Obrambene spilje Krbavskog polja
The defensive Caves of Krbava Field

Summary/Abstract: Krbava Field, as with other regions of Croatia, from the 15th - 17th centuries was constantly attacked by the Ottoman army. After the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 the Ottomans made raids over Bosnia into Croatia and over it into Slovenia and Austria, which they also partially accomplished over Krbava Field. They sacked Udbina in 1460, defeated the Croatian army in 1493 on Krbava Field and from 1527 – 1689 they permanently ruled Krbava. It is most probable that in the first Ottoman incursions on Krbava, ie. in the 15th and 16th centuries, that the people hid in caves. To date speleologists on the edge of Krbava Field have found many caves which were used as refuge because in their entrances were built defensive walls. On the northern edge of Krbava Field are located the Zelena and Kulinacavern, on the western part the Dabina, on the eastern Zidana. On the approaches to Krbava Field, to the north, in Kozjanska Draga is located Vranova, and on the southern pass Ivanova. Unfortunately, not one of these caves has any kind of data from the period of their use. The first data about them only from originates the 19th century when the caves were already long out of use.

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