Old history
Neolithic artifacts have been found in Obre, a nearby village.
Settlements in the region are very ancient. They are claimed to be historical landmarks of the early Bosnian state. Kraljeva Sutjeska, a Franciscan monastery, is of particular historical note. Near the monastery is Bobovac, scene of the last stand of Bosnian Queen Katarina Kosaca and medieval residence of Bosnian kings. In Kraljeva Sutjeska is one of the oldest mosques in Bosnia, built by order of Sultan Mehmed II the Victorious during his expedition to Bosnia and conquest of Bobovac. The Kakanj area enjoyed a renaissance during the rule of the Kotromanic dynasty.
One of the most beautiful tombs ever found in Bosnia, with a carving of a hunting cavalier, was found in Kakanj; it is currently displayed in the botanic garden of The State Museum in Sarajevo.
Town Kakanj was the first mentioned 1468 as settlement with 90 houses. Coal mine Kakanj was founded in 1900 under Austro-Hungarian rule around a developing coal mine, which began production in 1902. In the next hundred years, Kakanj developed organically without any urban planning, initially around the coalmine, and later along the banks of the Zgošća and Bosna rivers.
Kakanj in the Bosnian Conflict
The situation of Kakanj at the beginning of the Bosnian conflict was rather quiet, confronted with the frontlines in the area of Zavidovici. The town was in the middle of the Bosniak Sarajevo-controlled territory, along the communication path with Zenica. Most of the Serb minority soon left the town, while there came other Bosniaks, refugees from Serb-controlled towns.
The town was run over by the Croat-Bosniak conflict in April 1993. In the first half of June, around 10,000 Croats left the town towards Vares, from where they reached refugee camps and HVO-controlled areas. During this phase, 50-100 victims were reported. More than 400 houses, mostly Croat-owned, were destroyed or
