Difference between revisions of "Directory talk:Korcula History 2"

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== Directory talk is my work page ==
 
== Directory talk is my work page ==
  
* Nikola Ostojic - 1858 : ''"Because of the islands dark appearance of its woods it was called Corcira Melaena"'' referring to the Greeks.
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==The Roman population on Korcula island where Dalmatian Latins - Known Data==
* Romans-Latin: Corcyra Nigra
+
 
=====The link for Korcula History 2 is[[Directory:Korcula History 2| ''here'' !]]=====
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During and post Roman Empire the population on Korcula island where Dalmatian Latins who spoke Romance Dalmatian (developed from Vulgar Latin). They were there for centuries.  
====Some of the latest research studies====
+
 
* [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=6UbOtJcF8rQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Becoming+Slav,+Becoming+Croat:+Identity+Transformations+in+Post-Roman+and+Early+Medieval+Dalmatia&hl=en&ei=MLFCTbjaBYaecLnwkf4N&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false Becoming Slav, Becoming Croat:] Identity Transformations in Post-Roman and and Early Medieval Dalmatia by Danijel Dzino
+
In effect now a forgotten people.
* [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=wEF5oN5erE0C&printsec=frontcover&dq=When+Ethnicity+did+not+Matter+in+the+Balkans&hl=en&ei=Xr9ETaLAN4--uwO7j8SDAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false When Ethnicity did not Matter in the Balkans] by John Van Antwerp Fine.
+
 
* [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=B2LFRiT1nfYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Venice+and+the+Slavs&hl=en&ei=2r9ETfzgCoS0vwOShpndAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false Venice and the Slavs:] The Discovery of Dalmatia in the Age of Enlightenment by Larry Wolff.
+
* Then Narrentanos Sclavos arrived on the island in the late ninth century who where related to the Croats (they spoke old Croatian Chakavian).
* [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=kMXURN7sxh4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+Italians+of+Dalmatia&hl=en&ei=nHKeTfmUCITUvQPk8umFBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false The Italians of Dalmatia:] From Italian Unification to World War I by Luciano Monzali
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* [http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:h3G9qKrId_cJ:hrcak.srce.hr/file/56638+University+of+Zadar-Sociogeographic+Transformation+of+the+Western+Part+of+Korcula+Island+by+Lena+Mirosevic-2008/page+161&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=au&client=safari&source=www.google.com.au University of Zadar - Sociogeographic Transformation of the Western Part of Korcula Island] by Lena Mirosevic
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* In 1262 the Venetians did mention the Slavs and Latins on the island of Korcula which means they lived side by side.
* [http://74.125.155.132/scholar?q=cache:0KTm8yjG-K8J:scholar.google.com/+Mirko+Dindic&hl=en&as_sdt=0,5 Identity “ConflIct” of Dalmatian Italians] by Mirko Dindic (hrcak.srce.hr)
+
 
 +
Latin was the written language of States and Roman Catholic Churches. Later we have Venetian Italian. It has been written many, many times that they, the Croatians, settled on Korcula and assimilated the remains of the Romans and quickly and firmly spread the Croatian language. This interpretation of history in modern times is a heavily politically driven and defined within a political context and agenda. Perspectives of the Pan-Slavism and Nationalistic movements.
 +
 
 +
The Statute of Korcula was drafted in 1214 (Liber Legum Statutorum Curzola 1214), and most likely the first one was written by the Korcula Latins.
 +
 
 +
===Islands Diminishing Population During its Long history Brings More New Peoples===
  
 +
Konstantin Porfirogenet, the Xth century Byzantine emperor, whilst consolidating his empire, writes:
  
----
+
"''Four islands lie nearby: Mljet, Korcula, Hvar, Brac, very beautiful and fertile with many deserted towns and meadows; the inhabitants live from cattle raising ... They have in their power these islands: Korcula or Krkar, on which there is a town.''"
{{GKAnt}}
 
{{GKAdBrite}}
 
{{OMGlinks}}
 
== A Bit of Dalmatian History ==
 
*The National Party (Narodnjaci) from the Kingdom of Dalmatia (Austro-Hungarian Empire). The second half of the 19th century and early 20th century.
 
  
{{Cquote|''According to Costant (Kosta) Vojnovic, one of the principal Dalmatian Slavophile intellectuals, Dalmatia was part of the 'Slav-Hellenic' peninsula and was populated exclusively by the ' Slav race'; there were no Italians in Dalmatia, and so it was necessary to 'nationalize' the schools, the administration, and the courts in order to erase the traces left by Venetian rule and damage it caused. The Italian culture could survive only within the limits of Slav national character of the country and, in any case, without any recognition as a autochthonus element of Dalmatian society.'' <ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=kMXURN7sxh4C&pg=PA65&dq=The+Italians+of+Dalmatia+autochthonous+element+of+dalmatian+society&hl=en&ei=56efTe3kBJTKcaas0fAB&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=The%20Italians%20of%20Dalmatia%20autochthonous%20element%20of%20dalmatian%20society&f=false The Italians of Dalmatia:] From Italian Unification to World War I by Luciano Monzali (p65)</ref>}}
+
Islands diminishing population during its long history might have been an issue since the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. It becomes more clearer with the the arrival of the Republic of Venice. Wars and many plagues where part of the island's history. More migrations from the east from 15th century onwards started to happen. Eastern Croatians - Hercegovci and Montenegrins. There presence influenced the local Croatian language with Croato-Serbian elements.  
  
'''Note''': The National Party (Narodnjaci) had very interesting policies. They seem to be German Nazism, Fascism and  Communism all in one. One could say Kosta Vojnović predicted future events.
+
Based on recent DNA studies migration also came from the west; Istria and Veneto areas. From the eastern mediterranean and further people came to the Republic of Venice from the Greek colonies, Armenians, Middle East etc.  
  
*Lena Mirosevic; Department of Geography, University of Zadar on Old Croatian cemeteries & churches:
+
The island was from 1420 to 1797 part of the Republic of Venice and her Slavic and Latin peoples become servants to the Republic.
  
{{Cquote|''It appears that the 7th and the 8th century marked the ending of many cult locations in an area short of reliable archaeological traces of that time. Sacral buildings were mostly abandoned before the arrival of the Slavs i.e. Croats on the Adriatic coast. Apparently, it wasn’t until the 14th and the 15th century that the worship of the old protectors was restored, but in new churches and chapels at safer locations in the interior of the island. There are no traces of any old Croatian cemeteries, and this fact itself providesan insight into the processes of settling Korcula Island in the early Middle Ages''.<ref>[http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:h3G9qKrId_cJ:hrcak.srce.hr/file/56638+University+of+Zadar-Sociogeographic+Transformation+of+the+Western+Part+of+Korcula+Island+by+Lena+Mirosevic-2008/page+161&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=au&client=safari&source=www.google.com.au Sociogeographic Transformation of the Western Part of Korcula Island] by Lena Mirosevic; Department of Geography, University of Zadar</ref>}}
+
The communities of the island, no matter of their origins, had to a certain extant incorporate Mediterranean Latin cultural. It can be also said they develop their own unique  Mediterranean Latin cultural.  
  
== Wikipedia and Korcula ==
+
This uniques slowly started to disappear with the collapsed of the Republic of Venice in 1797.
* Wikipedia and Korcula-Town: {{Cquote|''Korčula, like other islands and many coastal cities in Dalmatia, also displays a dual Latin-Slav culture which developed from the late Roman era to the emergence of the modern Croatian state. Until the late 19th century, Italians made up the vast majority of the population of Korčula town while the rest of the island was almost completely inhabited by Croatians. The island therefore possesses a distinct Adriatic or Mediterranean cultural personality which sets it apart from the mountainous Dalmatian hinterland and continental Croatia further north.'' (dated 9/4/2011)<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korčula_(town)#Culture Wikipedia: Korcula (town)]</ref>}}
 
==Surnames on the west end of the island around Around 1600s==
 
*de '''Ismael''' (Croatisation: Izmaeli)
 
*de '''Gabriel''' (Croatisation:Gabrijeliċ)
 
*de '''Giunio''' (Croatisation:Đunio)
 
*de '''Canavel''' (Croatisation:Kanavelić). He signed himself as'' Pietro Canaveli'' or De Canavellis.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=HRgdAAAAMAAJ&q=De+Canavellis.&dq=De+Canavellis.&hl=es&cd=6 Vjesnik za arheologiju i historiju dalmatinsku, Vol.16-17, 1893]</ref>
 
*de '''Arneri'''
 
*Nikonitia ''or'' Nikoničić ''(according to Zvonko Maričić this is a Croatian family)''
 
* Kolović
 
* Draginić ''(Drahinei)''
 
* Tulić
 
* Nalošić
 
* Kostričić
 
* Cettineo (Croatisation:Cetinić)
 
* Mirošević
 
* Xuvella (Croatisation:Žuvela)
 
* Prižmić
 
* Marinović
 
* Dragojevič
 
* Barčot
 
* Surjan ''(Surian)''
 
* Jacobus Bannissius (Croatisation:Jakov Baničević)
 
A Dalmatian, who was born on Korcula in 1466. He identified with Illyria, mentioning “my Illyria” in his corespondents, not Croatia.
 
====Croatian Identity====
 
Three men: Horoúathos, Horoáthos, and Horóathos (Χορούαθ[ος], Χοροάθος, Χορόαθος) are mentioned in the Tanais Tablets (primary source). They are written in Greek and are from the '''3rd century''' AD from the city of Tanais, today's Azov, Russia. At that time it had mixed Greek - Sarmatian (Iranian) population.  Discovered by a Russian archaeologist Pavel Mikhailovich Leontjev in 1853.
 
  
Dux Cruatorum Branimero ''or'' Prince Branimir inscription, c.''' 880''' AD from town of Nin-Croatia (Old Dalmatia). This is the first primary source mention of the Croatian identity in the Balkans. (John the Deacon,<ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=wEF5oN5erE0C&pg=PA39&lpg=PA39&dq=John+the+Deacon+Branimir&source=bl&ots=lcB_CVHazL&sig=QgOkUjahfThg1uQ5K3FJmSDYWz4&hl=en&ei=rlPPTd3hD46mvQOwoeGUAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCEQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=John%20the%20Deacon%20Branimir&f=false When Ethnicity did not Matter in the Balkans:] by John Van Antwerp Fine (p39)</ref> who was chaplain to the doge of the Republic of Venice)
+
===Overtime History Has Shown Slavs Became More Numerous===
  
There is archaeological evidence from '''16 century''' where the Croatian identity was used on Korcula. Stone writings in Zavalatica are dedicated to events from 889 AD. It describes a clash between the Slavic population and the Venetian army. Marinko Gjivoje wrote about the find in 1972. The stone writings uses ''Hrvat Dalmatinac'' in its writings. ''Hrvat'' means Croatian.
+
Overtime history has shown that the Slavs became more numerous. It is not clear how historical this happened chronologically. They incorporated Romance Dalmatian into their local language. At first there must have been a divide, Korcula town and surrounding area must have been Latins and their nobility and they owned most of the land. Further west were the peasants (mainly Slavs) who worked the land. Blato (Blatta) and similar villages would have came into existence.
  
====Slavic Identity====
+
Over time the Venetian Italian language became the ''lingua franca''  off Dalmatia including Korcula. This became part the islands local language and it started the disappearance of Romance Dalmatian. The Romance Dalmatian was already in decline due to the firm establishment of old Croatian.
The term Slav was first used by the Byzantines (i.e. Procopius-Byzantine scholar, Jordanes- 6th century Roman bureaucrat) and was written in the '''6th century'''  (cia. 550) in Greek (Σκλαβῖνοι-Sklabenoi). Later in Latin it was written '''Sclaveni'''.  
 
* [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=mnSq1VNloGsC&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+making+of+the+slavs&hl=en&ei=kRTOTcmANJGyvgO1-9iXCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false The Making of the Slavs:] History and Archaeology of the Lower Danube Region  by Florin Curta
 
  
To my knowledge first primary source written about Slavs and Korcula is Doge Pietro II Orseolo's attack on the island in '''998 - 1000'''. (Chronicon Venetum, Chronicle of Grado &  John the Deacon, who was chaplain to the doge of the Republic of Venice)
+
Due to the islands diminishing population part of the Slavic population themselves later became lower class nobility and with that their descendants where getting a good Catholic education. Further down the track within the Republic of Venice rule they become wealthier (merchants and captains) and establish themselves as land owning upper class. There must have been mixed marriages. Mixed communities (who were also into trades) later evolving in and around Korcula town. As records show citizens of the island Korcula by the 16th century had mainly Slavic origins but culturally where very Romance Dalmatian. 
  
Secondary sources is about the events from the year '''1262''':
+
It has to be asked in 1797 how the communities of the island felt about their mixed Slavic and Latin heritage? Did they know about Croatia? Where they aware and did they identify with the previously mentioned? How did they feel about the language spoken (''or'' languages)? Did they know about their connection with the Narentines (Neretvani), a nation of Slavic pirates who also traded Slaves?
* Smiciklas, CD V, (p237)
 
* N. Klaic, Povijest Hrvata u Razvijenom, (p130)
 
  
==This is interesting:==
+
History today is heavily seen through the perspectives of the Pan-Slavism and the Croatian Nationalistic movements and is not giving a true picture of the past.
* Below taken from it.wikipedia.org [http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curzola Link]
 
  
Additional editing done by [[User:Peter Z.|Peter Z.]] 11:26, 8 April 2011 (UTC)
+
'''Nationalistic Movements - 19th Century'''
  
For the original from Goole Translate [http://www.mywikibiz.com/index.php?title=Directory_talk:Korcula_History_2&diff=prev&oldid=134958 '''link here''']
+
Nationalistic movements of 19th century is a perspective that's needs to be explored. With the Napoleonic Wars and the aftermath of that historical period, certain European nationhoods where being created that didn't exist before. Founding of the nation-states of Italy and then Germany, city-states, principalities and kingdoms ceasing to exist (''or'' cease to be independent) , all had an affect on the lands that are now part of modern Croatia.
'''Note''': Clearly Google Translate is '''not''' 100% accurate.[[User:Peter Z.|Peter Z.]] 01:10, 9 April 2011 (UTC)
 
=== Korcula (Town) ===
 
  
 +
* Industrial Revolution had an impact on creating modern nationhoods.
  
Korcula (in Croatian Korčula) is the largest city of the island of Korcula in Dalmatia-Croatia.
+
Pan-Slavism and Croatian Nationalistic movements, Industrial Revolution and Empire building is the historic drive of the 19th century. If you want to build a modern 19th century nation you need a least a mini-empire, for example a southern Slavic Empire.The great southern Slavic Empire could have the Russian Empire as an ally. This state would need a literary standard, standardise language of its slavic peoples, a history that unites them all etc.
  
*The City of Korcula is made ​​up of five settlements (naselje)
+
=== Very Little Existing Primary Historical Sources ===
*Korcula (Korčula)
+
It is difficult to determine the exact history from 476 - 999 (even from 1000 -1250) because the sources are very scarce. People can easily spin any historic theme. Korcula is in the sphere of many interests; Byzantine Empire, Republic of Venice, Republic of Ragusa (Dubrovnik), the Narentines, Regnum Chroatorum (Kingdom of Croatia), Chelmo (Zahumlje), Serbian Empire and all are not far from each other.
*Bùgnore (Žrnovo)
 
*Poponatta (Pupnat)
 
*Porto Barbieri (Račišće)
 
* Villa Chiarra (Čara)
 
  
===History===
+
To this editor's knowledge there are no existing primary historical sources actually describing Croatian Slavs invading and settling the island of Korcula in the middle ages. It was the Republic of Venice who first mentions Slavic peoples and Korcula. In the 9th century Narantani (Slavic pirates), who are referred to today mainly as Neretva pirates (Neretvani), were starting to disrupt Venice's trade with the east (Levant). The Venetians discovered that they had strategically secured some of the islands in southern Dalmatia. Amongst these was the island of Korcula.  
Korcula was a Bishopric<ref>Bishopric or Diocese is an ecclesiastical region run by a bishop in the Roman Catholic, Orthodox Christian, Anglican and some Lutheran churches.</ref> from 1300 to 1828. Until 1900 the Italians (Venetians) constituted over half the population of Korcula town (and the nearby village of Petrara/Vrnik) <ref>[http://www.skoji.net/vrnik.html Skoji Islands - Korcula Archipelago:] "Vrnik is the second largest island in Skoji Archipelago. This is populated island, with the village of the same name. Vrnik is the site of the oldest and most famous Korcula quarry. There are only couple of families that presently live in this picturesque village, and some of them let rooms and apartments to tourists."</ref>. Gradually decreasing their number went with the island's annexation by the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The massacres of Croatians after World War II caused the flight of the last remaining native Italians in the city.  
 
 
====The Italians in Korcula in the nineteenth and twentieth century====
 
  
At the census of 1910 Italians were 25% of the population of the centre of Korcula and 15% of the nearby village of Petrara (Vrnik). In the rest of the town, as well as in the rest of the island, there was an Italian population. The majority of Italians were made by small artisans, especially cut-stones, masons and carpenters, trades in which these Curzolani Petrara (Vrnik) and those of teachers and were known and appreciated beyond the borders of Dalmatia. A minority, however, was made up of landowners, merchants and retailers. In 1861 Curzolani political representatives of the Italian language were family members of Auditors Smerchinich (Smerkinić, of Slavic origin or Smrkinić).
+
It is not known what happened to the Korcula Latins during the period of occupation of the Narantani (Slavic pirates). In 999 - 1000 the the Republic of Venice took control of the island with military means. Yet we have in 1262 the Venetians mentioning the Slavs and Latins on the island of Korcula which means they lived as a community (side by side).  
  
In 1867 Mr Smerchinich was elected to parliament in Vienna. However, the Slavicisation of the town had already begun by the Austrian authorities, who considered the Croats more loyal subjects than the Italians. In 1893, there was protests by the local population. The imperial authorities did close the local Italian school and education was provided solely in Korcula in Croatia. But Korcula city continued to vote for Smerchinich compactly. Moreover, in response to the growing work of the City  being slavicized. In 1895 , was founded one of the first sites of the National League, which strove for the preservation of Italian language and culture on site. However, despite the forced  Slavicisation by the local authorities, in 1909 Korcula  still had a bilingual character. With the collapse of Austria-Hungary following the end of World War I fierce disputes started between the Italians and Croatians.
+
The original: Κόρκυρα, '''Kórkyra''' <ref>[http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/brill-s-new-pauly/corcyra-e620460?s.num=10 Brill Online Reference Works and Brill Online Bibliographies]</ref>
  
On November 4, 1918 , the Italian navy occupied the city.  
+
(Lat. Corcyra; the island of Corfu).
  
Many at the time, also gave some to a shipment of D'Annunzio in Korcula, similar to the story of the River. = ?
+
* Romans called it in Latin: Corcyra Nigra  ''meaning'' Black Corcyra.
  
However, in 1921, Italy gave up and retreated from the island, throwing the town into turmoil and depression within the local Italian population (then about 900 people). The situation was aggravated by the fact that between 1918 and 1920 , the Italian authorities of occupation had incited and carried on with local anti-Yugoslav political events. This policy had created animosity among Italians and Croats, who were afraid of the risk of reprisals at the time of the advent of the sovereignty of Yugoslavia, and the risk of an exodus of the Italian population. In March 1921, the exodus of Italians Curzolani began. This was accelerated by events and rallies hostile to Italy and the Italians, that were repeated every day. They were fuelled by the Arneri brothers, former Austrian officials.
+
* Italian (Venetian): Curzola
  
In May 1921 , more than half of local Italians had left the island. At the end of that year, only 180 Italians who stay on the island, meet at former Italin school. In 1923 , the number of Italians had been reduced to 46. However, some had preferred the Yugoslav citizenship for not losing their economic activities. Indeed, in 1933 the mixed elementary school had 40 pupils Italian town. Korcula also continued to operate the Italian Union, an association chaired by Michele Smerchinich, with 41 members remaining members of the main Italian families (Benussi, Damianovich, Depolo, Perucich, Radizza, Smerchinich, Vinz, Zanetti). At the end of World War II, however, were no longer left on Korcula Italians.
+
Greek-Corcyra Melaina. The original Greek island name is Kórkyra. In English it's called Cofu.
  
====Towns and municipalities in the region of Dubrovnik-Neretva====
+
* Early Croatian: Krkar
City: Korcula (Korčula) · Metcovich (Metković) · Fort'Opus (Opuzen) · Porto Toler (Ploce) · Ragusa (Dubrovnik)
 
Common: Blatta (Blato) · Dubrovačko Primorje · Iagnina (Janjina) · Valley Channels (Konavle) · Norino Tower (Kula Norinska) · Lastovo (Lastovo) · Lombarda (Lumbarda) · Mljet (Mljet) · Pojezerje · Sabbioncello (Orebić ) · Slivno · Smoquizza (Smokvica) · Pond (Stone) · Trpanj (Trpanj) · Vallegrande (Vela Luka) · Zažablje · Župa dubrovačka ·
 
  
 +
* Antun (Antonio) Rosanovic from Korcula wrote in 1571:
  
 +
''"I firmly believe that from ancient times this was called Corcyra Melena or Nigra (Black Corcyra) probably because it is located similarly to the Greek island of Corfu, both of these island are stretched in East-West direction and have similar names. Or it is possibly because it appears so dark from the sea, where the forests give it black-green appearance. In this sense, there was some poetry written and it goes as follows; I call myself Corcyra , but earlier they called me black, both of these I like. On the Adriatic, opposite the shores of Gargano you will not find an island as dark, covered with pine forests. This is because I call myself “black” and I believe that name Corcyra came from that." Here we hear a new voice that a circle wall was built around the city, and that these walls are called little heart."''
  
==References==
+
* Hrčak is the central portal of Croatian scientific journals: http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=153574 & http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=113086
<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:1; column-count:1;">
 
<references />
 
</div>
 

Latest revision as of 07:26, 3 December 2021

Directory talk is my work page

The Roman population on Korcula island where Dalmatian Latins - Known Data

During and post Roman Empire the population on Korcula island where Dalmatian Latins who spoke Romance Dalmatian (developed from Vulgar Latin). They were there for centuries.

In effect now a forgotten people.

  • Then Narrentanos Sclavos arrived on the island in the late ninth century who where related to the Croats (they spoke old Croatian Chakavian).
  • In 1262 the Venetians did mention the Slavs and Latins on the island of Korcula which means they lived side by side.

Latin was the written language of States and Roman Catholic Churches. Later we have Venetian Italian. It has been written many, many times that they, the Croatians, settled on Korcula and assimilated the remains of the Romans and quickly and firmly spread the Croatian language. This interpretation of history in modern times is a heavily politically driven and defined within a political context and agenda. Perspectives of the Pan-Slavism and Nationalistic movements.

The Statute of Korcula was drafted in 1214 (Liber Legum Statutorum Curzola 1214), and most likely the first one was written by the Korcula Latins.

Islands Diminishing Population During its Long history Brings More New Peoples

Konstantin Porfirogenet, the Xth century Byzantine emperor, whilst consolidating his empire, writes:

"Four islands lie nearby: Mljet, Korcula, Hvar, Brac, very beautiful and fertile with many deserted towns and meadows; the inhabitants live from cattle raising ... They have in their power these islands: Korcula or Krkar, on which there is a town."

Islands diminishing population during its long history might have been an issue since the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. It becomes more clearer with the the arrival of the Republic of Venice. Wars and many plagues where part of the island's history. More migrations from the east from 15th century onwards started to happen. Eastern Croatians - Hercegovci and Montenegrins. There presence influenced the local Croatian language with Croato-Serbian elements.

Based on recent DNA studies migration also came from the west; Istria and Veneto areas. From the eastern mediterranean and further people came to the Republic of Venice from the Greek colonies, Armenians, Middle East etc.

The island was from 1420 to 1797 part of the Republic of Venice and her Slavic and Latin peoples become servants to the Republic.

The communities of the island, no matter of their origins, had to a certain extant incorporate Mediterranean Latin cultural. It can be also said they develop their own unique Mediterranean Latin cultural.

This uniques slowly started to disappear with the collapsed of the Republic of Venice in 1797.

Overtime History Has Shown Slavs Became More Numerous

Overtime history has shown that the Slavs became more numerous. It is not clear how historical this happened chronologically. They incorporated Romance Dalmatian into their local language. At first there must have been a divide, Korcula town and surrounding area must have been Latins and their nobility and they owned most of the land. Further west were the peasants (mainly Slavs) who worked the land. Blato (Blatta) and similar villages would have came into existence.

Over time the Venetian Italian language became the lingua franca off Dalmatia including Korcula. This became part the islands local language and it started the disappearance of Romance Dalmatian. The Romance Dalmatian was already in decline due to the firm establishment of old Croatian.

Due to the islands diminishing population part of the Slavic population themselves later became lower class nobility and with that their descendants where getting a good Catholic education. Further down the track within the Republic of Venice rule they become wealthier (merchants and captains) and establish themselves as land owning upper class. There must have been mixed marriages. Mixed communities (who were also into trades) later evolving in and around Korcula town. As records show citizens of the island Korcula by the 16th century had mainly Slavic origins but culturally where very Romance Dalmatian.

It has to be asked in 1797 how the communities of the island felt about their mixed Slavic and Latin heritage? Did they know about Croatia? Where they aware and did they identify with the previously mentioned? How did they feel about the language spoken (or languages)? Did they know about their connection with the Narentines (Neretvani), a nation of Slavic pirates who also traded Slaves?

History today is heavily seen through the perspectives of the Pan-Slavism and the Croatian Nationalistic movements and is not giving a true picture of the past.

Nationalistic Movements - 19th Century

Nationalistic movements of 19th century is a perspective that's needs to be explored. With the Napoleonic Wars and the aftermath of that historical period, certain European nationhoods where being created that didn't exist before. Founding of the nation-states of Italy and then Germany, city-states, principalities and kingdoms ceasing to exist (or cease to be independent) , all had an affect on the lands that are now part of modern Croatia.

  • Industrial Revolution had an impact on creating modern nationhoods.

Pan-Slavism and Croatian Nationalistic movements, Industrial Revolution and Empire building is the historic drive of the 19th century. If you want to build a modern 19th century nation you need a least a mini-empire, for example a southern Slavic Empire.The great southern Slavic Empire could have the Russian Empire as an ally. This state would need a literary standard, standardise language of its slavic peoples, a history that unites them all etc.

Very Little Existing Primary Historical Sources

It is difficult to determine the exact history from 476 - 999 (even from 1000 -1250) because the sources are very scarce. People can easily spin any historic theme. Korcula is in the sphere of many interests; Byzantine Empire, Republic of Venice, Republic of Ragusa (Dubrovnik), the Narentines, Regnum Chroatorum (Kingdom of Croatia), Chelmo (Zahumlje), Serbian Empire and all are not far from each other.

To this editor's knowledge there are no existing primary historical sources actually describing Croatian Slavs invading and settling the island of Korcula in the middle ages. It was the Republic of Venice who first mentions Slavic peoples and Korcula. In the 9th century Narantani (Slavic pirates), who are referred to today mainly as Neretva pirates (Neretvani), were starting to disrupt Venice's trade with the east (Levant). The Venetians discovered that they had strategically secured some of the islands in southern Dalmatia. Amongst these was the island of Korcula.

It is not known what happened to the Korcula Latins during the period of occupation of the Narantani (Slavic pirates). In 999 - 1000 the the Republic of Venice took control of the island with military means. Yet we have in 1262 the Venetians mentioning the Slavs and Latins on the island of Korcula which means they lived as a community (side by side).

The original: Κόρκυρα, Kórkyra [1]

(Lat. Corcyra; the island of Corfu).

  • Romans called it in Latin: Corcyra Nigra meaning Black Corcyra.
  • Italian (Venetian): Curzola

Greek-Corcyra Melaina. The original Greek island name is Kórkyra. In English it's called Cofu.

  • Early Croatian: Krkar
  • Antun (Antonio) Rosanovic from Korcula wrote in 1571:

"I firmly believe that from ancient times this was called Corcyra Melena or Nigra (Black Corcyra) probably because it is located similarly to the Greek island of Corfu, both of these island are stretched in East-West direction and have similar names. Or it is possibly because it appears so dark from the sea, where the forests give it black-green appearance. In this sense, there was some poetry written and it goes as follows; I call myself Corcyra , but earlier they called me black, both of these I like. On the Adriatic, opposite the shores of Gargano you will not find an island as dark, covered with pine forests. This is because I call myself “black” and I believe that name Corcyra came from that." Here we hear a new voice that a circle wall was built around the city, and that these walls are called little heart."