Ozren

The beginning of the settlement of Ozren, Vozuća and Gostović lies far back in the centuries. The first written news is from the 16th century. The second type of monuments are material remains, which have not been seriously researched so far.
There is no doubt that in prehistoric and medieval times there was life here, as it was in the neighborhood, across the river Bosna and Spreča (localities Novi Šeher and the surroundings of Doboj). The area abounds in many forts, which points to prehistoric traces; there are also many churches, which again shows that these are remains from the Roman era.In the village of Gradina, one locality is called Crkvina, and in the immediate vicinity of Gradić, the hamlet of the village of Borovci is also called Crkvina. On one of the hills above Therefore, there are the remains of the fortifications of the City (Gradine), immediately below the City is Pazarište, and Kaursko brdo and Gradac are also close.

In Gostović there is the Kaursko threshing floor, and next to Grabovački potok Gradina; a place in the village of Kućice is called Staro Gradište, and there is also Vis Gradac.There are many antiquities of this region that can be said to be from the Middle Ages; these are mostly cemeteries with stećak tombstones. Only one stećak (Selo Banovići) has an inscription.

Stećak tombstones, as witnesses of that time, can be found in the entire area of ​​Ozren, Vozuća and Gostović. People usually call them "marble", and attribute them to Greeks, Jews or giants.

It is believed that the Greeks were driven out of these parts by a long winter. There are such cemeteries in the village of Bakotić, there are a large number of them on Đeralski brdo, there are them in Donja Paklenica in several places, we find them in Ševarlije, then at the school in Donji Rakovec, at the prayer house in Gornja Brijesnica, Pocjelovo, Gostović and more. many other localities. That the names of certain settlements in this area originate from the distant past is shown by the name of the spring Perun below the mountain Ozren, which, apparently, was taken from Old Slavic mythology. Two settlements below the northern slope of Ozren are called Kakmuž and Boljanić, both names exist in eastern Herzegovina, which most likely indicates the old homeland of the local population.In the Krivaja valley, in the settlement of Hrge, bronze objects were found, which confirm that in ancient times these areas were inhabited by a population with a high degree of material culture. There are many legends and legends, which the region associates with antiquities. Such is the legend about the name of the mountain Klek in Gostović, which is connected with the time of the famous Maria Theresa.

Namely, the legend says that such a greatness, as the Austrian empress knelt, was amazed by the beauty of the landscape, and so Klek remained. The name of the mountain Udrim also comes from the pre-Slavic era. The first reliable news about the situation in this area is from the 16th century. In 1503, in the Turkish-Hungarian peace treaty, Maglaj is mentioned as a more important fortification on the Turkish side, from which it can be concluded that Maglaj, as a city, existed before. Since then, Maglaj has been mentioned as an important place and administrative center.

The first news about the Serbs from Maglaj are from the mentioned time. Ferdinand I of Habsburg, as King of Hungary, was preparing for war against the Turks in 1529,and he sought support from the local people's leaders so that they too would rise, promising them a reward. That is how he then wrote to Žarko of Maglaj, and Jurašin of Žepče, and to some duke Hasan. Whether Zarko and his Serbs were the descendants of some recent immigrants, who had just been brought by the Turks, or were representatives of the old, autochthonous population, nothing can be said for sure. In the 16th century, Serbs were more numerous and advanced in this area, and in the second half of the century they built the monastery of Ozren, and in its further surroundings the monasteries of Vozućica and Gostović. In the inscription on the construction of the Ozren monastery in 1587, the name of priest Jakov is preserved, who was from the Marić tribe, about which, by the way, there are no more traces. Serbs from the 16th century disappeared over time; they were evicted and killed in epidemics and wars, and others came in their place, so that among today's inhabitants there are probably no natives at all. There is little news about the events of the 17th century, but there are still some, and they tell us about the ethnic circumstances at the time. In 1609, the fresco painting of the Ozren monastery was completed, which is a very expensive job, and it testifies that the area was rich and prosperous at that time. The monastery, together with the whole area, lived in prosperity until the Austro-Hungarian war of 1683-1699. year, which will hit the whole area hard. From that time, there is a memorial to the family of Komnenović, who moved to Topla (Boka), where he arrived via Banjan. The Austro-Turkish wars of 1716-1718 also had a significant impact on the national structure. and 1736—1739. years. During these wars, the Austrians conquered Maglaj twice. The most significant episode in the war of 1683-1699. There was a burglary of the Austrian army under Prince Eugene of the Savoy Valley of Bosnia to Sarajevo in 1697. Withdrawing from Bosnia, the prince took with him many Catholics, who had high hopes for the success of the Austrian army and helped it, and thus resented the Turks. There were smaller migrations from Bosnia at the beginning of the mentioned wars, and they flowed towards Dalmatia, Slavonia, Srem and Bačka. With the migration from 1697, Catholics from the valley of Bosnia mostly disappeared (only one Antolović family remained on Vis above Bakotić). News from that time is rare and scanty, but judging by the fact that many monasteries, both Orthodox and Catholic, were destroyed in the wider area, it can be said without a doubt that this was a difficult and unstable period. While the number of Christians in general was decreasing, the number of Muslims was significantly increasing. After Turkey lost Hungary and Slavonia, Muslims withdrew from those countries to Bosnia, and many of them settled in the villages around the rivers Bosna, Krivaja and Spreča. The only reliable information from that time is about the village of Maglajani and Lijevče polje, which is mentioned under that name in 1718. According to a description of Bosnia from 1716—1718. Maglaj is a small fortress and has a suburb of about 50 houses, on the mountain Ozren is the monastery of the same name, the mountain is densely populated and mostly Orthodox people, and the monasteries Vozuća and Gostović are also mentioned.

During the 17th century, and after the mentioned wars, there were no major war sufferings, but plague epidemics wiped out many outbreaks. Bosnia was plagued by plague several times in the 18th century. Folklore says that Srpska Rječica and Trbuk were Muslim settlements before the plague, and that Muslims from Donja Paklenica moved to the village of Šije, across the river Bosna. At that time, the Serb population on Ozren was probably killed, some moved away, and some died, but still there was no disruption of the ethnic structure, because the new settlers were Orthodox from Old Herzegovina. There are no natives among Ozren Serbs at all, there are few families who think of themselves as foreigners, and their claims are unclear. Even the best preserved legends about the origin do not go deeper than the 18th century. Monasteries on Ozren: The monastery in Vozuća first appears in written sources in 1617, and from that time, considering the way it was built, it is probably the Gostović monastery. Since the Vozuća monastery dates from the first half of the 17th century, it is to be expected that there were larger settlements in its vicinity at that time. There is a legend from that time about Klisur Vojvoda, whose name is connected to the mountains and straits of Vozuća and Gostović, and about his two sons Žeravica and Plamenica, who chatted there, intercepted Turks, defended the weak and weak, and often came into conflict with newcomers because of the girls. Considering that the local monasteries are very similar in style and manner of construction, their origin is connected to the Serbian king Dragutin Nemanjić, the then ruler of the parish of Usora and Soli. Although this interpretation remained among the people, there is a high probability that the myth of the Nemanjićs was brought with them by immigrants from Old Herzegovina. After 1628, there is no mention of Vozuća until the beginning of the 18th century. At that time, many monks lived in the monastery in Vozuća, who worked a lot of land. Their property consisted of the settlements of Vozuća, Miljevići, Vukovine and Osječani. Muslims moved to Osijek, Muslims also lived in Vukovine, but after the plague, Orthodox settled. The inhabitants of these villages converted to Islam early to get rid of the levy. After the collapse of the monastery, the monastery land was without a master for some time, until it was appropriated by Sefer-pasha from Crna Rijeka, and then it came into the hands of Osman-pasha Gradaščević, and then in 1891 it was sold to Sarajevo agams Ćomari and Softić.

The Gosotović monastery and the life around it were mentioned as early as 1716—1718. years. Shortly afterwards, the monastery collapsed, which was probably a consequence of major changes in the Ottoman Empire at the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century and the great suffering that befell the Christians in Bosnia at that time. The last Serb population of Ozren, Vozuća and Gostović mostly settled from Herzegovina and Montenegro. This is, for the most part, true, even if the immigrants from Vrhovina (around Jajce and Kotor Varoš) are considered to be Herzegovinians and Montenegrins in ancient times. There are these settlers on the western slopes of Ozren.

The Monastery of St. Nicholas on Ozren is the center of religious and spiritual life of Serbs in the middle reaches of the river Spreča and the area of ​​the mountain Ozren. The first written information about the current church of the Ozren monastery dates from 1587. Works on the material of this church, which according to its architectural features belongs to the sixteenth century, probably began after 1557, when, with the arrival of Patriarch Makarije Sokolović on the throne of the Serbian Patriarchate in Peja, a normal organizational situation was established in the Serbian church and the renovation of churches and monasteries began. The population of Ozren and their origin: The geographical unit of Ozren is administratively and territorially divided within the pre-war municipalities: Doboj, Gračanica, Lukavac, Banovići, Zavidovići and Maglaj. After the monastery of Vozuća was abandoned, the Orthodox population from its surroundings disappeared, and Muslims from the Tuzla region moved to its place (in the villages of Donja Gosovica, Ribnica and Osijek). This caused major changes; the former Orthodox monastic villages of Osijek and Vukovina became entirely Muslim. The Orthodox were also expelled from Gosovica by the Muslims, and they moved to Bare. In the settlement of Kućice (Gostović), refugees from Vozuća also settled. On Kapetanovo brdo, on the right side of Krivaja, Orthodox people from Podkočarin moved to Vozuća.

While some were moving, others were coming, so there were immigrants from Herzegovina and Banja Luka in Vozuća and the surrounding area. Before the plague, after which only two houses remained, the village of Predrazi was Muslim, so the ags and beys settled Orthodox people from all sides in the deserted village. Some of the old population also took place in Vozuća. The abandonment and demolition of the Gostović monastery was neither a consequence nor a cause of displacement, nor did it disrupt the structure of the population, as was the case with Vozuća. The Orthodox population was maintained and strengthened by new immigrants from Herzegovina and other areas. Over time, there were more and more immigrants, so they dominated the guest area.

The clans originating from Montenegro and Herzegovina made up more than half of the total population of Ozren, Vozuća and Gostović, although not all of them came here directly, but after a short or somewhat longer stay in other areas. The relative distance from the old customs was fostered by a greater distance, as well as immigration in smaller groups and over a longer period of time. Very little is known about the life of the former Serbian population, as well as what the current Ozrenci, Vozućani and Gostovićani could have inherited from them.

Road routes (roads) that crossed this area are also known from the Turkish era. Certainly of the greatest importance is the one that, avoiding the valley of Bosnia, went to Sarajevo, via Vareš, next to the monasteries of Gostović and Vozuća, and further, via Puračić, Mosorovac to Tuzla. Another important road led from Maglaj, through Krčmarica, to Gračanica, from where one direction separated, through Mičijević and Milin Selo, to Puračić. There was also a road along the Rakovačka river, across Omer's water and Tumar, to Tuzla.

It is important to mention two schools, in Vozuća, which, with the efforts of the priest Serafijan Stakić, began operating in 1856. With the occupation of the priest Jefta Blagojević, along with the renovated monastery church, a school building was built in 1857. The school was then transferred to Hrge, which later grew into a driving primary school. The second school was near the Ozren monastery, and it started working in 1856. The first teacher in it was Danilo Blagojević. For many years, the school was the only place where the people of Ozren acquired literacy and education. Today, there are many famous and successful people around the world. It is known that a large number of people from Ozren colonized Vojvodina and Slavonia. Ozrenci are also known in Borovo Selo, Deronje. Today, a large number of Ozren residents are located in Brčko, Bijeljina and Zvornik. It is enough to mention some of them: Vuk Perušić, Radislav Maksimović, Nemanja Spasojević, Milan Stankić, Dr. Mitar Perušić and others. Ozren after the end of Turkish rule: Immediately after the end of Turkish rule in 1878, the development of the whole of Bosnia moved in a different direction. Major changes began to be noticed among the Serbs from Ozren, Vožok and Gostović, which resulted in the weakening of their ethnic unity. The construction of new roads, especially the railways in the valleys of Bosnia, Spreča and Krivaja, led to sudden changes in the life and work of the local population. Until then, the livestock and farming population began to be employed by newly established companies in Doboj, Maglaj, Zavidovići, Gračanica, etc. There was a sudden descent of families from the hills into the fields, closer to the communications, so that next to the roads, rows of houses and many new hamlets in the fields were created, especially around the railway stations. The industrial exploitation of forests also began, and it was followed by the construction of a wood processing plant in Zavidovići and Maglaj. Quarries were also opened in Lipac and Ševarlije, and the first mine in Petrovo. At that turbulent time, the local Serbs were called up to various armies, to which, whether they wanted to or not, they had to respond, but they still managed to find the strength and ways to participate in both the Balkans and the First World War. Thus, about 400 people from Ozren, Vozuć and Gostović took part in the breakthrough of the Thessaloniki front. Demographic conditions were also significantly affected by natural population growth. In the first place, family cooperatives were divided, and some remained in the homeland, while others settled near roads and railways, and on the other hand, the increase in population in old villages affected the need to build churches, so new churches sprang up in Bočinja, Boljanić, Tumarama, Stog and Puračić. To these should be added the churches in Doboj, Gračanica, Zavidovići, Žepče and Tuzla, which were visited by the population of the surrounding villages. Thus, the churches of the local monasteries ceased to have the role they had in the life of Serbs in the Turkish era. Monasteries were no longer centers of gathering of the local population. The influence of religion and the church in people's lives weakened. The traffic of people and goods through the river valley mostly bypassed the former centers, so the old roads healed and lost all significance. As a result, the administrative unity of this area began to break down as early as the end of the 19th century, which especially awakened and intensified before the Second World War. Thus, already in the Austro-Hungarian era, the whole region was divided into four districts: Doboj, Tuzla, Maglaj and Zenica. This division was further awakened by the division into municipalities after the Second World War. These changes affected the disintegration of the ethnic unity of the local Serbs. First it was read in the costumes, customs, and later in everything that made the population in this area one and special for centuries. Since then, this nation has only one thing in common, and that is trouble, which only makes it unique. "This division was further awakened by the division into municipalities after the Second World War. These changes affected the disintegration of the ethnic unity of the local Serbs. First it was read in the costumes, customs, and later in everything that made the population in this area one and special for centuries. Since then, this nation has only one thing in common, and that is trouble, which only makes it unique. "Краљица" At the top of Kraljica is a monument dedicated to the fallen soldiers of the Army of Republika Srpska, who died on September 7, 1995 during the NATO bombing.