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Dubrovnik, a UNESCO designated heritage city, was built in the 13th century and remains almost untouched to the present day. The city is located at the southern end of Croatia and because of its favorable geographical position it is popular among tourists from other European countries. The city also boasts of its own airport as well as ferry terminal. From the entrance of the Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik is the first port protected by islands on the maritime route to the West and it has the fastest connection to the hinterland via the Neretva Valley.
THE BEGINNING: Refugees who came to the area from Epidaurum established the city in the first half of the 7th Century. They established their settlement in the island and named it Laus. Opposite to their settlement was another settlement of Slavs, which they called Dubrovnik. The name Dubrovnik is derived from the Croatian word Dubrava, which means oak woods as, in the past, oak trees surrounded Dubrovnik. The Latin name Ragusa - Rausa, in use until the 15th century, originated from the rock (lat. Lausa meaning rock) where the first settlement was established. |
These two areas were separated by a channel, which was filled in 12th century and since than they have been united. Today the place is called Placa or Stradun.
As days progressed into years, walls started to come up outside these settlements to ward off enemies like Arabs, Venetian, Macedonians, and Serbs, who wanted to conquer Dubrovnik.
GOVERNMENT: The Republican Constitution of the city was aristocratic and all effective power was concentrated in the hands of nobility. The population of the city was divided into three classes: nobility, citizens, and artisans or plebeians. The citizens were permitted to hold only minor offices, while plebeians had no voice in government. Marriage between different classes was forbidden.
The administrative bodies were divided into the Grand Council and Mall Council from 1238 and the Senate from 1253. The head of the state was the Duke, elected for a term of office for one month.
The Grand Council consisted of members of the aristocracy and every noble took his seat at the age of 18. The Small Council consisted first of 11 members and after 1667 it had only seven.
The Senate was added in 1235 as a consultative body. It consisted of 45 invited members, who were over 40 years of age. While the Republic was under the rule of Venice the Rector was Venetian, but after 1358 the Rector was always a Ragusan. The Rector's could only hold office for only one month and he was eligible for re-election after two years. The rector lived and worked in Rector's Palace but his family remained living in their own house. The government of the Republic was liberal in character and early showed its concern for justice and humanitarian principles. They abolished slave trade since 1418.
In 1809 Dubrovnik become part of the Ilyrian Provinces. In 1815, by the resolution of Vienna Congress, it was annexed to Austria (later Austria-Hungary), and remained with them until 1918 when it was won over by the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. In 1929, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the whole area was divided into eight districts for administrative purposes. Until 1939, Dubrovnik was part of Zetska district and then was included in Banovina of Croatia. At the beginning of the World War II Dubrovnik was part of the Croatia. From April 1941 until September 1943 it was occupied by the Italians and after thereafter by Germans.
In October 1944, Partisans liberated Dubrovnik from the Germans. In 1945 Dubrovnik became part of the Federative People's Republic of Yugoslavia. In 1963 the Federative People's Republic of Yugoslavia changed its name into Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and was one of the six republics. |
| Dubrovnik was part of the Socialistic Republic of Croatia. In 1990 the republics of the Socialistic Federal Republic of Yugoslavia got their independence. The Socialistic Republic of Croatia was renamed into Republic of Croatia.
CULTURAL LIFE: The city has a rich cultural life that includes Dubrovnik theatre, several cinemas as well as Dubrovnik Film Festival and Dubrovnik Summer Festival, held every year in July and August.
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