Cerovo, Slovakia

Cerovo (earlier Čerové, Čerowo; Ceri) is a village and municipality in the Krupina District of the Banská Bystrica Region of Slovakia.

History
The village was first mentioned as Chery in a charter in 1273, its name is derived from Old Slavic "cěrъ"/Slovak "cer"/Hungarian "cser" (the Hungarian word is derived from the Slavic one), which means Turkey oak. It had Slovak inhabitants.

Scarce ruins of old Litava castle can be found south-west of Cerovo on northern end of Pustý hrad mountain. The Litava Castle was built by Hunt or his son, Big Derž (Derš, Hungarian: Ders) from the Hunt-Poznan family. The castle was first mentioned in 1276. In this year, the grandchildren of Lambert, of the Hunt-Poznan family, Small Derž (Ders) and Demeter captured Litava and robbed values of 3000 marks and charters. Therefore the king sentenced them loss of property, and gave their property to Big Derž from the Hunt-Poznan family. Before 1307 Nicholas Túri Kövér, son of Big Derž of the Hunt-Poznan, exchanged castle Litava with his relatives, Derž and Demeter of Hunt. In 1318 master Tomáš, son of Derž of Hunt-Poznan, protested against the occupation of Litava by Matthew Csák. The castle perished not more after it probably during struggles of the oligarchs.

But there was built a new castle 3 kilometres north-west of old Litava, it was called Litava too until the middle of 15th century, and the new castle would be called Čabraď later (also called Litava, Haradnuk, Haradnok, Chabrad, Chabragh, Lytva, Hradnok, Haradna, Castrum ad Litavan etc.). In 1342 the king debarred the new castle together with the old ruined Litava and 26 villages and 6 customs from Peter and Leukus of the Dobrakutyai family because of their treachery according to a charter.

The village became deserted in the beginning of 15th century. It became peopled again only after Hussite struggles. The local population converted into Lutheran faith in 16th century. Present Lutheran church was built between 1855 and 1859.