Home
General Informations
People of Rijeka
The Development
The Climate
History, Part #1
History, Part #2
Links
| | Significant economical development began in the 16th century, with the trade of iron, oil, wood, wool, cattle and leather.
In this century, the town also possesses a printing press with Croatian glagolitic script.
No settlement (Susak) yet exists on the left bank of the Rjecina River below the Trsat settlement.
Susak will appear not before the 18th century.
Frequent attacks by the Turks, wars between the pretenders to the Hungarian thrown, as well as the long struggles between the Uskoks and Venice serve only to disrupt trade routes.
The arrival of the Jesuits in Rijeka and the founding of Gymnasium considerably improved it's educational and cultural life and strengthened Romanism to the loss of the Croatian language and the Glagolitic script. The Rijeka economy begins to flourish again in the 18 century. At that time, the Emperor Charles VI proclaimed Rijeka a free port. Shortly after, however, Hungary, a rising power within the Habsburg Monarchy, views Rijeka as it's gateway to the world.
The turn of the 18th century sees Rijeka under French rule and then again under Austrian rule.
The turbulent 20th century
In 1848, the year of civic revolutions, Rijeka was united to the Ban's (Viceroy's) Dominion of Croatia and the Vice-roy Josip
Jelacic became the governor of Rijeka. The struggle for Rijeka between Croatia and Hungary continues to escalate. With the Croatian-Hungarian Deal of 1868, known as the Rijeka Patch, a provisorium was established according to which Rijeka came under the direct rule of Hungary and Rijeka rapidly developed into the largest Hungarian maritime and seaport emporium.
Upon the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in 1918, Rijeka and Su{ak became a part of the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs with Zagreb as the capital, but shortly afterwards, it is occupied by the Italians. Since Italy had not, prior to this event, made any demands on Rijeka, but had instead forgone it in favour of Croatia, a transitory period evolved: the rule of D'Annunzio, the independent State of Rijeka and the inevitable fall of Rijeka to Italy in 1924. Rijeka's economy deteriorated rapidly and Rijeka was transformed into a small provincial town. Su{ak, which had become a part of the Kingdom of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs with Belgrade as the capital, now enjoyed prosperity through the broad hinterland with which it was united.
Rijeka, together with neighbouring Istria, was the first in the world to give resistance to fascism and during World War II, it was a part of the anti-fascist front. Following the capitulation of Italy in 1943, Rijeka and Su{ak were occupied and held by the Germans until liberated in May 3, 1945.
According to the Peace Treaty of 1947 held in Paris, Rijeka was once again reunited with the mother country Croatia within the framework of Yugoslavia. In 1948 the towns of Rijeka and Su{ak were joined to form the single town - Rijeka, which began to develop vigorously in various fields.
After the reconstruction period, Rijeka emerged as the mayor sea-port of socialist Yugoslavia. The traditional industries of Rijeka are revived: the shipbuilding industry, the paper mill, the oil refinery, the production of ships' equipment and engines, the cokery, the clothing industry, hydro-electric power stations and thermoelectric power stations. Shipping companies expanded. Five main roads leading towards Zagreb, Ljubljana, Trieste, Pula and Zadar, together with the railways allowed for the development of the tertiary sector.
The expansive social and economic growth of Rijeka caused the number of inhabitants to increase. Today Rijeka with it's suburbs has about 200.000 inhabitants. Parallel with it's industrial growth, Rijeka transformed into the center of Western Croatia (Istria, the Croatian Coast and Gorski Kotar). The beginning of the '60's sees the emergence of new town quarters and the development of the suburbs. In short, towards the end of the 20th century, Rijeka is a thriving urban and industrial center, as well as the center of various growth initiatives vital to the overall development of the Republic of Croatia. Rijeka also became the seat of the newly founded Archdiocese and metropolis of Rijeka and Senj, as well as the seat of the University.
The striving of Croatia to reach the democratic and liberal horizons of the western world brought about profound changes in the state and social system. In 1991 Croatia became an independent and sovereign state. Although no armed skirmishes, as a part of the war for the homeland, took place in Rijeka, the Yugoslav and Serbian aggression was indirectly and continuously present in the town . The consequences of the war were economic stagnation, redirection of the economy to war production and aiding the supply of the front throughout Croatia.
Many volunteers from Rijeka could be found on the Croatian fronts. Rijeka sheltered and cared from numerous refugees from all parts of Croatia. Democratic changes and the shift towards market economy have in turn brought about other changes: they have prompted a boom in the work of political parties and encouraged investments of private capital in the development of the economy; the transformation of state-owned enterprises is now underway and has, momentarily, resulted in a large number of unemployed workers and Rijeka has become the center of the County of the Coast and Gorski Kotar.
The war has incited spiritual resistance towards violence. Many worthy scientific and cultural achievements have been made, as well as commendable achievements in the field of sports.
It is, of course, impossible to replace the men and women who gave up their lives during the war, but the healing has begun and life will go on, as it has in the past several hundred years...
|