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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 '''Antun (Antonio) Rosanovic '''  (or Antonio Rosaneo, Latin: Antonii Rosenei, modern Croatian: Antun Rozanović) of the historical event of the '''1571''' battle in which the people of the island of Korcula  defended themselves against the Ottoman Empire. He lead the defense in 1571 and he was the city's Archdeacon. Originally written in [[Latin]] 'Antonii Rosanei Corcyrae Melenae Opus'.

Written by '''Antun (Antonio) Rosanovic '''  (or Antonio Rosaneo, Latin: Antonii Rosenei, modern Croatian: Antun Rozanović) of the historical event of the '''1571''' battle in which the people of the island of Korcula  defended themselves against the Ottoman Empire. He led the defense in 1571 and was the city's Archdeacon. Originally written in [[Latin]] 'Antonii Rosanei Corcyrae Melenae Opus'.

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.  

Alternative translation:

Alternative translation:

{{quote|By insistence inquiries of those who, admiring the wonderful little town of Corcyra Melena, to be ascribed to the preservation of my own country, and admiring the divine divinity, so often demand a series of such noble deeds from me, I have determined to satisfy this in a short notebook. You are the only Diva, Virgin Mother, whose help we believe with firm faith that there was certainty for us in that battle.}}  

{{quote|By constant inquiries of those who preserve the town of the town Corcyra Melena, to be ascribed to the preservation of my own country, and admiring the divine divinity, so often demand a series of such noble deeds from me, I have determined to satisfy this in a short notebook. You are the only Diva Virgin Mother, whose help we firmly believe that there was a certainty for us in that battle, just as you did not disdain to direct your servant in all these things, so also draw your hand and pen along the paths of truth in your proclamations and thanksgivings, I pray.}}  

SELIM<ref>'''SELIM''' info from Wikipedia:

SELIM<ref>'''SELIM''' info from Wikipedia:

Among them, some were fond to superstitions, or maybe by nature were hiding the worries of the public, mentioning some yellow birds, the species that was never seen in our parts, those days in our channel between Orebic [Sabbioncello] and here were seen in numbers, where they at times swim on the sea surface, and other times fly over the island, where they are damaging the vineyards. Someone said that they came from the Black Sea, and that they are preceeding the Turkish fleet, or that they are signaling turks in white turbans that will arrive here to destroy us. Some of the richer people already started carrying their boxes to the boats, as some people coming from Dubrovnik [Ragusa] are talking of very bad news, one after another. And so everyone got excited, carrying their belongings to the boats, with such a rush that they were bumping into one another at the city gate.

Among them, some were fond to superstitions, or maybe by nature were hiding the worries of the public, mentioning some yellow birds, the species that was never seen in our parts, those days in our channel between Orebic [Sabbioncello] and here were seen in numbers, where they at times swim on the sea surface, and other times fly over the island, where they are damaging the vineyards. Someone said that they came from the Black Sea, and that they are preceeding the Turkish fleet, or that they are signaling turks in white turbans that will arrive here to destroy us. Some of the richer people already started carrying their boxes to the boats, as some people coming from Dubrovnik [Ragusa] are talking of very bad news, one after another. And so everyone got excited, carrying their belongings to the boats, with such a rush that they were bumping into one another at the city gate.

City Rector was a young man, very inexperienced, and had no trust in experienced elders. It has been only two months since he assumed running of the city and in this short period did not gain any liking among citizenry. Anyway, these last few days he showed to be softer and more understanding. Seeing how everything from the city is being carried out, he gave an order to at once securely shut the city gates. Then many stopped lowering their belongings over the city walls, and some of them in front of the city gate started to pile up things, pushing one another. This was a very sad scene. This is how Troy looked when it fell in hands of the enemy. Rector did not take much of his clothing, because he had left his family back in Venice. But anyway, his servant-lady along with most of his other belongings brought down to the quay and placed in the boat. In addition he secured for him a pirate ship from Perast [Perasto], which was very well maintained. It had six strong rowers, and he rented it out for 120 golden ducats. At dusk we were hearing all kinds of conflicting news reports. Frightened women were running through the city, begging to be let on the ships or to run into the forests. In the evening, Rector agrees to let them go, this he repeated the next day even more, he ordered the city gates to be open, so they can transfer their belongings to the boats that stayed anchored. Finally those who wished to leave, raised their sails and sailed away on 8th of August.  

City Rector was a young man [Venetian Prince '''Antonio Balbi'''], very inexperienced, and had no trust in experienced elders. It has been only two months since he assumed running of the city and in this short period did not gain any liking among citizenry. Anyway, these last few days he showed to be softer and more understanding. Seeing how everything from the city is being carried out, he gave an order to at once securely shut the city gates. Then many stopped lowering their belongings over the city walls, and some of them in front of the city gate started to pile up things, pushing one another. This was a very sad scene. This is how Troy looked when it fell in hands of the enemy. Rector did not take much of his clothing, because he had left his family back in Venice. But anyway, his servant-lady along with most of his other belongings brought down to the quay and placed in the boat. In addition he secured for him a pirate ship from Perast [Perasto], which was very well maintained. It had six strong rowers, and he rented it out for 120 golden ducats. At dusk we were hearing all kinds of conflicting news reports. Frightened women were running through the city, begging to be let on the ships or to run into the forests. In the evening, Rector agrees to let them go, this he repeated the next day even more, he ordered the city gates to be open, so they can transfer their belongings to the boats that stayed anchored. Finally those who wished to leave, raised their sails and sailed away on 8th of August.  

We must tell you what has happened when the Franciscan brothers left. Actually both orders, Franciscans and Dominicans, even a few days earlier, before anyone else ran away. They actually, from their monastery at island of Badia [Scolenum sancti Petri], two miles East of the city, earlier moved their miraculous cross and five paintings of Blessed Virgin. They secured these in Church of All Saints, inside the city walls, than later before their leaving, they pulled a precious picture of Our Lady, with all it’s jewellery and decorations and placed it in the boat with which they intended to leave. The miraculous cross, because of the size of the boat they left in the church. Then all of a sudden a big storm started. The waves were coming up from the bottom of the sea toward the sky, with the wind it seemed as all the water mixed with air were going up to the sky. Later, we found out that during this storm at port of Ulcinj seven Turkish galleys were smashed and sunk. Number of others collided with one another. Worried monks, by being scared, thinking that God sent this storm to punish them, immediately returned the picture of Virgin back to the place from where they removed it. After the storm had passed they left the monastery and bells in the bell-tower, and everything else that they possessed, then ran away leaving those sacral objects in the city’s church. That strong wish for survival and life, made them not care for their spiritual promise. They were so united in leaving that even their servants left with them. We have to be fearful of their example, because some of them lost their lives, other had to be rescued with expensive ransoms paid to Neretljani [Narantani]. Next day, after these escapes, two monk impersonators showed up, saying that they came form another Province, and they would like to carry away the paintings of Our Lady. We then chased them away. We told them that they should be ashamed of themselves, if it is possible for them to feel any shame. I am mentioning this along the way, then I am continuing the description of happenings. Our (escapees that were traveling on their own) all of them alive and in good condition arrived at Hvar [Lesina] (town on the next island some 25 miles to the North West), day after, they made it to Zadar [Zara], since they were followed by favourable winds.  

We must tell you what has happened when the Franciscan brothers left. Actually both orders, Franciscans and Dominicans, even a few days earlier, before anyone else ran away. They actually, from their monastery at island of Badia [Scolenum sancti Petri], two miles East of the city, earlier moved their miraculous cross and five paintings of Blessed Virgin. They secured these in Church of All Saints, inside the city walls, than later before their leaving, they pulled a precious picture of Our Lady, with all it’s jewellery and decorations and placed it in the boat with which they intended to leave. The miraculous cross, because of the size of the boat they left in the church. Then all of a sudden a big storm started. The waves were coming up from the bottom of the sea toward the sky, with the wind it seemed as all the water mixed with air were going up to the sky. Later, we found out that during this storm at port of Ulcinj seven Turkish galleys were smashed and sunk. Number of others collided with one another. Worried monks, by being scared, thinking that God sent this storm to punish them, immediately returned the picture of Virgin back to the place from where they removed it. After the storm had passed they left the monastery and bells in the bell-tower, and everything else that they possessed, then ran away leaving those sacral objects in the city’s church. That strong wish for survival and life, made them not care for their spiritual promise. They were so united in leaving that even their servants left with them. We have to be fearful of their example, because some of them lost their lives, other had to be rescued with expensive ransoms paid to Neretljani [Narantani]. Next day, after these escapes, two monk impersonators showed up, saying that they came form another Province, and they would like to carry away the paintings of Our Lady. We then chased them away. We told them that they should be ashamed of themselves, if it is possible for them to feel any shame. I am mentioning this along the way, then I am continuing the description of happenings. Our (escapees that were traveling on their own) all of them alive and in good condition arrived at Hvar [Lesina] (town on the next island some 25 miles to the North West), day after, they made it to Zadar [Zara], since they were followed by favourable winds.  

== News From Ragusa ==

== News From Ragusa ==

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>,'''originally''' 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>,'''originally''' 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 <ref>Wkipedia: Occhiali (Giovanni Dionigi Galeni or Giovan Dionigi Galeni, also Uluj Ali, Turkish: Uluç Ali Reis, later Uluç Ali Paşa and finally Kılıç Ali Paşa; 1519 – 21 June 1587) was an Italian farmer, then Ottoman privateer and admiral, who later became beylerbey of the Regency of Algiers, and finally Grand Admiral (Kapudan Pasha) of the Ottoman fleet in the 16th century.

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  Peljesac [Sabbioncello ''or'' Pelisac]  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 Pelisac]. 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  Peljesac [Sabbioncello ''or'' Pelisac]  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  Peljesac [Sabbioncello or Pelisac]. 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.