Dubrovnik
In the 7th century, a group of refugees from Epidaurum fled to a rocky island called Lausa. They founded a settlement that would become Dubrovnik. Archaeological excavations in 2007 revealed an 8th-century Byzantine basilica and parts of the city walls. These findings indicate a large settlement existed at that time. Ancient coins from the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC were also found near the old City port. The name Dubrovnik first appeared in the Charter of Ban Kulin in 1189. It likely derives from a Proto-Slavic word meaning oak or oak wood.
Between the 14th and 18th centuries, Dubrovnik ruled itself as a free state known as the Republic of Ragusa. Its prosperity relied on maritime trade rather than conquest. Merchants traveled freely across the world with a huge fleet of ships called argosy. They adopted a white flag bearing the word Libertas to signal their neutrality. This strategy allowed them to balance sovereignty between Venice and the Ottoman Empire for centuries. In 1418, the republic abolished slave trading and used this moment to adopt the white flag permanently. By 1535, Dubrovnik merchants had settled in Goa, India, founding a colony named Sao Braz. They maintained diplomatic relations with France and even established a colony in Fes, Morocco by 1571.
A catastrophic earthquake struck the city in 1667. Over 5,000 citizens died, and most public buildings were leveled. The disaster negatively affected the well-being of the Republic. In May 1806, French forces under General Jacques Lauriston occupied the neutral Republic of Ragusa. They claimed they needed rest and food before continuing to Kotor. Instead, they seized the city immediately. Russian and Montenegrin troops then entered the territory, raiding and pillaging everything along the way. A siege followed where 3,000 cannonballs fell on the city. Marshal Marmont issued a proclamation abolishing the Republic of Ragusa in 1808. He amalgamated its territory into the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy. Later that year, Ragusa went to the newly created French Illyrian Provinces.
In October 1991, Dubrovnik was attacked by the Yugoslav People's Army. A siege lasted for seven months. The heaviest artillery attack occurred on December 6, killing 19 people and wounding 60. According to the Croatian Red Cross, 114 civilians died during the conflict. Poet Milan Milišić was among those killed. Artillery attacks damaged 56% of the buildings to some degree. The historic walled city sustained 650 hits by artillery rounds. Foreign newspapers criticized for focusing more on building damage than human casualties. The Croatian Army lifted the siege in May 1992. General Pavle Strugar coordinated the attack and received a seven-and-a-half-year prison term from the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Most reconstruction work took place between 1995 and 1999.
The walls of Dubrovnik run almost two kilometers around the city. They are thick on the landward side but thinner on the seaward side. Neapolitan architect Onofrio della Cava completed an aqueduct with two public fountains in 1438. The Big Onofrio's Fountain stands in the middle of a small square near the Pile Gate. Water jets gush out of sixteen mascarons carved into the stone. The Dubrovnik Bell Tower was built in 1444. It features a brass clock face showing moon phases. Two human figures strike the bell every hour. The Sponza Palace dates from the 16th century and houses the National Archives today. The Rector's Palace displays finely carved capitals and an ornate staircase. It now serves as a museum housing historical artifacts.
In 1284, Albanian language was attested for the first time in history within Ragusa. A crime witness testified that they heard a voice crying on the mountain in Albanian. Latin remained the official language until 1472. Italian took root among merchant upper classes due to Venetian influence. Croatian became common in everyday speech by the late 13th century. By 1991, Serbs accounted for 6.8 percent of the population. In the 2011 census, 90.34% identified as Croat. Only 27 people declared themselves as Italians in 2011, representing 0.06% of the total population. The city has produced notable figures like physicist Ruđer Josip Bošković born in 1711. Playwright Marin Držić lived there between 1508 and 1567. Writer Ivan Gundulić resided from 1589 to 1638.
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Common questions
When was the name Dubrovnik first recorded in historical documents?
The name Dubrovnik first appeared in the Charter of Ban Kulin on the 1st of June 1189. This document marks the earliest known written reference to the city.
What happened during the siege of Dubrovnik in 1667?
A catastrophic earthquake struck Dubrovnik in 1667 and killed over 5,000 citizens. Most public buildings were leveled by the disaster and negatively affected the well-being of the Republic.
Who destroyed the Republic of Ragusa in 1808?
Marshal Marmont issued a proclamation abolishing the Republic of Ragusa in 1808. He amalgamated its territory into the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy later that year.
How many civilians died during the attack on Dubrovnik in 1991?
According to the Croatian Red Cross, 114 civilians died during the conflict in 1991. The heaviest artillery attack occurred on the 6th of December and killed 19 people while wounding 60 others.
When did Albanian language appear for the first time within Ragusa?
Albanian language was attested for the first time in history within Ragusa in 1284. A crime witness testified that they heard a voice crying on the mountain in Albanian at that time.