Refugees from Roman Epidaurus in the 7th century turned it into a fortified city. Over the centuries, it became a City State importantly called Ragusa. Later it became a Republic (1358), also importantly called Republic of Ragusa (Latin version: Communitas Ragusina ''then'' renamed Respublica Ragusina). The early medieval City State had a population of Romans and Latinized Illyrians, who spoke '''Latin'''. With time it evolved into the Dalmatian language (Ragusan Dalmatian) , a now extinct Romance language. The Ragusan Dalmatian language disappeared in the 17th century.<ref>'''Encyclopedia Britannica''' {{quote| | Refugees from Roman Epidaurus in the 7th century turned it into a fortified city. Over the centuries, it became a City State importantly called Ragusa. Later it became a Republic (1358), also importantly called Republic of Ragusa (Latin version: Communitas Ragusina ''then'' renamed Respublica Ragusina). The early medieval City State had a population of Romans and Latinized Illyrians, who spoke '''Latin'''. With time it evolved into the Dalmatian language (Ragusan Dalmatian) , a now extinct Romance language. The Ragusan Dalmatian language disappeared in the 17th century.<ref>'''Encyclopedia Britannica''' {{quote| |