MOTOVUN – HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

Like many other Istrian towns and villages also Motovun was built on the site of a prehistoric hill fort settlement. It is assumed that the prehistoric inhabitants could have been of Celtic origin.

During the Roman period it was a Roman settlement named Montona. It is assumed that when Roman conquered Istria in the 2nd century BC they have not changed the name of Motovun but they left it as it was the old name Montona. “Ona” in Celtic would mean inhabited place and “Mont” could mean mount.

In the history Motovun had a strategically important position and rule because from its heights it controlled the merchant routs through the Mirna valley.

After the fall of the Roman Empire it was ruled by Goths for the short period of time and for more than two centuries, from 539 until 751 and later on from 774 until 788, was part of the Byzantine Empire. After a short period of Longobards rule from 751 until 774 it was ruled by Carolingian kings from 789 and the name remind always Montona.

From 929 Ugo of Provence, king of Italy, gave same feudal rights over Motovun to Bishops of Porec. They probably sold the feudal rights over the castle to Lords of Montelino. Later on in 1100 Counts of Gorizia gave it probably to the family Wieselberg.

In 1208 it was part of the Aquileia Patriarchs dominions in Istria but the feudal rights were belonging to the Bishops of Porec. In 1232 part of the Motovun territories was owned by Mainardo II and Mainardo III that governed also Gorizia and County of Pazin.

In 1248 was established a Municipal government headed by Podesta’. The first Podesta’ was Mainardo III in 1248. His successor in 1256 was Podesta’ Castermanno of Kostel followed by Garvisio dei Bernardi from Padua (1258) and Biaquino from Momjan (1263). The last Aquileia Patriarchs Podesta’ was the Venetian Tommaso Michiel that started to rule in 1271.

In 1265, in 1274 and in 1276 Motovun tried to terminate the Aquileia Patriarchs dominion over Motovun and in 1278 a Noble man from Motovun Nicolo’ Polesini announced to Venetian Doge their will to became part of the Venetian Republic.

Until the beginning of the 14th century Motovun had problems with Counts of Gorizia and the Aquileia Patriarchs but later on was part of the Venetian Republic until its fall in 1797 and participated to Istrian affairs during all this centuries.

Before the fall of the Venetian Republic the Noble family Polesini was elevated to the grade of Marquis. The last Montona Podesta’ was Francesco Maria Badoer.

Motovun was involved in the wars and disputes that affected Venetian dominions in Istria and suffered plague as most the other Istrian towns and villages. In 1278 and in 1285 was involved in a dispute with Counts of Gorizia and Counts of Pazin.

During the 14th century was involved in a dispute with Oprtalj that was ruled by the Aquileia Patriarchs and with County of Pazin regarding the control of the woods around Motovun.

In 1348, in 1361, in 1456 and in 1630 Motovun suffered from plague, while in 1411 was involved in the Venetian war with Hungary and in 1445 was attacked by the Austrian army. Motovun participated also in the Uskoci war between Austria and Venice at the beginning of the 17th century.