History

Rovinj as Castrum Rubini was first mentioned, as we know, in the work Cosmographia by Anonymous of Ravenna. The work is from the 7th century with many geographical data relating to the 5th century. From it, Rovinj chronicler Benussi concluded that Rovinj originates from the period between 3rd to 5th century.

According to archeological findings, the surroundings of Rovinj had already been inhabited in prehistorical time – Bronze and the Iron Ages, when in Istria the culture of Histri flourished. They lived and traded with Greeks and Etruscans. The most recent accidental findings show the existence of life already at the transition from the 2nd to the 1st millennium on the very island (a peninsula from 1763) where today’s Rovinj is situated.

After the quiet rule of the Roman Empire and escaping from the Visigoths, Huns, Goths and Byzantines, the Old Romans, in search of safety, inhabited the island of Mons Albanus, St Catherine, St Andrew and Cissa. The island of Cissa was first mentioned by Pliny the Elder and reputedly it sank during strong earthquakes in the second half of the 8th century.

Castrum Rubini, located on the place of the today’s St Euphemia church, formerly the Church of St George, became Ruigno, Ruiginio, Ruvigno and survived destructive attacks from land and sea: Slavs (Domagoj 876), the Nerentani (865 and 887) and Saracens (819 and 842).

After Byzantine rule Rovinj was at first under the rule of Longobards and then, under the Franconian one. In feudal Istria Rovinj lost greater part of the autonomy of the old Roman municipalities. However as an important town, proved by the fact that it took part in the Assembly of Rizana as castrum, it succeeded in winning certain privileges.

Drawing – Rovinj, 17th ct
Rovinj was protected by cliffy rocks from the sea and by the firm walls on the land. Despite the stony fortifications it was, as other towns in Istria, several times devastated and burnt. Istria, being a bridge between Apennine and Balkan peninsulas, was very attractive to great civilisations in acquisition of primacy.

Charlemagne recognised the administration of Aquileian Patriarch, so in 966 Rovinj was annexed to Porec bishopric although, according to church organisation, it belonged to Pula diocese in previous centuries.

In the 10th and 11th centuries Istria was ruled by powerful German feudal families that benevolently observed politic-economic strengthening of Venice.
The town administration which was made of the council of citizens and assembly with the consul on the head, fought for the autonomy. At the same time it was an opposition to feudal and ecclesiastical sovereign – to Aquileian patriarch (ruling from 1208) on one side and to more powerful force from the sea – Venice, on the other side.

Rovinj often changed loyalty towards the force in power depending on what privileges it offered.

So in 1188 it signed treaty Renovatio pacis with Dubrovnik, in which both sides committed themselves to trade and exchange of goods.

Town’s coat of arms
14th ct
In the 13th century Rovinj conflicted several times with western Istrian towns Piran and Koper.
In the meantime Serenissima strengthened wishing to turn northern Adriatic into Venetian bay and Istria into its “shield”.
Rovinj, along with other Istrian towns, decided that this strong naval force would protect its trade and maritime interests and therefore, following the example of Porec, Novigrad and Umag, in 1283 leaned on Venice.

This is the beginning of the long Venetian rule.
The Republic of Venice apparently gave communal freedom, but it retained the right to nominate podestà who had ecclesiastical, political, administrative, trade and other affairs in his competence.
Podestà was naturally Venetian, so Rovinj self-government was limited. Only few privileged families were enabled to take part in the Council of Citizens. Judges, elected by the Council, performed the civil and penal executive with podestà.

Family coats of arms, 16th ct

Social division was very simple. Population was divided into the aristocrats and plebeians – nobili et popolani. That division was the base of all municipal forms of administration: Council and Assembly. As the time passed, the Council was limited to only few aristocratic families which entered the Council by the right of inheritance. The mandate of podestà or praetor lasted for a year, then two years, and from 1306 16 months and it was appointed by Venetian Senate. Already in the beginning of the 15th century Rovinj had its statute divided in three books: the first relating to the organisation of administration, the second one regulated civic-legal relations, estates, pieces of land, cattle, grazing rights and the third one offences, penalties, taxes.

Venetian economy was mainly trade so in Rovinj, with the rise of goods exchange, some typical urban changes happened. Craftsmen, tradesmen and sailors appeared in Rovinj alonside with already existing fishermen and farmers. In the 14th century the first fraternities were founded:those of owners, agricultural workers, sailors, stone-carvers, fishermen and others. With the rapid development of navigation it also came to the competitiveness of towns and even to serious armed conflicts. Venice conflicted with Genoa which devastated and conquered Rovinj in 1379. They even took the patroness’ bones from the sarcophagus that were restored in 1401.

Central Istria is the property of counts of Gorica and in 1374, as Pazin county, fell under the rule of Habsburgs. The interests of two great powers clashed so conflicts were often.

The Middle Ages brought one more big misfortune – plague. Rovinj, thanks to its convenient climate , was partly spared.

Drawing – Rovinj, 17th ct

Fugitives, while attacking Venetian properties, twice (1579 and 1599) managed to break into the town, devastate it and set to fire.
Coast parts of Istria were settled by refugees from central Istria, Bosnia, Dalmatia and even Greece and Albania who came running from Turks, so the population rapidly grew. There were some settlements from northern Italy, too. In 1595 there were 2.800 inhabitants, in 1650 about 5.000, in 1741 – 7.966 and in 1775 as many as 13.788. This fact resulted in typical architecture of the old town nucleus: houses rose high, squeezed on each other, leaning on town walls. In every room, which had its chimney, lived one family.

Statute of the town of Rovinj published in 1720, Venice
Rovinj was an important marine port for merchant ships on their way from the Near East to Venice, and Rovinj sailors were known for their skill and courage which they demonstrated in battles Venetians led against Turks in the 16th century and in Candian war in 1648. Rovinj pilots (peots) led merchant ships through northern Adriatic and through Venetian lagoon. Three out of twelve Rovinj captains of warships were invested with the order of Knights of St Mark. One of central ascends of the old town was given the name after one of these brave captains – Garzotto.

In the time of conflicts with Turks, Venice helped building of fortifications, so walls were fortified: in 1563 Porton del Ponte, in 1590 Portizza (Sotto muro or Pod zidom – Under the wall).
In the year 1650 with decrease of danger of fugitives’ attacks, the town spread out of town walls on the very island as well as on land on the slope where Franciscan monastery had been situated. Channel and a small bridge became obstacles to the communication with the hinterland. As a consequence the channel was filled in 1763 and Rovinj became town on a peninsula.

Town’s coat of arms
17th ct
In the 17th and 18th centuries Rovinj was the strongest shipbuilding, fishing and maritime centre of Istria (fleet of sailing-ships), and its stone pits were the most important sources of white and grey stone.

Serenissima only declaratively respecting the town’s autonomy was exhausting the inhabitants with high taxes, severe regulations in trade and the customs. Rovinj became the biggest seat of smugglers and it organised many rebellions answered to with Venetian interventions in 1767,1769, 1774 and 1780.

When in 1719 Austria proclaimed Rijeka and Trieste free ports, situation for Rovinj deteriorated; till then the town had been one of the leading maritime towns on the west Istrian coast.
The Grand Council in Venice abdicated on May 12,1797, and democratic government stabilised in Rovinj when 18 representatives, elected on the assembly, ruled the town. This self-government lived very shortly during Austrian government till 1805 and as well during French government of Napoleon’s Illyrian Provinces – Provinces Illyriennes, from 1809 to 1813.

In 1813 Austrians restored their sovereignty. They revoked all Napoleonic laws and Illyric institutions. In 1821 Rovinj was confirmed its municipal status; from 1825 to 1860 it had belonged to the Istrian County which became an independent province with the status of a Margraviate and with its own Provincial Assembly by the imperial patent issued on February 26, 1861. Istria was divided into district captaincies or judicial districts including that of Rovinj.

Town’s coat of arms
19th ct
During Austrian government Rovinj developed in industrial, maritime and cultural way. This development could also be seen in better life conditions in the town: the whole area from St Francis hill to the present Tobacco Factory was built.

In 1816 public light was installed, from 1819 to1840 the old school was built, in 1847 steam mill for pasta production was built, in 1850 Chamber for Trade and Commerce for Istria was founded, in 1853 lighthouse was built on the island of St John, from 1854 to 1865 theatre, 1852 cement kiln, 1859 big mole, 1872 tobacco factory, 1878 wax factory, 1882 glass factory and fish can factory, 1888 hospital, 1891 institute for the marine biology were built. Rovinj became connected by the railway.

The first train from Kanfanar arrived in 1876. Port Valdibora was widened, town gas light was introduced in 1905 and town telephone in 1906.

With the disappearance of Austro – Hungarian monarchy Rovinj fell under Italian government which lasted to the capitulation of Italy in September of 1943. Till the end of World War ll Rovinj was under German occupation.

After Paris peace treaty from 1947 Rovinj and other Istrian towns and Kvarner islands were joined to Croatia and Yugoslavia. In 1990 the battle for independence and separation from communist Yugoslavia began.

On June 25,1991 the declaration was passed proclaiming the Republic of Croatia a sovereign and independent state and with the Constitutional act made that sovereignty and independence effective.
Today Rovinj, in the whirlpool of democratic changes, in lively political and party life, strives towards realisation of good economical and urban conditions, for the welfare of its inhabitants and those who come, accidentally or intentionally.

Bibliography for pages “History” and “Guide to town”: Rovigno d’Istria (editor: Famia ruvignisa, 1997) and Rovinj – Rovigno (editor: Garmond, 1994).