The Uskoks of Senj – A Virtual Experience
The Uskoks and their epic struggle, which lasted for a full 80 years, hold a significant place in the history of the city of Senj.
The Uskoks were descendants of the Herzegovinian highlanders and the rebellious, bellicose Dalmatae. Fleeing from the Ottomans, they initially sought refuge in Klis. After Klis fell to the Turks in 1537, the majority of the Uskoks settled in Senj and its surroundings. Operating from Senj, they organized actions that inflicted massive losses on both the Ottomans and the Venetians.
They were brave, daring, and fearless fighters who, with their small and fast boats, challenged Venetian dominance over the Adriatic. Their very presence instilled fear, leading to the well-known proverb: "May God protect you from the hand of Senj." They dared to defy both the Ottomans and the Venetians, fighting for their bare survival. Above all, they were courageous and resilient in times of scarcity; they never faltered and were always ready for battle.
They were dressed in lavish Uskok costumes featuring distinct Illyrian motifs. They formed the permanent military garrison in the city Castle and the Nehaj Fortress. At a time when the entire coast, except for Dubrovnik, was under Venetian rule, the area of Senj inhabited by the Uskoks remained free.
Due to their attacks on Venetian vessels, their fate was decided by an agreement between the great powers of the time—the Peace of Madrid, signed in 1617. According to the decisions of the Madrid Treaty, the Uskoks were forced to resettle from Senj and abandon the sea, while their boats were burned. That same year, a German military garrison entered the city of Senj. Around 1624, the glorious Uskok epic came to an end.
Because of their bravery, King Matthias called them the "Bulwark of Dalmatia," Rudolf II described them as a "unique fortress within the state," and Pope Gregory XIII referred to them as the "Resurrected Maccabees." The Uskok epic represents the most brilliant pages of our turbulent history. They lived and operated in difficult times, fighting for their own survival and the survival of their people. They feared neither the sea nor the storms, and were the true masters of the waves.
Their history is the history of a small but exceptionally brave part of the Croatian people, who defended their native soil against various conquerors.