Historically known facts show that on the soil of Boka Kotorska, and by that in the history of Tivat, several epochs, important for the development of the town, stand out. Those are: Illyrian, Roman – Byzantium, Serbian, Venetian – Turkish and Austrian reign. The archeological discoveries, the monuments of the old architecture and the written historical sources best testify about the all above-mentioned epochs.

According to the records known to the public, the first epoch in the development of the town Tivat that is characterized by the Illyrian period, ended in 168-7 year B.C. Even though only few archeological discoveries testify about that period, that epoch is historically important because of the fact that, that was the period of the fall of the Illyrian state.

The period of the Roman reign in Tivat was significantly richer than to the one in the Illyrian period. In certain older books, one can find the opinion that in the area better known as Boboviste (near Tivat) there used to be a very old town. It is still not quite proved, but it is thought that on that place in the past there used to be a town called Akruvijum (Acruvium). Such opinions are frequently mentioned even today, but besides Boboviste, there are other localities, in the nearer or further surrounding of Tivat that are also mentioned.

In the historical documentation, Tivat is rarely mentioned as the locality, because it is more connected for the area of Boka Kotorska, and the very town of Kotor, and with the historical facts about Tivat you can often see the definition, Kotor district.

Namely, the Serbian state rules with the area of Boka, that is to say, with Kotor and its district at the end of the 1185. Tivat, until 1370 was under the patronage of the medieval state, on whose head was the Serbian dynasty Nemanjic. According to the certain historical data, the coasts of the Tivat bay at that time became famous because of the development of the spiritual reign. In the XIII century, a Serbian saint, better known as Sveti Sava (St. Sava), establishes a Serbian church. In the same period on the Island Prevlaka (Coating) near Tivat, Sveti Sava (St. Sava), enthrones the bishop of Zeta, and on the remains of the benediction monastery, a monastery dedicated to archangel Mihailo, which today exists in the same place, began to be built. In the year 1420. the coast of Boka Kotorska and the towns that are found on its soil are ruled by the Venetians. Except the Kotor district, Venetian Republic takes over the peninsula Lustica near Tivat as well as the Island Prevlaka (Coating).

The entire period of the Venetian reign which lasts until the end of the XVIII century, the soil of Tivat is characterized by the often battles between the Venetians and the Turks.

Still, the fall of the Venetian Republic in 1797. represents a very significant turnover in the history of Boka Kotorska. After the Venetians, many other foreign authorities rule Boka and also Tivat, for almost twenty years. In the year 1814. the government of Austria, whose reign lasted until the year 1918, is ruling the area of Boka Kotorska and by that also the area of Tivat. As all the other towns of Boka Kotorska and Montenegro, after 1918 Tivat is included in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenians, later called Kingdom Yugoslavia.

In 1941 Tivat is being occupied by the Nazi troupes. Until the liberation of the town by the partisan squads in November of 1944, German and Italian soldiers dwell.

After the year 1945, after the foundation of SFRJ, Tivat begins to develop as a town, which is primarily, oriented to development of tourism, as a prior economic branch in the former Montenegro and Yugoslavia. Today Tivat is a modern tourist town.

Tivat Legend

A story about a certain town is usually connected to some authentic legends about the origin of certain places, historical or cultural monuments, legacies, islands etc. Nearby Tivat there is a very famous tourist Island Sveti Marko (St. Marko), or the Island Stradioti, as it was called in the past. In the past the Island Sveti Marko in the Tivat bay, was also called the Island Sveti Gavrilo (St. Gabriel), by the church that had the same name, about which, unfortunately there are no written documents.

But, among people the legend that is being retold, still lives. The story about an Island reaches back to the VII century, in the period when the Greek gods have given brave Greek soldiers (the commanders and heads of the Greek fleet), for their marking out in battles and combats, to the Island Sveti Gavrilo (today the Island Sveti Marko). As the legend says, wearied and wounded Greek soldiers, in their galleys, have reached the Island of enchanting beauty, to rest on it and to heal their heroic wounds. Enchanted by the beautiful landscapes, various flowers, pine forest and the sea that surrounded the Island, the Greek soldiers have recovered quickly on the Island Sveti Gavrilo. They have spent their days resting and enjoying in the blessings of nature, but also in the stories that reminded them of the past times: at the horrors of war, demolishing, heroism and conquering…

As the time passed by, the Greek soldiers began to fell guilt conscious because of the evils things they have done, so they decided to say prayers to gods. In their prayers, among other things they asked that the Island on which they have spent their post war days remains forever the oasis of peace and tranquil. Also, the Greek veterans have given their vows then, not to go ever again in conquering, and vowed that they will only defend if they are attacked. As a confirmation of the vows that they gave, the soldiers planted a tree of peace – an olive tree, from which later a great olive garden appeared.

Still, lead by their combat spirit, the Greek warriors soon broke their vows. They continued to conquer territories and to ruin everything that came on their way. Soon after, the angry and cheated Greek gods sent a horrible storm to the Island. The hurricane wind ravaged for days, breaking the soldier’s galleys that were anchored just next to the Island Sveti Gavrilo. The furious sea waves mercilessly sank the ships of the Greek fleet, and only a small number of warriors managed to survive the catastrophe, and to swim to the islands in the Tivat bay on the rafts. When the gods noticed that certain ship wrecked men managed to save themselves, they decided to punish them even more severely, so they have sent an incurable decease to the Island, from which all of them died.

The only thing that was left on the Island to testify eternally about one tine and one terrible event, were the olive trees that Greek soldiers planted.

Because of the tragic death of the Greek veterans, the natives of Tivat decided to call the Island Stradioti, instead of Sveti Gavrilo, because in Greek the word stradiotes means a soldier.

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The rich history of Kotor, is parallel to the rich culture of the town with which many conquerors ruled: the Illyrians, the Venetians, the Austrians, the French…

First the town was ruled by the Illyrians (III and II century B.C.). On the other hand the Romans are considered to be the founders of Kotor 168 B.C. – 476 A.D. Kotor was under their reign until the break of Roman Empire in 476 A.D under the name Akruvijum. After the Romans, until the year 1185 Kotor was under the reign of Byzantium. Under the Byzantium reign Kotor was named Dekaderon.

The period from 1185 – 1371 Kotor remains one of the coastal towns which are a part of the Medieval Serbian state, under the management of dynasty Nemanjic. The dynasty Nemanjic, names the town Kotor, and they make Kotor a seaport, through which they have maintained connections with the west. During the reign of the Serbian dynasty Nemanjic, Kotor experiences a significant economical as well as cultural boom.

After Nemanjic dynasty, Kotor is being taken over by the Hungarians. The Hungarian King Ludvik, rules Kotor from 1371 to 1384. After that, Kotor is being governed by Bosnian King Tvrtko I (1384 – 1391).

The period from 1391 to 1420 Kotor is being an independent Republic. Because of the danger of the conquering the town by the Turks, in 1420 people from Kotor voluntarily, and with accordance with the decision of the Big council of Kotor, give the management of the town to the Venetian Republic. Until 1797 Kotor was under reign of Venice. Considering the fact that at that time Kotor was a battle field, the period until 1797 is thought to be the most dramatic and the hardest in the history of Kotor.

The history of Kotor also notes natural catastrophes. Several earthquakes have hit Kotor. Those were earthquakes in: 1537, 1563, 1667, 1729, and 1979. Kotor also survives years when the world was surrounded by a contagious disease – plague in: 1422, 1427, 1457, 1467, and 1572.

From 1797 to 1805 Kotor is a part of the Austrian empire. In 1806 year Russians come to Kotor. They governed the town only for a year – until 1807.

The French soon menace Kotor. As the Russian army was defeated by the French, in the battle near Fridland, Russian with a secret contract give Kotor to France, which rules over Kotor from 1807 until 1813.

Montenegrin ruler Petar I Petrovic helps people from Kotor in September of 1813. At that time Montenegrins and people from Boka (the other name for people from Kotor) fight together against the French Monarchy. So at that time there comes to certain union of Boka and former Montenegro. However that union lasted only for 9 months, because Paris peace congress, which was held in 1814, didn’t acknowledge that union, so after that conference (Boka with its surrounding) is being given to Austria (1814 – 1918).

A one hundred year old reign of Austria over Kotor was marked by numerous rebellions, and uprisings of the people from Boka Kotorska. The liberation of Austria Kotor awaited in 1918.

As all other towns of former Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians, Kotor, which was exhausted by numerous occupations, awaited the biggest war ever fought – WW II, in the year 1941. Kotor experiences liberation from the Nazi control in November 1944.

Kotor Legend

Kotor is a town with many diverse stories and legends. Its almost every part, every stone with which its streets are paved, palaces which surround certain parts of the town, monuments which it has, can tell a very nice story, a true story or some catch. Here is the legend on how Dobrota, which is one of the Kotor districts came to be.

Two travelers, who were traveling around the world, came to the grey sea. As they were already exhausted from the long trip, they sat on some kind of a rock to get some rest and to refresh themselves. One of them moved a little bit aside and noticed a plaque with some inscription on it. The inscription said: “Measure 10 lengths dig and stop”. When they read that, they wondered what could that be, so they started to guess together what that instruction could mean. At one moment they came to an idea to measure 10 lengths with the plaque, and so they did. When they measured the required length, they started to dig a small hole in the ground and they found some kind of a small chest.They tried to open it, but to their astonishment, the chest opened by itself.

At the bottom of the chest with golden letters it was written “this is everyone goodness”. For a long time they thought what they should do?! Whether to stay where they are, or to continue their journey? Still, as the message was like some kind of a vow, they stayed in the place where they have found the message. At the same place they quickly made a cottage, and went to sleep.

During the night something very strange happened. From the wooden chest, some new shiny letters glimmered. The new message said: “Wish whatever you want before sleep”!!! As both of the travelers from the beginning of the story were poor, they wished for nice stone houses and beautiful wives. When they woke up in the morning they were speechless. They saw a white castle and a woman on the window looking towards the sea. They immediately moved into the new home, and continued to live in ease. Since that, every night before they went to sleep they wished for another nice house, of which every morning one emerged.

That is how Dobrota, near Kotor, was founded. Stone houses and numerous palaces, which later were built, are the most beautiful details of Dobrota.

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