Jugoslovenski Rotar

found safety before the invading Slavs, who as yet were not expert in seafaring. Ragusium was the name of this new settlement in which the Roman element, under the protection of Byzantium, saved and continued to develop its advanced community. Attracted by the favourable position the Slavonic invaders settled on the mainland opposite giving to their new settlement the name of Dubrovnik. The original enmity and tension between Romans and Slavs disappeared in a short time and a lively exchange of goods ensued; soon also family ties were established between the peaceful neighbours who were finally fused into one community. As time went by the Slav element grew in importance so that in the end the remaining Roman element was completely absorbed. (15th century). In 1272 the shallow sea-channel was desiccated and both settlements united within common city walls.

In the earliest stages of its development Dubrovnik recognized the importance of its geographic and economic position realizing that its vital task was to promote commerce between the mainland on one side and the Adriatic cities and other foreign ports on the other. For this purpose a commercial fleet and capable mariners, as well as peaceful and stable political relations, were found essential.

In the well-known seamanship of its inhabitants Dubrovnik had the best guarantee for the achievement of this first aim. In promoting its trade Dubrovnik displayed remarkable statemanship and acumen by recognizing always the predominance of the leading power of the moment and, through clever treaties, it obtained not only the recognition of its autonomy but also the protection for its fleet and merchants. Thus it happened that in the course of history it came in turn under the protectorate of Byzantium, Normans, Venice, Hungary and finally Turkey, on the territory of which it even secured a remarkable commercial monopoly. Before the Turks conquered the Balkans, Dubrovnik was in excellent relations with its Slavonic neighbouring states, especially with Serbia and Bosnia, and it seldom had to resort to arms in order to settle frontier disputes. The Governing Council of Dubrovnik always adhered to the maxim of avoiding war at all costs and it always tried to preserve the peace and particularly the freedom of trade through advantageous treaties or even through payment of annual tributes, when necessary. It thus happened that Dubrovnik had to pay tribute at various periods to Serbia, Hungary and later to Turkey. In this way Dubrovnik even enlarged its territory by means of treaties, bargains or donations (DuSan the Great). In the end Dubrovnik possessed the strip of coast ranging from the northern entrance into the Bay of Kotor to the peninsula of PeljeSac, including this peninsula as well as the archipelago of Dubrovnik with the islands of Mljet and Lastovo.

Dubrovnik was at the height of its prosperity in the XVth century when the whole of eastern Europe was open to its merchants while its fleet carried the flag of St. Blasius all over the seas as far as England and Holland. It does credit to the Republic that it never misused its prosperity or its riches, just as later on it manfully bore the days of its decline. For Dubrovnik salus rei publicae was indeed suprema lex. The relations between nobles and plebeians were always good, the administration honest, the courts of law wise and impartial. The In-

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