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• History of Christianization of Europe
• Soviet Union, Communist influence
• Map of European ethnic groups
• Map of Fascism in Europe (1922-75)
• History of Islamic conquest in Europe
• Religions & ethnic groups in Russia
• Detailed map of French colonization
• Detailed map of British colonization
• Napoleon's conquests & legacy

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• Muhammad cartoon crisis in pictures
• Stalin's private summer home
• Ravenna: capital of Gothic empire
• Czar Nicholas II's Ukrainian palace
• European traditional costumes/dress
• Inside the Vatican, house of all wealth

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• Islamic Mujahidin vs. Spain & El Cid
• Poland-Lithuania vs. Teutonic Order
• Nevskiy's Russia vs. German Crusaders
• Mussolini vs. Libyan Islamic fighters
• Qadafi: Europe will soon be Islamic
• Ivan the Terrible vs. Muslim Tatars 

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• The Gypsies in history and today, Europe's public enemy
• History of Jihad in Chechnya
& Caucasus vs. Russians
• History of the Muslim Tatars in Russia
• Ethnic & religious history of Serbs, Croats, & Bosnians
• Breakaway states and independence movements in Europe
• The ancient Germanic Runic alphabet and Runestones
• Inside Bulgaria, 1st Slavic nation,
land of Thracian masters of gold
• Visual history of Yugoslavia
• 4,000-year-old white mummies of China, bringers of Buddhism 

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The history and beauty of Croatia's Dubrovnik, the invincible coastal gem
by James Mayfield (Chairman, European Heritage Library)

Print this Article    •    About the Author    •    Bibliography/Sources

This topic offers my photo gallery of the ancient medieval walled fort city of Dubrovnik, on the Dalmatian coast of Croatia, along with its history and my observations.

The walled city of Dubrovnik is one of the few cities in the world in current residential use that has seldom changed in more than 300 years, allowing a visitor to step back in time in near-perfect preservation to the medieval period of Slavic' Croatia's history. For brief historical background, what is now Croatia became occupied by the Slavic offshoot Croat ethnic group by the 8th century, whose warring dukedoms coalesced into a unified Croatian Slavic kingdom under Tomislav the Great by the early 10th century. This Slavic statehood was short-lived, as their small size and lack of organization allowed the Catholic Hungarian state to annex Croatia by the 12th century. Hungarian rule of Croatia remained until the 16th century, when Hungary and Croatia both were on the brink of total annihilation in the face of the Islamic Jihad of the Turks, whom had already conquered nearly all of Christian southern Europe. German Austria annexed both Hungary, Croatia, and Slovenia under the guise of sparing the Christians from the Islamic Mujahidin fighters. The city of Dubrovnik, due to its proximity to the invading navies of Byzantium and of Italian city-states, remained relatively distanced from native Slavic Croatian rule for most of its early history. The Byzantines had used the Dalmatian coast as a military position, but the Catholic Italian Venetians had conquered the territory by the 13th century. The Dalmatian coast remained under Italic suzerainty until the late 15th century, when the single city in the south of Dubrovnik declared independence. Mainland Croatia remained under Hungarian and later German rule (until 1918), but the city of Dubrovnik (known as Ragusa to the Italians) acted independently as a medieval trading city until the German annexation.

the outer city of Dubrovnik near a restored bridge previously destroyed by the Serb Jugoslavs. (click to enlarge)

a close-up of the expanded city. (click to enlarge)

The Old City of Dubrovnik today is virtually unchanged and exactly preserved as it was during the late medieval period. It became one of the wealthiest cities in the Mediterranean based upon its tiny size, rivaling even Venice. Though independent, its citizens were Slavic Catholic Croats who spoke Croatian. There was no hereditary king; the government was administered by the wealthy elite aristocracy and elective councils with little power affored to the citizens (much like in the Venetian "republic" upon which it was modeled). The expanded urban portion of Dubrovnik is modern, whilst Old City is exactly the vaunted historical Ragusa state whose wealthy trade opportunity caught the eyes of Italians, Germans, Greeks, and even Muslims for centuries before the German annexation in the 16th century of Hungary and Croatia. The exterior of the walled city offers a lovely experience in a quiet, lush green, and homogeneous coastal fishing town with traditional red roofs and endless vineyards of generally strong, flavorful Croatian red wines. Croatia's nearly-unmatched scenic views offer winding paved roads with endless trees and vineyards at left and the crystal-blue Adriatic Sea at right. The Catholic and Slavic identity of the Croats is strong both within and without the city, as most Dubrovniak homes are populated by extended families including grandfather, grandmother, mother, father, and children. The children live at home until later ages, working at family-owned businesses or in the Old City before marrying late into their own homes. Many families own vineyards and crops with sheep and horses, as passed down since the period of independent Ragusa. Many Dubrovnik families grow their own foods and fruits for sale or personal dining. Croatia is almost entirely ethnically homogeneous amongst Slavs, though many Muslim illegal immigrants from Africa, Albania, Macedonia, and Arabia use Croatia as a route of illegal immigration into the European Union (especially Germany and France). The cultural and ethnic nationalism of the Croats is expressed with great pride, as nearly every car has a custom "HR" symbol (for "Hrvatska", the Croatian word for "Croatia"). Pride for the independent Croatian culture is embraced universally, and a general hatred for their former Serb, German, and especially Muslim Turkish invaders exists commonly. The Albanians, Europe's only culture to convert almost entirely to Islam after the Turkish Jihad, is rejected with bitter hatred in Croatia just as in the remainder of the Balkans. Catholic Croatian churches enjoy high attendance, a long history, high donations, and strong local reverence (especially for St. Michael and Franciscan orders). The national Croat drink, Rakija, is a brandy-like liquor with green herbs therein offering a strong and sweet green taste. As it is often fermented locally, many Croats sell traditional Rakija (Rock-iya) in Smirnoff vodka bottles with the whisky drained. The famous Croat beer Karlovačko (carlow-vochko) offers a rich heritage and a strong lager taste. Drivers are generally more courteous and safe in Croatia than in Italy or neighboring areas. Gasoline is relatively affordable in comparison with the remainder of Europe, where gas prices may exceed 9 Euros per gallon.

the walled Old City of Dubrovnik (Ragusa) in the distance). (click to enlarge)

a local fishery in the near city of Cavtat. (click to enlarge)

an ancient restored Roman mill for a local restaurant. (click to enlarge)

this restaurant's local menu.

the gorgeous local Dubrovniak running river. (click to enlarge)

Dubrovniak vineyards. (click to enlarge)

A coastal drive offers a view of hundreds of small islets and islands in the Dalmatian archipelago. The city's borders connect directly with the new Slavic breakaway state (from Serbia) of Montenegro in the distant mountains to the southeast. From Montenegro, a large Serb and Montenegrin army of the Jugoslav state rallied an invasion of the city of Dubrovnik (and all of Croatia) in order to suppress their 1991 independence movement. The Serbs shelled the walled Old City from the nearby mountains with howitzers and calvary for weeks but ultimately failed in the assault. Bullet holes and bombing damage can be seen to this day in many buildings to commemorate the Croat defense against Jugoslav invasion to protect their statehood under Ante Palevič. The Croats are politically left-leaning but dress and act quite conservatively in comparison with Americans, Russians, or Ukrainians. Croatia is incredibly upright and well-maintained despite its stereotypical image. Even the waters in the harbor are generally clean, making Croatia a gem in a war-torn Balkan region tainted by its hardship and warfare. Almost no trash and no graffiti can be seen in the streets outside of the capital of Zagreb, as well as few trash can basins oddly. Many of the locals attribute this cleanliness and lack of crime to the low immigration Croatia endures due to its present economic situation. Many Croats own boats in to enjoy their vivid Dalmatian coastline, as is done in Sweden, and many boats can be seen by the coastline at the earliest hours of the day. Dozens of painters exploit the beauty of the Croatian geography, and many galleries can be seen all throughout the old and new cities of Dubrovnik. Quilts, rugs, traditional costumes and cultural clothing, ceramics, glass products, and books are also sold with proud frequency. Inhabitants of Dubrovnik speak many languages, including Croatian, Russian, English, German, and French in response to the exploding magnetism Dubrovnik. The economic and urban future of Croatia is vivid with potential, unlike its former Serbian oppressors. A great deal of environmental protection of local parks and government-owned islands exists in Croatia, a heritage first installed allegedly by Napoleon Bonaparte I after his conquest of the region in the 18th century. French installation of quarantine and hospital buildings caused Dubrovnik to remain free of disease and sickness whilst many local regions endured great physical calamity during his rule. Croatia and Dubrovnik are rich in local restaurants owned by family businesses for centuries, offering local Croatian cuisine including mussels, lamb, olive oil, cheese pita bread, clams, and cottage cheese dishes. Many local restaurants even buy properties around venerated and prized ancient Roman ruins as locations for nationally-famous restaurants. Dubrovnik's most expensive restaurant is adjacent to a Roman water mill built nearly 2,000 years ago. Tourism is expected and treated with abundance as a foreshadow of the bright future Croatia will soon experience in comparison with Albania and Serbia by contrast.

the country of Montenegro in the distance of Dubrovnik's borders. (click to enlarge)

a statue commemorating commemorating Bogišič (pronounced Boeg-ee-sheech), founder of Dubrovnik's golden Slavic art age.

Dubrovnik's glorious interior fishing community of Cavtat (pronounced "Tzav-tot"). (click to enlarge)

Cavtat's local restaurant and a famous Catholic church. (click to enlarge)

another angle of the above.

the blend between the ancient old city and the new thriving post-war development. (click to enlarge)

The walled city of Old Town (the original Ragusa fort city) is reached in the center of town over an original bridge. A bridge connecting the original walled city to the new expanded center was destroyed during the independence war with the Serbs, causing Dubrovnik's residents to be cut off from supplies and virtually starved. Croatian flags and standards are waved with pride all over the Old City, including a large commemorative area in the entrance to the town honoring the deaths of the hundreds of Croats who fell during the war, including the ancient medieval buildings of the town that suffered bombing damage (see below for a photo). The interior of the city -- including its walls -- is practically a mint copy of the original city of the 1500s, an opportunity experienced in few cities in the world other than in Tallinn, Estonia or San Marino of Italy. The restoration the city has endured after the Serb assault is visible in the fact that some buildings or portions thereof are light red -- denoting original middle age architecture -- and some are dark red -- denoting new restorative construction. Original architecture is borne of stone, stone, or wood, whilst new is made of plaster composite. Some buildings and churches even have bullet holes still visible from the war with Jugoslavija. The renovation effort is successful, as most of the city cannot be discerned from its middle age predecessor. The repeat tourism the walled city has to offer aids in the restorative economic advancement of the once-independent trade city. Original canons, cannonballs, guns, statues of Saints, and ships can be seen in the area in celebration of the ancient Croat heritage. Endless shops and private city painters offer a permanent stamp of the unforgettable memory of Dubrovnik for sale to tourists. Large Catholic churches offer a look at the Croats' firm piety to their independent Catholic faith, with multiple churches in the tiny Old City alone. Dogs and cats walk the city without intervention, hoarding next to 600-year-old fountains still in use today. Tourists are able to traverse the walls of the city in entirety, an undertaking that requires several hours but offers a view both of the gorgeous Croatian wooded forests as well as the interior of the walled old city just as original city guards did late into the night centuries ago to protect the Croats from foreign invaders.

The Croats pride themselves in their unique history, religion, and heritage despite centuries of foreign rule by Italians, Hungarians, Germans, and Serbs, and enjoy a country virtually unparalleled in its beauty that a tourist would seldom expect from the war-torn Jugoslav Balkans of the 1990's. Dubrovnik, not the capital of Zagreb, is the epitome of this vivid and ancient Croatian heritage that few cities of the world other than Estonia or German principalities like Luxemburg or Liechtenstein have to offer.

the entrance bridge to the Old City. (click to enlarge)

another angle of the entrance. Notice the Croatian flag displayed with ethnic and cultural nationalistic pride. (click to enlarge)

the commemorative banner displaying war-dead Croats and damaged buildings in the war of Croatian independence.

the entrance of Dubrovnik's Old City. (click to enlarge)

a church at the entrance with bullet holes from the Serb assault.

the interior of a Catholic Croatian church within the Old City. (click to enlarge)

a close-up of the same church with Serb bullet holes and shells. (click to enlarge)

the altar of the Old City's Croat church. (click to enlarge)

a medieval corridor in the Old City. (click to enlarge)

Another photo of mine of the old city. (click to enlarge)

downtown Dubrovnik, with a German flag in background signifying the expectation of tourism as Croatia's economic salvation. (click to enlarge)

central Dubrovnik, with thriving trade cities, markets, and shops centuries old.

Another photo of mine of a Dubrovniak corridor. (click to enlarge)

outer Dubrovnik's Old City, with a view of the naval port of the ancient trade city. (click to enlarge)

________________________________________

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

James Mayfield is the owner and Chairman of the European Heritage Library. I am working for a doctorate in history, with a specific emphasis on Islamic and European histories. I am well versed in all world cultures, ethnicities, religions, languages, politics, and historical evolution in relation to and against each other.

BIBLIOGRAPHY/SOURCES USED:

Personal observations, photographs.