RAGUSA, the Italian name of the present town of Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia. Ragusa is famous, historically, under this name from before the loth century, but as a result of its incorporation in the newly-formed State of Yugoslavia in 1918, its name was officially changed to Dubrovnik (q.v.).
The name Ragusa is of uncertain origin. Constantine Porphy rogenitus, in the I oth century, connects its early form, Lausa, with XaD, a "precipice." Jire6ek dissents from this view and from the common opinion that Dubrovnik is derived from the Slavonic dubrava, "woody." The city first became prominent during the 7th century. In 639 and 656 the flourishing Latin communities of Salona and Epidaurus were destroyed by the Avars, and the island rock of Ragusa was colonized by the survivors. Tradition identi fies Epidaurus, whence the majority came, with the neighbouring village of Ragusavecchia; but some historians, including Gelcich, place it on the shores of the Bocche di Cattaro. Both sites show signs of Roman occupation. A colony of Slays soon joined the Latin settlers at Ragusa, and thus, from an early date, the city formed a link between two great civilizations (see VLACHS). In the 9th century it is said to have repulsed the Saracens ; in the loth it defended itself against the Narentine pirates and Simeon, tsar of the Bulgarians. Some writers consider that it submitted to Venice in 998, with the rest of Dalmatia, but this is generally denied by the native historians. During the 11th century an en forced alliance with the Normans drew the republic into war with Venice and Byzantium; and in the 12th century it was at tacked by the Bosniaks and Serbs. From 1205 to 1358 it ac knowledged Venetian suzerainty; its chief magistrate was the Venetian count; and its archbishops, who wielded much political influence, were often Venetian nominees. The constitution took shape during this period, and the first statute-book was published in 1272. Only patricians could hold office in the senate, grand council and lesser council, three bodies which shared the work of government with the count, or, after 1358, the rector. The ancient popular assembly was almost obsolete before the 14th century. Ragusan policy was usually peaceful, and disputes with other nations were frequently arranged by a system of arbitration called stanicum. To refugees of all nations the city afforded asylum; and by means of treaty and tribute it worked its way to a posi tion of great mercantile power. It was conveniently situated
at the seaward end of a great trade route, which bifurcated at Plevlje to Byzantium and the Danube. A compact with the Turks, made in 137o and renewed in the next century, saved Ragusa from the fate of Serbia and Byzantium, besides enabling the Ragusan caravans to penetrate into Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Rumania. From 1358 to 1526 the republic was a vassal state of Hungary. It acquired, among other terri tories, the important ship-building and salt-producing centre Stagno Grande (Stop V eliki), on the promontory of Sabbioncello; and from 1413 to 1416 it held the islands of Curzola, Brazza and Lesina by lease from Hungary. Meanwhile, Ragusan vessels were known not only in Italy, Spain, Greece, the Levant and Egypt, but in northern Europe. The English language retains in the word "argosy" a reminiscence of the carracks of Ragusa. In the 16th century the Ragusan merchants went even to India and America. Many of their seamen took service with Spain ; and 12 of their finest ships were lost with the Armada in 1588. After 1526 the downfall of Hungary left Ragusa free; and about this time a great development of art and literature, begun in the 15th century and continued into the 17th. earned for the city its title of the "South Slavonic Athens." (See YUGOSLAVIA : Literature.) The earthquake of 1667, which had been preceded by lesser shocks in 152o, 1521, 1536 and 1639, destroyed a considerable portion of the city and about one-fifth of the inhabitants. Only during the Napoleonic wars did the republic regain its prosperity. From 1800 to 1805 it was the sole Mediterranean state remaining neu tral, and thus secured a large share of the carrying trade. In 18o5, however, it was seized by the French, Napoleon deprived it of independence and in 1814 it was annexed to Austria. In 1918 it was incorporated in Yugoslavia.