RAGU'SA, or RAU'GIA (Rhacusa, in Latin ; Dubrounik, in Sla Ionian), an episcopal and sea-port town of Austria, iu the crown-land of Dalmatia, is situated on the eastern coast of a peninsula in the Adriatic, formed by the Gulf of Breno on the east and the Gulf of Santa Croce, or Ombla, on the west. The town stands about 40 miles W. by N. from Cattaro, in 42* 38' N. lat., 18° 8' E. long., and is built partly at the foot and partly on the steep declivity of two hills : it is fortified with walls end ditches, and has a castle on the east, at the entrance of the harbour, and another at the western end of the town. The streets are paved, but very narrow, except two : the houses, which are built of freestone, are generally large and commodious. The principal buildings are—the cathedral, which is a good structure ; the palace of the government, which is extensive, and has some fine halls and galleries ; the custom-house, the guard-house, and barracks. The town has a lyceum and several other institutions, a theatre, and a quarantine station. The town is well supplied with spring-water. Outside of the walls are numerous gardens and country-houses, with of orange and other fruit-trees, and handsome fountains. rom Ragusa along the western coast as far as the Creek of Ombla, a distance of *boot three miles, there is an almost continuous suburb. The surrounding country produces abundance of fruit and very good wine : the malmsey of Ragusa has a great reputation, and forma an article of export. The climate of Ragusa is temperate and healthy, and instances of great longevity are not uncommon. The population of Rapists, which is said to have once amounted to 30,000 inbabitanta, is now only about 0000. Its maritime trade, which during the period of its independence was very flourishing, was almost annihilated after the French occupation in 1806; but it has somewhat revived since the peace. Ship-building, manufactures of soap, rosoglio and other liqueurs, and tobacco are the chief branches of industry. The har bour, which lies immediately south of the town, admits only small vessels; but two wiles west of Ragusa is the fine harbour of Gmvosa, which admits ships of the line, and has docks for ship•building, and fine country-houses and gardcus. Timber is carried thither from the opposite coast of Monte Gargano in Italy. A few miles oast of Ragusa is Ragusa Vecchia, on or near the site of the ancient Epidaurus in IUyria, a Roman colony, which was destroyed by the Slovenians in the 6th century.
Itagusium, or Itauaiara, seems to owe its origin to the inhabitants of Epidaurus who escaped from the sack of the city by the Slavonians. In the 7th century the population was increased by emigrants from other towns of Dalmatia and Albania, and the town was then enlarged and fortified. The people organised a republican form of government, consisting of a general council, from which the senate, or executive, was elected, with an officer at their head, who was first styled Count, aud afterwards Rector. Till the 10th century they lived under the
protection of the Slavoeian princes of Narenta. The Narentines were defeated at sea by Pietro Orseolo, doge of Venice; after which the Raviolis now applied themselves strenuously to agriculture, as well as to maritime trade: they built vessels, and became so powerful by sea, that in no very long time afterward+ a Ragusan squadron joined the Imperial fleet and defeated the Saracens, who had attacked Raguaa and several other towns on the Dalinatlan coast. The annals of ltagusa for several oenturies after this event exhibit a succession of wars and treaties between the republic aud the Slavonian powers of Croatia, Servia, Bosnia, and Bulgaria, as well as with the emperors of Constan tinople and the Norman kings of Sicily, throughout which the small community of Ragusa preserved its independence and extended Its maritime trade.
From about the year 1260 till 1368 Ragusa had Venetian rectors, - — who held office for two years each, and wore taken from among the first patrician families of Venice. Ragusa however still continued to govern itself as an independent state, and to be administered according to its own laws. In this interval it greatly extended its trade, obtained considerable accessions of territory, and built the strong fortress of Stagno to defend the isthmus of the peninsula of Sabionoello. About 1368, war having broken out between Venice and the king of Hungary, who had attacked Ragusa and several other towns on the Dalmatian coast, the Hungarians advanced as far as Maestre, and Venice was obliged to sue for peace, one of the conditions of which was that Ragusa should be restored to independence, and should choose its owu rectors. It was also determined that the rector should be renewed every six months. In gratitude for this the Ragusans agreed to pay a tribute of 500 ducats yearly to the king of Hungary, aud to hoist his flag on their ramparts by the side of that of the republic. In the war between Genoa and Venice (1378.80) the Regimens sided with Genoa, and some of their galleys were at the battle of Chioggia. After the defeat of the Genoese, Venice sent a squadron against Ragusa, which applied to the king of Bosnia for assistance, by whose means they repulsed the Venetians, after which peace was made between Venice and Ragusa. About the year 1397 the Ottomans, under Sultan Baynzid, having defeated Sigismund of Hungary at the great battle of Nieopolis, overran part of Bosnia, and spread alarm as far as Ragusa. About 1414 the Ragusans purchased peace with the Ottomans by paying en annual tribute of 500 ducats, which was afterwards gradually raised as the Turks drew nearer to Ragusa. In 1433 the Ragusans introduced the manufacture of woollens from Florence, which became their principal branch of internal industry. They also con structed an aqueduct to carry the spring•water from the valley of Giuncheto to their town at an expense of 12,000 ducats.