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==Chapter Two- Battles Sustained on the Island of Korčula==

==Chapter Two- Battles Sustained on the Island of Korčula==

Protected by the Roman eagles, Korčula enjoyed peace and was well-off. Nor due to the change of events did she try to  claim freedom; and as at first was faithful to Rome when the Empire divided she was ruled by Constantinople.  But with the Caesars’ loss of power the days of pain were nearing.

Protected by the Roman eagles, Korčula enjoyed peace and was well-off. Nor due to the change of events did she try to  claim freedom; and as at first was faithful to Rome when the Empire divided she was ruled by Constantinople.  But with the Caesar's loss of power the days of pain were nearing.

From a very old report discovered recently, that we don’t consider apocryphal, is noted how frightening the invasion of the Narentani (Neretljani) was for the island, and as to a certain king ''who, escaping the persecution of Narentani's fleet, built a fortress in Siralievaz'', <ref>Latin sections: qui fugiens a persecution galearum Narentinorum construxit arcem in Siralievax</ref>  in which with one hundred of his followers he had stationed himself, succeeded to gather the surrounding defence to himself.  This king would have built other fortresses there:  Maxima Autem, says the report, {{Cquote| ''but the biggest fortress was the one erected in a place that locals call Bradat, close to the dwelling of a good man, a saint whose name is Saint Visko'' <ref>Latin section:arx fuit in domorio incolum quem locum appellant Bradat apud domum unius hominis probi, et sacnti quem incolae dicunt Sveti Visko</ref>}} He  had the inhabitants of Korčula equip six prisons at his own expense, and thus also erect three shelters: {{Cquote| ''(the king) erected three shelters in the harbour facing the northern side of the mountain called Gradina, where our merciful king's fleet used to be stationed... Not so far from the inner sea of the Island, there is a place favourable for fighting against the powerful Narentani pirates, who were a huge nuisance.'' <ref>Latin section: in portu ad septentrionem montis sic dicti Gradinae ubi sistebant naves nostril regis clementissimi.....non longe maris interni Insulae aptus locus est ad debellandos piratas fortes Narentinos molestos valde</ref>}} Of all this there are obvious ruins to date. 

From a very old report discovered recently, that we don’t consider apocryphal, is noted how frightening the invasion of the Narentani (Neretljani) was for the island, and as to a certain king ''who, escaping the persecution of Narentani's fleet, built a fortress in Siralievaz'', <ref>Latin sections: qui fugiens a persecution galearum Narentinorum construxit arcem in Siralievax</ref>  in which with one hundred of his followers he had stationed himself, succeeded to gather the surrounding defence to himself.  This king would have built other fortresses there:  Maxima Autem, says the report, {{Cquote| ''but the biggest fortress was the one erected in a place that locals call Bradat, close to the dwelling of a good man, a saint whose name is Saint Visko'' <ref>Latin section:arx fuit in domorio incolum quem locum appellant Bradat apud domum unius hominis probi, et sacnti quem incolae dicunt Sveti Visko</ref>}} He  had the inhabitants of Korčula equip six prisons at his own expense, and thus also erect three shelters. Of all this there are obvious ruins to date.  {{Cquote| ''(the king) erected three shelters in the harbour facing the northern side of the mountain called Gradina, where our merciful king's fleet used to be stationed... Not so far from the inner sea of the Island, there is a place favourable for fighting against the powerful Narentani pirates, who were a huge nuisance.'' <ref>Latin section: in portu ad septentrionem montis sic dicti Gradinae ubi sistebant naves nostril regis clementissimi.....non longe maris interni Insulae aptus locus est ad debellandos piratas fortes Narentinos molestos valde</ref>}}  

Despite the relentless defence bravely sustained by the inhabitants, most from the Mattani in the fortress of Siralievaz, every effort was useless, the king was compelled to flee from the island; in fact he was almost taken by the Narentani (Neretljani) in the sortie made from the western promontory, if he had not been freed on the part of the islanders.  The reporter gives his name as Ristle and declares himself minister of the king, after his death which occurred elsewhere with royal brother Ottoniero, states that he returned to the island, where he had a sister desponsata Patron Spaho: {{Cquote| ''(the minister says: I had) a sister married to patron Spaho (patronus is someone who has undertaken to protect the interests of a community), lord of the beautiful land of Sitnizza, where he used to pitch his tent and hunt birds.... and I found that Narentani plundered many things. My strength abandoned me  when I saw the fleet and the fields... We cannot move any further without incurring in our strong enemies.'' <ref>Latin section: .... domino domorij Sitinitiani (Sitnizza) pulcherimi agri in quo habebat tentorio et capiebat aves ... et inveni, continues, Narentinos depopulasse multa.  Omnes mee vires sestebant in conspectioneagrorum atque navium ... nos non possumus prodire nullibi, nisi in fortes hostes incurramus.</ref>}}  There was hard aggression committed to both towns of which the ruins can still be seen in ''Bradat'' and ''Potirna''.<ref>Potirna is a village on the west end of the island of Korcula in Croatia</ref> They were inhabited also by Roman families, as the gravestones and many other ancient pieces unearthed not so long ago bear witness.

Despite the relentless defence bravely sustained by the inhabitants, most from the Mattani in the fortress of Siralievaz, every effort was useless, the king was compelled to flee from the island; in fact he was almost taken by the Narentani (Neretljani) in the sortie made from the western promontory, if he had not been freed on the part of the islanders.  The reporter gives his name as Ristle and declares himself minister of the king, after his death which occurred elsewhere with royal brother Ottoniero, states that he returned to the island, where he had a sister desponsata Patron Spaho: {{Cquote| ''(the minister says: I had) a sister married to patron Spaho (patronus is someone who has undertaken to protect the interests of a community), lord of the beautiful land of Sitnizza, where he used to pitch his tent and hunt birds.... and I found that Narentani plundered many things. My strength abandoned me  when I saw the fleet and the fields... We cannot move any further without incurring in our strong enemies.'' <ref>Latin section: .... domino domorij Sitinitiani (Sitnizza) pulcherimi agri in quo habebat tentorio et capiebat aves ... et inveni, continues, Narentinos depopulasse multa.  Omnes mee vires sestebant in conspectioneagrorum atque navium ... nos non possumus prodire nullibi, nisi in fortes hostes incurramus.</ref>}}  There was hard aggression committed to both towns of which the ruins can still be seen in ''Bradat'' and ''Potirna''.<ref>Potirna is a village on the west end of the island of Korcula in Croatia</ref> They were inhabited also by Roman families, as the gravestones and many other ancient pieces unearthed not so long ago bear witness.

A source from the Veneto Region stated that as a result of this fact Korčula and Veglia, where even the Antenonj had partisans, remained subject to those of the Veneto Region. This occurred for a brief period with regard to Korčula, the resulting reunion being tough between her and the Narentani (Neretljani), however the alliance lasted a short time. There is on the island a sunny valley called Dughipod, neighbouring the inundating field known as Blato, in which one could see various large masses of rocks, and among these the largest and widest, and the only one on the island, called ''Ducelova gomilla''.  From the previous matter and from the places, which embrace vast  plains suited for  manoeuvring an army in battle, it is probable that a battle occurred there and that under that impressive mass of rocks was buried the beheaded doge ''Beato Antenonio'', and therefore to that the Slavic name of ''Ducelova gomilla'', namely the doge’s partition wall.

A source from the Veneto Region stated that as a result of this fact Korčula and Veglia, where even the Antenonj had partisans, remained subject to those of the Veneto Region. This occurred for a brief period with regard to Korčula, the resulting reunion being tough between her and the Narentani (Neretljani), however the alliance lasted a short time. There is on the island a sunny valley called Dughipod, neighbouring the inundating field known as Blato, in which one could see various large masses of rocks, and among these the largest and widest, and the only one on the island, called ''Ducelova gomilla''.  From the previous matter and from the places, which embrace vast  plains suited for  manoeuvring an army in battle, it is probable that a battle occurred there and that under that impressive mass of rocks was buried the beheaded doge ''Beato Antenonio'', and therefore to that the Slavic name of ''Ducelova gomilla'', namely the doge’s partition wall.

The fourth battle was with the doge of the Veneto Region '''Pietro II Orseolo''' in 999, from which, having defeated the Narentani (Neretljani), their ally Korčula,  was also conquered. Some historians note that the Curzolani, determined to oppose the advances of the doge, urged the Ragusani (Republic of Ragusa-Dubrovnik) and the Lesignani (Hvar) to form an alliance, but pre-empted by the sudden appearance of a large army in the ''Korčula Channel'', which fruitlessly awaited on the nearby reef of S. Massimo, Vulgo <ref>also known as (abbr. aka); (ref. plant, animal) common name.</ref> Massan, for negotiations for the surrender, were thus forced to withstand alone what they had planned to carry out with their friends. Of this fact '''Andrea Dandolo''' <ref>Editors notes: '''Andrea Dandolo''' (1306 – September 7, 1354) was elected the 54th doge of Venice in 1343, replacing Bartolomeo Gradenigo who died in late 1342.</ref> writes:  {{Cquote|''Since Korčula's inhabitants refused to obey Orseolo's orders, he gathered a strong armed force and subdued them.''<ref>Latin section: Curzolae habitatores suis (of Orseolo) recusants parere jussionibus, valida manu acquisivit suaeque potestati subjugavit.</ref>}}  The learned Marco Casotti with Lucio claim that the alliance of Korčula with the Narentani (Neretljani) worked to even make Venice their inland revenue, after the death of its doge ''Pietro Candiano'' in the battle of Pontamica, and that those of the Veneto Region were now avenging themselves of this by dismantling Korčula from the foundations.

The fourth battle was with the doge of the Veneto Region '''Pietro II Orseolo''' in 999, from which, having defeated the Narentani (Neretljani), their ally Korčula,  was also conquered. Some historians note that the Curzolani, determined to oppose the advances of the doge, urged the Ragusani (Dubrovnik) and the Lesignani (Hvar) to form an alliance, but pre-empted by the sudden appearance of a large army in the ''Korčula Channel'', which fruitlessly awaited on the nearby reef of S. Massimo.<ref>also known as (abbr. aka); (ref. plant, animal) common name.</ref> Vulgo Massan, opted for negotiations for the surrender, due to the fact that Korčula was forced to withstand alone. Of this fact '''Andrea Dandolo''' <ref>Editors notes: '''Andrea Dandolo''' (1306 – September 7, 1354) was elected the 54th doge of Venice in 1343, replacing Bartolomeo Gradenigo who died in late 1342.</ref> writes:  {{Cquote|''Since Korčula's inhabitants refused to obey Orseolo's orders, he gathered a strong armed force and subdued them.''<ref>Latin section: Curzolae habitatores suis (of Orseolo) recusants parere jussionibus, valida manu acquisivit suaeque potestati subjugavit.</ref>}}  The learned Marco Casotti with Lucio claim that the alliance of Korčula with the Narentani (Neretljani) worked to even make Venice their inland revenue, after the death of its doge ''Pietro Candiano'' in the battle of Pontamica, and that those of the Veneto Region were now avenging themselves of this by dismantling Korčula from the foundations.

The reports tell that the Venitians were distracted in the Holy Land undertaking and allowed the Genoese, in the year 1100, to occupy the island of Korčula and to keep it subjugated for some time.  This subjection will not be followed with a fight, as the Curzolani with far greater powers  fought to support their freedom, nor without shedding of blood would they be subjected.

The reports tell that the Venitians were distracted in the Holy Land undertaking and allowed the Genoese, in the year 1100, to occupy the island of Korčula and to keep it subjugated for some time.  This subjection will not be followed with a fight, as the Curzolani with far greater powers  fought to support their freedom, nor without shedding of blood would they be subjected.