Directory:Korcula History 2

One of Kocula's towers built during the rule of the Republic of Venice. Photo by Peter Zuvela

Dalmatia (the dark purple) within todays modern Croatia The island of Korcula is marked red.

A Korcula postcard from 1902 in Italian. The last Italian language government school was abolished in Korcula on the 13th of September 1876.

If we put aside political correctness, concerning Korcula's history

If we put aside political correctness, one could ask the question (and write about it), what happened to the Roman families when the Slavs invaded the island of Korcula? The Slavic tribes invaded the old Roman Dalmatian province. This part of Korcula's (in Croatian the c in Korcula is pronounced ch and is written "č") history is very unclear. When the Slavic Narentani conquered Corcyra Nigra (modern: Korčula), events could have unfolded for the Roman families as:

• Being attacked, killed and some of the population sold off as slaves.
• The survivors could have fled from Korčula to Ragusa (modern: Dubrovnik), then a place of Roman refuge.
• Maybe some survived and remained on the island or they came back after the Narentani lost control over the island.
• or all the above

To this editor's knowledge there are no existing primary historical sources that actually described the event of Croatian Slavs invading and settling the island of Korčula in the middle ages. It was the Republic of Venice who first mentions Slavic peoples - Narrentanos Sclavos and Corcyra Nigra (modern: Korčula). In the 9th century the Republic of Venice recorded that Narentani or Narentines, who are referred to in modern times as mainly Neretva pirates (Neretvani), started to disrupt Venice's trade with the east (Levant). Later it was established that they had strategically secured the delta of the river Neretva and some of the islands as well as other surrounding areas in southern Dalmatia. Amongst these was the island of Korčula. It took many decades before Venice could minimise the threat from the Narentines - Slavic pirates. It was doge Pietro II Orseolo who took the island for the Republic of Venice in the year 1000. I guess, it is assumed that a group of Slavs remained on the island. In 1262 the Venetians did mention the Slavs and Latins on the island of Korčula. With this reference it also puts the descendants of the Roman Empire on the island.

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. The Ostrogoths (a Germanic tribe related to the Goths) invaded Roman Dalmatia in the 5th century. They ruled parts of Roman Dalmatia from 480 to 535 AD.

According to various sources both Slavs and Avars participated in invading Roman Dalmatia. 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.

Korcula Originally a 'Dalmatian Latin' (Roman) Town

In this editors opinion to-days Korčula was originally a Dalmatian Latin (Roman) town - Corcyra. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, a town was built in the early middle ages as a fortification against invading tribes. The question is then what happened to the town during the occupation of the Narentines Slavs? At this stage from the Editors point of view it is unknown.

With the arrival of the Venetians in the middle ages it became a dual Latin (Romance) and Slavic town.The old town of Korčula continued to evolve as such until the end of the Republic in 1797. The town's old centre is of Venetian construction and many have pointed out its similarities to Venetian architecture. We can safely assume that from the 13th century onwards there were two ethnic communities living on the island in the middle ages, one being descendants of the Roman Empire and the other being of Slavic descent. Two languages, the Romance Latin language called Dalmatian and the old Slavic Chakavian language became the norm on the island. With time these languages started to overlap. The written language was Latin. The fact that Slavs from the then neighbouring Kingdom of Croatia also spoke old Slavic Chakavian could indicate that this group of Slavs once came from the same or closely related tribal group.

Romanized Slavs

The new population of Narentines Slavs that invaded and then probably settled in the centre of the island 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 and culture influence over the region.

The Roman province of Dalmatia (pink colour) in the Western Roman Empire. 476 AD

After the Narentines, the Slavic pirates lost control of the island, Dalmatian Latins and the Republic of Venice brought Mediterranean cultural to the Slavs who remained on the island. 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 mistaken. The latest scholarly and archaeological research states that the Slavs of medieval Southern Dalmatia were not identified upon arrival as Croatians (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 Dalmatians and later as well as Croatians.

There is archaeological evidence from 16th century where the Croatian identity was starting to be used. Stone writings in Zavalatica are dedicated to events from 889 AD. It describes a clash between the Slavic population and the Venetian army. Marinko Gjivoje wrote about the find in 1972. The stone writings use: Hrvat Dalmatinac in its writings. Hrvat means Croat in Croatian.

Korcula Dialect a Record of History

Korčula Dialect is a Croatian dialect from the island of Korčula in Croatia. It reflects a rich history of the island. The language base of the Korčula dialect is Chakavian Croatian (it is also intermixed with Shtokavian). Korčula Dialect has remnants of Romance (Latin) Dalmatian within its dialect and have been referred to as Corzulot. Additionally it has influences of Venetian. Defora in old Venetian means "from the outside".

Korcula Dialect and Venetian (a record of history)

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• adio/ goodbye - Venetian: adio
• afitat/ rent - Venetian: afìt
• ala/ come on - Venetian: ala
• aria/ air - Venetian: aria
• arma/ armed - Venetian: arma
• baba/ grandmother - In Venetian it means nanny
• baleta/ bullet - Venetian: bal
• banda/ side - Venetian side & flank
• balun/football - Venetian: balón
• banak/ bench - Venetian: banca
• baraka/shed or shack - Venetian: baràca
• barba/ uncle - Venetian: barba
• barilo/ barrel - Venetian: barìla
• barka/ type of local boat - Venetian: bàrca
• bareta/ cap, hat - Venetian: bareta
• bat / a type of hammer - Venetian:batu, meaning to strike.
• bevanda/ wine with water- Venetian: bevànda "watery wine"
• beštimat/ swear - Venetian: bestiemàr
• bićerin/ small glass - Venetian: bicér "glass"
• bira/ beer-Venetian: bira
• biskot/ cookies - Venetian: biscot
• boca/ bottle - Venetian:boca
• bonaca/ the sea is dead calm - Venetian: bonàca
• bonbon/ sweet - Venetian: bonbon
• botun/ botton - Venetian: boton
• bova/ bouy - Venetian: bova
• Brigela/ local nickname - Venetian: brighela meaning joker
• britva/ knife- Venetian: britolada
• bura/ northern wind - Venetian: bora
• burin/ light northern wind - Venetian: borin
• buža/ hole - Venetian: bus or buxa
• čorav/ blind - Venetian: ciòro "blind person"
• Defora in old Venetian means "from the outside".
• faca/ face - Venetian: faca
• falso/ fake - Venetian: falso "liar"
• feral/ gas lamp - Venetian: feral "lamp"

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• feta/ slice - Venetian: feta
• figura/ figure - Venetian: figura
• forma/ shape - Venetian: forma
• fabrika/ factory - Venetian: frabica "construction building"
• fumar/ chimney - Venetian: fuma "smoke"
• gusti/ enjoyment - Venetian: gusto "pleasurable"
• karoca/ small carriage - Venetian: carosa carriage
• kartun/ cardboard - Venetian: carton
• kasa/ case - Venetian: casa
• katrida/ chair - Venetian: carega
• klapa/an a cappella form of music - Venetian: clapa "singing crowd"
• kužin/ cousin - Venetian:cuxìn
• licenca/ licence - Venetian: icenca
• lapis/ pencil - Venetian: apis
• lavadin/ washbasin - Venetian: lavandin
• Levant/ strong easterly wind - Venetian: Levantera
• Malandrin/ Local nickname. In Venetian it means: dishonest & crook
• Maragun/ wood worker - Venetian: Marangòn
• mezo/ in between - Venetian: mèzo "half"
• mudante/underwear - Venetian: mudande
• pandur/ policemen - Venetian: panduro
• papit/ this word is used when feeding a child/ (Venetian: papa-means baby food)
• par/ pair - Venetian: par
• perun/ fork - Venetian: pirón from Greek: pirouni
• piat/ plate, dish - Venetian: piat
• pikolo/ small, little - Venetian: picolo
• pirula/ pill - Venetian: pirola
• pistun/ piston - Venetian: piston
• pištol/ pistol - Venetian: pistola
• pitar/ pot - Venetian: pitar (vas, jar)
• pitura/ paint - Venetian: pitura (painting)
• portela/ boat hatch - Venetian: portela (hatch, door)
• šiloko/ local wind - Venetian: siròco
• šporko/ dirty - Venetian: spórco
• šufit/ attic or loft - Venetian: sofìta

Template:Col-end Above referenced from: Venetian-English English-Venetian: When in Venice Do as the Venetians by Lodovico Pizzati

A wooden model of a Venetian Galley with rowers in Museo Storico Navale (navy museum). Photo by Myriam Thyes

Korcula Dialect and Romance Dalmatian (also a record of history)

Korčula Dialect - English - Romance Dalmatian

• botilja/ bottle - Dalmatian: botaila
• botun/ button - Dalmatian: botaun
• dreto/ straight - Dalmatian: drat
• frigati/ to fry - Dalmatian: fregur
• kadena/ chain - Dalmatian: kataina
• kapula/ onion - Dalmatian: kapula
• katrida/ chair - Dalmatian: katraida

Encyclopedia Britannica on Romance Dalmatian:

“	Romance language formerly spoken along the Dalmatian coast from the island of Veglia (modern Krk) to Ragusa (modern Dubrovnik). Ragusan Dalmatian probably disappeared in the 17th century. The Vegliot Dalmatian dialect became extinct in the 19th century.	„

Regarding the Shtokavian

Regarding the Shtokavian dialect below taken from-Land of 1000 Islands by Igor Rudan:

“	However, the clashes between the Ottoman Empire and Venetian Republic produced extensive migrations from the mainland areas, especially from today's Bosnia and Herzegovina, to the eastern parts of the islands of Brač, Hvar, Korčula, and Pag. The newcomers brought their gene pool and a variety of cultural specificities, including the “Shtokavian” dialect of the Croatian language to the predominantly “Chakavian” area. The most extensive migrations to these islands occurred during the Cypriote (1571-1573), Candian (1645-1669), and Morean wars (1684-1699). The newcomers were given land and awarded special privileges “The Paštrović Privileges”.	„

The new arrivals to the island were predominately Slavic Shtokavian speakers. This must have put the Slavic speaks (Old Slavic - Chakavian plus Old Slavic - Shtokavian) on the island in a majority. Venetian was still Lingua franca on the island and must have replaced Latin as the official written language.

When the Serbian forces were annihilated in the Battle of Kosovo by the Ottoman Empire in 1389 a large group of peoples stated to migrate westward. Venetian Dalmatia started to acquire new people in its region (i.e., new Croatians, Serbs, Albanians & others). When the Black Plague depleted the island's population the Venetian authorities saw a need to bring new families to the island of Korčula. Amongst these were Shtokavian Slavic speakers. With these new added migrations the Slavic speakers became a majority (this applies more to west end of the island).

If the translation of the Defence of Korčula 
from Ottoman Turkish attack in 1571, originally written by Antun (Antonio) Rozanovic is untainted, we can see that the majority of the defenders of the island were by 1571 of Slavic decent. If we use this as a reference then from the mid 16th century onwards the majority of Korčula's population was indeed of Slavic origins.

Summary - Historic Classifies of Korcula

• The indigenous population of Korčula were Mesolithic and Neolithic peoples. Archaeological evidence has been found at Jakas Cave near the village of Žrnovo and on the west end of the island in a cave called Vela Spila.
• The island was then settled by Illyrians.
• A Greek colony was founded on Korčula. Greek colonists from Issa (Vis) formed a small colony on the island in the 4th or 3rd century B.C.

Republic of Venice-1796 (Created by MapMaster)

Note A; Lumbarda Psephisma

Lumbarda Psephisma is a stone inscription which documented the event and was found on the island of Korčula. The Greeks (from Issa-Vis) established a settlement on the basis of a prior agreement with the representatives of the local Illyrians who were Pil and his son Daz. A literary work from the 1st century AD "Periegesis Hellados" mentions a second Greek Cnidian colony on the island of Nigra Kerkyra (Korčula). According to Antun (Antonio) Rosanovic (Defence of Korcula in 1571) the Greeks named it Kórkyra Melaena meaning Black Corfu after their homeland and the dense woods on the island. It is not known what the Illyrians called the island.

• The island became part of the Roman province of Illyricum. The Romans called the island Corcyra Nigra. After the Illyrian Wars, Roman migration followed and Roman citizens arrived on the island. The Illyrian population immediately after the Illyrian Wars suffered greatly under the Romans. A large portion of the Illyrians were executed and sold off to slavery. In 10 AD Illyricum was split into two provinces, Pannonia and Dalmatia. Korčula became part of the ancient Roman province of Dalmatia.
• The Ostrogoths (a Germanic tribe related to the Goths) ruled Roman Dalmatia from 480 to 535 AD.
• In the 6th century it came under the Eastern Roman Empire-Byzantine
• Migrations of the early middle ages, brought the Slavic peoples into the Dalmatian region. 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). It is belived that the Narrentanos Sclavos invaded the island and occupied it. The Old-Slavic term for Korčula was Krkar.

Note B: The Narentines

The Narentines, who are referred to today mainly as Neretva pirates (Neretvani), were a nation of pirates. Firstly known as Arentanoi. Modern scholarly research now puts the time of the main invasion of the Slavic tribes in the region to be much later. Archaeological evidence found in the old Roman city of Salon and in particularly the artefacts found at the Old Croatian grave sites in Dalmatia (during recent excavations) seems to confirm this. Some historians have placed the arrival of Slavs now to be more in the region of the late 8th century or even early 9th century. The early sources must have reflected the raid activity of the Slavic tribes within Roman Dalmatia and possibly some early small settlement. In Korčula's case a small group of Slavs (Chakavian speakers) settled on the island in mid 9th century.

• Conquered by the Republic of Venice under the management of the doge Pietro II Orseolo. Venice ruled from 1000 to 1100. The Venetians called the island Curzola.
• Held by the Genoese from 1100 to 1129.
• Recaptured by the Republic of Venice and ruled from 1129 to 1180, from 1252 to 1254, and from 1258 until 1357.
• In 1184 Miroslav, Stefan Nemanja and Costantino, counts of Chelmo (Zahumlje), attempted to conquer Korčula.
• Statute of Korčula was drafted in 1214 (Liber Legum Statutorum Curzola 1214).

Note C: Liber Legum Statutorum Curzola 1214

The Statute itself was probably written by Latin - Dalmatian & Slavic nobility. Originally written in Latin. Oldest known copy is from 1265, also written in Latin. It was later translated to Venetian.

Here is an Historic quote taken from "When Ethnicity Did not Matter in the Balkans" by John Van Antwerp Fine in which it writes about the Slavs and Latins on the island of Korčula (Curzola):

“	In 1262 the Venetian praised the Slavs and Latins on the island of Korcula for submitting to the prince Venice had sent.	„

• Possessed on behalf of the king of Hungary from 1257 and with brief interruptions of the Genoese until 1418.
• Devoting itself of its own accord to the Republic of Venice in 1420.
• In 1483, during the war between Republic of Venice and Ferrara (1482 — 1484), King Ferdinand of Naples sent a fleet to conquer Korčula. It was defeated under the Governor Giorgio Viario.
• Korčula was devastated by the plague in 1529 and 1558.
• Defence of Korcula in 1571 against Ottoman Turks.
• Surrendered with the Republic of Venice to France in 1797. (It was occupied by the Russians for a year in 1808.)

One of the old graves in Blato (Korcula) written in Italian. Photo by Peter Zuvela

• British rule from 1813 to 1815 under the command of Peter Lowen.
• Occupied by Austria (Habsburg Empire - later renamed the Austro-Hungarian Empire), first by obligation from 1797 to 1806, later by the Vienna Treaty from 1815 to 1918.
• Sir John Gardner Wilkinson in his book 'Dalmatia and Montenegro' (his travels during 1844 - published in 1848) writes: "The Isle of Curzola is called in Illyric Korçula ..... "
• Historic quote taken from Researches on the Danube and the Adriatic written by Andrew Archibald Paton in 1861. Chapter 4 - The Dalmatian Archipelago on page 164. Signor Arneri from the town of Korčula stated:

“	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; 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. (Editors note: Republic of Venice)	„

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.

• The last Italian language government school was abolished in Korčula on the 13th of September 1876.
• Under the Treaty of Rapallo between Italy and Kingdom of Serbia, Croatia & Slovenia (Nov. 12, 1920), Korčula became part of the Kingdom of Serbia, Croatia & Slovenia which was renamed Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II Dalmatia was divided between three republics of Communist Yugoslavia. Most of the territory went to Croatia.
• In 1991 Korčula became part of the independent Republic of Croatia.

Additional:

• Venetian citizens and Ragusan (today Dubrovnik region) families migrated to the island.
• Croatian (and other groups) migrations in 16th and 17th century caused by the Ottoman invasions.

Korcula History - There Needs to be an Historical Reassessment

Trying to re-tell the history of this part of the world (old Dalmatia part of Croatia) is fraught with problems. The Yugoslav Communist party created historic falsehoods to promote its own aggressive political authoritarian agenda.

In the 19th century the island became heavily influenced by Pan-Slavism and the Croatian Nationalistic movements. Pan-Slavism was later in the 20th century reinforced by the Yugoslavian governments. The Communist Yugoslavian regime (1945-92) had a huge influence on the island of Korčula and the historic region of Dalmatia. The Yugoslav Communist party was the main driving force in all social matters within the former Yugoslavia. Its Stalinist policies from the 1940s to the 1960s and authoritarian rule have been mostly ignored in the Western media. From the late 19th century onwards the Dalmatian Italians culture has all but disappeared from the region.

There needs to be an historical reassessment.

Paul Hollander:

“	Public attitudes in former communist countries have been conflicted because of the arguable complicity of many citizens in keeping the old system in power. A predominant attitude in Eastern Europe and Russia toward the former communist systems has been a mixture of oblivion, denial, and repression	„

Surname List from 1830's Korcula (Christening book)

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• Anzulovic (Anzulovic, Anzulovich)
• Basic (Bashich, Basich, Bassich, Basic)
• Batistic (Batistic, Batistich, Battistich, Battisich)
• Bello (Belo)
• Bercic (Bercic, Bercich)
• Bernardi
• Bertoleto (Bertoletto)
• Bonvardo (Bonguardo, Bonuardo)
• Budol (Bodol, Budoll, Bodoll)
• Buja (Buya, Boya)
• Calugera (Kalogjera, Callogera, Callugera)
• Carlesi (Carlessi, Karlesi, Karlessi)
• Damjanovic (Damjanovic, Damjanovich, Damyanovich)
• Depolo (Depollo)
• Despotovic (Despotovic, Despotovich)
• Devecchi (Davechi, Devechi)
• Druskovic (Druskovic, Druskovich, Druscovich)
• Fabris (Fabriss)
• Filipi (Filippi, Fillipi, Fillippi)
• Foretic (Foretic, Foretich)
• Franasovic (Franasovic, Franasovich, Franassovich)
• Gericic (Gericic, Gericich, Gerichich, Jerisich)
• Giasic (Giasic, Giasich, Giassich)
• Giunio (Junio, Gunio, Junnio, Gunnio)
• Grasic (Grasic, Grasich, Grassich)
• Guljelmi (Gulermi)
• Ivancevic (Ivancevic, Ivancevich, Ivanchevich)
• Jericevic (Jericevic, Jericevich, Yericevich, Yerichevich)
• Jurjevic (Jurjevic, Jurjevich, Yuryevic, Yuryevich)

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• Kapor (Capor, Kaper, Caper, Kappor, Cappor)
• Kastelan (Kastelan, Kastellan, Castelan, Castellan)
• Klesara (Klessara, Clesara, Clessara, Clesarra, Klesarra)
• Klisura (Klissura, Klesura, Klessura)
• Kondenal (Condenal, Condinnal)
• Kuspilic (Kuspilic, Kuspilich)
• Lovricevic (Lovricevic, Lovrecevich)
• Medin (Meddin)
• Medini (Meddini, Medinni)
• Okmasic (Okmasic, Okmasich)
• Paunovic (Paunovic, Paunovich, Panovich, Pannovich)
• Perucic (Perucic, Perucich, Perusich, Peruchich)
• Pesic (Pesic, Pessic, Pessich, Pesich, Peshich)
• Petrusic (Petrusic, Petrusich, Petrasich, Petrushich)
• Portolan (Portollan, Pertolan)
• Sardi
• Sesa (Sessa)
• Sladoevic (Sladoevic, Sladoevich, Sladovich)
• Smrkinic (Smrkinich, Smerkinich, Smerkenich)
• Sponseli (Sponselli)
• Tanisic (Stanisic, Stanisich, Stanissich, Stannisich)
• Tasovac (Tasovatz)
• Trojanis (Troyanis, Troyannis, Troyaniss)
• Vilovic (Vilovic, Vilovich, Villovich)
• Vitaic (Vitaich)
• Zafron (Safron)
• Zmaic (Zmaic, Zmaich, Smaich)

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Plus, surnames on the island that are not of Slavic origin

for example:

• Izmaeli - originally de Ismael
• Gabrijeliċ - originally Gabriel
• Đunio - originally de Giunio
• Bonguardo
• Depolo
• Sambrailo
• Jakov Baničević - originally Jacobus Bannissius
• Don Marko Bono of Žrnovo
• D'Angelis
• Sessa
• Bernardi
• Fabris
• Vidali - surname of a noble family from the 16th century.
• Buskariol
• Surjan (Ita: Surian, from the Middle East)
• Zuvela

Dalmatia's Coat of arms

Statement by Croatian Historian Sime Peričić in which he mentions " colony of Italians" on the island:

“	It is true, then a small colony of Italians where in Sibenik, on the island of Korcula, Hvar and Vis, and other places of the province.	„

Above taken from www.croatia-in-english.com Korcula names-Tom Ninkovich.

Chronology-Korcula Languages

• Illyrian (Delmatae) • Greek • Latin (Romans) • Romance Dalmatian (Latin) • Slavic (Old Chakavian) • Venetian • Slavic - Old Shtokavian • Italian (standardise language arrived) • Serbo-Croatian (standardise language) Modern times: Croatian (standardise language)

Town of Korcula

See also

• Korcula Dialect
• Defence of Korcula
• Croatian Slavic Identity
• Dalmatian Italians
• Korcula and Italian Wikipedia
• Yugoslavia and Communism

Notes and References

Encyclopaedia Britannica's (publ. 1911): Article on Korčula from 1911

“	Curzola, the capital and principal port, is a fortified town on the east coast, and occupies a rocky foreland almost surrounded by the sea. Besides the interesting church (formerly a cathedral), dating from the 12th or 13th century, the loggia or council chambers, and the palace of its former Venetian governors, it possesses the noble mansion of the Arnieri, and other specimens of the domestic architecture of the 15th and 16th centuries, together with the massive walls and towers, erected in 1420, and the 15th-century Franciscan monastery, with its beautiful Venetian Gothic cloister. The main resources of the islanders are boat-building (for which they are celebrated throughout the Adriatic), fishing and seafaring, the cultivation of the vine, corn and olives, and breeding of mules. In 1571 it defended itself so gallantly against the Turks that it obtained the designation fidelissima. From 1776 to 1797 it succeeded Lesina as the main Venetian arsenal in this region. During the Napoleonic wars it was ruled successively by Russians, French and British, ultimately passing to Austria in 1815.	„

A 19th century engraving of a Venetian galley fighting a Genoese fleet at the battle of Curzola in 1298. The Granger Collection-England

External links

• Photo link for a aerial view of Korcula Town
• Korcula Info
• Vela Luka-Mediterano
• Wikipedia: Battle of Curzola
• University of Zadar (Sveučilište u Zadru-Universitas Studiorum Jadertina)
• University of Zagreb (Sveučilište u Zagreb)

Defaced Photo by Peter Zuvela

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