HERZEGOVINA, 116etsti-gli-vT‘'tia. The smaller of the two Ottoman provinces occupied by Austria-Hungary, in accordance with the treaty of 1878 (Map: Austria-Hungary, F 5). It forms part of Bosnia in the wider sense. it is hounded by Bosnia proper on the north, by Montenegro on the east, and Dalmatia on the southwest. Its area is 3330 square miles. In the formation of its surface it resembles; Bosnia (q.v.). It is generally somewhat barren. and is Mountainous, having a number of peaks exceed ing 7000 feet in height, the highest being the Maglie on the eastern boundary. which rises about 7850 feet, above the sea. The eastern part is especially barren and rocky, in contrast with the part adjoining, Bosnia and Dalmatia, which is fertile, and invites the cultivation of the vine, to bacco, and southern fruits. In this latter diet Het is found the largest river, the Narenta, whose valley forms the characteristic feature of the re gion. Administratively Herzegovina is a de pendency of Bosnia, and forms (within reduced limits) the district of Mostar. There are no official figures for the population. but its nit may be set down at approximately 200,000. The great hulk of the inhabitants are Slays. The largest town is Mostar (q.v.), which is connected by rail with Serajevo, the Bosnian capital.
Herzegovina was originally a part of Dalmatia and was occupied by a population in the seventh century. The most important of the
media wal prineipalities of the region was that of Zilchlum or Clutha. which in the fourteenth century was annexed to Bosnia. Regaining its independence. Herzegovina was erected into a dukedom by the Emperor Frederick Ill. in 1440. ( Hence the name Herzegovina, from Ger. Herzog, Slay. &Trey. duke.) About the country beenme to the Turks, and twenty years later was completely subject to them. remaining for more than two centuries afterwards a battle field between Christians and Mohammedans. in 1873 a serious insurrection. arising front the Turkish oppression of its Christian inhabitants, broke out in lIerzegovina, which rapidly spread into Bosnia, and was supported by Montenegro and Servia. This ultimately led to the war of 1877-78 between Russia and Turkey. The Berlin Congress of IS7S determined that Herzegovina, like Bosnia. should be occupied by Austria-Hun gary. The Mohammedan inhabitants rose against the Austrian army of oceupation. and were suh dued only after a desperate resistance. The introduction of a new recruiting law was the occasion for an insurrection in 1SS1-S2. TheAus Government has done much to promote the welfare of the region. See BOSNIA.