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This part of Korčula history is very unclear. Nikola Ostojic a 19th century Historian from Korčula describes the actual invasion of the Neretvani Slavs in his [[Directory:Korcula History|book]] ''"Historical Compendium of the Island of Korcula"'' but without a primary historical source which can not be used. The book was written in 1858.

This part of Korčula history is very unclear. Nikola Ostojic a 19th century Historian from Korčula describes the actual invasion of the Neretvani Slavs in his [[Directory:Korcula History|book]] ''"Historical Compendium of the Island of Korcula"'' but without a primary historical source which can not be used. The book was written in 1858.

=== Old Roman cities of Dalmatia ===

=== Old Roman cities of Dalmatia ===

The old Roman cities of Dalmatia; Epidaurum, Narona and Salona which were then part of the Byzantine-Eastern Roman Empire, were destroyed or just abandoned. It is quite possible that townships on Corcyra Nigra (Korčula) had similar fates. This was due to the fact that the cities were not strategically set up for defence from constant invasions. According to various sources both Slavs and Avars participated in these events. The ''Avars'' were a nomadic people from Eurasian who invaded the Balkans  at the same time as the Slavs. In this historic period it is recorded that many of the churches on the island of Korčula were abandoned (or destroyed) and then rebuilt at a later stage. <ref>According to recent studies done at the '''University of Zadar''',  Slavs on the island of Korčula accepted Christianity fully in the 14th century. Reference from: University of Zadar-Sociogeographic Transformation of the Western Part of Korcula Island by Lena Mirosevic-2008 (p161)</ref> The Ostrogoths (a Germanic tribe ''related'' to the Goths) also invaded Dalmatia in the 5th century. They ruled parts of Roman Dalmatia from 480 to 535 AD.

The old Roman cities of Dalmatia; Epidaurum, Narona and Salona which were then part of the Byzantine-Eastern Roman Empire, were destroyed or just abandoned. It is quite possible that townships on Corcyra Nigra (Korčula) had similar fates. This was due to the fact that the cities were not strategically set up for defence from constant invasions. According to various sources both Slavs and Avars participated in these events. The ''Avars'' were a nomadic people from Eurasian who invaded the Balkans  at the same time as the Slavs. In this historic period it is recorded that many of the churches on the island of Korčula were abandoned (or destroyed) and then rebuilt at a later stage. <ref>According to recent studies done at the '''University of Zadar''',  Slavs on the island of Korčula accepted Christianity fully in the 14th century. Reference from: University of Zadar-Sociogeographic Transformation of the Western Part of Korcula Island by Lena Mirosevic-2008 (p161)</ref> The Ostrogoths (a Germanic tribe ''related'' to the Goths) also invaded Dalmatia in the 5th century. They ruled parts of Roman Dalmatia from 480 to 535 AD.

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The new population of Slavs probably settled in the centre of the island and they spoke old Slavic '''Chakavian'''. The centre of the island had its strategic qualities which allowed protection on all sides from attack by sea. It also had fertile land which allowed cultivation.  After the invasion of Slavic tribes, the region stabilised to a certain extent. The Byzantines and the ''Republic of Venice''  and others, started to exert a political economic influence over the region. These events have been recorded historically by both Empires in chronicles of the time.

[[File:740px-Roman provinces of Illyricum, Macedonia, Dacia, Moesia, Pannonia and Thracia.jpg|thumb|right|375px|The Roman province of Dalmatia (pink colour) in the Western Roman Empire. 476 AD]]

The new population of Slavs invaded and then probably settled in the centre of the island. They spoke old Slavic '''Chakavian''' which is the language of the old medieval Croatian Dukes (Latin: "Branimiro comite dux cruatorum cogitavit" c. 880 AD). The centre of the island had its strategic qualities which allowed protection on all sides from attack by sea. It also had fertile land which allowed cultivation.  After the invasion of Slavic tribes, the region stabilised to a certain extent. The Byzantines and the ''Republic of Venice''  and others, started to exert a political economic influence over the region.

 

[[File:740px-Roman provinces of Illyricum, Macedonia, Dacia, Moesia, Pannonia and Thracia.jpg|thumb|right|375px|The Roman province of Dalmatia (pink colour) in the Western Roman Empire. 476 AD]]Dalmatians Romans and the Republic of Venice brought ''Mediterranean cultural'' to the Slavs. Christianity was one aspect of this. In essence Slavs on the island were Romanized (adopted Latin culture).

Dalmatians Romans and the Republic of Venice brought ''Mediterranean cultural'' to the Slavs. Christianity was one aspect of this. In essence Slavs on the island were Romanized (adopted Latin culture).

The 19th and 20th century theories concerning the identity of these early Korčula Slavs seem to be flawed. The latest scholarly and archaeological research <ref>Some of the latest research studies:

The 19th and 20th century theories concerning the identity of these early Korčula Slavs seem to be flawed. The latest scholarly and archaeological research <ref>Some of the latest research studies:

* [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=6UbOtJcF8rQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Becoming+Slav,+Becoming+Croat:+Identity+Transformations+in+Post-Roman+and+Early+Medieval+Dalmatia&hl=en&ei=MLFCTbjaBYaecLnwkf4N&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false Becoming Slav, Becoming Croat:] Identity Transformations in Post-Roman and and Early Medieval Dalmatia by Danijel Dzino

* [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=6UbOtJcF8rQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Becoming+Slav,+Becoming+Croat:+Identity+Transformations+in+Post-Roman+and+Early+Medieval+Dalmatia&hl=en&ei=MLFCTbjaBYaecLnwkf4N&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false Becoming Slav, Becoming Croat:] Identity Transformations in Post-Roman and and Early Medieval Dalmatia by Danijel Dzino

* [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=B2LFRiT1nfYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Venice+and+the+Slavs&hl=en&ei=2r9ETfzgCoS0vwOShpndAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false Venice and the Slavs:] The Discovery of Dalmatia in the Age of Enlightenment by Larry Wolff.</ref> states that the Slavs of Southern Dalmatian were identified as neither Croatians <ref>'''Note''': Recent DNA studies have stated that more than three quarters of today's Croatian men are the descendants of Europeans who inhabited Europe 13 000-20 000 years ago. The first primary source (factual-that its authenticity isn't disputed) to mention the Croatian-Hrvat identity in the Balkans was '''Duke Branimir''' (Latin:'' "Branimiro comite dux cruatorum cogitavit"''  c. 880 AD). Branimir was a Slav from Dalmatia.</ref> or Serbs. The newcomers to Roman Dalmatia were called Slavs by the Greco-Roman community. This term was first used by the Byzantines and was written in the 6th century in Byzantine Greek.   

* [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=B2LFRiT1nfYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Venice+and+the+Slavs&hl=en&ei=2r9ETfzgCoS0vwOShpndAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false Venice and the Slavs:] The Discovery of Dalmatia in the Age of Enlightenment by Larry Wolff.</ref> states that the Slavs of Southern Dalmatian were identified as neither Croatians <ref>'''Note''': Recent DNA studies have stated that more than three quarters of today's Croatian men are the descendants of Europeans who inhabited Europe 13 000-20 000 years ago. The first primary source (factual-that its authenticity isn't disputed) to mention the Croatian-Hrvat identity in the Balkans was '''Duke Branimir''' (Latin:'' "Branimiro comite dux cruatorum cogitavit"''  c. 880 AD). Branimir was a Slav from Dalmatia.</ref> or Serbs. The newcomers to Roman Dalmatia were called Slavs by the Greco-Roman community. This term was first used by the Byzantines and was written in the 6th century in Byzantine Greek.   

Later the Slavic peoples started to identify themselves and separated into different groups (or by others). It seems that in Southern Dalmatia the Slavic identity lasted much longer. As centuries went by Coastal Dalmatian Slavs started to identify themselves as just ''Dalmatians''.

Later the Slavic peoples started to identify themselves and separated into different groups (or by others). It seems that in Southern Dalmatia the Slavic identity lasted much longer. As centuries went by Coastal Dalmatian Slavs started to identify themselves as just ''Dalmatians''.  

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''These three pears you see on the wall," said he, "are the arms of my family. Perussich was the name, when, in the earlier part of the fifteenth century, my ancestors  built this palace; so that, you see, I am Dalmatian. All the family, fathers, sons, and brothers, used to serve in the fleets of the Republic (Editors note: Republic of Venice); but the hero of our race was Arneri Perussich, whose statue you see there, who fought, bled, and died at the Siege of Candia, whose memory was honoured by the Republic, and whose surviving family was liberally pensioned; so his name of our race. We became Arneri, and ceased to be Perussich'' <ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=E_NBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA164&dq=These+three+pears+you+see+on+the+wall,%22+said+he,+%22are+the+arms+of+my+family.+Perussich+was+the+name,&hl=en&ei=AsG-TYzeBIa0vwOH4OWsDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=These%20three%20pears%20you%20see%20on%20the%20wall%2C%22%20said%20he%2C%20%22are%20the%20arms%20of%20my%20family.%20Perussich%20was%20the%20name%2C&f=false Researches on the Danube and the Adriatic:] By Andrew Archibald Paton. Chapter 4. The Dalmatian Archipelago. (p164)

''These three pears you see on the wall," said he, "are the arms of my family. Perussich was the name, when, in the earlier part of the fifteenth century, my ancestors  built this palace; so that, you see, I am Dalmatian. All the family, fathers, sons, and brothers, used to serve in the fleets of the Republic (Editors note: Republic of Venice); but the hero of our race was Arneri Perussich, whose statue you see there, who fought, bled, and died at the Siege of Candia, whose memory was honoured by the Republic, and whose surviving family was liberally pensioned; so his name of our race. We became Arneri, and ceased to be Perussich'' <ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=E_NBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA164&dq=These+three+pears+you+see+on+the+wall,%22+said+he,+%22are+the+arms+of+my+family.+Perussich+was+the+name,&hl=en&ei=AsG-TYzeBIa0vwOH4OWsDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=These%20three%20pears%20you%20see%20on%20the%20wall%2C%22%20said%20he%2C%20%22are%20the%20arms%20of%20my%20family.%20Perussich%20was%20the%20name%2C&f=false Researches on the Danube and the Adriatic:] By Andrew Archibald Paton. Chapter 4. The Dalmatian Archipelago. (p164)

* Andrew Archibald Paton (1811-1874) was a British diplomat and writer from the 19th century.</ref><ref>The Siege of Candia (modern Heraklion-Crete) was a military conflict in which Ottoman forces besieged the Venetian ruled city and were victorious. Lasting from 1648 to 1669, it is conceded by some to be the longest siege in history.</ref>}}  

* Andrew Archibald Paton (1811-1874) was a British diplomat and writer from the 19th century.</ref><ref>The Siege of Candia (modern Heraklion-Crete) was a military conflict in which Ottoman forces besieged the Venetian ruled city and were victorious. Lasting from 1648 to 1669, it is conceded by some to be the longest siege in history.</ref>}}  

Note: Here is a perfect example of a Slavic family surname becoming later Venetian in character. According to Marinko Gjivoje, Perussich in modern Croatian is ''Piruzović''.<ref>Otok Korčula (2nd edition) by Marinko Gjivoje], Zagreb 1969.  

Note: Here is a perfect example of a Slavic family surname becoming later Venetian in character. According to Marinko Gjivoje, Perussich in modern Croatian is ''Piruzović''.<ref>Otok Korčula (2nd edition) by Marinko Gjivoje, Zagreb 1969.  

*The book outlines A-Z about the island of Korcula, from traditions, history, culture to wildlife, politics & geography. (p46-p47): ''Piruzović ''</ref>

*The book outlines A-Z about the island of Korcula, from traditions, history, culture to wildlife, politics & geography. (p46-p47): ''Piruzović ''</ref>