Dejani is a hamlet on the northern, Slovenian, side of the river Kolpa, south of the main road from Vinica to Preloka, between the hamlets of Pavlini and Grduni. This hamlet is part of the administrative region (gemeinde) of Balkovci, which included the hamlets of Balkovci, Pavlini, Dejani, Valeti, Vidine, Fariči and Novoseli.
Dejani falls within the region of Slovenia known as Bela krajina (White Carniola in English, Weisskrain in German), thus named to distinguish it from the remainder of the historical Austrian Duchy of Carniola (Herzogthum Krain) to the north. Prior to inclusion into the duchy, this area was under the control of the Kingdom of Croatia, which had already been absorbed into the Kingdom of Hungary. Counts from Carinthia and Carniola to the north, setting their sights southward to the sparsely populated primeval forests of Bela krajina, conducted successful military campaigns in the 12th century. There is evidence, based on church records and Urbariae prior to ca. 1750, that this hamlet was considered part of Zilje, and thereafter part of Balkovci.
Dejani is mentioned by name in the 1674 Urbarium as being a place near the Kolpa river that has excellent fishing.
The map from the Francisian Cadastre of 1823 shows all 4 households that existed.
Continue on to explore the history of the People of Dejani.