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Otocac (Lika-Senj, Croatia)

Grad Otočac

Last modified: 2008-07-05 by dov gutterman
Keywords: lika | senj | licko-senjska | otocac |
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image by Željko Heimer, 23 November 2001



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Overview

Otocac (Otoc^ac) - The coat of arms is Argent, a Lion rampant Gules, and three Crescents Azure fesswise in chief. The coat of arms is set in the middle of a red ceremonial flag, containing also the name of the city and two brances in golden yellow. Adopted: around 1995 (?).
Source: HRT, 1998.
Željko Heimer

City of Otocac (Otocac) is a small town in the County of Lika and Senj, the center of the region (karst field) known as Gacka. It is mentioned already in the first texts written in Croatian language in the end 11th century. Interestingly, it was given to Templar Order in 13th century, latter it is hereditary ownership of the dukes of Krk (also soo to be known as Frankopan), that latter held title of dukes of Gacka. With the advent of the Turkish treat, the region becomes a border stronghold, and remains so for many years.
Today the city and region are in rather passive parts of Croatia, but with large potential and preserved extremely interesting nature. An important modern highway that is currently constructed along the edges of the region shall surely provide input for progress and valorization of the region.
The coat of arms and flag are described in the book by Enver Ljubovic "Grbovi plemstva Gacke i Like" (Coats of arms of nobility of Gacka and Lika), Adamic publishing, Rijeka, 2001.
Ljubovic quote these documents for his sources:
Odluka o grbu i zastavi, Gradsko vijece Otocca, 25. listopada 1995. (decision on the COA and the flag, Otocac City Council, 25-OCT-1995)
Odobrenje, Ministarstvo uprave RH, 3. sijecnja 1996. (Approval, Ministry of Administration, 3-JAN-1996)
Milan Kranjcevic, Grb i zastava Grada Otocca, Casopis Otoccac 2., Narodno sveucilište Otocac i Poglavarstvo Grada Otocac, Otocac, 1996, str. 5.-19. (I believe, this is a news article in a local magazine)
The coat of arms is set in the middle of a red flag, in ceremonial banner containing also the name of the city above and two branches in golden yellow below. The name of the city is attributed "in Gacka", this being the name of the region (but not part of the official name of the city, as far as I am aware). The two branches are of the two most representative trees found in Gacka - oak and fir. 
According to the overall design, I suspect that behind the design of this CoA and flag(s) is a design company from Rijeka Heraldic-art d.o.o.
Željko Heimer, 23 November 2001

The symbols were designed by the Heralid Art d.o.o company in Rijeka.
Željko Heimer, 4 November 2007


Vertical Ceremonial Flag


image by Željko Heimer, 27 November 2001

Adopted: 25th October 1995. Approved: 3rd January 1996.
Željko Heimer, 23 November 2001


Coat of Arms


image by Željko Heimer, 23 November 2001

The coat of arms is uses elements on the 1430 family arms of dukes of Frankopan (argent two lions rampant gules crowned Or holding together loafs of bread, Frankopans are much better known elsewhere by their 1330 coat of arms per fess Gules and Or, in chief a Mullet of the last) and crescents from arms of other ancient rulers of Gacka, the Vilic family (or an eagle crowned displayed sable overall on a bar argent three crescents gules, from Korjenic-Neoric armorial 1595.). 
The coat of arms is Argent, a Lion rampant Gules crowned Or and in chief three Crescents of the second fesswise.
Željko Heimer, 23 November 2001