.
The inhabitants remained free, and were in fact granted several documents granting them freedom to move and pass trough lands without harrassment, some of them which are preserved and are valuable documents to the families, since it allows a glimples into the past.
After Battle of Lepanto, the area was completely deforested, and remains as such to this day.
Culture, jobs and behaviour:
As previously said, the inhabitants were semi nomadic, moving during summer to highlands, and to the lowlands during winters. They also served as Caravan guards for those going to Dubrovnik. As such horses were highly valued and even special breeds were created, including Podveleski konj (Podvelezhian horse - a subspecies of Bosnian highland horse)
The homes were built mostly out of stone, with specific hovels in the hills, while proper houses were built in the lowlands.
Unlike the deforested lowlands, the highlands were well preserved, since they were out of reach of both Kosaca, and Ottomans thus preserving the previous biomes
Every year since the war, a celebration is held, drawing in thousands, to celebrate the heroes of Podvelezje who died defending it, and those who liberated it, which includes old dances and various form of entertainment, and all kinds of traders arrive to sell their produce there.
(No thats not Albanians at 9:10 XD)
To be continued later
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