Benkovac

Benkovac is a metropolis and municipality within the interior of Zadar County, Croatia. Benkovac is located where the apparent of Ravni Kotari and the karstic plateau of Bukovica meet, 20 km from the city of Biograd na Moru and 30 km from Zadar. The Zagreb-Split dual carriageway and Zadar-Knin railway bypass through the metropolis. It borders the municipalities of Novigrad, Posedarje, Obrovac, Lisane Ostrovicke, Kistanje and Stankovci. The first traces of human lifestyles within the Benkovac area were determined around the village of Smilčić that belonged to the Danilo subculture. Before Roman conquest the location was inhabited by the Illyrian tribe of Liburnians.

During the Roman Civil battle the Liburnians sided with Caesar. The Romans point out the subsequent Liburnian settlements: "Nedinum, Carinium, Varvaria and Asseria. In seventh century the region was settled with the aid of Croats. The vicinity of Benkovac became at the crossroads of 4 Croatian zupas - Novljanska, Sidraska, Bribirska and Karinska. Near the village of sopot, an inscription from the ninth century was found that mentions Branimir as a Croatian Duke.