Ljubuški is a Mediterranean town in the lowlands of Herzegovina with a population of about 5.000. It is situated at the bottom of the Buturovica hill at an altitude of 103 m. above sea – level. The name of Ljubuški was first mentioned 550 years ago, when on February 21st 1444, GOJISLAV ORLOVIĆ, called PETANOVIĆ, left in his last will an endowment to the church in Ljubuški; the money was from the belt Petanović had sold. (The historical Archives in Dubrovnik. Test. Not. L. 13, fol. 170:1444 indictione septima, die vigesimo primo Februari Ragusi. Hoc est testamentum Goysav Horlouic dicti Petanouich de Narente. La mia zentura che se vendi e che se daga due parti in Lubusia in chiesa et terza parte in santo Vido). The second mention of Ljubuški, 6 pieces of silver (perper) to read thirty masses for his soul to rest in peace.
The popular legend takes it that the name of Ljubuški has its origin in LJUBUŠA, who was the wife of the duke Stjepan Vukčić Kosača. According to the linguistic theory, the etymology of the name Ljubuški is to be found in the words lup- or lub-, as in the word lubanja (skull), which can also mean a barren, rounded top of a hill; We can speculate that the Illyrians had built a fortification on top of Buturovica similar to the fortress on top of the nearby Jurjevica. The Romans had built a military camp in the vicinity of Ljubuški, as well as an urban settlement for their army veterans – PAGUS SCUNASTICUS. The Romans had a sentry station, on the same place to control the road traffic. It is certain, that the first cores of an urban development in Ljubuški was the fortification on top of Buturovica, which was in popular legends associated to the name of the duke Stjepan Vukčić Kosača.
The foundations of the Ljubuški fortification reach far back into the 14th century and in 1452 the town was mentioned in the records during the hostilities between the old duke Stjepan Vukčić and his son Vladislav. The old duke searched for refuge in the Ljubuški fort. Two years later, Alfonso V, king of Sicily and Aragon acknowledged in a bull the sovereignty of the duke over his estate, where Ljubuški was included: Civitae Lublano cum castris et pertinentiis suis – the town of Ljubuški with the fortresses and lands.
During the invasion of the Turks toward the west, Ljubuški fell into their hands, but was made free again by the duke’s son Vladisalv in July 1463. The Turks reconquered the town between 1471 and 1477 and remained in power until the Austro – Hungarian occupation in 1878. During the Turkish occupation new walls and ditches were built around the fortification that was made into a garrison under the command of a dizdar. In some places the walls were 10 m. tall and secured by embrasures. The town had a granary, a water supply and two prisons. The dizdar’s tower was in front of the fortification. To the west of the city stood a mosque, built in 1588 and 1559; its founder was Nesuh-aga Vučkaković, son of Abdulah, who was obviously a Croat Catholic, converted to Islam.
After the earthquake in 1962, the fortress has gradually become a ruin. Its restoration would be worthwhile, since Ljubuški and Blagaj are the best preserved medieval towns in Herzegovina.
