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== Chapter One - Origin and Events ==

== Chapter One - Origin and Events ==

Some fathers of history took notice of the writings of Ditti who was a contemporary from Cretan. When writing about the war of Troy, he noted that Antenore was the first to land on the island and build a city. Because of the islands dark appearance of its woods it was called ''Corcira Melaena''.  Other followers of his position claim that they were not exiles of Ilius, but fugitives of Gnido. In turn the vernacularisation of Ditti (work of Cav) <ref>Cavaliere = Knight (honorary title)</ref>  Compagnoni, <ref>Dalmatia, literary sheet, 1st January 1846; No. 1</ref> stated that Antenore remained in [[Greece]], but the said Aeneas, was the likely leader of the colony and founder of the ''Town of Curzola'', (Korcula's  old name was Curzola).<ref>'''Korcula''' is an island in the Adriatic Sea, in the ''Dubrovnik-Neretva County'' of [[Croatia]]. The island lies just off the Dalmatian coast.</ref><ref>The Old-Slavic term for Korcula was '''Krkar'''.</ref><ref>In Croatian the c in Korcula is pronounced ''ch'' and is written "'''č'''".</ref> This theory was competing with the opinion of Darete, Phrygian and other contemporaries.   

Some fathers of history took notice of the writings of Ditti who was a contemporary from Cretan. When writing about the war of Troy, he noted that Antenore was the first to land on the island and build a city. Because of the islands dark appearance of its woods it was called '''Corcyra Nigra''' (Black Corcyra).<ref>'''Korcula''' is an island in the Adriatic Sea, in the ''Dubrovnik-Neretva County'' of [[Croatia]]. The island lies just off the Dalmatian coast.</ref><ref>[http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Curzola Encyclopaedia Britannica (publ. 1911)]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/322146/Korcula|title='''"Korcula."''' '''Encyclopædia Britannica'''. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011. Wed. 24 Feb. 2011. |date=[[2011]]|accessdate=2011-02-24}}</ref><ref>Korcula: Italian-Curzola, Greek-Corcyra Melaina</ref> Other followers of his position claim that they were not exiles of Ilius, but fugitives of Gnido. In turn the vernacularisation of Ditti (work of Cav) <ref>Cavaliere = Knight (honorary title)</ref>  Compagnoni, <ref>Dalmatia, literary sheet, 1st January 1846; No. 1</ref> stated that Antenore remained in [[Greece]], but the said Aeneas, was the likely leader of the colony and founder of the ''Town of Curzola'', (Korcula's  old name was Curzola).<ref>The Old-Slavic term for Korcula was '''Krkar'''.</ref><ref>In Croatian the c in Korcula is pronounced ''ch'' and is written "'''č'''".</ref> This theory was competing with the opinion of Darete, Phrygian and other contemporaries.   

The truth of this claim, considering the mythological chronology of the grammatical ''Alexandrian Heratostene'', would oblige us to go back to approximately 1184 BC, at the time in which according to the Bible, Gideon judged Israel:  126 years prior to David coming to the throne.  But the historian, more traditional than anything else, cannot rely on these vague claims.  Yet least of all when facing criticism. ''Ditti'' and ''Darete'' did not know how to support their historical theory. Whether Antenore or Aeneas was the leader, or Gnidi or the Trojans the colonists, the study of local antiquities arouses a belief that Korčula in ancient times was not some Greco-Phoenician post.  Even though during this period there are inferences which are not at all unfounded, none are of a particular positive nature.   

The truth of this claim, considering the mythological chronology of the grammatical ''Alexandrian Heratostene'', would oblige us to go back to approximately 1184 BC, at the time in which according to the Bible, Gideon judged Israel:  126 years prior to David coming to the throne.  But the historian, more traditional than anything else, cannot rely on these vague claims.  Yet least of all when facing criticism. ''Ditti'' and ''Darete'' did not know how to support their historical theory. Whether Antenore or Aeneas was the leader, or Gnidi or the Trojans the colonists, the study of local antiquities arouses a belief that Korčula in ancient times was not some Greco-Phoenician post.  Even though during this period there are inferences which are not at all unfounded, none are of a particular positive nature.   

The mystery clears then when the '''Illyrians''' become powerful lords of the Adriatic. Their king Agron, asserting his authority on the other neighbouring islands also occupied Korčula, in 230 B.C.<ref>In the original book the the date was 250B.C. Latest historic reserach states 230 B.C. to be more accurate (Illyricum & Roman Politics 229 BC-AD 68 by  

The mystery clears then when the '''Illyrians''' become powerful lords of the Adriatic. Their king Agron, asserting his authority on the other neighbouring islands also occupied Korčula, in 230 B.C.<ref>In the original book the the date was 250B.C. Latest historic reserach states 230 B.C. to be more accurate (Illyricum & Roman Politics 229 BC-AD 68 by  

Danijel Dzino)</ref>  On his death regaining its independence, the widow queen '''Teuta''' <ref>'''Queen Teuta''' (Ancient Greek: Τεύτα) was an Illyrian queen of the Ardiaei tribe who reigned approximately from 229 BC to 227 BC.</ref> took control of it again until Demetrius Fario, appointed as its prefect, surrendered it to the '''Romans''' together with Lesina (Hvar) his homeland.  Whether Agron and Teuta had forcefully occupied the island with the use of arms, cannot be affirmed. The Alexandrian Appiano says no more than: ''"and once (they) conquered the island of Pharum (Hvar)"'' <ref>[[Latin]] section: Pharumque bello captum</ref>; which makes us think it occurred due to combined dedication.  Only in the times of ''Caesar'' '''Octavian Augustus''' (35 B.C.) does the name in the history of human events appear clear.  It is known now for the first time, that the Curzolani (inhabitants of Korčula) tried to seal their reacquired freedom with their own blood. They resisted with anguished courage to the arms of the Triumvir who had come in person to conquer it. The punishment was equal to the resistance. The Alexandrian Appiano tells us of the severity of the punishment and the cause of the war:  {{Cquote|''After a fierce war, Divus Augustus defeated the inhabitants of Melite <ref>Melite is the island of Mljet. '''Mljet''' is an island in the Adriatic Sea, in the ''Dubrovnik-Neretva County'' of [[Croatia]]</ref> and Corcyra (Corfu)<ref>Corcyra is the island of Korčula</ref> who, at that time, were running out of supplies; the reason for the war was that these islanders had resorted to piracy and used to infest the sea with their fleet. All the adults were killed at once, while the remaining people were sold as slaves '' <ref>Latin section: Divus Augustus deficientes Melitenses et Corcyrenses qui Insulas incolunt; ingenti belli mole superavit, quoniam maria classe praedebatur.  Puberes ad unum caesi cetera multitudo sub corona venit</ref>}}  But if Octavian in the repression caused it to be damaged, he didn’t consider it unworthy of his attention for its benefit; sending Roman colonists to it to direct it for better understanding and regulated habits, paving the way to a much greater cultivation and lessening the original coarseness. If the gravestones which are being unearthed among the ruins scattered across the island bear witness to the existence of the Roman colonies, they explain their purpose.

Danijel Dzino)</ref>  On his death regaining its independence, the widow queen '''Teuta''' <ref>'''Queen Teuta''' (Ancient Greek: Τεύτα) was an Illyrian queen of the Ardiaei tribe who reigned approximately from 229 BC to 227 BC.</ref> took control of it again until Demetrius Fario, appointed as its prefect, surrendered it to the '''Romans''' together with Lesina (Hvar) his homeland.  Whether Agron and Teuta had forcefully occupied the island with the use of arms, cannot be affirmed. The Alexandrian Appiano says no more than: ''"and once (they) conquered the island of Pharum (Hvar)"'' <ref>[[Latin]] section: Pharumque bello captum</ref>; which makes us think it occurred due to combined dedication.  Only in the times of ''Caesar'' '''Octavian Augustus''' (35 B.C.) does the name in the history of human events appear clear.  It is known now for the first time, that the Curzolani (inhabitants of Korčula) tried to seal their reacquired freedom with their own blood. They resisted with anguished courage to the arms of the Triumvir who had come in person to conquer it. The punishment was equal to the resistance. The Alexandrian Appiano tells us of the severity of the punishment and the cause of the war:  {{Cquote|''After a fierce war, Divus Augustus defeated the inhabitants of Melite <ref>Melite is the island of Mljet. '''Mljet''' is an island in the Adriatic Sea, in the ''Dubrovnik-Neretva County'' of '''Croatia.'''</ref> and Corcyra (Corfu)<ref>Corcyra is the island of Korčula</ref> who, at that time, were running out of supplies; the reason for the war was that these islanders had resorted to piracy and used to infest the sea with their fleet. All the adults were killed at once, while the remaining people were sold as slaves '' <ref>Latin section: Divus Augustus deficientes Melitenses et Corcyrenses qui Insulas incolunt; ingenti belli mole superavit, quoniam maria classe praedebatur.  Puberes ad unum caesi cetera multitudo sub corona venit</ref>}}  But if Octavian in the repression caused it to be damaged, he didn’t consider it unworthy of his attention for its benefit; sending Roman colonists to it to direct it for better understanding and regulated habits, paving the way to a much greater cultivation and lessening the original coarseness. If the gravestones which are being unearthed among the ruins scattered across the island bear witness to the existence of the Roman colonies, they explain their purpose.

Korčula, from its origins to the present time, has been in existence for 3,038 years, and history classifies its political life in the following phases:  

Korčula, from its origins to the present time, has been in existence for 3,038 years, and history classifies its political life in the following phases:  

{{Cquote|'''Quote''' from the Lumbarda Psephisma: ''Best of luck. During the time of hieromnamon Praxidam in the month of Machaneus a contract was made to establish a colony between the people of Issa (Vis) and Pil and his son Daz. Colony founders agreed upon and the people decided: those who where the first to occupy the land and built a wall around the city would get a special land to build houses within the fortified city, especially with a part, and of the land which was outside the city, so that those first people separately obtain the first lot of three plethrons separated from the land, and from the other parts, to write down (what lot and what part) each of them obtained, and in permanent ownership they (and their descendants) get one and a half plethrons each; subsequent colonists are to get from undistributed land in the field four and a half plethrons; the authorities swear never to  divide the city or land again; if someone of the authority proposes something or someone agrees against this (Psephism), let he or she be dishonoured, and his or her property should become public property; the person who kills  him or her is not to be punished……… This land was obtained and  the city walls built by: Dymanes, Hylleis & Pamphylois.'' <ref>[http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=74289&lang=en Hrcak Portal of scientific journals of Croatia:] Lumbarda Psephisma, the Oldest Document about the Division of Land Parcels in Croatia from the Beginning of the 4th or 3rd Century BC by Miljenko Solaric & Nikola Solaic (University of Zagreb). </ref>}}

{{Cquote|'''Quote''' from the Lumbarda Psephisma: ''Best of luck. During the time of hieromnamon Praxidam in the month of Machaneus a contract was made to establish a colony between the people of Issa (Vis) and Pil and his son Daz. Colony founders agreed upon and the people decided: those who where the first to occupy the land and built a wall around the city would get a special land to build houses within the fortified city, especially with a part, and of the land which was outside the city, so that those first people separately obtain the first lot of three plethrons separated from the land, and from the other parts, to write down (what lot and what part) each of them obtained, and in permanent ownership they (and their descendants) get one and a half plethrons each; subsequent colonists are to get from undistributed land in the field four and a half plethrons; the authorities swear never to  divide the city or land again; if someone of the authority proposes something or someone agrees against this (Psephism), let he or she be dishonoured, and his or her property should become public property; the person who kills  him or her is not to be punished……… This land was obtained and  the city walls built by: Dymanes, Hylleis & Pamphylois.'' <ref>[http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=74289&lang=en Hrcak Portal of scientific journals of Croatia:] Lumbarda Psephisma, the Oldest Document about the Division of Land Parcels in Croatia from the Beginning of the 4th or 3rd Century BC by Miljenko Solaric & Nikola Solaic (University of Zagreb). </ref>}}

* Nikola Ostojic wrote: ''"Constantine with a strong army, which amounted to some twenty thousand men in 1181 landed in a faraway part of the city and began to terrorise the island with fire and steel."'' I find the figure of ''twenty thousand men'' highly unlikely the island itself today has a population 16,182 inhabitants (2001).

* Nikola Ostojic wrote: ''"Constantine with a strong army, which amounted to some twenty thousand men in 1181 landed in a faraway part of the city and began to terrorise the island with fire and steel."'' I find the figure of ''twenty thousand men'' highly unlikely the island itself today has a population 16,182 inhabitants (2001).

==References==

==References==

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