SINJ THROUGH THE CENTURIES
AND THE MILLENNIA

1. ILLYRIAN AND ROMAN PERIOD
Around the beginning of the first millennium B. C., during the iron age, the Illyrians, one of the many Indo-European ethnic groups, settled here. The Cetina district, like the neighboring area, was settled by a very resilient, warlike tribe called the Delmates, or Dalmates. The Romans named a large segment of the Illyrian lands after them - Dalmatia. Clashes between Rome and the Illyrians resumed in 156 B. C., notably with the Dalmates. Even if the Dalmates were not concentrated in the vicinity of Sinj - as certain archaeologists and researchers formerly assumed - numerous Illyrian place-names have survived. These are, as linguists would have it, the names of the Cetina River and certain settlements in the valley: Trilj, Rumin, and even the name Sinj (former names Osinium and Vsinj.).     Occupying the Illyrian lands, the Romans introduced their own way of life. To prevent further rebellion, roads were built, military encampments, new settlements, to which colonists and the more or less Romanized autochthonous population were sent. The colony of Aequum was founded by Emperor Claudius (41-54) in 42 A. D. This was a real Roman town with streets, a forum, water system, temples and other buildings. The numerous fragments of sculpture and buildings unearthed in the region offer a picture of conditions during the Roman period. The Illyrian population gradually became accustomed to its masters and contributed its share to the building of the empire. It even produced one of the most powerful Roman emperors - Diocletian.     After several centuries of Roman domination, this, too came to an end. In 375 the nomadic Huns crossed the Volga, setting off the Völker-wanderung during which the Cetina region was unable to protect itself from incursions. After the fall of the western Roman Empire, the Roman province of Dalmatia was held for a time by the Ostrogoths and in the 530 passed into the hands of Byzantium, or the eastern Roman Empire. About 614 an Avar force together with some Slavs sacked Salona, the Roman-Byzantine administrative centre of Dalmatia. It is highly probable that they also destroyed the settlements in the vicinity of Salona, including those of the Cetina region.
2. PERIOD OF CROATIAN INDEPENDENCE AND PERIOD OF CROATIAN-HUNGARIAN KINGDOM
After the Avars failed in their attempt to seize Constantinople in 626, the Slav tribes in Pannonia and the Balkans shook off Avar domination. This is the time (7th century) when the Croats arrived in these parts. There is no doubt, however, that they were soon under the impact of the new cultural environment in which they found themselves. By the time of Emperor Porphyrogenitos, a national Croatian state had been formed (Tomislav, the first Croatian king, was crowned in 925) which Porphyrogenitos described as one of the strongest military powers in the Balkans and southern Europe. In connection with the Croatian rulers, mention is made of the Cetina leaders (zupani) as personal escorts and witnesses signing documents issued by these rulers. Croatia independent state, unfortunately, was not of long duration. On its borders, in the meantime, two mighty expansionist powers had appeared: the Venetians, the strongest maritime power in the Adriatic, and Hungary in Pannonia. After a clash with the Hungarian army (1102), representatives of 12 Croatian tribes accepted the so-called personal union of Croatia and Hungary, which was to last until 1918.     In the beginning of the 14th century, Cetina fell into the hands of the Subic family, princes of Bribir. After the defleat of the Subic forces, the next to lay claim to Cetina was Ivan Nepilic, master of Knin fortress. Following his death, his widow Vladislava was unable to hold off the army of King Louis I (1342-1382) and forced to surrender Knin and four other forts located in the direction of the Una river. In return, the king granted her and her underage son Ivan "of his own will" "the royal town of Sinj" (castrum regale Zyn) together with the principality of Cetina and all its possessions. The Cetina principality thus went to the Nepalic family as a royal grant. The first Nepilic prince of Cetina, Ivan II, continued to collaborate closely with the king, and this policy was continued by his son and heir Ivan III, or Ivanis. After his death (1434) The Cetina district has changed several masters (Frankopan, Petar Talovac, Pavao Spirancic,...). The Turks have started more often to attack Cetina district and other parts of Croatia. Finally, in 1536 the Turks conquered Cetina district and town of Sinj and they have left under Turkish conqueror for 150 years.
3. TURKISH PERIOD AND VENETAN RULE
As in other territories occupied by the Turks, the life of the raja (Christian subject people) was harsh. Living in misery, slaving on the estates of their Turkish masters, they were never safe from passing military units, from raiding parties, reprisals, etc. The Turks presented danger for all Christian world and Sinj and Cetina district with other northern border areas were the shield for Christianity. In 1683 a Turkish expeditionary force was defeated before the walls of Vienna. This was a signal for revolt. GREAT VICTORY OF CETINA PEOPLE     Joining the Holy League against the Turks, Venice began another fifteen-year-long war (1684-1699). The willingness of the people to fight facilitated operations in Dalmatia. The first target selected for liberation was Sinj. Second attempt was successful, so finally 1686 Sinj fortress was taken. Sinj had once and for all ousted the Turks. Owing to the strategic importance of Sinj, the Venetian military authorities immediately undertook to reinforce the stronghold along modern lines. Turco-Venetian wars had exhausted the belligerents, and in 1699 in Sremski Karlovci the Traty of Karlowitz was signed, but despite of that the borders were never peaceful. On August 7th, 1715 the Turks has been started to attack Sinj. The Turkish army under leader of Mehmed Pasa were numerous and better armed than Sinj brave defenders. That day an Turkish envoy under heavy escort came from the Turkish camp in front of the town, halting some distance from the walls, and asked to deliver a message from his master to the representative of the Sinj. For this duty cavalier Don Filipovic-Grcic of Sinj, soldier and writer was chosen. In message Turks asked to surrender the fortress if they want to survive, but Sinj representative refuse any negotiations but to defend the fortress to the last man. The battle was finished on August 15, 1715 and brave heroes of Cetina district finally beat tremendous Turkish military. Defenders of Sinj were convinced that Our Lady Mary (Miracle Painting from the Sinj church) give them strength for glorious victory. Also, Turkish army was significant weakened by difficult disease which was raging among them. All were convinced that is also God’s deed. That`s why in town of Sinj, the holiday of Great Lady Mary (VELIKA GOSPA) on August 15, is always specially respected and celebrated. Special pride in their achievement was taken by the surviving defenders who in commemoration of their victory instituted the ALKA tournament.     The Venetian period in the history of the Cetina district was a time of stagnation for the whole region. Making no attempt to rebuilt a region devastated in so many wars, people was for the most part left to fend for himself. Yet he had his own code of honor, morals, heroism and chivalry. The folk ballads, tales, and proverbs he created were an expression of his outlook on the world, his craving for beauty, a more "human" life.
3. BRIEF PERIOD OF FRENCH AUTHORITY AND PERIOD OF AUSTRIAN RULE
The established order of Venetian administration suddenly came to an end. In 1797 Austrian troops had already made their appearance in the Cetina district. This was the beginning of the first Austrian occupation of Dalmatia, which lasted eight years. The popular demand that Dalmatia should be joined with Croatia (and Hungary) was not heeded by the Austrian court. Defeated in the battle of Austerlitz (1805) Austria was forced to yield to Napoleon all the former Venetian possessions, so in early 1806 the Cetina district acquired a new master. This was the start of the turbulent and important period of French rule. This, too, was of short duration: it lasted approximately seven years, yet left deeper traces than many of the powers that had ruled her for centuries. Unlike the Austrians, the French promptly launched significant, fundamental reforms in all domains. An ambitious plan for organizing a school system was drawn up. Numerous measures were undertaken for the promotion of agriculture, trade, building roads and health.     After Napoleon`s defeat in Russia and at Leipzig (1813) the Austrian army took Dalmatia once again, thus beginning the second Austrian administration of Dalmatia, which lasted until 1918. Dalmatia again became a separate province (Kingdom of Dalmatia) with regent Zadar. Official policy regarding union with Croatia remained unchanged. Germanization and class inequality under Hapsburg monarchy led to demands for a constitution and more equitable social order, and finally to the revolution of 1484. This was followed by the "Constitutional period", a time of political conflicts in Dalmatia. Two sides emerged: one pro-Italian (Autonomist party) and the other in favor of union with Croatia (Popular party). It was in Sinj that the first serious opposition to Autonomist policy developed because people from Cetina district have had always national conscious of belongness to Croatia.
4. SINJ IN PRESENT DAYS
During 19th century and in the begining of 20th century Dalmatia and other parts of Croatia were going through very difficult times. Also, as other parts of Croatia, Cetina district was effected with the first world war, later second world war. Through history, when Croatia was seperated, People from Cetina district were always fighting for Croatian language and united Croatia. Also, in future times people from Sinj and Cetina district has proven itself as brave and strong-willed people.     Sinj and Cetina district has natural resources which have not yet been fully utilized: mineral ores, stone and coal, and particularly arable land which, given the abundance of water, offers further opportunities for cropfarming and livestock raising. The natural beauties and mild climate of the region suggest the possibilities of developing tourism.