Changes

In 1918–1920, a series of '''incidents''' took place in the city of Spalato, today called '''Split''' which is now part of modern [[Croatia]]. The incident was between [[Dalmatian Italians]] and local  Slavs fighting for the control of the city.

In 1918–1920, a series of '''riots''' took place in the city of Spalato, today called '''Split''' which is now part of modern [[Croatia]]. The incident was between [[Dalmatian Italians]] and local  Slavs fighting for the control of the city.

==Political background==

==Political background==

[[Image:antonio.bajamonti.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Antonio Bajamonti-the last Italian major of Split]]

[[Image:antonio.bajamonti.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Antonio Bajamonti-the last Italian major of Split]]

The ''incidents of Spalato'' were a group of violent fights – related to antiitalianism – that happened in Split between 1918 and 1920 and that resulted in the killing of '''Captain Tommaso Gulli''' of the [[Italy|Italian]] navy ship "Puglia" (and a sailor named Aldo Rossi). He was hit on July 11, 1920 and was dead the next morning.

The ''the riots of Spalato'' were a group of violent events – related to antiitalianism – that happened in Split between 1918 and 1920 and that resulted in the killing of '''Captain Tommaso Gulli''' of the [[Italy|Italian]] navy ship "Puglia" (and a sailor named Aldo Rossi). He was hit on July 11, 1920 and was dead the next morning.

These battles belong to a centuries-long struggle for the control of the Adriatic eastern coast between Slavs (mainly Croats and [[Slovenia|Slovenians]]) and Italians. A struggle that hugely increased during the [[Austria|Austro]]-Hungarian Empire, when the Italian irredentism and the Slavic nationalism at the end of the XIX century created a bloody confrontation in the Adriatic area.  

These battles belong to a centuries-long struggle for the control of the Adriatic eastern coast between Slavs (mainly Croats and [[Slovenia|Slovenians]]) and Italians. A struggle that hugely increased during the [[Austria|Austro]]-Hungarian Empire, when the Italian irredentism and the Slavic nationalism at the end of the XIX century created a bloody confrontation in the Adriatic area.  

But on September 12 Gabriele D'Annunzio occupied Rijeka (Fiume)  and later went even to Zadar (Zara). As a consequence the Italian count Fanfogna organized a similar tentative of occupation in Trogir  <ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F1061FFD3D5C1A718DDDA10A94D1405B898DF1D3 New York Times: Count Fanfogna "Dictator" of Trau]</ref> and the Slavs of Split feared something similar was going to happen in their city. Tensions arose and other incidents against the Italians happened in Split in November (the "Caffe Nani" was destroyed and many Italian owned shops were damaged.<ref>G.Menini, ''Passione adriatica. Ricordi di Dalmazia 1918–1920'' p.187-188</ref>)

But on September 12 Gabriele D'Annunzio occupied Rijeka (Fiume)  and later went even to Zadar (Zara). As a consequence the Italian count Fanfogna organized a similar tentative of occupation in Trogir  <ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F1061FFD3D5C1A718DDDA10A94D1405B898DF1D3 New York Times: Count Fanfogna "Dictator" of Trau]</ref> and the Slavs of Split feared something similar was going to happen in their city. Tensions arose and other incidents against the Italians happened in Split in November (the "Caffe Nani" was destroyed and many Italian owned shops were damaged.<ref>G.Menini, ''Passione adriatica. Ricordi di Dalmazia 1918–1920'' p.187-188</ref>)

==== Allies Commission for the Adriatic ====

==== Allies Commission for the Adriatic ====

* British admiral Edward Burton Kiddle

* British admiral Edward Burton Kiddle

* French admiral Jean-Etienne-Charles-Marcel Ratyè

* French admiral Jean-Etienne-Charles-Marcel Ratyè

* Italian admiral Umberto Cagni  

* Italian admiral Umberto Cagni  

==The murder of Captain Tommaso Gulli in Split==

==The murder of Captain Tommaso Gulli in Split==