Line 160: |
Line 160: |
| | | |
| == Editor's Note on Old Dubrovnik == | | == Editor's Note on Old Dubrovnik == |
| + | Below is the research I have done in the last few years concerning the history of the Croatian Dubrovnik area (for now anyway.... I'm always open to new information). |
| + | |
| + | What I have found (I'm not alone) most of Old Dubrovnik's history is mostly mythical and in modern times heavily politically driven (defined within a political context). |
| | | |
− | The research I have done in the last three years has led me to this conclusion concerning the history of the Dubrovnik Croatian area (for now anyway.... I'm always open to new information).
| |
| ====Conclusion==== | | ====Conclusion==== |
− | '''The''' ancient peoples of Dubrovnik identified themselves as '''Ragusans'''. Latin-Illyrian families created the Republic of Ragusa. Modern theories say that a small town was already there during the times of the Roman Empire (some say even earlier <ref>Note: Recent findings of artefacts in Dubrovnik suggest to be [[Greece|Greek]] in origin.</ref>).
| + | The ancient peoples of Dubrovnik identified themselves as Ragusans. Latin-Illyrian families created the Republic of Ragusa. Modern theories say that a small town was already there during the times of the Roman Empire (some say even earlier 'Greek' <ref>Note: Recent findings of artefacts in Dubrovnik suggest to be [[Greece|Greek]] in origin.</ref>). |
| | | |
− | Refugees from Roman Epidaurus in the 7th century might have helped to 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, 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 might have helped to 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, now extinct Romance language <ref>'''Encyclopedia Britannica''' {{quote| |
| ''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.}} | | ''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.}} |
− | </ref> For centuries Ragusa, was an Italian-City State. | + | </ref>). The Ragusan Dalmatian language disappeared in the 17th century. For centuries Ragusa, was an Italian-City State (at one time part of the Republic of Venice). The City State (then late Republic) become very wealthy, at one stage even rivaling the Republic of Venice. |
| + | |
| + | |
| + | '''The Republic Became a Hub of Multi-Ethnic Communities''' |
| | | |
− | According to Francesco Maria Appendini, Slavic was started to be spoken in Ragusa on '''regular basis''' in the 13th century which means the arrival of Slavs in the City State.<ref>'''Note''': According to Francesco Maria Appendini (Italian scholar from Dubrovnik 1768–1837) the Slavic language started to be spoken in area in the 13th century. The Charter of Ban Kulin mentions ''Dubrovьcane'', meaning people from Ragusa in 1189. This points to a '''even earlier''' Croatian Slavic presence in Ragusa (in the 12th century). The terms around 'Dubrovnik' was most probably started of as a reference to the first Slav citizens of City State of Ragusa who where Croatians. Later it became the cities' modern name.</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=wEF5oN5erE0C&pg=PA299&dq=Ottoman+Diplomacy+When+Ethnicity+did+not+Matter+in+the+Balkans&hl=en&ei=YjzmTa-sF4a6vQOe5_nnCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false When Ethnicity did not Matter in the Balkans:] by John Van Antwerp Fine (p229) | + | According to historian Francesco Maria Appendini, Slavic was started to be spoken in Ragusa on regular basis in the 13th century which means the arrival of Croatian Slavs in the City State (for that time an new minority within the City State itself). <ref>'''Note''': According to Francesco Maria Appendini (Italian scholar from Dubrovnik 1768–1837) the Slavic language started to be spoken in area in the 13th century. The Charter of Ban Kulin mentions ''Dubrovьcane'', meaning people from Ragusa in 1189. This points to a '''even earlier''' Croatian Slavic presence in Ragusa (in the 12th century). The terms around 'Dubrovnik' was most probably started of as a reference to the first Slav citizens of City State of Ragusa who where Croatians. Later it became the cities' modern name.</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=wEF5oN5erE0C&pg=PA299&dq=Ottoman+Diplomacy+When+Ethnicity+did+not+Matter+in+the+Balkans&hl=en&ei=YjzmTa-sF4a6vQOe5_nnCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false When Ethnicity did not Matter in the Balkans:] by John Van Antwerp Fine (p229) |
− | * ''"Discussions between Ottoman officials (many of whom were of Slavic origin) and Ragusan envoys were frequently carried out in “our language” (proto- Serbo- Croatian), and both sides (these particular Ottomans and the Ragusan diplomats)"'' '''Editors Note''': This event as described by John Van Antwerp Fine is from 1608. John Van Antwerp Fine work points out the arrival of Shtokavian Slavic (Hercegovci) speakers to the Republic. Shtokavian Slavic speakers in the end dominated the Slavic speakers within the Republic. </ref> | + | * ''"Discussions between Ottoman officials (many of whom were of Slavic origin) and Ragusan envoys were frequently carried out in “our language” (proto- Serbo- Croatian), and both sides (these particular Ottomans and the Ragusan diplomats)"'' '''Editors Note''': This event as described by John Van Antwerp Fine is from 1608. John Van Antwerp Fine work points out the arrival of Shtokavian Slavic (Hercegovci) speakers to the Republic. Shtokavian Slavic speakers in the end dominated the Slavic speakers within the Republic. </ref> There as suggests that they from the northwest. Also there has been written that Vlachs (Nigri Latini) where using the outer lands for pastoral activity. |
| | | |
| By the 16th and 17th century a large proportion of its ethnic population changed dramatically mainly due to various historical events in Europe as the Ottoman Empire advanced into Europe, migrations from the east started (i.e Eastern Croatians - Hercegovci, Albanians, Montenegrins, Serbs & others etc,). From the west Spanish Jews (Spanish-Jews were expelled in 1493 from Spain), plus the devastating '''impact''' of plague epidemics and the 1667 Dubrovnik earthquake (around 5,000 people were killed). The Republic became a hub of '''multi-ethnic''' communities. The most numerous of these were the Croatian Slavs. The peoples of the Republic started to merge (including mixed marriages). Additionally the Ragusan-Slavic population were Romanised, meaning they adopted Latin Mediterranean culture. A form of [[Italian language|Italian]] was spoken in the Republic, which was heavily influenced by '''Venetian'''. Books were written in Latin and Italian. Some Ragusans started to write in a Slavic language, i.e. Marino Darza (in modern Croatian, Marin Držić). | | By the 16th and 17th century a large proportion of its ethnic population changed dramatically mainly due to various historical events in Europe as the Ottoman Empire advanced into Europe, migrations from the east started (i.e Eastern Croatians - Hercegovci, Albanians, Montenegrins, Serbs & others etc,). From the west Spanish Jews (Spanish-Jews were expelled in 1493 from Spain), plus the devastating '''impact''' of plague epidemics and the 1667 Dubrovnik earthquake (around 5,000 people were killed). The Republic became a hub of '''multi-ethnic''' communities. The most numerous of these were the Croatian Slavs. The peoples of the Republic started to merge (including mixed marriages). Additionally the Ragusan-Slavic population were Romanised, meaning they adopted Latin Mediterranean culture. A form of [[Italian language|Italian]] was spoken in the Republic, which was heavily influenced by '''Venetian'''. Books were written in Latin and Italian. Some Ragusans started to write in a Slavic language, i.e. Marino Darza (in modern Croatian, Marin Držić). |
Line 177: |
Line 182: |
| [[File:800px-Dubrovnik 042.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Dubrovnik once the capital of the Republic of Ragusa now within todays modern [[Croatia]]. The ''Republic'' in the past was a hub of multi-ethnic communities.]] | | [[File:800px-Dubrovnik 042.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Dubrovnik once the capital of the Republic of Ragusa now within todays modern [[Croatia]]. The ''Republic'' in the past was a hub of multi-ethnic communities.]] |
| | | |
| + | Nevertheless the Republic developed a dual character. |
| + | |
| + | '''End of The Republic''' |
| During the '''Napoleonic Wars''' the 'Republic of Ragusa' ceased to be and it became part of the French Empire in '''1808'''. In 1815 it was made a part of the Habsburg Empire (renamed the Austro-Hungarian Empire). The former Republic was within the province of the Kingdom of Dalmatia (Konigreich Dalmatien) and under [[Austria|Austrian]] rule. In essence the Republic's borders collapsed and was occupied. With the opening up of the Republic's borders, peoples who were once foreigners (''or'' even enemies), were now citizens of the Habsburg Empire. | | During the '''Napoleonic Wars''' the 'Republic of Ragusa' ceased to be and it became part of the French Empire in '''1808'''. In 1815 it was made a part of the Habsburg Empire (renamed the Austro-Hungarian Empire). The former Republic was within the province of the Kingdom of Dalmatia (Konigreich Dalmatien) and under [[Austria|Austrian]] rule. In essence the Republic's borders collapsed and was occupied. With the opening up of the Republic's borders, peoples who were once foreigners (''or'' even enemies), were now citizens of the Habsburg Empire. |
| | | |