In 1440 George Despotos of Servia, being defeated by Amurath IL, took refuge at Ragusa with his family and treasures, and was there protected against the threats of Amurath. About 1450 the Ragusana purchased from several Bosnian lords the district of Ragusa Vecchia and Canale, which constituted the eastern part of their territory, and distributed the laud among the citizens. But in 1463-64 Mahomet II. conquered Bosnia also, and the Turks became immediate neighbours of Ragusa, and have been ever since. About 1471 they ravaged the district of Canale, but Ragusa obtained a respite by raising the tribute to 8000 dueats. From this time the Itagusans paid a yearly tribute to the Porte, which afforded them its powerful protection. During the long wars of the 16th century, between Sultan Solyman and his son Selim on one side, and Venice and Spaiu and other Christian powers on the other, the Itsgusans found it a most arduous task to preserve their neutrality, as the fleets of the belligerents came repeat edly off their coasts, and landed and plundered the territory without scruple.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, after a better understanding had been established between the Porte and the Christiau powers, Ragusa continued to enjoy her independence and neutral security, paying the accustomed tribute to the Sultan, who however did not interfere in her internal concerns, and no Turkish soldier was allowed to step within its boundaries. The Sultan's protection was of import ance to Ragusa, by securing its flag from the attacks of the Barbary pirates. In this respect the Ragusan merchant ships had the advantage over those of most states in the Mediterranean, and they acted as carriers in that sea between the Levant and the ports of western Europe, and realised considerable profits, especially in times of war.
Ragusan mercantile houses were established in many of the sea-port towns of the Mediterranean. The republic maiutained a small fleet of galleys and other armed vessels for the protection of its coasts and its trade. Iu 1667 Ragusa was afflicted by a dreadful earthquake, which ruined the greater part of the town.
Ragusa had remained an independent state for more than a thousand years. Coeval with Venice, it fell soon after that republic. In 1806 France and Russia were quarrelling about the possession of the im portant district of Cattaro, which was ceded to France by the treaty of Presburg between Austria and France. The Ruasians however from Corfu had been beforehand, and had taken possession of Cattaro. The French troops from Dalmatia could not reach Cattaro without crossing the neutral territory of Ragusa. The soldiers of Napoleon, unable to occupy Cattaro, took military possession of Ragusa in May, 1806. The French occupation of Ragusa led the Montenegrins to overrun its territory. They besieged the French within the town. The unfortu nate Ragusans, placed between the regular French troops within and the savage Montenegrins without, saw their country-houses and villages devastated, but the town was saved from the Montenegrins. The result was that Napoleon by a stroke of the pen in 1808 abolished the republican government, and incorporated Ragusa with the province of Dalmatia, and he made Marmont titular duke of Ragusa and governor of the province. On the fall of Napoleon in 1814, when the Austrians again occupied Dalmatia, they found Ragusa iucluded in that province, and they kept it