Kraljeva Sutjeska

Kraljeva Sutjeska (sometimes Kraljevska Sutjeska, or just Sutjeska or Sutiska, historically Trstivnica, in local tradition Naše stolno misto) is a village in the municipality of Kakanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The village has historical significance and rich heritage, and during the Middle Ages it used to be the capital of the Banate of Bosnia.

History and heritage

The village of Kraljeva Sutjeska, in the municipality of Kakanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina, has historical significance and rich heritage. During the Middle Ages it used to be a capital of medieval Bosnian state, and a place where the main court of the royal Bosnian Kotromanić dynasty was situated. The town was called Trstivnica in official state charters of that time. It is situated at the foothills of Zvijezda mountain. A couple of kilometres above the Sutjeska, through the canyon of the Bukovica stream in the northeastern direction deep in the mountain, the historic fortress-city of Bobovac was situated on a high ridge, which was also a secluded royal seat of the Bosnian kings. The village hosts a number of important historical sites:

• Ruins of the medieval Bosnian Court. The court in Trstivnica, today pronounced as Trstionica (present-day Kraljeva Sutjeska; the river which passes through is also still called Trstionica today), was established by Ban of Bosnia, Stjepan II Kotromanić, who moved the court from Visoko. The compound consisted of several buildings, chapel, and the nucleus of what will later become Kraljeva Sutjeska Franciscan Monastery.
• A 14th century Catholic Franciscan monastery in Kraljeva Sutjeska
• Bobovac, the residency of the Bosnian kings during medieval times and the site of the mausoleum of the royals and remnants of the Kotromanić dynasty castle
• An old Bosnian house with the original architecture from the 18th century
• The Mehmed II Fatih mosque from the 15th century, claimed to be the oldest in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Demographics

According to the 2013 census, its population was 248.

Notable people

• Dejan Lovren, Croatian footballer was raised here until he fled during the war.
• René Maric, Assistant Head Coach at Premier League side Leeds United. Ancestry from Kraljeva Sutjeska.
• Leon Susnja, Croatian handball player has roots in Kraljeva Sutjeska.

References

Further reading

External links

• NaÅ¡e stolno mjesto
• Friary Kraljeva Sutjeska