Ram Fortress

Ram Fortress
Тврђава Рам
Ram, Veliko Gradište
Serbia

Ram Fortress
Site information
Owner Municipality of Veliko Gradište
Open to
the public		 Yes
Site history
Built XII
Materials Stone

The Ram Fortress is situated on a steep slope on the right bank of the River Danube, in the municipality of Veliko Gradište, Serbia. Situated on a rock which is from the northeast side tilted towards the Danube River. It is assumed that the city was built on an opposite side of fortress of Haram, from which nothing was left today, and which is located on the other side of the Danube. The remains of the city are in good condition today.[1][2][3][4]

History

The place first finds its reference in Trajanic times as a settlement where the cavalry units were stationed. The earliest record of Ram Fortress dates back to 1128 CE, as the year when where the Byzantines army defeated the Hungarians. After victories in this region, Byzantine army have focused their activities on the Pannonian Basin. In order to protect the right bank of the Danube Ottoman sultan Bayezid II (1480-1512) was revised and strengthened the existing fortress for fighting firearms. Ram Fortress represents one of the oldest artillery fort in Serbia.[1]

The interior of the fortress was demolished during the Koca rebellion in 1788, and a caravanserai, which is built in the same way as the fortress, is found in its vicinity.

Appearance and characteristics

Is not known when the city was built, but it certainly is one of the oldest forts in this region. Sultan Bayazid II (1480–1512) built the present fortifications of Ram Fortress, in the form of a regular pentagon maximum length of 34m and width of 26m, designed to withstand cannon warfare. The city consists of 5 towers at four levels (three floors and the ground floor), three on the east and two on the western rampart. Apart from the place, where the fortress is entered, there are four corner towers. The side towards and fort are surrounded by a low wall and wide dry moat in front of it. City entrance is at Donjon tower, which is located in the southwestern side of the fort.Masonry fireplace – rare in the medieval buildings of this region – are preserved in them. Over city's moat lies a bridge which is located at the southeastern tower, and that leads to a space between the fortress and the low walls around it. On all the ramparts except the West one, are located at the same distance from the tower, openings for guns.[1][5]

Fortress

Ram today

Ram Fortress is today in very good condition. The towers are in good state, except for the Southeast, whose front part is almost completely destroyed. Ramparts of the fortress are also in good condition, while the small bulwark is present in trace amounts. Inside of the fort, along the western rampart lies remains a building, with a base of proper octagon, with sides length of 3m. Not far from the fortress the Turks were built a Caravanserai, around which was created present settlement Ram. The whole area around the fortress was archaeologically examined during the 1980s. During the 2013th the plan was enacted, for the reconstruction of Ram fortress.[6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 http://spomenicikulture.mi.sanu.ac.rs Official website. Аccessed on 16. 6. 2014
  2. ↑ http://virtuelnimuzejdunava.rs Ram Fortress article Аccessed on 16. 6. 2014
  3. ↑ http://www.cooperation.rs Ram Fortress article Аccessed on 16. 6. 2014
  4. ↑ http://srpska.etleboro.com Fortresses on the Danube-article Аccessed on 16. 6. 2014
  5. ↑ http://www.velikogradiste.org.rs Ram Fortress article Аccessed on 16.6.2014.
  6. ↑ Рамска тврђава може да привуче туристе (in Serbian) b92.net Accessed on 25. 4. 2013.

Coordinates: 44°48′46″N 21°19′48″E / 44.81278°N 21.33000°E / 44.81278; 21.33000

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