The History of Dubrovnik
During the 14th and 15th century Dubrovnik was the most powerful maritime center of the Adriatic Sea.
Over the years, the city of Dubrovnik had a really successful development, especially due to its geographical position and economy that was based on merchant and maritime industry.
When you enter the Adriatic Sea, the first island that is on the maritime route you will see is Dubrovnik. Latest research done by reputable archaeologists has shown that the community was established in the 6th century and even earlier, which existed under the city that stands today proud of its rich history and culture. The settlement expanded when the Croats arrived in the 7th century and abandoned today’s Cavtat (ancient Epidaurus).
The inflation between the West and East both during and after the Crusade wars raised the development or mercantile and centers and maritime industry through the Adriatic Sea and Mediterranean in the 12th and 13th centuries. Dubrovnik was one of the cities that bloomed during that time. In 1358, The Zadar Treaty liberated Dubrovnik from Venetian rule which was important for further successful development of the city. The other cities in Dalmatia never achieved the development that Dubrovnik did, which made them fall under Venetian rule in 1420.
During the 14th and 15th century, alongside Ancona and Venice, Dubrovnik became the most powerful maritime center of the Adriatic Sea. Due to this, Dubrovnik broadens its geographical territory by buying land from Klek in the northern part to Sutorina, islands Lastovo, Mljet, Lokrum and Elaphite.
Legally, the Dubrovnik Republic was achieved and established by the end of the 15th century. This brought Dubrovnik the sovereign election of councilors and a rector, a state flag which had an image of St. Blaise, the brand new currency and the right to organize consulates abroad.
Dubrovnik in the Middle Ages
According to the Aristocratic structure and constitution, Dubrovnik Republic’s state authority was placed on the Great Council, which was created by the Dubrovnik’s aristocratic families. In return, they named the members of the Small Council and the Senate. Both were the executive bodies of the Great Council. The Rector was a formal symbol of authority and was named on a monthly basis.
Dubrovnik perfected its defensive mechanism by broad consular activities and solely using their diplomacy skills
In the 15th century, Dubrovnik had enjoyed a well-established and organized transit trade route with Balkan. Due to the strong Turkish policies in the Balkans, in 1525, the Dubrovnik Republic determined to accept to pay the tribute to Turkish tutelage. In return, they secured their right to trade freely through the entire Turkish Empire, with only 2% of customs duty. Since they had no army, this way, Dubrovnik perfected its defensive mechanism by broad consular activities and solely using their diplomacy skills. They maintained their independence by staying neutral in all international conflicts and using the tutelage of two dominant countries – the Vatican and Spain. The Venetian Republish remained their only enemy and long-lasting rival.
In the 16th century, the Dubrovnik Republic entered its golden age. It was a time when the glory and the power of the Venetian Empire was on decrease as its affluence was based solely on the maritime industry and trade while Dubrovnik merchant navy reached world levels with a high quality fleet of 200 ships. Over time, more and more, larger ships were built such as novels, coasters and galleys which made more dangerous and longer routes and journeys through the Black Sea, Mediterranean and ocean journeys possible. They even reached America and India. This made Dubrovnik a world-renowned maritime and trade industry country.
The feeling of freedom, security and material prosperity helped shape a humanist culture of Dubrovnik locals that further inspired their creativity. The Republic reached its glorious architectural and urban peak of development that has been kept to the present day. Dubrovnik became world-known for its poetry and literature with some of the world-famous names such as Ivan Gundulic and Marin Drzic, in science with Ruder Boskovic and other fields of culture and art.
Dubrovnik before the earthquake in 1667
In the 17th century, the Mediterranean maritime was affected by the general crisis and Dubrovnik was no exception. The destructive earthquake that happened in 1667 throw Dubrovnik in a razor period where everyone fought for political independence and its survival in general.
In the 18th century, Dubrovnik gained an opportunity to revive in the economics of maritime trade under a neutral flag until Napoleon made the Dubrovnik Republic disappeared from maps in 1808.
Dubrovnik in early 20th century
In 1815, at the Vienna Congress, it was decided that the Dubrovnik region will be joined to other parts of Croatia and Dalmatia. Since that time, Dubrovnik shared the same political fate as Dalmatia and Croatia. It was subsequently to Serbian aggression on Croatian territory due to its declaration of independence and was attacked in October of 1991. The Montenegrins and Serbians intended to destroy and conquer the entire region by ambushing and attacking with the most destructive force the world had never seen till then. After their attack, Dubrovnik was destroyed, devastated and occupied. The siege lasted 8 months and the city was heavily bombarded. December 6th, 1991 was remembered as the day when Dubrovnik was the most brutally attacked.
Nowadays, all the cultural heritage that was devastated in war has been restored and repaired. The most important assets of the cultural events such as Dubrovnik Summer Festival, hotels and other crucial sites have been renovated for the development of modern tourism.
History celebrations and folk customs
Dubrovnik’s Day – Saint Blaise Festivity
This day is dedicated to beloved Dubrovnik’s patron saint – Saint Blaise. The statue of an old man that carries the city of Dubrovnik in his hand decorate city entrances and the city walls. This is a special day for the Dubrovnik city ever since 972 when the first celebration was held.
On this day, churchgoers come in all Dubrovnik areas to mark this day, dressed in their national costumes. They salute to the patron saint by carrying their emblems and twirling the banners so they don’t touch the ground.
The morning holy mass brings people from all around the country, making the church overcrowded. After the holy mass, the street Ulica of puča comes to life in a procession of churchgoers and priests that line up for this spectacular procession. They carry the Byzantine crown of Saint Blaise, the leg and hand reliquaries, the shroud of Jesus Christ and the holy monstrance. After the procession walks through the famous Stradun (the main street of Dubrovnik) it returns to the church.
The ruins of the once beautiful church of Saint Stephen are tied to one of the most known and beautiful legends of this stone city. According to the legend, on the eve of February 3d, 971, Venetian ships anchored before the Dubrovnik’s city walls to get a free access to this medieval town pretending to anchoring just to stock up on water and food for their after-journey. Nonetheless, the Venetian spies saw the number of guards that were guarding the city walls as well as the amount of weapons in their arsenal. While they carefully planned their attack, in the middle of the night, a parish priest Stojko was going back from the city square to the church of Saint Stephen and found the church open with troops of a heavily armed army that was led by an old man who requested the priest to inform the city fathers that Venetians are here to attack Dubrovnik. The old man who warned them was the one that repelled them from the city on his own with his army. He was captured as a bishop and when priest Stojko asked him for his name he simply said “Vlaho”. That winter night, Dubrovnik got its patron – Saint Blaise (Sveti Vlaho).
It’s hard to determine what is more beautiful in this procession. Everything looks like Dubrovnik’s returned to its old traditional ancient times. The focus is on colourful church banners and the group of people playing the traditional trombone and carrying broad, short rifles on their shoulders which Dubrovnik’s residents often used to scare their enemies.
The opening of the city gates
The following year (in 972), Dubrovnik began to hold public celebrations to their patron saint. They built him a church near the city gates so that he always “keeps them safe”. An entire century of freedom and prosperity would pass. In 1026, the first remains of Saint Blaise were brought to Dubrovnik. It is known that he died as Diocletian (the emperor) and lived in Sebaste in Cappadocia in the 3d century.
The residents marked this date as their biggest holiday – a day when their city gates are open to all churchgoers and friends to the city.
Formerly, the Rector would wrap the Diocletian’s palace in a red toga while the main bishop would hold a mass for all those who came to celebrate their Saint. From nobles to plebeians. On the street, in front of the palace, the market-maidens danced with their baskets full of oranges, freshly baked cakes and rolls and figs. The entire city was festively decorated, especially the main street.
The Saint that indicates spring
During the next thousand years almost anything changed with the patron saint celebration in this remarkable city with rich history. Although, Dubrovnik didn’t have its Rector no more, nor nobility, the Rectors Palace is still standing there, not to mention the baroque Church of Saint Blaise and a well known Dubrovnik Cathedral.
Every year on 2 February, Dubrovnik residents celebrate the Virgin Mary Candlemas. There is an old saying that when almost all Europe is under the snow, Dubrovnik is “snowed” with flowers such as mimosas, narcissus flowers and sunny days. Every morning on that day priests release white pigeons, say prayers and bless everyone with 2 intertwined candles shaped in a cross. The priests raise a silver monstrance made by the Dubrovnik’s goldsmiths from a saint’s (known as a miracle-worker who had the power to heal with his touch) throat bone to their lips.
On that day, churchgoers from all around the places come to Dubrovnik, dressed in their national costumes carrying their church emblems.
Dubrovnik Musket-bearing Guard of Honour
There’s no major event in Dubrovnik where Dubrovnik Musket-bearing Guard of Honour is not participating. The members of this guard carry wide, light guns that the people of Dubrovnik usually used to scare their enemies and to warn the residents that something’s happening in Dubrovnik, something important! That tradition is very much alive today. The Musket-bearing Guard of Honour is never firing the city walls.
According to the old documents, the rich and long history of the musket-bearers dates back to the 16th century, however, today’s members claim that it was in 1417 when
Dubrovnik Musket-bearing Guard of Honour was founded. The guard was active during the World War I, but was stopped during the reign of Austro-Hungarians. In 1970 the musket-bearers re-established their guard and till this day have been active.
Their ceremony during the Croatian War of Independence at the Festivity of Saint Blaise in 1992 was moving and will never be forgotten. It was that one time when the entire guard walked gracefully with the olive tree branches tucked in their muskets barrels.
The History of Jews in Dubrovnik
There are some important happenings in the history of Dubrovnik that majorly left mark in Dubrovnik’s culture and heritage that, today, can be found all over Dubrovnik’s museums. It was the history of Jewish people who left their mark. So we decided to extract those pieces of history in short in order to give you a better view of how Jews history impacted today’s lives and heritage of this walled city.
16th century to 19th century
After the Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492, many of the them went east and settled in the independent city of Dubrovnik, where was a small Jewish community already established. Many Marranos (Jews from Portugal and Spain) came to Dubrovnik in May, 1544, by ship. The ship also brought famous Portuguese refugees, from King John to Balthasar de Faria. During that time, in the city worked one of the most famous bell and cannon builders and founders of this time, Ivan Rabljanin (Magister Johannes Baptista Arvensis de la Tolle). Many Jews became craftsmen and traders whose specialty was dealing with various crafts, silk, fabrics, textiles and spices that were in demand at this trade seaport city. In 1546, Dubrovnik officials granted a Jewish settlement within Dubrovnik, in the main street (the Dubrovnik Getto) that has being called “Ulica Zudioska” (“The Jewish Street”) In the 1667, the earthquake caused many damages to the city, including their Synagogue.
Jews were still harassed and tormented in the places around Dubrovnik that was under the Venetian law and the local Catholic church. When Dubrovnik’s economic power and position decreased in the mid-18h century, all Jews were forbidden from working in commerce and banned to the ghetto with limited access. When Dubrovnik and Dalmatia were under Napoleon’s occupation in 1808 which essentially ended in Dubrovnik Independence, Jewish people obtained their legal equality for the first time in history of Dubrovnik. Nevertheless, when the Austrian Empire added Dalmatia in 1814, legal equality of Jews was withdrawn again. In the mid-late 19th century, Jews were granted their legal equality under Croatian law.
20th century and after
At the time of the World War II, Croatia was ruled by fascists – the walled city was occupied by the Italian army first, and then by the German army in September 1943. At that time, in the city lived 250 Jews and many were deported and transferred to the Lopud island along with Jews from other places of Croatia. In June 1943 Jews were re-located to the concentration camp on the island of Rab with most Jews coming from Italian-occupied lands. They were once again transferred in October 1944 when Josip Broz Tito’s Partisans entered Dubrovnik to free the territory. Some of the Jews were captured by the Germans and sent to concentration camps in Germany. After the war finished, many of the Dubrovnik Jews that survived, settled in Israel. Today, roughly 30 Jews live in Dubrovnik, however, only 17 of them are officially registered in the census that happened in 2001.
During the Croatian War of Independence, the city was besieged by the Montenegrin and Serbian paramilitary force (the Siege of Dubrovnik). Roughly, ⅔ of Dubrovnik was destroyed, including the synagogue, where grenades and shells hit the buildings in 1991, shattering the windows of the Jewish Community Headquarters and sanctuary. In 1992, an artillery shell hit through the synagogue roof, when a small group of people packed over 80 items, including textiles and silver ornaments and a 13th-century old Torah, and send it to the Yeshiva University museum. When the war ended, a former president of Dubrovnik community, Manhattan doctor Michael Papo led a legal battle with a direct descendant of Tolentino family who was, at that time, the leader of the Dubrovnik Jewish community Dr. Bruno Horowitz and the Croatian state over the treasures inside the synagogue. At the end, in 1998, a Croatian court ruled that all treasures should be returned to Dubrovnik.
Today, considering the fact that there is a small number of Jewish people living in Dubrovnik, the synagogue does not have its own rabbi. On holy days, a visiting rabbi conducts services for the small Jewish community. In 2003, Israeli president Moshe Katsav, on his visit to Croatia visited the Dubrovnik synagogue and payed respect to all Jews who lived in Dubrovnik through the history.