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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Defense of Korcula from Turkish Attack in 1571}}

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Defense of Korcula from Turkish Attack in 1571}}

[[File:250px-Croatia-Dalmatia-1.jpg|thumb|right|500px|Dalmatia (the dark purple) within todays modern [[Croatia]]. The island of Korčula is marked red.]]

[[File:250px-Croatia-Dalmatia-1.jpg|thumb|right|500px|Dalmatia (the dark purple) within todays modern [[Croatia]]. The island of Korčula is marked red.]]

Written by '''Antonio (Antun) '''  (Antonio Rosaneo, Latin: Antonii Rosenei) of the historical event of the '''1571''' battle in which the people of the island of Korcula  defended themselves against the Ottoman Empire. Originally written in [[Latin]].

Written by '''Antonio (Antun) Rosanovic '''  (or Antonio Rosaneo, Latin: Antonii Rosenei) of the historical event of the '''1571''' battle in which the people of the island of Korcula  defended themselves against the Ottoman Empire. Originally written in [[Latin]].

Please note: In modern Croatian the c in Korcula is pronounced ch and is written "č".

Please note: In modern Croatian the c in Korcula is pronounced ch and is written "č".

Translated from Latin by Reverend Ivo Matijaca. The writing below is based on the English translation by Nikola S. Batistich.  

Translated from Latin by Reverend Ivo Matijaca. The writing below is based on the English translation by Nikola S. Batistich.  

Around thirteenth of August we received news from Dubrovnik [Ragusa] that Ulcinj had fallen in hands of the enemy, as well as Budva and Bar and that Kotor [Cattaro] is surrounded both from the sea and from the land, so that people of Kotor [Cattaro] are in extreme danger. It is our general opinion that Kotor [Cattaro] can be taken with smaller number of vessels. Then the rest of their fleet can be used to attack and take over most of the costal towns along the Dalmatian coast, especially Zadar [Zara] and Šibenik [Sebenico <ref>'''Editors note''': According to some sources the settlement of Sibenik was established by Croatian Slavs in the 11th century, and was given its name, '''Šibenik''' (the Š is pronounced ''sh'' ) The term Slav was first used by the Byzantines (i.e. Procopius-Byzantine scholar, Jordanes- 6th century Roman bureaucrat) and was recorded in the 6th century (cia. 550) in Greek (Σκλαβῖνοι-Sklabenoi). Later in Latin it was written Sclaveni.  Slavic tribes invaded the region of''' Roman Dalmatia''' in the early Middle Ages. Prior to the arrival of the Slavs, Roman Dalmatia was mainly inhabited by a '''Roman Latin-Illyrian''' population. Šibenik was latter renamed '''Sebenico''' when in 1412 the city became part of the ''Republic of Venice'' (1412-1797). Its name was change to Šibenik by the Yugoslav regime in 1920.</ref>,originality written: ''maritimarum civitatum totius '''Illyrici''' praesertim Jadrae, et Sibenici'']. This news carrier also brought a letter from Antun Paladin, forwarded to Filip Rozanovic, written in plain Italian language, poorly composed, in which he is letting him know that he is located with the Turkish ships in Dubrovnik [Ragusa] and he is hoping to find there one from the Rozanovic family. Since he didn’t find anyone, his wish was to write this letter, to say hello to his relatives in Korčula [Curzola], especially his brother and offer himself ready to help in any way he can. It was signed “Jusuf”, as he was called by the Turks. Paladins are in our town an old and respected family belonging to towns nobility. At one time they were very wealthy, but recently they fell into poverty, like many others and moved to Zrnovo [Zernova], a village close to the city. From this family comes Father Vicko, well known theologist, Dominicans brother and big friend of Archdeacon, related to him four generations back. Because of this relationship Rozanovic’s took in initially Jakov, who died very young at 10 years of age, then his brother Antun, they were both Marko’s sons, who were left without parents, so they brought them up. Since he was a child Antun was told that he should become a sailor. After a shipwreck he experienced near a Greek island of Hios, he fell in the hands of barbarians and as prisoner of Uluz Ali, also called Occialino who was vice king of Algiers (some think that he comes from the town of Julie Cesarea). Antun was then forced to accept Turkish citizenship, and he was given the command of one of their galleys. This is how Marko Prasica handed the letter to Archdeacon instead of to Filip, who is ill, in sad condition and who with some others ran away to Zadar [Zara]. With the letter there was attached six rolls of white silk thread, with unknown value, I believe as a symbol of something not known to me.  

Around thirteenth of August we received news from Dubrovnik [Ragusa] that Ulcinj had fallen in hands of the enemy, as well as Budva and Bar and that Kotor [Cattaro] is surrounded both from the sea and from the land, so that people of Kotor [Cattaro] are in extreme danger. It is our general opinion that Kotor [Cattaro] can be taken with smaller number of vessels. Then the rest of their fleet can be used to attack and take over most of the costal towns along the Dalmatian coast, especially Zadar [Zara] and Šibenik [Sebenico <ref>'''Editors note''': According to some sources the settlement of Sibenik was established by Croatian Slavs in the 11th century, and was given its name, '''Šibenik''' (the Š is pronounced ''sh'' ) The term Slav was first used by the Byzantines (i.e. Procopius-Byzantine scholar, Jordanes- 6th century Roman bureaucrat) and was recorded in the 6th century (cia. 550) in Greek (Σκλαβῖνοι-Sklabenoi). Later in Latin it was written Sclaveni.  Slavic tribes invaded the region of''' Roman Dalmatia''' in the early Middle Ages. Prior to the arrival of the Slavs, Roman Dalmatia was mainly inhabited by a '''Roman Latin-Illyrian''' population. Šibenik was latter renamed '''Sebenico''' when in 1412 the city became part of the ''Republic of Venice'' (1412-1797). Its name was change to Šibenik by the Yugoslav regime in 1920.</ref>,originality written: ''maritimarum civitatum totius '''Illyrici''' praesertim Jadrae, et Sibenici'']. This news carrier also brought a letter from Antun Paladin, forwarded to Filip Rozanovic, written in plain Italian language, poorly composed, in which he is letting him know that he is located with the Turkish ships in Dubrovnik [Ragusa] and he is hoping to find there one from the Rozanovic family. Since he didn’t find anyone, his wish was to write this letter, to say hello to his relatives in Korčula [Curzola], especially his brother and offer himself ready to help in any way he can. It was signed “Jusuf”, as he was called by the Turks. Paladins are in our town an old and respected family belonging to towns nobility. At one time they were very wealthy, but recently they fell into poverty, like many others and moved to Zrnovo [Zernova], a village close to the city. From this family comes Father Vicko, well known theologist, Dominicans brother and big friend of Archdeacon, related to him four generations back. Because of this relationship Rozanovic’s took in initially Jakov, who died very young at 10 years of age, then his brother Antun, they were both Marko’s sons, who were left without parents, so they brought them up. Since he was a child Antun was told that he should become a sailor. After a shipwreck he experienced near a Greek island of Hios, he fell in the hands of barbarians and as prisoner of Uluz Ali, also called Occialino who was vice king of Algiers (some think that he comes from the town of Julie Cesarea). Antun was then forced to accept Turkish citizenship, and he was given the command of one of their galleys. This is how Marko Prasica handed the letter to Archdeacon instead of to Filip, who is ill, in sad condition and who with some others ran away to Zadar [Zara]. With the letter there was attached six rolls of white silk thread, with unknown value, I believe as a symbol of something not known to me.  

With all this happening, among us fear increased, our Rector openly and without pretending was saying that the city has to be abandoned, instead of sitting and waiting for the enemy who greatly outnumbers us. Archdeacon instead told everyone to be brave, he was using the friendly letter from Antun Paladin with that thread of white silk as a symbol of security and peace, while others explained it, that the thread means chains and that letter did not foresee any hope, and they continued to be very worried. Following this, people were called to the prayer, which we did as often as possible. The priests were asking for God’s mercy and help from the Saints, while most people with tears in their eyes were answering the prayers. There was three masses held so that public would be preoccupied, and would not think of dangers approaching. After the services in the Cathedral of Saint Marko and while people were going over to church of Holy Trinity, where another services were being held, over here arrived from  Pelješac [Sabbioncello or Pelišac]  a nobleman from Dubrovnik [Ragusa] named Helije Cervin Bunicevic, whom Rector after leaving services takes to his palace. There they conducted a lengthy talk. Rector stayed at his palace and Helije returned back to  Pelješac [Sabbioncello or Pelišac]. When he was leaving Vicko Rozanovic asked him of coming dangers. He answered with a smile ''“everything will be fine if Rector leaves town”''.  

With all this happening, among us fear increased, our Rector openly and without pretending was saying that the city has to be abandoned, instead of sitting and waiting for the enemy who greatly outnumbers us. Archdeacon instead told everyone to be brave, he was using the friendly letter from Antun Paladin with that thread of white silk as a symbol of security and peace, while others explained it, that the thread means chains and that letter did not foresee any hope, and they continued to be very worried. Following this, people were called to the prayer, which we did as often as possible. The priests were asking for God’s mercy and help from the Saints, while most people with tears in their eyes were answering the prayers. There was three masses held so that public would be preoccupied, and would not think of dangers approaching. After the services in the Cathedral of Saint Marko and while people were going over to church of Holy Trinity, where another services were being held, over here arrived from  Pelješac [Sabbioncello ''or'' Pelišac]  a nobleman from Dubrovnik [Ragusa] named Helije Cervin Bunicevic, whom Rector after leaving services takes to his palace. There they conducted a lengthy talk. Rector stayed at his palace and Helije returned back to  Pelješac [Sabbioncello or Pelišac]. When he was leaving Vicko Rozanovic asked him of coming dangers. He answered with a smile ''“everything will be fine if Rector leaves town”''.  

After the Mass in a procession around the city, after hearing the third Mass in front of the picture of the miraculous Virgin Mary. There it happened that one of ours, possibly from exhaustion as well as of fear of the approaching enemy, collapsed unconscious, and was taken home where he laid appearing dead for three to four hours. As a result of all of this, three days later, as the enemy was nearing, he was among the first ones to ran away from the city and did not stop until he reached a distance of some fifteen thousand steps. After the services we had refreshments.

After the Mass in a procession around the city, after hearing the third Mass in front of the picture of the miraculous Virgin Mary. There it happened that one of ours, possibly from exhaustion as well as of fear of the approaching enemy, collapsed unconscious, and was taken home where he laid appearing dead for three to four hours. As a result of all of this, three days later, as the enemy was nearing, he was among the first ones to ran away from the city and did not stop until he reached a distance of some fifteen thousand steps. After the services we had refreshments.