Page 43 - NOVOPAZARSKI ZBORNIK 45

Новопазарски зборник, 45/2022, стр. 33-43 43

Ivan B. Šarčević
The School for Primary Education of Adults “Obrenovac”, Obrenovac

SERBIAN DONJON TOWERS IN 15 CENTURY
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Abstract: Donjon, the main or defending tower, represents the primary
defense pillar of the Serbian middle-century fortresses. In the period around
15th century, this type of tower reached the peak in the military construction,
and for its persistence, some of them are still preserved, until the present days.
Supported by the well-known data from the previous researches, and also with the
current photographs on the spot, the most important donjon towers from the stated
period are presented. They are: Despot’s Tower within the Monastery Monasija
complex, the Tower in Smederevo city, Donjon Tower in Ram and the Tower
Nebojsa in Belgrade. By emphasizing onto the current condition and the need for
preservation of these and similar constructions in our country, the paper follows
the establishment and development of the key fortress cities of the Serbian country
until the final fall under the Turkish reign, and later on. Besides representative
main towers, some more significant towers are also mentioned of the same or
different purpose, and they are not enough researched and preserved. In the end,
as a unique conclusion of the paper, there is an imposed idea of preservation
of the Serbian defense architecture from 15 century, through accomplishment
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of touristic and economic possibilities the middle century fortresses with their
accompanying towers obviously possess to.

Key words: Donjon, Defense Tower, Despot’s Tower, Smederevo, Ram,
Nebojsa Tower.