Gradiška (), formerly Bosanska Gradiška (), is a city and municipality located in the northwestern region of Republika Srpska, the entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As of 2013, it has a population of 51,727 inhabitants, while the city of Gradiška has a population of 14,368 inhabitants.
It is geographically located in eastern Krajina region, and the town is situated on the Lijevče plain, on the right bank of the Sava river across from Stara Gradiška, Croatia, and about north of Banja Luka.
History
In the Roman period this town was of strategic importance; a port of the Roman fleet was situated here. Among notable archaeological findings are a viaduct.
Gradiški Brod is mentioned for the first time as a town in 1330. It had a major importance as the location where the Sava river used to be crossed. By 1537, the town and its surroundings came under Ottoman rule.
The Ottoman built a fortress, which served as the Bosnia Eyalet's northern defense line. The town was also called Berbir because of the fortress.
Following the outbreak of the First Serbian Uprising (1804), in the Sanjak of Smederevo (modern Central Serbia), the Jančić's Revolt broke out in the Gradiška region against the Ottoman government in the Bosnia Eyalet, following the erosion of the economic, national and religious rights of Serbs. Hajduks also arrived from Serbia, and were especially active on the Kozara. Jovan Jančić Sarajlija organized the uprising with help from Metropolitan Benedikt Kraljević. The peasants took up arms on 23 September 1809, in the region of Gradiška, beginning from Mašići. The fighting began on 25 September, and on the same night, the Ottomans captured and executed Jančić. The rebels retreated to their villages, except those in Kozara and Motajica who continued, and offered strong resistance until their defeat in mid-October, after extensive looting and burning of villages by the Ottomans. Another revolt broke out in 1834, in Mašići.
Ottoman rule ended with the Austro-Hungarian occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1878), following the Herzegovina Uprising (1875–77). Austro-Hungarian rule in Bosnia and Herzegovina ended in 1918, when the South Slavic Austro-Hungarian territories proclaimed the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs, which subsequently joined the Kingdom of Serbia into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
From 1929 to 1941 Gradiška was part of the Vrbas Banovina of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
During Yugoslavia, the town was known as Bosanska Gradiška (Босанска Градишка). During the Bosnian War, the town was incorporated into Republika Srpska (). After the war, the RS National Assembly changed the name, omitting bosanska ("Bosnian"), as was done with many other towns (Kostajnica, Dubica, Novi Grad, Petrovo, Šamac).
Settlements
Aside from the town of Gradiška, the municipality includes total of 74 other settlements:
Adžići
Baraji
Berek
Bistrica
Bok Jankovac
Brestovčina
Bukovac
Bukvik
Cerovljani
Cimiroti
Čatrnja
Čelinovac
Čikule
Donja Dolina
Donja Jurkovica
Donji Karajzovci
Donji Podgradci
Dragelji
Dubrave
Dušanovo
Elezagići
Gašnica
Gornja Dolina
Gornja Jurkovica
Gornja Lipovača
Gornji Karajzovci
Gornji Podgradci
Grbavci
Greda
Jablanica
Jazovac
Jelići
Kijevci
Kočićevo
Kozara
Kozinci
Krajčinovci
Krajišnik
Kruškik
Laminci Brezici
Laminci Dubrave
Laminci Jaružani
Laminci Sređani
Liskovac
Lužani
Mačkovac
Mašići
Mičije
Miloševo Brdo
Miljevići
Mokrice
Nova Topola
Novo Selo
Orahova
Orubica
Petrovo Selo
Rogolji
Romanovci
Rovine
Samardžije
Seferovci
Sovjak
Srednja Jurkovica
Šaškinovci
Šimići
Trebovljani
Trnovac
Trošelji
Turjak
Uzari
Vakuf
Vilusi
Vrbaška
Žeravica
Demographics
Population
Ethnic composition
Culture
The town has a Serbian Orthodox cathedral dedicated to the Mother of God. There is also a mosque called the Džamija Begluk.
Sports
Local football club Kozara have played in the top tier of the Bosnia and Herzegovina football pyramid but spent most seasons in the country's second level First League of the Republika Srpska.