Cerknica – the late emergence and singular development of the biggest Slovenian market town

Abstract

Cerknica, the biggest market town in the territory of present-day Slovenia, is one of historical market towns that developed directly from villages and that were accorded market town status at a later stage, no earlier than the early Modern Period. Its establishment was also due to the territorial princely right to host weekly markets, which it was granted just before the end of the sixteenth century. Even though in Cerknica, the office of village mayor evolved into the office of market town judge during the mid-seventeenth century, the market town never had a full-fledged self-government following the example of earlier market towns. In economic terms, the market town of Cerknica retained a predominantly rural character and its non-agricultural economy was predominantly marked by trade fairs and numerous shoemakers forming their own guild. As other market towns across Inner Carniola, Cerknica had a considerable class of cottagers.