An Aristocratic Merchant Republic.
The Republic of Ragusa, also known as the Republic of Dubrovnik, was a tiny independent state that existed from 1358 to 1808. It was situated on the Eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, part of the Republic of Croatia, and was an important maritime trade centre under the protection of the Ottoman Empire, reaching its peak in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Political Structure
The Republic of Ragusa was a classic city-state, boasting more than a thousand-year allegiance to republicanism in its political structure. It was an aristocratic merchant republic, also known as a city-state, ruled by a handful of aristocratic families. The Great Council was the sovereign governing and legislative body, which elected the other councils, officials, as well as the Rector. The Senate became the real government of the Republic during the 16th century, and in the 18th century, the Senate had the power to make important political decisions. The Prince-Rector was elected every month and was only eligible for re-election after two years. The whole system served the purpose of not allowing power to be amassed.
Economy
The Republic of Ragusa had a highly organized network of consulates and consular offices in more than eighty cities and ports around the world. It was a free trade republic with a democratic order for its time. The Republic of Ragusa’s decline started when trade routes shifted from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic.
References
– A State of Deference: Ragusa / Dubrovnik in the Medieval Centuries – JSTOR
– Republic of Ragusa – Wikipedia
– The Political Structure of Ragusa – Orbis Tertius
– Aristocracy of the Republic of Ragusa (Dubrovnik) – Croatian Genealogy & Family History
– Documents in the Archives of Ragusa on Magellan’s Voyage – Duke University Press
Citations
– https://www.croatian-genealogy.com/educational-articles/aristocracy-republic-ragusa/
– https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv4rfrmw
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