Changes

==Italians of Split==

==Italians of Split==

In the city of Split there was an [[Dalmatian Italians|autochthonous Italian community]], which was reorganised in November 1918 through the foundation of the "National Fasces" (not to be confused with Fascism) led by Leonardo Pezzoli, Antonio Tacconi, Edoardo Pervan and Stefano Selem). They arose from the ashes of the Autonomist Party, dissolved by the Austrian authorities in 1915.

In the city of Split there was an [[Dalmatian Italians|autochthonous Italian community]], which was reorganised in November 1918 through the foundation of the "National Fasces" (not to be confused with Fascism) led by Leonardo Pezzoli, Antonio Tacconi, Edoardo Pervan and Stefano Selem. They arose from the ashes of the Autonomist Party, dissolved by the Austrian authorities in 1915.

There were 2,082 Italians in Spilt according to the 1910 Austrian Census and they were only 9.73% of the total population,<ref>G.Perselli, ''I censimenti della popolazione dell'Istria, con Fiume e Trieste, e di alcune città della Dalmazia tra il 1850 e il 1936'', Unione Italiana Fiume-Università Popolare di Trieste, Trieste-Rovigno 1993.</ref> but they had the best economic status in Split society.

There were 2,082 Italians in Spilt according to the 1910 Austrian Census and they were 9.73% of the total population,<ref>G.Perselli, ''I censimenti della popolazione dell'Istria, con Fiume e Trieste, e di alcune città della Dalmazia tra il 1850 e il 1936'', Unione Italiana Fiume-Università Popolare di Trieste, Trieste-Rovigno 1993.</ref> but they had the best economic status in Split society.

This census data had understated the number of Italians in the city area and this mistake seems to be confirmed by a series of subsequent events. Indeed -following the ''Treaty of Rapallo'' (1920)- the Italians of Dalmatia could opt for the acquisition of Italian citizenship instead of that of the Kingdom of Serbia, Croatia & Slovenia (later renamed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929). While maintaining residence, despite a violent campaign of intimidation on the part of Yugoslavia, over 900 families of Italian speaking "Spalatini" had exercised the option to be Italians.<ref>Luciano Monzali.''Antonio Tacconi e la comunità italiana di Spalato'' p. 165</ref> Furthermore, in 1927 a census was carried out of Italians living outside Italy. In Split and the  surrounding area there were counted 3,337 Dalmatian Italians.<ref>Luciano Monzali. ''Antonio Tacconi e la comunità italiana di Spalato'' p.167</ref>  

This census data had understated the number of Italians in the city area and this mistake seems to be confirmed by a series of subsequent events. Indeed following the ''Treaty of Rapallo'' (1920), the Italians of Dalmatia could opt for the acquisition of Italian citizenship instead of that of the ''Kingdom of Serbia, Croatia & Slovenia'' (later renamed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929). While maintaining residence, despite a violent campaign of intimidation on the part of Yugoslavia, over 900 families of Italian speaking "Spalatini" had exercised the option to be Italians.<ref>Luciano Monzali.''Antonio Tacconi e la comunità italiana di Spalato'' p. 165</ref> Furthermore, in 1927 a census was carried out of Italians living outside Italy. In Split and the  surrounding area there were counted 3,337 Dalmatian Italians.<ref>Luciano Monzali. ''Antonio Tacconi e la comunità italiana di Spalato'' p.167</ref>  

So, given that about 1,000 Italians (with their families) left the city following its incorporation into the'' Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes'' and estimating a certain percentage of Italians who accepted the "forced"  Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes citizenship, it is really possible that 7,000 Italians in the Split area -as said by Antonio Tacconi- obtained membership in Italian associations of Split in 1918/1919. This number is more than 3 times that registered in the data from the 1910 Austrian Census.

So, given that about 1,000 Italians (with their families) left the city following its incorporation into the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and estimating a certain percentage of Italians who accepted the "forced"  Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes citizenship, it is really possible that 7,000 Italians in the Split area, as said by Antonio Tacconi obtained membership in Italian associations of Split in 1918/1919. This number is more than 3 times that registered in the data from the 1910 Austrian Census.

==History==

==History==