Dubrovnik history

Foundation and First Mentions

The history of Dubrovnik is deeply rooted in the early Middle Ages. Traditionally, it is believed that the city was founded in the first half of the 7th century (around 614 AD) by refugees from the Roman city of Epidaurus (modern-day Cavtat). Fleeing from invasions by Avars and Slavs, they found shelter on a rocky islet named Laus (which means "rock").

Opposite the island, on the mainland, a Slavic settlement emerged, named Dubrava in honour of the dense oak forests. Over time, these two settlements expanded and merged. The shallow channel separating them was filled in during the 12th century, transforming into the city's main street — the famous Stradun.

Key Factors of Development

The transformation of a small settlement into a powerful trading hub was driven by a unique combination of geographical and political factors:

• Strategic Location: A convenient and protected harbour on the route between East and West made the city an ideal point for maritime trade in the Adriatic.
• The Art of Diplomacy: The city's residents masterfully navigated between the great powers of the time — Byzantium, Venice, and the Kingdom of Hungary. While acknowledging the formal sovereignty of stronger neighbours, Dubrovnik effectively maintained its independence and internal self-governance.
• Maritime Power: The development of shipbuilding allowed the city to create an impressive merchant fleet, which eventually became a serious competitor to Venice.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

The economy of early Dubrovnik was based on maritime trade, salt production, and acting as an intermediary in the exchange of goods between the Balkan Peninsula and Italy. The city grew rich quickly, enabling the development of stone construction and the strengthening of defensive walls.

Culturally, a unique symbiosis of Roman and Slavic traditions formed here. Even in the early period, a spirit of freedom and republican governance emerged, which would later bring fame to the city as the Republic of Ragusa under the motto: "Liberty is not sold for all the gold in the world".

Major Historical Milestones

• 1189 — Signing of the Charter of Ban Kulin, in which the Slavic name of the city — "Dubrovnik" — is mentioned in an official document for the first time.
• 1205 — The city falls under the rule of the Venetian Republic, which determines the vector of its cultural and administrative development for a century and a half.
• 1272 — The Statute of the City is approved, establishing strict urban planning standards and the legal foundations of communal life.
• 1358 — Following the Treaty of Zadar, the city is freed from Venetian dominance and effectively becomes the independent Republic of Dubrovnik (Ragusa).
• 1416 — The Great Council of the Republic makes the historic decision to ban the slave trade, displaying a humanism unprecedented for that time.
• 15th–16th Centuries — The "Golden Age" of Dubrovnik: the flourishing of maritime trade, diplomacy, as well as literature and art.
• 1667 — A catastrophic Great Earthquake destroys most of the Renaissance city, leading to a large-scale reconstruction in the Baroque style.
• 1806 — French troops under the command of General Lauriston enter the city, ending its neutrality.
• 1808 — Marshal Marmont officially announces the abolition of the Republic of Dubrovnik, ending its 450-year history of independence.
• 1815 — Following the Congress of Vienna, the city comes under the administration of the Austrian Empire, becoming part of the Kingdom of Dalmatia.
• 1918 — After the collapse of Austria-Hungary, Dubrovnik becomes part of the newly formed Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia).
• 1979 — The historic city centre is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a masterpiece of urban planning and architecture.
• 1991 — With the proclamation of Croatia's independence, Dubrovnik becomes one of the key cultural centres of the sovereign state.

Key Stages of City Transformation

The development of Dubrovnik is the story of the transformation of a small refuge on a rock into a powerful maritime power and, subsequently, an elite tourist destination. Here are the main milestones that defined the modern appearance and status of the city:

• Merger of Settlements and Birth of Stradun (12th Century)
  Filling in the sea channel separating the island of Laus and the mainland Dubrava was a crucial urban planning decision. The former canal turned into the central street, Stradun (Placa), uniting the Roman and Slavic populations into a single urban organism.
• Approval of the Statute (1272)
  The adoption of the code of laws laid the foundations for the unique city layout. The Statute regulated street widths and building heights, and also banned wooden construction to protect against fires, which formed the famous stone ensemble of the Old Town.
• Construction of the Water Supply System (1438)
  An engineering breakthrough of the time — the creation of a 12-kilometre aqueduct under the leadership of Onofrio della Cava. This provided the city with clean drinking water from mountain springs, significantly improving hygiene levels and quality of life during the Republic's peak.
• Strengthening Defences (14th–17th Centuries)
  The constant threat from conquerors stimulated the erection of a monumental system of fortress walls and forts (Minčeta, Bokar, Lovrijenac). These structures not only protected the city's independence but also became its main architectural symbol.
• Baroque Reconstruction (post-1667)
  The devastating earthquake wiped many Gothic and Renaissance buildings off the face of the earth. The restoration of the city was carried out in a unified Baroque style, giving the streets of Dubrovnik the architectural harmony and integrity we see today.
• The Dawn of Tourism (Late 19th – Early 20th Century)
  After the fall of the Republic and the loss of the merchant fleet, the city's economy reoriented towards hospitality. The construction of the Grand Hotel "Imperial" (1897) and the development of transport infrastructure under Austro-Hungarian management turned the city into a fashionable European resort.
• Post-War Revival (1990s – Present)
  Large-scale restoration following damage sustained during the Croatian War of Independence was conducted under the auspices of UNESCO. This not only returned the city to its former brilliance but also attracted the attention of the global community, making Dubrovnik one of the most visited locations in the Mediterranean.

Urban Planning Genius and the Statute of 1272

The unique appearance of Dubrovnik is not the result of haphazard construction, but of strict planning. A key moment was the adoption of the City Statute in 1272. This document regulated the width of streets and the size of blocks, establishing an orthogonal grid that is clearly visible in the Prijeko district (the northern part of the Old Town).

After a series of fires, the authorities made a radical decision: to ban wooden construction. Thus, the famous "stone city" was born, where all buildings, from palaces to residential houses, were erected from light limestone, which over time acquired a warm golden hue.

Gothic and Renaissance: Echoes of the Golden Age

Before the catastrophic earthquake of 1667, Dubrovnik was a luxurious Renaissance city rivalling Venice. Although the elements destroyed many structures, the surviving buildings demonstrate a unique local style — a harmonious synthesis of Gothic and Renaissance.

• Rector's Palace (Knežev dvor): A striking example of mixed styles. Gothic arches here sit alongside Renaissance columns and capitals. The building was rebuilt multiple times, absorbing influences from different eras, including Baroque elements.
• Sponza Palace: One of the few buildings to survive the earthquake practically undamaged. Its façade combines elegant Venetian Gothic on the first floor and a Renaissance loggia on the ground floor, symbolising the economic power of the Republic.
• Franciscan Monastery: Preserves a magnificent portal in the late Gothic style ("Pieta"), created by local masters at the end of the 15th century.

Baroque: The City Risen from Ashes

The modern look of the historic centre is predominantly Roman Baroque. After the tragedy of 1667, the city was rebuilt according to a unified plan, which gave it amazing architectural integrity.

This is particularly noticeable on the main street, Stradun. Residential houses here were rebuilt in a uniform style: shops on the ground floors with characteristic "knee-high" arched entrances (combining a door and a counter), living quarters on the upper floors, and kitchens in the attics for fire safety.

Key monuments of the Baroque era:

• Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary: A monumental structure with a dome, built on the site of a destroyed Romanesque cathedral.
• Church of St. Blaise (Sveti Vlaho): Built in the early 18th century based on the model of the Venetian church of San Maurizio, richly decorated with statues and stucco.
• Jesuit Stairs and Church of St. Ignatius: This ensemble is often compared to the Spanish Steps in Rome; it is the brightest example of High Baroque in the city.

Fortification Architecture

The defensive structures of Dubrovnik were formed from the 12th to the 17th century and are considered one of the most perfect fortification systems in Europe. The walls, nearly 2 kilometres long, include elements from different eras, but their final appearance is a triumph of Renaissance military engineering.

The best architects worked on strengthening the city, including the Florentine Michelozzo di Bartolomeo, who designed the massive round Minčeta Tower — the dominant feature of the city panorama and a symbol of Dubrovnik's unconquerability.

Literature and Dramaturgy

• Marin Držić (1508–1567) — Playwright and Poet
  An outstanding comedy writer of the Renaissance, often called the "Molière of Dubrovnik". His plays, such as "Uncle Maroje" (Dundo Maroje), are filled with lively folk humour and are still successfully performed on stages across Europe.
• Ivan Gundulić (1589–1638) — Poet and Statesman
  The greatest representative of Dubrovnik's Baroque literature. His epic poem "Osman" and pastoral drama "Dubravka" became symbols of national culture, praising the freedom and greatness of the Republic.
• Cvijeta Zuzorić (1552–1648) — Poetess and Patron of the Arts
  A central female figure in the cultural life of the city in the 16th century. Possessing brilliant education and intellect, she hosted a literary salon that united the best creators of that time and became a muse for many poets herself.

Science and Economy

• Ruđer Josip Bošković (1711–1787) — Physicist, Astronomer, and Philosopher
  A scientist of world renown, one of the founders of modern atomic physics. He supervised the construction of the Brera Observatory in Milan and consulted the Papal See on engineering issues, including strengthening the dome of St. Peter's Basilica.
• Marin Getaldić (1568–1626) — Mathematician and Physicist
  A pioneer in the fields of algebra and optics, a friend and correspondent of Galileo Galilei. His experiments with parabolic mirrors in the Bet cave on the Dubrovnik coast became a legend, blending science with local folklore.
• Benedikt Kotruljević (1416–1469) — Economist and Diplomat
  Author of the famous treatise "On Commerce and the Perfect Merchant". He was the first in history to systematise and describe the method of double-entry bookkeeping, which formed the basis of modern global accounting.

Music

• Luka Sorkočević (1734–1789) — Composer and Diplomat
  The first Croatian symphonist, whose work belongs to the transitional period from Baroque to Classicism. His symphonies are distinguished by elegance and melody, serving as an important part of the city's musical heritage.