ArchivesPlease do not edit archived pages If you want to react to a statement made in an archived discussion please make a new header on THIS page Archives Archive 1 Archived on December 8 2006 Archive 2 Archived on November 23 2007 Ragusa Dubrovnik has never been in Italy This article s statement in the part of Maratime Republics claiming that Ragusa was in Italy and therefore implying that it was an Italian republic is clearly a mistake One just needs to go into the Sponza palace the Ragusian state archive in Dubrovnik and see any of the official documents The laws regarding inner policy are clearly stated in Croatian Those regarding foreign policy are written both in Croatian and Italian All of the ruling families of Ragusa from Sorkocevic to Gucetic to Restic etc were Croatian The greatest Ragusian poet and writer Ivan Gundulic an aristocrat and one of the rulers famous for his book Suze sina razmetnoga was one of the greatest Croatian nationalists Source Dubrovnik a history written by Robin Harris 2006 According to the Robert Harris book Malta was independent until 1808 when Napoleon annexed it According to Harris Dubrovnik with it s fleet of 700 000 tons surpassing Venice in 1660 was the main hated rival of Venice in the Adriatic and always resisted the invasion plans of Venice The last Venitian rector was sent home packing politely but firmly in 1351 According to Harris the recto packed his belongings in a hurry Some reflections on this issue are necessary First it is necessary a reflection on the very concepts of Nation and State as these two terms are commonly considered near synonyms and therefore used interchangeably They have instead different meanings The term Italy refers to booth meanings Italy as State was born in XIX cent but Italy as Natiom is much older Almost true Ragusa never belonged to Italy State except the Napoleon s Kingdom of Italy 1808 1809 but was seen for some centuries a part of Italy Nation in the beginning of its birth process Today Ragusa Dubrovink as well as Split and other Dalmatian towns are out of Italy State and out of Italy Nation as well they belong both to Croatia Nation and to Croatia State On the other hand Lugano Switzerland and San Marino independent republic are out of Italy State and still part of Italy Nation I suggest the book L TOMAZ Il confine d Italia in Istria e Dalmazia Duemila anni di storia and the SSRN working paper ARNALDO MAURI Historical Geopolitical and Economic Factors affecting State and Nation Boundaries Foreword on Italy s Borders in Istria and Dalmatia Of course Ragusa as port city had a multiethnic population besides Italians also Croats Vlachs Serbs Albanians Similar situations could be found in Istanbul Alexandria Izmir Odessa To be the birthplace of poets or outstanding men is insignificant Tommaseo was born in Dalmatia as many other great Italians Garibaldi and Massena were born in Nice the Greek poet Kavafis in Alexandria Venice was rival of Ragusa but was also rival of Genoa on the sea and of Milan on the mainland also this point is insignificant to the discussion on Ragusa belonging to Italy Nation in past centuries 87 9 19 187 Romanians in 2007 2008 I think now that Romanians are the largest minority in Italy someone should add this fact from this year If you can give a reliable source that says this go ahead and add it including a reference to the source However merely thinking that it s true is not a reliable source Talk From BBC