Republic of Raguse

For the Italian city, to see Raguse (Italy).

The République of Raguse was a City-State and a maritime République whose center city was Raguse , today Dubrovnik. It was created following the Traité of Zadar the June 27th 1358 and existed until the invasion of the Napoleonean armies the January 31st 1808. It was controlled by a vice-chancellor, elected official each month. This one was placed with the palate of the vice-chancellor, where it received neither friends, nor family, devoting itself entirely to its task. It extended on a territory including the south from the Dalmatie from current the Croatia. In the beginning, the Republic of Raguse included/understood only the ports of Raguse (Dubrovnik) and of Ragusavecchia (Cavtat) until in 1120, date on which it extended its back-country. Its final borders were fixed in 1426. To the maximum of its extension, the Republic extended along a coastal strip from Neum to Sutorina and included/understood the peninsulas of Prevlaka and Pelješac, the islands of Lastovo and Mljet, and some other small islands like Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan. The Republic knew its apogee in XVIe and XVIIe centuries. She counted 30,000 inhabitants including 5.000 for the intramural population of the town of Raguse.

Geography

The Republic of Raguse corresponded to most of current the Comitat de Dubrovnik-Neretva. During centuries it maintained almost intact its land borders. The territory of Raguse included/understood a narrow band of 5-10 km and long of approximately 120 km. It extended along the Dalmatie river Neretva with the Pointe from Ostro close to the Bouches to Kotor in the Montenegro. During centuries Raguse attached to its territory the archipelago of the islands Elaphites (1080), the island of Mljet (1141), the island of Lastovo (1216), the city Ston (1333) and the totality of the peninsula of Pelješac (1399). During the golden age, the Republic of Raguse recovered also temporarily the islands of Korčula, Brač, Brazza and Hvar. From an administrative point of view, the Republic was divided around three capitals (Raguse, Janjina and Pelješac) and seven Comitats.

History

Origin

Like many cities of the Adriatic such as Venice, Grado, Capodistria (today Koper), Raguse was founded on a rock small island close to the coasts, at the time of the great invasions. It thus appeared in first half of VIIe century (according to the tradition, in 614), after the Slaves and the Avars destroyed the city of Epidauraum (in Croatian: Cavtat , in Italian: Ragusavecchia ). Part of the surviving Roman population flees and took refuge 25 km in north to base on an small island close to the coasts a new city: Raguium or Rausa . That Ci was thus built by the Latin population of Roman origin. Opposite, on the continent, the Slavic populations based a city which they called " Dubrava (; the wood of chêne"), Slavic toponym which indicated in the beginning a large forest which pushed on the spot. It is of this place name that the town of Dubrovnik car its name, in opposition to the Latin name of Raguse coming from the populations of Roman origin. A second raid was carried out by Croatian in 656 against the city of Epidarurum which was completely destroyed. Although the new place offered more protection to the new inhabitants, the surrounding grounds were not very fertile, also they had to be resigned to require of Slavic the right to exploit their grounds. In exchange they were in the obligation to return the Hommage to them.

Another theory advances that Epidaurum would have been destroyed first once in 265 by the Goths. In the same way, it is extremely probable that Rausium (or Ragusa) was founded a long time before Epidaurum was completely destroyed. They are the various cruel raids, lasting more than three centuries, which would be thus at the origin of the constitution of this original place of refuge.

Raguse draws its name from Lausa (of xau Greek, " the précipice") and was changed later into Rausium , or Rausia (also Lavusa , Labusa , Raugia and Rachusa ) for finally becoming Raguse. The Slavic name Dubrovnik replaced " Raguse" in XIVe century.

First centuries

From IXe century, in 866 and 867, Raguse was besieged during fifteen months by the Sarrasins. The seat was raised thanks to the intervention of the Greek Emperor Basile Ier and its fleet. At the time of the weakening of the Byzantine empire, Venice started to see Raguse like a rival. Venice, the maritime power par excellence, included/understood the importance to have ports on the Eastern coast of the Adriatique. Thus, about the year 1000, Venice occupies the Dalmatie and tries to take in 948 the control of Raguse, but its attempt at conquest was a failure. The inhabitants of the city allotted their victory to Saint Blaise (in Croatian: Sveti Vlaho ; in Italian San Biagio) whom they adopted like patron saint of the City.

In 1050, the city seized the port of Gruž and prolonged its borders until Zaton, to 16 km in the north of the city,

Following the weakening of the Byzantine Empire as of XIe century, Raguse started little by little to acquire its political independence (appearance of a nobility of Roman stock) and to develop. It is during this period that one attends the first notable increase in the Slavic population of Raguse attracted by his commercial activity.

XIIe century was one period animated for the city which devoted the essence of its time to deny oneself the attacks of the kingdoms Bosnian and Serb which sought to take control of it.

It was finally the Venetian fleet which, left to the conquest Byzance, removed the city in 1171. The occupation was short but significant of the historical situation of weakness of Raguse which, not being able to only defend oneself, was systematically to seek the protection of a power (Byzance, the King de Sicile, the Normand S, Venice, Hungarian,… according to the times).

Between 1180 and 1190, the Large Prince of Rascie Stefan Nemanja twice tried to seize the Republic, without success.

However, the various attempts at conquests and aggressions did not block of anything economic development city. Many maritime treaties were established between Raguse and of the Italian cities (as in 1203 for example with the town of Termoli which is the port of the Région of Weakens). Nevertheless, the Slavic city could not compete with the sérénissime republic and its formidable maritime power. Also its commercial power was not founded on the maritime trade but on its strategic geographical location which positioned it like an essential stage in the trade with the interior of the Balkans. Indeed, from the privileges had been obtained with the kingdoms of Serbia (treated signed in 1186) and of Bosnia (treated signed in 1189). The treaty signed with the Bosnian sovereign Ban Kulin is the first official document besides where the city is by name called Dubrovnik.

In 1191, the Emperor Basile Ier Ange granted to the merchants of the city the right to trade freely with Byzance. But Raguse undergoes the by-effect of the catch of Constantinople at the time of the Fourth crusade (1204) by the Venetian ones and went consequently, to lose its Byzantine guard. As of 1205, Raguse passes under the Vénitienne supervision but preserves its independence.

The Venetian period: 1205 - 1358

The domination of Venice will last until in 1358 but will make it possible Raguse/Dubrovnik to enter a new era of its economic development. Thus, as of 1205, the city constituted a formidable source of revenue for Venice thanks to the resources which it had (Peau X, Cire, Argent and other metals). Exports of the city were exempted customs duties with Venice. The city was protected from the threats of the close powers. In exchange, Raguse/Dubrovnik constituted a Venetian naval base in the south of the Adriatic Sea. Raguse had a certain autonomy which nevertheless was limited by restrictive rules. These last related to primarily the maritime trade of Raguse to the profit of that of Venice. Thus, contrary to Zadar, there were few conflicts between Raguse and Venice because the city did not compete with it in the commercial exchanges between the East and the West. Vis-a-vis these constraints, Raguse turned its activity towards the interior of the Balkans. It benefitted then from the development of the mining layers of Serbia and Bosnia, and the merchants ragusains drew up close commercial connections with the Balkans.

Following the economic development and for better denying themselves the attackers, the channel which separated the city of the coast was filled during XIIe century and Raguse amalgamated with the Slavic city of Dubrava which was on opposed bank, thus forming a fortress defended by a powerful Northern rampart. The old channel is the main street of the city today, celebrates it street " stradun " (current Placed).

In the middle of the thirteenth century, the island of Lastovo was attached to the original territory. In 1333, the Peninsula of Pelješac was bought with the Serbia. In 1345, the Republic acquired of the island Mljet. In January 1348, the city was touched by the black Peste.

Independence: the golden age of Raguse (1358 - 1667)

In 1358, after a war carried out against the Hungary and following the Peace treaty of Zadar (February 18th), Venice lost the possession of Raguse and the Dalmatie. June 27th 1358, the final agreement was signed with Visegrád between Louis Ier of Hungary and the Archbishop Giovanni Saraca. Raguse recognized Hungarian sovereignty. It poured a tribute until in to him 1526, after the battles of Mohács, but succeeds in preserving its independence. In particular, the local nobility continued to reign without Buda not interfering in their authority. Released from the commercial restrictions imposed by the Venetian city, the Republic profited owing to the fact that the Royaume of Hungary was not a naval power. The conflicts of interests being thus not very probable, the city became independent in its policy options and the maritime trade which been able to set out again on new bases. But this happy situation fell under a context of political tensions in the consecutive Balkans with died of the Serb Emperor Stefan Dušan. Moreover, another danger to the trade of Raguse was profiled with the Othoman incursion in Europe as of 1354.

In 1399 the city acquired the area of Primorje, between Raguse and Pelješac.

The importance of its traffic led it to establish first forty in 1377 to protect itself from the Black Death.

In 1409, Venice succeeds in acquiring near the king of Naples of the rights in Dalmatie. Venice then sought to take the control of the market of the town of Drijeva located at 100 km in the North of Raguse, close to the mouth of the river Neretva. This area was very important because it corresponded to something close with the original territory of the migrants Slaves of Weakens. Raguse regarded this area as an important commercial place because of its strategic position to establish commercial relations with the Bosnia. Indeed, it constituted a natural opening on the road of Bosnia. Raguse defended its position with respect to the king of Bosnia and succeeds in keeping its influence with Drijeva. This position will be still disputed by Venice in 1417 in connection with the export of the salt which forwarded by the town of Drijeva and came from the saltworks of the Neretva.

Between 1414 and 1417, the Republic of Raguse recovered the islands of Korčula, Brač, Brazza and Hvar, but it was then forced to yield them to Venice.

Lastly, between 1419 and 1426, the area of the Konavle in the south of Astarea and which included the town of Cavtat, was bought with the kingdom of Bosnia and was attached to the other territories of the Republic.

In 1418, it is the first European state to abolish slavery and, therefore, to prohibit the trade of the slaves. During fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, it developed its trade between Othoman Europe and the ports of the the Mediterranean. At the sixteenth century, the merchant fleet of the Republic counted 160 ships.

The domination Othoman E

Whereas the situation was degraded in Balkans, the Bosnian Voïvoide Sandalj did not hesitate to call upon Turkish to impose his capacity in 1423. As of 1430, the Othomans advanced in Bosnia and in Albania and they occupied between 1439 and 1444, all the Serbia. The latter will find for a time a certain independence until in 1459. This annexation disturbed and disorganized the commercial relations that Raguse maintained with Serbia in particular with the Serb mining city Novo Brdo which fell in 1441. Many merchants ragusains escaped. The gravity of the situation forced Raguse to take exceptional tax measures in order to help the merchants in financial problems (cf files of Raguse of August 6th 1454). After protracted negotiations with the Othoman S, a treaty was signed in 1442. It authorized the ragusains to be traded freely in the occupied Balkan areas against the payment of taxes and other privileges. Between 1451 and 1454, a war opposed Raguse and the large-duke Stephan Vukcic-Kosaca who was vassal Othomans. This last was very ambitious and had sights of conquests on the town of Raguse on behalf of the Sultan. Originating in an big family of the feudal nobility of Bosnia-Herzégovine, it had converted with the Islam at the time of the Othoman conquest. It became even the Top dog with the title of Ahmed pasha Hercegzade. According to the Moslem tradition, conversion with the Islam was the essential condition to exert high positions in the Ottoman Empire. Thus, some converted with Islam in order to preserve their privileges or to carry out their ambitions. The Othomans gave up the idea of conquest, preferring to preserve the financial advantages that the city of Raguse in exchange of an illusory independence brought to him. In 1458, the Republic signed a treaty with the Othoman Empire in which it was stipulated that it was to pay a tribe with the Sultan. Moreover, it was obliged to send an ambassador to the Sultan before November 1st of each year to deliver the homage to him.

The book of B. Krekic (Dubrovnik… 1300 - 1600) indicates that the conquests launched by the Othomans in the years 1450 - 1460 and the wars resulted in important shifts in population, in particular into the republic of Raguse. These migrations étaients so important that a decree was established in 1454 in order to control the access to the city. In March 1460, the disorders caused by these migratory movements pushed Raguse to proscribe any transport of people apart from the territory of the republic by sea route. But the pressure being so strong, the maritime city ends up yielding and even organizing transport of refugees by boats in direction of Italy (Venice, the Marches,…) as of the middle of the years 1660. In 1459, after the fall of the capital Smederevo, the Serbia was completely occupied by the Othomans and the pressure was accentuated on Raguse. A few years later, the Othomans occupied the Bosnia in 1463 and almost entirely Herzégovine in 1465. In 1465, Venice and the Hungarian disputed the control of the mouth of the Neretva, an area with the strategic position, near the city commercial of Drijeva, and controlled by the strengthened city of Pocitelja upstream of the river. If the Hungarian, supported by Raguse, moved into the fort of Pocitelja, the sérénissime republic benefitted from it to control the littoral of Makarska and the area around the town of Imotski. The Sultan Mehmed II benefitted from cleavages in the Christian camp to extend its conquests in Asia minor in 1468. It is advisable to specify that in spite of the agreements signed with the poured Othomans and tributes, the repeated attacks of the Valaque S of Herzégovine (population " ottomanisée") were held regularly against the territory of Raguse. The totality of the cities and the fortified towns of the back country of Raguse and the Neretva like Uskopje or Trebinje, fell to the hands from the Othomans starting from the 1465. The strengthened city of Pocitelj fell in 1471, opening the market of Drijeva on the Neretva and allowing the road check towards the Bosnia. Consequently, even if it were already the case for a long time, the trade of Raguse was under the control of the Othoman power. The conquest of the Herzégovine finished in 1482 by the catch of the town of Novi stuée at the entry of the Bouches of Kotor and this, with depend on the large-duke Vlatko, one of the heirs to Vukcic-Kosaca. The annexed territories fell thus under control from the Othoman administration in the years 1470 - 1480 and a border between Raguse and the Othoman empire materialized. As of 1481, when the city passed under Othoman protection, it was obliged to pour per annum to him a tribe of 12,500 Ducat S (until 1718) but it preserved a certain independence while remaining its Vassal E. It preserved the right to maintain the diplomatic relations and to sign treaties with the other foreign powers. Moreover, the fleet of Raguse could sail under its own flag. The Othoman Suzerain conferred even commercial privileges to trade in the Empire. Raguse also controlled the trade of the Adriatique in the name of the Empire of Othoman and its merchants profited from special tax exemptions and of commercial advantages of the Porte sublimates (indicates the Imperial palace of Topkapi to Istambul). The merchants of Raguse could install commercial counters and profit from rights in the important Othoman cities. The merchants ragusiens had the right to enter the Black Sea which was closed with the navigators not-Othomans. They paid as customs duties less low as the foreign merchants. The city could also profit from the diplomatic support of the Othoman administration at the time of their commercial arguments with Vénétiens. But a conflict whose stake was the control of the trade since the Neretva until the Bouches of Kotor, burst in 1499 between the Ottoman Empire and the republic of Venice. In 1496, Venice had already tried to control but in vain, the market of the salt of the Neretva. During all this period of war, the trade of Raguse was largely affected. Venice had destroyed the saltworks of the Neretva and had intercepted the trading vessels of Raguse. Peace treaties were finally signed in 1503 fine putting at the disorders which had reigned for several decades in the area. With the England, the Spain and Genoa, the Republic of Raguse was for Venice one of the most dangerous adversaries of XVe century because likely to compete with it on all the seas, the Adriatic included/understood there. Thanks to the proximity of the inexhaustible forests of oak of Gargano, the city was able to build the bâteaux ones with the shelter of the Venetian ones. For their part, the Othomans regarded Raguse as a port of major importance. The essence of the commercial traffic between Florence and Bursa, the last Othoman port in the current Turkey of the North-West, forwarded by Raguse. The goods of Florentins left the Italian ports of Pesaro, Fano or Ancône to reach Raguse. From there, the goods took the road for Bosnasaray (Sarajevo) - Novibazar - Skopje - Plovdiv - Edirne. The year 1503 marked the beginning of a new era for Raguse and its trade which was to reach a development without precedent throughout XVIe century. Towards the end of the sixteenth century, Raguse agreed to place its merchant navy at the disposal of the Spanish Empire with the proviso of not taking part in military forwardings suitable for affect its commercial relations with the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire tolerated that Raguse can import goods of country with which it was in war.

Decline of the Republic of Raguse

At the time when great Portuguese explorations discovered new sea routes, the trade of spice S was diverted the Mediterranean. The discovered of Americas started a crisis for the Mediterranean maritime trade. It is at this time that began the decline of the Venetian Republic and Ragusienne.

The April 6th 1667, a Séisme struck the city, killed more than 5,000 people including the Duc and devastated the majority of the public buildings, leaving only the intact ramparts. Many buildings of Gothic style and Renaissance (palate, churches and monasteries) were destroyed and left with the state of ruins. Only the Palate Sponza and the frontage of the Palate of the Vice-chancellor of the Place Luza resisted the earthquake. The city was gradually rebuilt in a more modest style Baroque. After large efforts, Raguse was rectified but remained forever only the shade of brilliant and old Republic.

The destiny of Raguse was closely related to that of the Ottoman Empire. Raguse and Venice brought an technical assistance to the coalition between the Othoman empire , the Egypt, Calicut and Gujarati, and contributed to the victory against the Portuguese at the time the Bataille of Diu in the Indian Ocean (1509).

In 1684, emissary were sent to renew the agreements signed in 1358 with Visegrad, recognizing the sovereignty of the Austrian Emperor on Raguse as King croato-Hungarian. Moreover, Raguse was to pay renewal fees of 500 Ducat S. At the same time Raguse continued to recognize Othoman sovereignty, which did not have anything unusual for the time. This situation offered a great number of opportunities for the town of Raguse which could trade and send its ships in all the ports of the Dalmatian coast.

In 1683 the Turks underwent a cuisante demolished at the time of the Bataille of Kahlenberg to the doors of Vienna. The marshal of the Austrian army was Francesco of Gondole (Franco Gundulic). At the time of the Treated of Karlowitz of 1699, the Othomans yielded the totality of the Hungary, the Transylvania, the Slavonie, the Dalmatie and the Podolie in victorious Habsbourgs, Venetian and the Poles.

The Ottoman Empire not being more one threat within Christian Europe, Venice seized part of the back country of Raguse and approached its borders dangerously. Raguse was found encircled and crossed trade with the interior. Vis-a-vis this danger, prepared with the failure of the Turks in Austria in 1684 and hoping that the Austrian Army would seize the Bosnia-Herzégovine, Dubrovnik sent diplomats to Vienna near the Austrian Emperor Leopold.

At the time of the peace treaty of January 26th 1699, the Republic of Raguse yielded two coastal territories to the Ottoman Empire with an aim of protecting itself indirectly from the attacks of the Republic from Venice. One of them, was a territory located at the north-western border around the small town of Neum, today the only corridor of access to the Adriatic Sea for the contemporary Bosnia-Herzégovine. The other territory was located at the south-eastern border of the village of Sutorina and constituted later part of the Montenegro.

Ragusa continued its policy of neutrality by not taking share with the Austrian War of succession (1741 - 1748) and with the Guerre Seven Year old (1756 - 1763).

In 1776, the Republic of Raguse became the first foreign power to recognize the new government of the the United States.

The fall of the Republic of Raguse

In 1800, the Republic had a very organized network of embassies and consulates in more than eighty cities and ports in the world. In 1806, Raguse was besieged during a long month by the fleets Russian S and Montenegrin be which sent more than 3,000 balls on the city. The Republic was forced to capitulate vis-a-vis the armed forces of the French Empire which put a term at the seat and saved Raguse. Carried out by Napoleon, the French Army entered Raguse in 1806. In 1808, the marshal Marmont abolishes the Republic of Raguse and integrated it in the French Provinces illyriennes, territory corresponding then to a broad part of the Slovenia and current Croatia. He became the Vice-chancellor of Raguse. Later, at the time of the Battle of Paris in 1814, Marmont gave up Napoleon and was shown of traitor. Following this attitude, the word " ragusade" became an expression meaning act of treason. The " term; raguser" wants to also say to betray.

In 1814, carried out by the general Todor Milutinovic, the Austrian army, accompanied by the British army and local insurrectionists, encircled Raguse occupied by the French. At the time of the Congress of Vienna in 1815, Raguse was attached to the Royaume of Dalmatie, then under the authority of the empire of Austria-Hungary, and part until 1918 of it will form.

In 1815, the aristorcatie ragusienne forming the old government ragusien met with an aim of restoring the Republic of Raguse but its efforts were vain and it was the last time that they met. After the fall of the Republic, the majority of the nobility ragusienne disappeared or emigrated towards the foreigner. Approximately a fifth of the aristocratic families were recognized by the Austrian empire. Some of these recognized families survived like Ghetaldi-gondole, Gozze, Caboga, Sorgo, Zlataric, Zamagna and Pozza.

The town of Raguse officially changed its name into Dubrovnik in 1918, with the fall of the empire of Austria-Hungary and following its incorporation in the Royaume of Serb, of the Croats, the Sloveniens, later the Royaume of Yugoslavia.

Government of the Republic of Raguse

The city was controlled by the aristocratic class. Three social groups cohabited in Raguse and it was strictly defended to marry with a person resulting from a different class. The chief of the City-State carried draws it from Duc then of Vice-chancellor (Rettore) at the time of the Venetian domination. But this statute was only one honorary title, actually the capacity was between the hands of three assemblies held by the nobility.

A document of the files of Raguse: " Speculum Maioris Consilii Rectores " , enumerates all the people who took part in the government of the Republic between September 1440 and June 1860. 4397 elected vice-chancellors are on the whole counted; 2764 (63%) resulted from the old aristocratic families: Goze, Bona, Caboga, Cerva, Gondola, Ghetaldi, Giorgi, Gradi, Pozza, Saraca, Sorgo, and Zamanya.

at the XVIIe century, 50% of the dukes and the senators belonged to the following families: Bona, Gondola, Goze, Menze, Sorgo.

at the XVIIIe century, 56% of the senators came from the following families: Sorgo, Goze, Zamagna, Caboga, Georgi.

in the eight last years of the Republic, 50% of the dukes were of Sorgo, Goze, Gradis, Bona, Ragnina.

Several important problems touched the aristocratic families ragusiennes. They were confronted with the reduction in their manpower and the low number of local noble families (in the surroundings of Dubrovnik then under Turkish control). They became an increasingly restricted group where the marriages were frequent between parents of 3rd and 4th degree (1566 - tutti quasi siamo congionti in fourthly grado di consanguinita and affinita ).

A list going back to 1802 of the assemblies of the Republic shows that 6 of the 8 members of the Small Council and 15 of the 20 members of Large the Council, resulted from 11 same families.

The Constitution of the Republic of Raguse was strictly aristocratic. The population were divided into three classes: the Nobility, the Citizen S and the Craftsman S or Plébéien S. the essence of the capacity was concentrated between the hands of the nobility. Whereas one authorized the citizens to be occupied only of the minor places, the plebeian ones did not have any voice in the government and could not thus take with the political matters of the City. The marriage between the members of different social classes was prohibited.

The organization of the government was based on the Vénitien model: the institutional bodies were the Great Council (the supreme body of government), the Small Council holding the executive power (since 1238) and the Sénat (since 1253). The Head of State was the Duke, elected for one one month duration.

The Great Council (Consilium Maior) was exclusively made up members of the aristocracy; each noble obtained its seat at the 18 years age. Each year, For the Small Council (Consilium washout), one proceeded to the election of 11 members. With the duke, the Small Council exerted executive and representative functions. The principal capacity was held by the Senate which counted 45 members elected for one year. Within this assembly, one does not distinguish hegemony from a family in particular, contrary to the family of Médicis to Florence. However the historians agree to say that the Sorgo family was from time immemorial one of the most influential families of the City-State.

The Small Council (Consilium washout) was composed in the beginning of 11 members to be reduced to 7 in 1667. The Vice-chancellor was elected by the Small Council. The Sénat appears new advisory body in 1235. This last consisted of 45 invited members (more than 40 years of average age). When the Republic was under the Vénitenne domination, the Vice-chancellor was Venetian. But starting from 1358 the Vice-chancellor was always Ragusien. The term of the office of the Vice-chancellor was only one month and it had the right to be re-elected afterwards only two years. The vice-chancellor lived and worked in the Palate of the Vice-chancellor but its family was to live in her particular residence. The government of the Republic was liberal and expressed very early its concern for the humane justice and principles such as for example the abolition of the trade of slaves as of 1418.

The liberal character of Raguse could appear other ways. On the flag of the Republic one could read the word " Libertas " (freedom) and at the entry of the fortress Saint Lorenz (Lovrijenac), just outside the ramparts of Raguse one can still read the following inscription " Not bucket pro louse libertas venditur auro" meaning: " freedom is sold against no kind of or". However, if the Republic abolished slavery, the Republic was a keen adversary of the religion Orthodoxe and only the catholics could acquire the Ragusienne citizenship.

Culture

The language

During all its history, Raguse constituted a bridge between the East and the Occident, between the Slavic and Romance world. Ragusain was rested by Latin people which spoke the Dalmatian one. Ragusain was thus with the Végliote (of the name of the island of Veglia, today Krk) a variety of the Dalmate, a dead language of the family of the Romance languages. Indeed, the encyclopedia of the languages of Europe, mentions a called southernmost alternative “Ragusain” which one knows some short texts. Among the latter one finds two letters of 1325 and 1397 and some texts medieval. At the time of the Slavic expansion the language was found in difficulty. In attests the decision of the Ragusain Senate to discuss the debates in " Old man ragusain" ( lingua veteri ragusea : ancient language of Raguse) and the prohibition of paler the Slavic language ( lingua sclava ). The dialect was strongly influenced by the Venetian one.

However, in XVIe century, it fell in disuse and it ends up dying out. Its disappearance coincided with the development of Italian who became for centuries the official language of the Republic (of 1492 until its end). According to the sources available have counts hardly 260 words ragusains. Several words survived like PEN (bread), teta (father), chesa (house) and to fachir (to make). They are quoted by the Italian, Fillipo Diversi, principal of Dubrovnik in the years 1430.

The Croatian language was normally used by the lower classes and the Italian by the higher classes. Ragusains were in general bilingual. They spoke Croatian in the daily life, the Italian for the official occasions, or it sometimes happened to them to mix both. Literary work of Ragusains famous was written in Croatian and Italian.

Personalities of the culture ragusaine

Second half of XVe century is the age of Latin literature a reappearing and humanistic rich person in Dalmatie. According to Graubard, during the Rebirth, the Venetian domination on Dalmatie and Raguse caused the birth of influential intellectuals (most of the time of the aristocrats and the ecclesiastics, of the Jésuites more particularly) who preserved the alive memory of Croatia and the Croatian language, in particular while composing or by translating Italian plays and books or Latin into vernacular language. Economically and politically independent, Raguse met the best conditions to be distinguished and develop arts and the letters in Dalmatie. Authors like Ilija Crijević (Aelius Lampridius Cervinus) (1463-1520) poet and humanistic thus manages with talent to produce artistic achievements of highest in vernacular language. Some of its contemporaries already, like Jakov Bunić (Bona) and Damjan Benešić (Bennibassa), use the language of Virgile for exalter of the Christian topics. Dominko Zlatarić (1555-1609?) is also a famous poet ragusain, author of the various Poésies and translator in worms of, the tragedy Electra of Sophocle, the metamorphoses of Ovide, Pyrame and Thisbé and the Aminta of the Tasse.

Personalities ragusaines

Antonio Aglich (- 1830)
Giorgio Baglivi (Gjuro Baglivi) (1668– 1707), Physicist
Savino de Bobali (1530– 1585), writer
Nicolò Vito di Gozze (1549– 1610), Political economist, historian
Giovanni Bona Boliris (1520 - 1572) philosophizes
Roger Joseph Boscovich (Ruggero Giuseppe Boscovich/Ruđer Josip Bošković) (1711– 1787), scientist, mathematician, writer, philosophical, Jesuit.
Marc Bruère Desrivaux (Marko Bruerović) (Lyon 1770 – Cyprus 1823), writer
Vice Bune (Vincent Bune, 1559-1612), explorer, discoverer of the μMelanesy and viceroy of the Mexico
Bernhard Graf Caboga-Cerva, 1785– 1855
Serafino Cerva (1696– 1759)
Raimondo Cunich (1719– 1794), writer
Sebastiano Dolci (Sebastijan Slade) (1699– 1777)
Džore Držić (Giorgio Darsa) (1461– 1501), writer
Marine Držić (Marino Darsa) (1508– 1567), writer
Marco Faustino Gagliuffi (1765– 1834)
Giorgio Ferrich (1739– 1820),
Marine Getaldić (Marino Ghetaldi) (1568– 1626), scientist, mathematician
Biagio Ghetaldi (Vlaho Getaldić) (1788– 1872)
Francesco Ghetaldi-Gondola (1833– 1899)
Segismondo Ghetaldi-Gondola (Šiško Getaldić-Gundulić) (1795– 1860)
Ignazio Giorgi/Ignjat Đurđević (1675– 1737), writer
Francesco Gondola (Fran Gundulić) (1632– 1700)
Giovanni Gondola/Ivan Gundulić (1589– 1638), writer
Giovanni Segismondo Gondola (Ivan Šiškov Gundulić) (1677– 1721)
Segismondo Gondola (Šišmundo Gundulić) (1634– 1667)
Maria Gondola Gozze (Marija Gundulić Gučetić)
Stefano Gradi/Stjepan Gradić (1613– 1683), philosopher, scientific
Nikola Vitov Gučetić (Nicolò Vito di Gozze) (1549– 1610), philosopher, scientific
Dobric Dobricevic/(Bonino de Bonini (1454 – 1528),
Trojan Gundulic, printer
Hieronimus Liubibratich de Trebinia (1716 - 1779)
Vladislav Menčetić (1617 - 1666)
Sigismondo Menze/Šišmundo Menčetić (1457 - 1576)
Giovanni Basket Giornovichi/Ivan Basket Jarnović or Jarnowick (1740-1804), type-setter
Jakov Mikalja (Giacomo Micaglia) (1601– 1654), linguist
Nikola Nalješković 1505-1587
Junije Palmotić (Giustino Palmotta) (1607– 1657), writer
Ludovico Pasquali (1500– 1551)
Bernardin Pavlović
Medo Pucić (Tale Orsato Pozza) (1821– 1882)
Niko Pucić (Tale Nicola Pozza) (1820– 1883)
Domenico Ragnina/Dinko Ranjina
Giunio Resti (1755– 1814), politician, writer
Benedetto Rogacci (1646– 1719)
Giorgio Sagrivi
Giovanni Francesco Sorgo (1706– 1771)
Pietro Ignazio Sorgo (Peter Ignaz Sorgo) (1749– 1826)
Antun Sorkočević (Antonio Sorgo) (1775– 1841), diplomat, writer, type-setter
Benedetto Stay (1714– 1801)
Domenico Stoich (– 1853)
Joakim Stulli (Gioacchino Stulli) (1730– 1817), lexicographer
Luca Stulli (1772– 1828), scientific
Mauro Vetrani/Mavro Vetranović (1482 or 1483 – 1576),
Ivan Bunić Vučić (Giovanni Bona de Boliris) (1591– 1658), politician, writer
Dominko (Dinko) Zlatarić/Domenico Slatarich (1558– 1613), writer
Bernardo Zamagna (1735– 1820), scientist, Jesuit
Cvijeta Zuzoric (Fiore Zuzori) (1552 -1648), writer

See too

Dubrovnik

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