THE BRIEF HISTORY OF TROGIR



GREEK PERIOD

Begins around 3rd cetury BC, ends some time after the battle of Pharsalus between Caesar and Pompeius, year 48 AD (Romans's civil war 49–45 BC)

The city of Trogir was founded by Greeks of the Doric tribe from Syracuse in the 3rd century BC. Its original Greek name Tragurion probably comes from the nearby Kozjak hill. Strabane and Ptolemy mark Tragurion as an island, and as such it is also marked on Ptolemy's map.

As a Greek colony, it was a "distrubution center" with houses, magazines and the administration owned by the Greek colonists and traders on the Adriatic Sea, perfectly protected by its natural and strategic position. Tragurium was "faktoria" - dependent teritory of Greek colony of Issa (today island of Vis in Croatia).



ROMAN PERIOD

The habitants of Tragurium during this period had all the rights as Roman citizens. The town was under administration of nearby city of Solin, one of the most important centers of Roman province of Dalmatia, and governed by "custos" - gardian and protected with small military crew.

It's status was "oppidum" - the city, and was mentioned by roman historian Plinije for the high quality marble from surroundings. These quarries are still working today.



BYZANTINE PERIOD

After the Roman empire was divided at the east and west part, Tragurium is under the byzantune roulers with the capital in Ravena, Italy, officialy until year 752 AD, but this period in fact last a few centuries more.

This is the time where the roman way of life was gradually replaced by christian influenced, introduced by emperor Constantin the great, at he begining of fourth century AD.

The city was paying the yearly tribute to emperors, as mentioned in documents at the begining of tenth century, where was mentioned as "Tetrangurion". The city code has its origins from the time of emperor Justinian I, who recovered the teritories of Dalmatia.

During theis period, historians recorded one event - conquest of city of Solin 614 AD by Ostrogoth tribes, where Tragurion became the safe harbour for survivors.



ARRIVAL OF CROATS, FIRST KINGDOM



Arrival of Croats to the Adriatic Sea
Painting by Oton Iveković (1869 – 1939), Croatian painter

During the period of Great migrations, around seventh century, the Croats reached Dalmatian coast (after series of battles with Avars and other tribes), replacing gradually the romanic population.

Trogir, at the time called Traur or Trau, was one of the first places to be populated by Croats, due to its good position and fertile surroundings, as well as the fact that city was well preserved (opposite of the most of others on the coast at that time).

In that period and until year 1102, the kingdom of Croatia was tipical middle age state, where the christianity was spreading through the population, which original beleifs were related to many deities. Trogir had its own code, nobility and government, recognizing the croatian kings as their suverens.

First roulers of Dalmatia known by history appear in second part of seventh century, with title of "knez". Later, starting from year 925, and king Tomislav, croatian state covers huge teritories of nowdays Croatia and partialy of Bosnia and Hercegovina.

After the last of the croatian kings - Stjepan II and dinastic struggles, kingdom become the part of "personal union" with neiborhood Hungarian kingdom.



Kiss of Peace between Croatian nobles and King Koloman, 1102 - Painting by Oton Iveković

Authonomy of the city of Trogir was confirmed in year 1107 by hungarian king Koloman from Arpad dinasty, crowened also as a king of Croats.

Trogir was in that time prosperous city, holding the surrounding land, wich was the cause of endless clashes with neighbors - cities of Split, Šibenik and even Zadar.
During the Tatar invasion 1242, the hungarian king Bela IV found refuge inside city walls of Trogir. The expresion of his gratitude was a gift - huge extention of land for the city.

VENICE PERIOD



After four days of siege and under heavy bombardment of Venetian forces, at jun 20th 1420, citizens of Trogir decided to surrender. Venice - Republic of St.Marko was at the peak of its power, the richest city in Europe, with huge fleet dominating Adriatic and great part of Mediteranian sea.

This period - almost four centuries long, was a time of relative peace, development of trade and manufacture, construction of public and sacral buildings.
Almost everithing that we see today in Trogir was from this period of great prosperity, where both nobility and comons adopted lots of venetian customs in everydays life. Some of the words we are using today are from venetian dialekt.

The governer of the city was appointed by Republic with the title of "Conte e capitano" and was member of venetian nobility, but generaly Trogir had some autonomy, including the rigt on its own money - coins called "bagattino".

One of the major events of the time was maritime Battle of Lepanto 1571, where the Ottoman empire fleet was defeated by the Holy League led by Venice.
The galley "La Donna" from Trogir participated on the right wing of ally fleet and was sunked. Croatian towns and islands - Cres, Krk, Koper, Rab, Hvar, Šibenik i Zadar also took their part in this battle, after which the Ottomans were stopped in their expansion on Mediteranian and Europe.



Today, the trophy from the Battle of Lepanto - Rooster (decoration from captured enamies flag ship) is inside the hall of Chipico palace in Trogir.



FRENCH PERIOD



Domination of Venice ended with year 1797, and after a few years of anarchy, french army under command of general Auguste de Mormont occupied great part of Dalmatia, defeting his enamy - the Austrian empire.

During the period from year 1806 to 1814, under french administration, Trogir lost most of its city walls that improved hygienic condition in town.
Despite the short period, french realized impresive civile works in Dalmatia, including ilumination of the streets, new roads, swamp drainage etc.

First public scools were established also in that time, as well as construction of monumet - "glorijet" to General Marmont, in front of which the first civile weddings in history of Trogir took place.



AUSTRIAN PERIOD



For one century (1814-1918) Croatia were part of Austrian empire, well organized and powerful conglomerate of many nations, held by Habsburg dinasty.
In Trogir, most visible simbols of that time are ghotic style buildings of public scool, county cort and tabaco factory on Čiovo island, reflecting new era of enlightenment and industrial development. In years before the Great war, close to the city was built a landing stripe, where nowdays is modern Split airport.

Nobility of Trogir, that governed city affairs for centuries, were replaced with state administration that enforced law in entire empire, and new, bourgeois class emerged.



INDEPENDENCE



Conseckvence of the Great war was desintegration of Austrian empire, and Croatia become part of new formed Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians, under the rule of serbian dinasty, which ended in 1941.

From 1945 Croatia is part of Socialistic Federative Republic of Yugoslavia as one of six federation units, until the 25th of june 1991 when votes on referendum decided for independance of Croatia, followed by defense-liberation war for independence and integrity of the country.
Next referendum, for membership in European was held on 22nd of january 2012.