One name – three meanings
The name “Požega” had several meanings in the Middle Ages. Primarily, it referred to the Požega County (comitatus de Posega), first mentioned in written sources in the year 1210 in a charter by King Andrew II. It also denotes a fortress (castrum de Posega) mentioned in a document by Pope Honorius III in the year 1227 when it was handed over to Archbishop Ugrin of Kalocsa. As the name of a town settlement (Possagawar), it is mentioned only in 1330 in a document from the Chapter of St. Peter.
Where I myself carved a cross into the tree with my own hand
In the Middle Ages, Požega County encompassed the area of the Požega Valley and the Brod Posavina region. It extended from the Papuk mountain range in the north to the Sava River in the south, and from the streams of Ljesnica, Ravna Gora and Psunj in the west to the slopes of Dilj Mountain in the east. The development of county administrative structures took place throughout the 13th century. Their center was the town, or rather, the fortress of Požega.
Queens in the fortress of Požega
The fortress of Požega owes its oldest preserved monument to Archbishop Ugrin of Kalocsa, who bought it as a stronghold to suppress heresy. That place gained particular importance during the 13th century when it became a dower estate of Hungarian queens. The estate in Požega was first received by Marija Laskaris, the wife of Béla IV. Historical sources testify that Tomasina Morosini (1250–1300), Elizabeth Kotromanić (1340–1387) and her daughter Marija resided here.
The fortress was situated on an isolated, small, steep hill. It was of irregular hexagonal shape, surrounded by ramparts, fortified with side towers and a tall watchtower. During the Middle Ages, its defense system was at a high level.
Into the town through four gates
The urban settlement developed at the foot of the royal fortress. In its center was a square, now known as the Square of the Holy Trinity, where fairs were held. The high degree of urban development was evident in the existence of two monasteries, of the Dominican (Church of St. Mary) and the Franciscan (Church of St. Demetrius) orders, as well as the parish church of St. Paul. From the 15th century, the settlement was surrounded by ramparts, forming a unique fortification system together with the fortress, featuring four city gates.