Questi tristi Morlacchi. Venetian efforts in reducing the Morlachs inconveniences in Dalmatia at the middle of the 16th century
4th International Conference Society for the Medieval Mediterranean University of Lincoln
13-15 July 2015
During the 16th century the hinterland of the Dalmatian cities suffered a visible reduction of the surface because of the Ottoman offensive. Many inhabitants of this territory searched protection and refuge in other Venetian places, while the conquered lands became part of the Ottoman Empire and home for all kind of potential attackers. Strongly depopulated, the rural hinterland of Zadar (Zara), Šibenik (Senbenico) and Trogir (Traù) became a permanent target for the Turkish subjects. The Morlachs were those with the greatest experience in this kind of actions, especially the frequent damages they were accused to make with their sheep herds in the Dalmatian pasturelands since the 14th century. Although, during the 16th century the Morlach intrusions in the Venetian Dalmatia continued in numerous forms: they were soldiers in irregular Ottoman troops, were feared thieves and semi-nomadic shepherds who won’t obey any rule.
The peace period established between 1540 and 1570, in Dalmatia by the Venetian Republic and the Ottoman Empire provided the Morlachs with the chance of becoming members of some organized and recognized communities. For this period, we can observe the Venetian efforts in colonizing the Morlachs and in reducing their outlaw activities for the protection of the region. The success of Serenissima was two folded: the Morlachs were colonized equally in Dalmatia, Istria and other territories and were transformed in tenants for the agricultural lands owned by the nobles or other particulars from the coastal cities. Even tough, names like Millia Popovich, feared Morlach malefactor from the hinterland of Trogir, keeps alive the outlaws’ image of the Dalmatian Morlachs.
