Sandžak

{{About|a geographical region in [[Montenegro]], and in [[Serbia]]|districts of the [[Ottoman Empire]]|Sanjak}} {{Multiple issues | POV=March 2009 | refimprove=November 2007}} [[Image:Sandzak region map.png|thumb|250px|Map of the Sandžak/ Raška region in Serbia and Montenegro in its largest geographical extent. According to some other views, Montenegrin municipalities of Plav and Andrijevica might not belong to Sandžak]] [[Image:Sandzak01.png|thumb|250px|Municipalities of Sandžak (Raška)]] '''Sandžak''' ([[Serbian language|Serbian]]/[[Montenegrin language|Montenegrin]], [[Bosnian language|Bosnian]]: ''Sandžak'', [[Cyrilic]]: ''Санџак'', {{IPA-sh|sǎndʒak|pron}}, [[Turkish language|Turkish]]: ''Sancak'') also known as '''Raška''' ([[Serbian Cyrillic alphabet|Serbian Cyrilic]]: ''Рашка'', {{IPA-sh|râʃka|pron}}) is a historical region lying along the border between [[Serbia]] and [[Montenegro]]. Тhe name Sandžak derives from the [[Sanjak of Novi Pazar]], a former [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] administrative district that existed until the [[Balkan Wars]] of 1912, whereas ''Raška'' was the name of a prominent [[Serbian Kingdom|Serbian medieval state]] that preceded it. ==Name== The region is referred to as either ''Novopazarski Sandžak'' (Sandžak of [[Novi Pazar]]), or simply ''Sandžak'' by local ethnic [[Bosniaks]]. Official administrative name of the region, however, is Raška District ''Raška Oblast'' (Рашка Област). Internationally, during the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] and [[Habsburg]] rule, the area was formerly known as the ''Sanjak of Novi Pazar'' meaning the ''[[Sanjak]] (district) of Novi Pazar''. In medieval Serbia and the latter independent nation-state the region became increasingly referred to by its pre- Ottoman name (Raška). ''Sandžak'' is the local Slavic transcription of the Turkish word ''sancak'', which literally means "flag" or "national ensign" which was used as a term representing the "province" or district". Sanjaks originally were the first level subdivisions of the [[Ottoman Empire]]. They arose in the mid-14th century as military districts that were part of a military-[[feudalism|feudal]] system. In addition to the paid professional army, the Ottoman army had corps of cavalry soldiers (called ''[[spahis]]'' or ''sipahi'') who performed military service in return for estates granted by the Sultan (larger estates were called ''zaim'' or ''zeamet'', smaller ones ''timar''). Spahis gathered for war according to the Sanjak in which they lived, and were led by an official called a ''Sanjak-beg'' or ''Sanjak[[bey]]'' (roughly equivalent to "district governor"). ==Geography== It stretches from the border with [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] to [[Kosovo]] on an area of 8,403 square kilometers. Six municipalities of Sandžak (Raška) are in Serbia ([[Novi Pazar]], [[Sjenica]], [[Tutin]], [[Prijepolje]], [[Nova Varoš]], and [[Priboj]]), and five in Montenegro ([[Pljevlja]], [[Bijelo Polje]], [[Berane]], [[Rožaje]], and [[Plav]]). Sometimes the Montenegrin municipality of [[Andrijevica]] is also regarded to be part of Sandžak (Raška). The largest city in the region is Novi Pazar (55,000), while other large cities are: Pljevlja (23,800), and Priboj (19,600). In Serbia, the municipalities of Novi Pazar and Tutin are included into [[Raška District]], while the municipalities of Sjenica, Prijepolje, Nova Varoš, and Priboj, are included into [[Zlatibor District]]. ==History== {{See also|Sanjak of Novi Pazar}} The first known inhabitants of the region now known as Sandžak (Raška) were [[Illyrians]]. In the 1st century, the region was conquered by the [[Roman Empire|Romans]], while in the 6th and 7th centuries, it was settled by the [[Slavic peoples|Slavic]] tribes. In the [[Middle Ages]] the region was part of the Serb state of [[Rascia|Raška]]. The capital of Raška was the city of [[Stari Ras|Ras]], located near present day Novi Pazar. The region was later part of the subsequent Serb states, until it was conquered by the [[Ottoman Empire]] in the 15th century. During the centuries of Ottoman rule the ''Sanjak of Novi Pazar'' was a part of the [[Bosnia Province, Ottoman Empire|Province of Bosnia]] before coming under the [[Kosovo Province, Ottoman Empire|Kosovo Province]] in 1878. The 1878 [[Congress of Berlin]] allowed [[Austria-Hungary|Austro-Hungarian]] military garrisons to be positioned in Sandžak where they remained until 1909. In October 1912, Sandžak was captured by Serbian and Montenegrin troops in the [[First Balkan War]], and its territory was divided between the Kingdoms of [[Kingdom of Serbia|Serbia]] and [[Kingdom of Montenegro|Montenegro]]. Many Bosniak and Albanian inhabitants of Sandžak emigrated to [[Turkey]] as [[Muhajir (Turkey)|muhajirs]]. The emigration wave lasted from 1912 to 1970{{Citation needed|date=October 2011}}. Over a million of modern Turks have Sandžak origins or ancestry{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}}. There are numerous colonies of Sandžak Bosniaks in Turkey, in and around [[Edirne]], [[Istanbul]], [[Adapazarı]],(İzmir)(Çeşme peninsula) [[Bursa, Turkey|Bursa]], and [[Samsun]] among others{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}}. During [[World War I]], Sandžak (Raška) was under occupation of [[Austria-Hungary]] from 1914 to 1918. In 1918, Serbia and Montenegro united before creating the [[Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes]] which became the [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]] in 1929. Between 1929 and 1941, Sandžak (Raška) was part of a newly created province, the [[Zeta Banovina]], with its headquarters in [[Cetinje]]. Most of Sandžak (Raška) was under [[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)|Italian]] occupation in [[World War II]], mostly under the Governorate of Montenegro (The city of Novi Pazar was included into Serbia, while Plav and Rožaje were included into Italian ruled [[Albania]]), and under [[Nazi Germany|German]] occupation from 1943. At the end of the war, Sandžak (Raška) was divided between [[Serbia]] and [[Montenegro]], according to the initial division agreement between the two states from 1913. The [[Yugoslav wars]] of the 1990s left Sandžak (Raška) largely unscathed, although the [[War in Bosnia|wars in Bosnia]] and [[Kosovo War|Kosovo]] led to ethnic tensions and (in the latter case) [[1999 NATO bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|bombing by NATO forces]]. According to Sandžak (Raška) Bosniak political parties, some 60,000-80,000 Bosniaks emigrated from the region during this period. A number of group killings of Bosniaks occurred 1992–1995, with the most notable ones being the cases of [[Sjeverin]] (near Priboj), Bukovica (near Pljevlja), and Štrpci (near Prijepolje). With the democratic changes in Serbia in 2000, the ethnic Bosniaks were enabled to start participating in the political life in Serbia and Montenegro, including [[Rasim Ljajić]], an ethnic Bosniak, who was a minister in the Government of [[Serbia and Montenegro]], and [[Rifat Rastoder]], who is the Deputy President of the Parliament of Montenegro. Also, the census data shows a general emigration of all nationalities from this underdeveloped region. ==Demographics== {{Main|Demographics of Sandžak}} [[Image:National Symbol of Bosniaks in Sandzak.png|100px|right|thumb|National Symbol of the Bosniaks in Sandžak]] [[Image:Sandzak ethnic map.png|thumb|250px|Ethnic map of Sandžak (Raška) (including [[Plav]] and [[Andrijevica]]) according to the 2002 census in Serbia and 2003 census in Montenegro. Note: map shows the ethnic majority populations within the municipalities]] [[Image:Raska02i03.png|thumb|250px|Ethnic map of Sandžak (excluding [[Plav]] and [[Andrijevica]]) according to the 2002 census in Serbia and 2003 census in Montenegro. Note: map shows the ethnic majority populations within the settlements]] Sandžak is an ethnically very mixed region. According to the 2002 population census of the Serbian part, a total of 235,567 people live in it, with a significant ethnic diversity, although Bosniaks hold the majority in the area, with the west having a Serb majority and the east a Bosniac one. * 134,128 Bosniaks (''56.94%'') * 89,396 Serbs (''37.95%'') * 8,222 Ethnic Muslims (''3.49%'') * 928 Montenegrins (''0.4%'') * 171 Albanian (''0.07%'') * 2,724 others, undecided, regionally declared, undeclared and unknown (1.15%) According to the 2004 statistical data for Montenegro, the Montenegrin part numbers 163,441 people. However, the Montenegrin part has a lot more mixed ethnic structure and a Serb majority, whereas Bosniaks are in majority only at the very east along the border: * 65,650 Serbs (''40.17%'') * 44,341 Bosniak (''27.13%'') * 28,249 Montenegrins (''17.28%'') * 15,456 Ethnic Muslims (''9.46%'') * 3,802 Albanians (''2.33%'') * 5,943 others, undecided, regionally declared, undeclared and unknown (''3.63%'') A calculation of the two censuses puts total Sandzak's population at just over 399,000. The relative majority is held by ca. 178,500 Bosniaks, i.e. 45% of the region's population. Serbs form 39% (ca. 155,000), while Montenegrins 7% (ca. 29,000) and Ethnic Muslims 5% (ca. 23,500). An estimate of nearly 4,000 Albanians form just below 1% of Sandzak's total populace. The municipalities with Bosniak ethnic majority are: Tutin (94.23%), Rožaje (82.09%), Novi Pazar (76.28%), Sjenica (73.34%), and Plav (50.73%). The municipalities with Serb ethnic majority are: Nova Varoš (90.09%), Priboj (74.15%), Pljevlja (59.52%), and Prijepolje (56.82%). The ethnically mixed municipalities with relative Serb ethnic majority are: Bijelo Polje (36.31%) and Berane (41.43%). Bosniak participation in respective municipalities is as follows: *94.23% in [[Tutin]] (28,319 of 30,054); *82.09% in [[Rožaje]] (22,512 of 27,562); *76.28% in [[Novi Pazar]] (65,593 of 85,996); *73.34% in [[Sjenica]] (20,512 of 27,970); *50.73% in [[Plav]] (10,960 of 21,604); *31.83% in [[Prijepolje]] (13,109 of 41,188); *25.22% in [[Bijelo Polje]] (14,409 of 57,124); *22.00% in [[Berane]] (8,994 of 40,885); *18.33% in [[Priboj]] (5,567 of 30,377); *5.48% in [[Pljevlja]] (2,023 of 36,918); *5.15% in [[Nova Varoš]] (1,028 of 19,982); Muslims by nationality participation in respective municipalities is as follows: *17.18% in [[Bijelo Polje]] (9,816 of 57,124); *9.26% in [[Prijepolje]] (3,812 of 41,188); *8.36% in [[Pljevlja]] (3,088 of 36,918); *7.32% in [[Berane]] (2,994 of 40,885); *6.06% in [[Rožaje]] (1,670 of 27,562); *5.78% in [[Plav]] (1,249 of 21,604); *4.70% in [[Priboj]] (1,427 of 30,377); *2.51% in [[Nova Varoš]] (502 of 19,982); *2.36% in [[Sjenica]] (659 of 27,970); *1.86% in [[Novi Pazar]] (1,599 of 85,996); *0.74% in [[Tutin]] (223 of 30,054); Serb participation in respective municipalities is as follows: *90.09% in [[Nova Varoš]] (18,001 of 19,982); *74.15% in [[Priboj]] (22,523 of 30,377); *59.52% in [[Pljevlja]] (21,972 of 36,918); *56.82% in [[Prijepolje]] (23,402 of 41,188); *41.43% in [[Berane]] (16,939 of 40,885); *36.31% in [[Bijelo Polje]] (20,743 of 57,124); *23.50% in [[Sjenica]] (6,572 of 27,970); *20.47% in [[Novi Pazar]] (17,599 of 85,996); *12.64% in [[Plav]] (2,731 of 21,604); *4.32% in [[Tutin]] (1,299 of 30,054); *3.32% in [[Rožaje]] (916 of 27,562). Montenegrin participation in respective municipalities is as follows: *22.70% in [[Berane]] (9,282 of 40,885); *20.99% in [[Pljevlja]] (7,750 of 36,918); *16.13% in [[Bijelo Polje]] (9,214 of 57,124); *3.66% in [[Plav]] (790 of 21,604); *1.64% in [[Rožaje]] (453 of 27,562); *1.42% in [[Priboj]] (432 of 30,377); *0.66% in [[Prijepolje]] (271 of 41,188); *0.37% in [[Nova Varoš]] (73 of 19,982); *0.13% in [[Novi Pazar]] (109 of 85,996); *0.08% in [[Sjenica]] (23 of 27,970); *0.07% in [[Tutin]] (20 of 30,054). ===Note=== Most of the ethnic Bosniaks declared themselves as [[Muslims by nationality]] in 1991 census. In 2002/2003 censuses, most of them declared themselves as Bosniaks, but there are also those who still declare themselves as Muslims by nationality. Also, most of the ethnic Serbs from the Montenegrin part of Sandžak (Raška) declared themselves as Montenegrins in 1991 census, while in 2003 census they declared themselves as Serbs. ===Bosniaks=== {{Main|Bosniaks of Serbia|Bosniaks of Montenegro}} Two thirds of Sandžak (Raška) [[Bosniaks]] trace their ancestry to the regions of [[Montenegro]] proper{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}, which they started leaving first in 1687, after [[Ottoman Empire|Turkey]] lost [[Boka Kotorska]]. The trend continued in [[Old Montenegro]] after 1711 with the extermination of converts to [[Islam]] ("istraga poturica"). Another contributing factor that spurred the migration to Sandžak (Raška) from the Old Montenegro was the fact that the old [[Eastern Orthodox|Orthodox]] population of Sandžak (Raška) moved towards Serbia and the [[Habsburg Monarchy]] ([[Vojvodina]]) in two waves, first after 1687, and then, after 1740, leaving it basically depopulated. The advance of increasingly stronger ethnic Serbs of Montenegro{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} caused additional resettlements out of [[Montenegro proper]] in 1858 and 1878, when, Montenegro was recognized as an independent state by the [[Treaty of Berlin (1878)|Treaty of Berlin]]. While only 20 Bosniak families remained in [[Nikšić]] after 1878, towns like [[Kolašin]], [[Spuž]], [[Grahovo]], and others, lost their entire Bosniak population. Additionally, the clan-organized Montenegrin army forcibly converted{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} about 12,000 Bosniaks and Albanians from Southern Sandžak (Raška), and [[Metohija]] to [[Orthodox Christianity]] in 1912, after capturing those lands from the Turks in the [[Balkan Wars]]. Practically all of the converts, less a couple of families, converted back to [[Islam]] in 1913, when, under international pressure, the public announcement was made giving them freedom to profess the faith of their choosing. The last major interethnic incident occurred in 1924 in [[Šahovići]] and [[Pavino Polje]] (present day municipality of Bijelo Polje in Sandžak (Raška)), when Montenegrin peasants massacred hundreds of Bosniaks{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}, under the pretext that Bosniak outlaws murdered a local Montenegrin hero; an allegation which was completely false{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}. Some twenty percent of Bosniaks stem from the [[Catholic]] Albanian clans of Northern [[Albania]]{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} and neighbouring Montenegro. Most of them were resettled by the ruling [[Ottomans]] at the beginning of the 18th century from [[Malësia|Malësia e Shkodrës]] (Serbian/Bosnian/Montenegrin: Skadarska Malesija), partly aiming to populate the lands deserted by the fleeing [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] population after the [[Austro-Turkish wars]]. By the end of the 19th century, all these Albanians converted to Islam, and were assimilated into the dominant wave of Bosniak [[refugees]] from Montenegro proper. Nevertheless, they retained many of their Albanian traditions, especially in the eastern parts of Sandžak, and some older Bosniaks of Albanian ancestry even speak fluent [[Albanian language|Albanian]] to this day. Some of the Bosniaks came from [[Slavonia]] after 1687, when [[Turkey]] lost all the lands north of [[Sava river|Sava]] in the Austro-Turkish war. Many more came from [[Herzegovina]] in the post-1876 period, after the [[Herzegovina Rebellion]] staged by the Serbs against [[Austria-Hungary]] and their Muslim subjects. Another wave followed immediately afterwards from both [[Bosnia Province, Ottoman Empire|Bosnia]] and Herzegovina, as the Treaty of Berlin placed Bosnia under the effective control of [[Austria-Hungary]] in 1878. ===Serbs=== [[Serbs]] are ethnic majority in three western municipalities of the Serbian Sandžak (Raška) (Prijepolje, Priboj and Nova Varoš), and they are also largest ethnic group in the Montenegrin Sandžak (Raška). The town of Pljevlja in the Montenegrin part of Sandžak (Raška) is the largest settlement with Serb majority in Montenegro. There are numerous traces of Serbian history and culture scatered through the region, including several Serbian Orthodox monasteries such as the two Đurđevi Stupovi ([[Đurđevi Stupovi|one]] near Novi Pazar, and the [[Đurđevi Stupovi (Berane)|other]] near Berane), [[Sopoćani]], [[Crna Reka monastery|Crna Reka]], [[Kumanica]], [[Davidovica]], [[Pustinja]], [[Mileševa]], [[Dubnica monastery|Dubnica]], [[Bistrica monastery|Bistrica]], [[Orahovica monastery|Orahovica]], [[Banja monastery|Banja]], [[Dubrava monastery|Dubrava]], and [[Uvac monastery|Uvac]]. ==Politics== During the existence of [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] and [[Serbia and Montenegro]], some ethnic Bosniak politicians from the Sandžak (Raška) region advocated territorial autonomy. The most radical proposal was for Sandžak (Raška) to be given the status of a republic within the federation of Serbia and Montenegro created from both Serbian and Montenegrin parts of Sandžak (Raška). Since [[Serbia]] and [[Montenegro]] are now separate independent states and Sandžak (Raška) is divided between them, it is likely that future proposals for autonomy will respect new international borders. Since ethnic Bosniaks form a majority in only three eastern municipalities of Serbian Sandžak (Raška), and two eastern municipalities of Montenegrin Sandžak (Raška), and since the Serb and Montenegrin populations from this ethnically mixed region would oppose the idea of autonomy , it is unlikely that an eventual autonomous Sandžak (Raška) would include municipalities with a majority Serb and Montenegrin ethnic populations. The Bosniak National Council of Serbia and Montenegro represented the region at the [[UNPO]] since 1993. This political pressure group organized a referendum in October 1991 where 98% of the voters opted in favour of [[Wiktionary:autonomy|autonomy]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} The Council claims a 69% turnout, although this has not been verified by an independent body.{{Citation needed|date=October 2007}} ==External links== {{Commons category}} * [http://www.novipazar.org Novi Pazar] * [http://www.sandzak-x.net Info about Sandžak] * [http://www.bnv.org.rs Bosniak National Council in Serbia] * [http://www.dijaspora.org Community of the Sandžak diaspora] * [http://www.sandzaknews.com News from Sandžak] * [http://www.cbs.org.rs Centre for Bosniak Study & Bošnjačka riječ magazine] {{Geographical regions of Serbia}} {{Geographical regions of Montenegro}} {{coord missing|Serbia}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Sandzak}}