The name means "white monastery" in Serbo-Croatian. Originally called Monoštor, the current name was adopted in 1923. It is also known as Pélmonostor in Hungarian, and Manoster in German. The name Beli Manastir was first mentioned in 1227, when Moys de Daro, HungarianPalatine, built a monastery on his estate in Pelu. [3]
Other names formerly used for the town were: Pél, Bell, and Monostor. All names are connected with monasteries that existed in history at this location. The first monastery was built in the 9th century during the rule of Slavic duke Kocelj but was later razed, and all that remained of it was pil (obelisk in English), hence the later Hungarian name Pél, which was a version of the Slavic word.
In the 9th century, this area was part of the SlavicPrincipality of Lower Pannonia and a Slavic monastery was situated here. The monastery was founded during the visit of Cyril and Methodius, who spread Christianity among Slavs. After Methodius died, his students were expelled and the monastery was razed.
After the arrival of the Hungarians in the 10th century, this area was included in the newly founded Hungarian state and the settlement was built at this locality. The town was first mentioned in 1212 under name Pél. During Hungarian administration, another monastery was built here (in the 13th century), but it was destroyed by the Mongols in 1241. It was later rebuilt, but was again destroyed during the Ottoman conquest in the 16th century. Between 11th and 16th centuries, the area administratively belonged to the Baranya county.
The town had a population of 8,671, while total municipality population was 10,986. Ethnic composition of Beli Manastir municipality by 2001 census was:[9]
In 1966, a broadcasting mast standing 202 metres high was erected.[10]
Economy
Beli Manastir is home to the STARCO Beli steel wheel factory.
Politics
Minority councils
Directly elected minority councils and representatives are tasked with consulting tasks for the local or regional authorities in which they are advocating for minority rights and interests, integration into public life and participation in the management of local affairs.[11] At the 2023 Croatian national minorities councils and representatives electionsHungarians, Roma and Serbs of Croatia each fulfilled legal requirements to elect 15 members minority councils of the Town of Beli Manastir.[12]
Beli Manastir (settlement)
Parts of settlement (hamlets)
Beli Manastir, Beli Manastir-Planina, Haljevo and Palača. Till 1991. part of settlement was also Sudaraž which is now independent settlement.
Book: "Narodnosni i vjerski sastav stanovništva Hrvatske, 1880–1991: po naseljima, autor: Jakov Gelo, izdavač: Državni zavod za statistiku Republike Hrvatske, 1998., ISBN953-6667-07-X, ISBN978-953-6667-07-9;
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Beli Manastir.
Croatia
Osijek-Baranja
