Directory talk:Korcula History 2

Known Data

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

• Narrentanos Sclavos arrive 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.

Overtime history has shown that the Slavs become 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.

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 of the firm establishment of old Croatian.

Slavs themselves later became lower class nobility and with that their descendants where sent to Catholic schools. 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 later were evolving in and around Korcula town. As records show citizens of Korcula by the 16th century had mainly Slavic origins.

• Islands diminishing population during its long history brings more new peoples.

More migration continued from the east from 15th century onwards. Eastern Croatians - Hercegovci and Montenegrins. There presence influenced the local Croatain 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; Greek colonies, Armenians, Middle East etc.

No Existing Primary Historical Sources

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 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 Ventian 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 side by side.

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

The original: Κόρκυρα, Kórkyra

(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."

• 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

Konstantin Porfirogenet, the Xth century Byzantine emperor, who devoted great efforts to 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."