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| | 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| |