Croatian mariners
in the New World;
Croatian Guilds and Collegiums

The oldest known Croatian Guild of merchants in Italy was founded in 1375 in the city of Recanti - Faternitas Sclauourm Sancti Petri Martiris. According to Venetian archives, nearly 20% of the eastern part of the city of Venice called Castello was Croatian. Even today there are streets, squares, passages, bridges and churches in Venice that bear witness of the presence of Croats during many centuries, most often in the name of Schiavone, Brazza (= the island of Brac), Lesina (= the island of Hvar) etc. For more details see an article by Lovorka Coralic in [Croazia/Italia].

Croatian coat of arms (on threecolor flag), on the left mast of the Enrica brig,
built in Rijeka in 1868

In the church of S. Pietro di Castello on the islet Olivolo in Venice, there are interesting traces of close ties with Croats:

• grand church organs were built by fra Petar Nakic (1694 - after 1769),
• in the small lateral chapel of S. Pietro di Castello, on the left of the main alter, there are two epitaphs mentioning the name of Nikola Ivanusic, Split captain and shipbuilder, who had his home in Venice (Corte Schiavona), member of the Croatian brotherhood of St. Juraj and Tripun in the Serenissima.

The Guild of St. Jerome in Udine was founded in 1452.

Very important Croatian Congregation of St. Jerome in Rome was founded in the beginning of the 15th century, and already in 1453 had its church in Rome, with the associated hospital and guest-house for pilgrims, refugees and exiles from the Croatian ethnic areas occupied by the Turks. It is interesting that besides the Latin Mass also Glagolitic Liturgy had been served regularly in the Church of St Jerome, with the use of Glagolitic missals and breviaries. The congregation exists even today, under the name of Croatian Papal Collegium of St. Jerome. The name was given by a rescript of Pope Paul VI in 1971.

Also very important in educating our students was a Croatian Collegium in Bologna (1553-1781), founded first as Collegium Hungarica - Illyricum, then soon Croatized, as Hungarians had their own Collegium Hungaricum in Rome since 1578.

Collegium Illyricum in Loreto was founded in 1580, intended to educate Croatian youth, with 30-36 students. It was acting with interruptions until 1860. During three centuries about 1,000 Croatian students were educated there. The most outstanding of them was Bartol Kasic (1571-1650), author of the first Croatian grammar (Rome, 1604).

It is indicative that just near the main square Palazzo Papale in Loreto there is Palazzo Illirico (Croatian square).

The name of Ragusa (=Dubrovnik) and St Vlaho, patron of Ragusa, and also other Croatian names appear on old maps of Central America already in the 16th, soon after discoveries of Cristophor Columbus, John and Sebastian Cabot. Capo de Arause appears on John Cabot's map (15th century) between New York and Cape Cod. Arase was a corrupted Spanish, Portuguese and Italian pronunciation of Ragusa (Dubrovnik).

Some of Sebastian Cabot's mariners were Bozo de Araguz (from Ragusa), Stephen de Lezna (= Lesina = Hvar, Croatian island), Stephen de Arva (= Arbe = island of Rab). According to Adam S. Eterovich about 20 percent of S. Cabot's crew was Croatian.

Croatian mariners organized a chapel of Saint Vlaho in the Church of Santa Maria di Castello in Genoa in the 1400's. The name of Ragusa has many variations: Aragoso, Arause, Araguz, Rhagusi, Ragoza, Rausa etc. Also the name of St Vlaho, patron of Ragusa (Dubrovnik): Bigio, Blaas, Blas, Blaise, Blaze, Braz, Bras.

In the area of Panama there is an Otoque island (otok = island in Croatian!), close to the Pacific side of the Panama canal. In the same area there is Saboga island (sa Boga = za Boga = for God). More to the south there is Punta Mala (mala = small in Croatian, i.e. a small point). In the Panam area the name of San Blas (= St Vlaho, patron of Ragusa) is mentioned several times: San Blas Point, San Blas Bay, San Blas Mountains.

Sebastian Cabot also traveled to Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. His map of the voyage to the Rio De La Plata in 1526-30 has a bay Mime Ragoso - or "just like Ragusa", which is in Brazil! It is interesting that ship's officer on this voyage was Matias Mafrolo, who was Slavonian, i.e. the Croat.

An important discovery of Adam S. Eterovich regarding the Croats in the New World covers several obviously Ragusan names of mariners in the famous Columbus crew in 1492: Martin de Araguis, Pedro de Arague.
For more details see [Eterovic], p. 32-38.

It is a fact that Giovanni Verrazano gave also Dalmatian and Croatian names to various toponyms in the New World during his voyages along the Atlantic coast of New England, New York, the Carolinas, Florida in 1523-1524 (Malabrigo, S. Blas, Mala gente, Costa do Brada, Golfo di Castelli, Fiume, Brioni etc.). In a book by Jacques Habert on the Voyages of Verrazano a chapter heading is entitled "La Dalmatie de Nouveau Monde", 1964 (Dalmatia of the New World), in a book by Carlos Pazzini we have "La Dalmazia Del Nuouvo Mondo", The American Scenic and Historical Society in a description of the American coast has a heading "Dalmatia of the New World", 1910. According to Adam Eterovich, the fact that Verrazano has no geneaology in Italy or France seems to suggest to seek his roots in Dalmatia, not in Italy: Giovanni -Ivan, Verrazano - Veratius, Vrantzius, Vranyczany, Vranjanin, Vrancic. The nobility of Europe always maintained very detailed and accurate geneaologies for rights of title, succession and property. E.G. Tudor in his Tudor Geography (1934, London) states: "A majority of the mariners and the pilots on the king's ships at this period were foreigners - Ragusans (listed first), Venetians (mostly our "Sclavonians", since Dalmatia at that time belonged to Venice, and represented about 70% of its entire territory), Genovese, Normans and Bretons". This was noted by the French Ambassador Marillac in 1540. See Adam S. Eterovich's "The Verrazano voyages to America and Canada 1523-1524", Croatia in the New World, Ragusan Press, San Carlos, USA, 1990.

As for the Dalmatia of the New World, it is possible that even the name of the Potomac river in Washington is of the Croatian origin: potomak = descendant. The name of Long Island in New York might correspond to the Croatian island called Dugi Otok (= long island).

There are very strong and convincing indications that even Marco Polo was a descendant of the Croats (Marko Pilich).

Many of the early European expeditions to the western shore of the Atlantic finished with shipwrecks. So was the case with some ships from Dubrovnik in the 16th century. It is interesting to mention that the Croatan Indians in the USA could possibly be the descendants of the saved Croatian crew, as authenticated by their name, brown hair, blue eyes and some of the words in their language. Two large islands appear on the Molineaux map of Virginia, USA (1599), with the names Croatoan and Croatamonge (see [Eterovic], p. 30).

An American writer John Lawson in his 1714 chronicle wrote that among Croatan Indians of that time there was a legend of a 16th century shipwreck with mariners who saved themselves and stayed with Indians.

In attempts to find Walter Raleigh's Lost Colony inhabited by the British Empire in 1587 on the island of Roanoke (near the Croatoan island, North Carolina, USA), the searchers found a CRO carved in Roman letters on a tree in 1590. Another big tree had a bark peeled off, and carved on it in capital letters was the word CROATOAN.

It is indicative that a (French?) lexicographer and maritime historian J. Jal included in his Glossair nautique about 500 original Croatian maritime terms.

Steamship Hrvatska (Croatia), 1904
(from R.F. Barbalic, I. Marendic: Onput, kad smo partili, MH Rijeka, 2004, with permission of Mr. Darko Dekovic)

One of truly fascinating exploits in which Croatian mariners participated is related to ARCTIC EXPEDITION in 1872-1874, organized by the Austrian-Hungarian state.

Captain Mate Dulcic Hraste-Pucetov from the island of Hvar obtained a silver jug from the British Governement as a recognition for saving the boat "St. Croix". Gilted inside, 14.5 cm high and with diameter of the opening of 8.5 cm, the jug bears the the following inscription see [Mate Milicic et al., p 68]:

 

Presented by the British Government to captain Matteo Dulcich Hraste of the "Giovanni D" of Jelsa in acknowledgement of his humanity and kindness to the shipwrecked crew of the "St. Croix" of Jersey, 27 September 1877, abandoned at sea.

Captain Marko Vekarich, Master of the Austro-Hungarian Barque "Isaac", received the following letter from the Government of Canada for saving the shipwrecked crew of Canadian ship "Angle" in the Atlantic (the letter is kept in the town of Orebic, Peljesac peninsula near Dubrovnik):

 

OFFICIAL SEAL MARINE OF FISCHERIES Ottawa, 12th February 1879 Sir Her Majesty's Government having brought under the notice of this Department the circumstances connected with the wrecke of the "Angle" of St. John, New Bruswick, and the services rendered by you, as Master of the "Isaac", to the shipwrecked crew, it affords me much satisfaction to convey to you the thanks of the Government of Canada and to request your acceptance of the accompaning gold watch, which has been awarded in recognition of you human and generous services. I am, Sir, your most obediant servant James C. Voke Minister of Marine etc.

In 1861 captain Jozo Sunj from Orebic (Peljesac peninsula), Master of the Barque "Nicolo Despot", obtained official recognition and gold chronometer with engraved dedication from Abraham Lincoln, president of the USA, for having saved the crew of the USA sailor "Homer" in the Atlantic.

Society for building and exploitation of long range navigation vessels (later Maritime Society of Peljesac) in Orebic was founded in 1865. In 1873 the Society had 90 great and nice vessels with total weight of 45000 tons, with 2000 employed, out of which 250 were captains. The Society existed until 1891.

Croatian Coats of Arms on ships,
mostly brigs,
of the Rijeka bay in the 19th century

The brig is a two-masted sailing ship where both masts are square rigged. The rear mast carries a gaff sail as well, see definitions of various shiptypes here

I express my sincere gratitude to Mr Darko Dekovic, Rijeka,
for permission to use photos from a wonderful monograph [Barbalic, Marendic].

Croatian coat of arms (on threecolor flag) on the front mast of the Enrica brig built in 1868 in Rijeka, 40 m long. Captian Paskval Stipanovic, travelled to New York, Belfast, Queenstown, Cardiff, Montreal, Gibraltar
Painted by a French painter Antoine Roux, junior, 1892
(photo from [Barbalic, Marendic, p. 16] )

Croatian coat of arms in blue color on the barg Mimi P(ajkuric), built in Rijeka in 1866 (photo from [Barbalic, Marendic, p. 56])

Croatian threecolor flag on barg Lada, built in Rijeka in 1871
(photo of the silk work from [Barbalic, Marendic, p. 62])

Croatian coat of arms on nave Marietta W(allner) (born Bakarcic), built in Rijeka in 1863 (photo from [Barbalic, Marendic, p. 73])

Two Croatian coats of arms on the Kostrena steamer
(photo from [Barbalic, Marendic, p. 77]):

Pepe Medanovic, captain of a steamer "Kostrena", saved a French steamer Gaulois in Biskay bay in very difficult conditions. The French president conferred a medal. Maritime press reported on this saving throughout the world.

See the facsimile from [Barbalic, Marendic, p. 77]:

Barg Vinka with Croatian threecolor and a sketch of Croatian coat of arms, built in Sunderland in Great Britain in 1865, since 1879 in Croatia, in Kostrena. (photo from [Barbalic, Marendic, p. 78])

Barg Hrvat (The Croat), built in 1875 in Bakar (photo of the silk work from [Barbalic, Marendic, p. 105])

Plan of the barg Grad Karlovac (The City of Karlovac, in Croatia), built in Kraljevica in 1868 (photo from [Barbalic, Marendic, p. 117])

Unknown boat with Croatian coat of arms in the middle of the mast
(photo from [Barbalic, Marendic, p. 123])

Barg Tri sina (Three Sons - of Vjenceslav Turkovic, a Croatian patriot and Maecenas), with Croatian threecolor flag (photo from [Barbalic, Marendic, p. 124])

Barg Trojednica (Threeune, i.e. United Kingdom of Croatia, Dalmatia and Slavonia) , BDS (Brodarsko drutvo Senj - Shipping Society Senj). On the main mast there is the Croatian threecolor flag with the name of the barg - Trojednica. Painted by Ivancovich (photo from [Barbalic, Marendic, p. 126]).

Barg Hervatska (Croatia), built in Senj in 1874
(photo from [Barbalic, Marendic, p. 132])

Steamer Hrvat (Croat) built in Recice near Rijeka in 1872, with Croatian flag on the main mast (photo from [Barbalic, Marendic, p. 143])

Brigantin Ida P(ersic), built in Rijeka in 1869 (the name was initally Secunda),
(photo from [Barbalic, Marendic, p. 164])

Benedikt Kotruljevic (Benedictus de Cotrullis from Dubrovnik) is the author of "De Navigatione", 1464. It is the first known manual on navigation in the history of Europe. Note that it appeared almost 30 years before the discovery of America.

Benedictus de Cotrullis: De Navigatione, 1464;
photo from Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library

The original manuscript is kept at the University of Yale, USA, in the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

Old Croatian Letters

• Adam S. Eterovich:
  • First Croatians in the Americas
  • Croatia in the New World; Columbus, the Republic of Ragusa (Dubrovnik) and Saint Vlaho (Saint Blaise) - Patron Saint of Dubrovnik, Ragusan Press, 1992, ISBN 0-918660-81-5 (fax 415-592-1190)
  • Croatian Coats of Arms
  • CROATIA and CROATIANS and the LOST COLONY 1585-1590
• James F. Adomanis
  • Ragusa and the Atlantic Discoveries: Early Explorers and Voyages,
  • Sir Walter Raleigh and the Lost Colony of Roanoke
• Thegetthoff Class Dreadnoughts - The Sinking of Viribus Unitis, by Ante Sucur (...The last great victim of the World War I in the Adriatic sea was the admiral ship of the former Austro-Hungarian monarchy, battleship Viribus Unitis (lat. "With united forces" - motto of the emperor Franz Joseph I). She sank without battle, in the middle of Pula Hrbour, with Croatian flag on her mast, not Austro-Hungarian! Her tragic story certainly deserves attention...)
• Barbalic, Marendic, Onput kad smo partili, zapisi o posljednjim kvarnerskim jedrenjacima, MH Rijeka, 2004.
• Mate Milicic-Cripotov and collaborators: Libar o Brusju, Zavicajna udruga "Bruska zora", Zagreb 2007., ISBN 978-953-95856-0-8
• Falkusa regatta from 1593, the earlist known regatta in Europe
• Nada Fiskovic: The Maritime Hertiage in Croatia; Paintings of old ships in Croatia, Gallery Klovicevi dvori, Zagreb 2000, ISBN 953-6776-24-3
• Anica Kicic: Zavjetne slike hrvatskih pomoraca, Matica hrvatska, Zagreb 2001., ISBN 953-150-598-5
• Croatians in America - photo collection by Vladimir Novak

JELACIC, by Michel Iellatchitch, France

Croatian History, Culture, and Science