How did Rmanj get its name Martin Brod?

Located right next to the border of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, at the confluence of the Unac and Una and about twenty kilometers from Drvar, the town of Martin Brod inherits an interesting legend about the origin of its name.

The confluence of Unca and Una near Martin Brod, Photo: Julijan Nyča

According to records from 1396. this city was called Konuba. The city ramparts were demolished to the ground, and only a round tower about 10 meters high, with floors separated by vaults, was preserved.

Old town Rmanj, Milančeva kula, Photo: Martin Brož, CC BY 3.0

At the end of the 14th or the beginning of the 15th century, the medieval town of Rmanj was mentioned on the site of Konuba. In older documents, the nearby Rmanj monastery is also called Hrmanj, Ajerman, Chermlja, Szermil, Hermanya, and Herman.

When exactly Rmanj changed its name and became Martin Brod is not known, but the legend states the following…

Waterfall near Martin Brod, Photo: Julian Nyča, CC BY-SA 3.0

Once upon a time, Marta, an extremely beautiful girl, fell in love with a boy with curly hair and a stern face who lived over there on the other bank of the Una. Her parents didn’t want to hear about this relationship and love… One day, late in the day, Marta set off on the way to Una, lifted the curds from her skirt, and headed across the ford to her beloved. She slipped on the slippery Una travertine and fell into the water while her golden-blonde hair remained on the surface of the emerald water only for a short time. That ford, that is, the boat as the locals call it, was then called the Martin Brod. Because of the unhappy love of two young people, and in memory of Marta and forbidden love, which hasn’t been forgotten to this day, this place was named Martin Brod.