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Browse by centuries 7th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th

7th century

614
The Roman refugees from Epidaurum established their settlement at the rock called Laus. The Slavs established their settlement at the foot of mountain Srđ.
667
The name of the town was firs mentioned by an anonymous from Ravena.

9th century     [top]

8th century - 16th century
City Walls complex, 1940 meters long and up to 40 meters high, was built.
866 - 867
Arabs (Saracens) attacked Dubrovnik. Byzantine Emperor sent his ships to help Dubrovnik and break the 15 month long siege.

10th century     [top]

972
St. Vlaho (St. Blasius) has been chosen as the patron saint of Dubrovnik. His image was impressed on seals and coins, carved in a stone, and painted on banners. The St. Vlaho's day is celebrated until today on February 3.
992
Dubrovnik was burned and devastated by Macedonian Emperor Samuilo.
999
Dubrovnik became an Archbishopy and Metropolis. Until 1089 Kotor, Ulcinj, Bar and some other bishopies were under its rule.
10th century - 11th century
The canal between Roman and Slav settlements was filled. The settlements became one unit and spread from the sea to the foot of the mountain hill. A wall encircled the whole area.
1000
Dubrovnik officially recognized the role of Venetian Duke Pietro II Orseolo.

11th century     [top]

1018
Dubrovnik returned under the protection of Byzantine Empire.
1022
The first written document of Dubrovnik's origin - the Benedictines receved the Island of Lokrum as a gift.
1023
People in the town are divided into patricians and commoners, and a new class, the nobles, is mentioned for the first time.
1038
Fort Lovrjenac is built. It bears a famous inscription NON BENE PRO TOTO LIBERTAS VENDITUR AURO
(Liberty can not be sold for all gold of the world).
1081 - 1085
Dubrovnik recognized the sovereignty of Normans. With Norman help they entered the markets of South Italy, Apulia, and Sicily.

12th century     [top]

1148
Dubrovnik contracted its first known trade agreement. That agreement allowed the town of Molfetta and Dubrovnik the freedom to trade without payment of port fees.
1161
Arabian scholar, El-Idrisi, wrote in his book that "Dubrovnik was the last town of Croatia".
1167
Dubrovnik came under the administration of Byzant.
1169
Dubrovnik signed trade agreement with Pisa, which enabled Dubrovnik to enjoy the same privileges as Pisa throughout Levanat, Constantinopole, and areas of Syria and Gibraltar.
1172
Venice domination over Dubrovnik
1173
Dubrovnik accepted the protection of Normans and freed itself from Venetian rule.
1185
Stefan Nemanja, Serbian sovereign, attacked Dubrovnik. Peace was signed in 1186. By that peace contract Dubrovnik had the freedom of trade for the land of Raska.
1188
Dubrovnik signed the trade agreement with Ravenna.
1189
Bosnian sovereign, Kulin Ban, allowed the people of Dubrovnik the liberty of trading in Bosnia without paying taxes. In that agreement the name of Dubrovnik appeared for the first time.
1190
The law granting free entrance to the town of some criminals and debtors at the day of St. Vlaho, was passed.
1192
Dubrovnik signed trade agreements with the towns of Fana and Ancona.

13th century     [top]

1201
Dubrovnik signed trade agreements with Monopoli, Bari, and Termoli.
1207
Dubrovnik and Kotor formed an alliance.
1210 - 1231
Dubrovnik contracted trade agreements with towns of Villigia, Justiniana, Ferrara, and Rimini, and got the right for free trading at the territories of Albania, Serbia, and Bulgaria. The Dominicans came to town.
1234
Dubrovnik signed trade agreements with the towns of Split and Šibenik, Raska rulers, and Bosnian Ban.
1235
The Great and Small Councils are mentioned for the first time. The Friars Minors settled in Dubrovnik.
1236
Venice dominates Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik ships were not allowed to use the ports of Ancona and Premantura except when carrying cargo to Venice
1238 - 1242
Trade agreements with Corfu and Ulcinj were signed by Dubrovnik's people.
1272
The Statute of Dubrovnik was founded containing different laws and regulations regarding internal and external life of the community, administration, trade, maritime law, crafts, urban regulations for the development of the town, sewage, etc. This 8-book Statute is one of the oldest in Europe.
1278
From this year on all fiscal books and other files from the archives were maintained. The Dubrovnik Archive become a very important source of information.
1290
The Claris Monastery at Puncela was built.
1296
The huge fire devastated a large portion of the town. After that Dubrovnik's new urban plan was developed.

14th century     [top]

1301
From this year on minutes were taken at the meetings of the Great and Small Council and senate.
1315
The Dominican Church was erected.
1319
Minčeta tower was built.
1333
Dubrovnik bought the territory of Ston and Pelješac from Raska rulers.
1337
Franciscan Monastery is built in the transitional Romanesque-Gothic style.
The official mint factory in the building called Divona (previously the town's customs house) started to operate. The first coin was minted. Until 1803. Dubrovnik minted its own money, the perpera, which was a convertible currency.
1345
Mljet was included in Dubrovnik's territory.
1346 - 1557
Fortress St. Ivan was built in four stages.
1346
The town port was protected during the night with a thick steel chain that streched from the breakwater Kaše to the tower of St. Luka.
1347
The first hospital Domus Christi was built.
1348
Almost 8000 citizens died of “black death” (plague).
1351
Firearms appeared for the first time in Dubrovnik.
1352
The Jewish community was mentioned for the first time.
1358
The aristocracy took over the role of the town.
1368
St. Vlaho (St. Blasius) church was built. Later destroyed in earthquake.
1371
From this year on, the city was officially represented by the Rector and Council of Dubrovnik.
1377
Dubrovnik was among the first ports to introduce a quarantine for ships and passengers. The first quarantines were at the Islands of Mrkan and Bobara. Later on they were moved closer to the town, at Lazareti, Ploce.
1396
The Sultan gave Dubrovnik a letter of guarantee confirming them a liberty of trade at his territory.
1397
The construction of the City Clock Tower began.

15th century     [top]

15th century
The Synagogue is built. It is said to be the oldest in the Balkans and the third oldest in Europe. It functioned throughout the Second World War.
1406 - 1413
The last 200 wooden houses in the town were demolished and replaced with stone. Dubrovnik was completely built in stone.
1416
Dubrovnik abolished slave trading
1417
The first manufacture in the Balkans was established in Dubrovnik by Petar Pantella.
1418
The Orlando Column was erected as the symbol of the town's autonomy
1419
Dubrovnik bought the territory of East Konavle from Duke Sandalj Hrndić.
1420
The pharmacy was founded.
1423
The glass factory was opened.
1423 - 1427
Blaž Jurije Trogiranin painted his famous painting Crucifixion in St. Nicholas church in Ston.
1426
Dubrovnik bought the western part of Konavle and Cavtat. By this it rounded off its territory and stopped the extensions on other territories.
1428
The law about workers protection in textile manufactures was passed by the Great Council as the first law of that kind in Croatia.
1435
The first public school was opened.
1438 - 1444
Water supply system and two fountains, the Big and Small Onofrio's Fountain were built.
1441
The government appointed the first consul in Ancona.
The Small Fountain was built by Petar Martinov
1442
Coral diving developed in the seas around the Elafiti Islands.
1496
Pieta at the church of Male Brače was built by Paskoje Miličević.
1450
Consulates were opened in Barltta, Bari, Siracusa, Manfredonia, Pesaro, Ortona, and later on in Naples, Poligano, Termoli, Augusta, Malta, Marseille, etc.
1461 - 1465
Fortress Minčeta was built according to the design of Michelozzo Michelozzi and Juraj Dalmatinac.
1461 - 1570
Fortress Bokar was built after the design of Michelozzo Michelozzi and still "protects" the entrance to the harbor.
1468
The channel between two parts of the town was paved and Stradun, the main street, was created.
1471
Pile gate was built after the design of Paskoje Miličević.

16th century     [top]

1500 - 1538
The tower of Revelin was built.
1506
Ivan Rabljanin forged the bell at the town's bell tower which hangs till today.
1516 - 1522
The Custom House (Divona, today Sponza) was built after the design of Paskoje Miličević in Ghotic - Renaissance style.
1520 - 1528
Church Sv. Spasa was built.
1526
The town of Dubrovnik recognized the sovereignty of the Turkish Sultan and under his protection the town remained until 1808.
1540
The Domus Christy public state hospital was built. It was the first in the Balkans.
1575
The capital of Dubrovnik citizens was taxed by authorities and placed into foreign banks. This was done to prevent leakage of money from the state.
1581
A large salt store house built in Mali Ston.
1580 - 1600
Dubrovnik had more ships than ever before: 170-200 large ships. The Dubrovnik ships were regarded as the best in the Mediterranean (merchant ships were called Argosy).

17th century     [top]

1667
The Great Earthquake destroyed Dubrovnik. What remained untouched after the earthquake was consumed by fire.
Between 2000 and 3000 people survived and more than 4000 people died under the ruins.

18th century     [top]

1713
New Cathedral in Roman baroque style was built at the place of the one that was destroyed in the earthquake. That Cathedral still exists.
1705 - 1717
St. Vlaho church was built in Baroque style after the designs of Marino Gropelli.
1725
The Jesuit church was built.

1806
Dubrovnik was occupied by Napoleon's general Lauriston.
1808
By the decision of Marshal Marmont the Dubrovnik Republic was abolished, and all its territory placed under the French rule.