COMPARISON OF STATUS OF ARTISANS OF ŠIBENIK AND EASTERN ITALIAN

COMMUNES IN THE 15TH CENTURY

Sven Lončar
Univeristy of Zagreb, Faculty of Philosophy
PhD studies in Premodern history

Summary: The aim of this paper is to compare the status of artisans of Šibenik with these of
eastern Italian communes, in particular the ones whose population at the time was equal to
that of Šibenik (around 10.000 residents). The period chosen for comparison is the 15th
century, since Šibenik at that time became part of the Venetian Republic and therefore was
included in its overseas territory called Stato da Mar. After inclusion, the Venetian Republic
took entire control of Šibenik’s political and economic system except for artisanry, meaning
that the artisans were able to continue to develop their production solely under the supervision
of Šibenik’s authorities, without any interference from its Venetian counterparts.

The artisans of Šibenik can be divided in two categories: artisans whose professions low
incomes, meaning that they were forced to engage in agriculture to earn extra money
(artisans-peasants) and artisans whose professions were reputable and profitable, therefore
giving them the opportunity to shift the export of their products from local areas to other
communes, as well as to invest their money in other areas except artisanry, such as trade,
shipbuilding and salterns (artisans-entrepreneurs). Both categories confirm the fact that
artisanry was not artisans’ primary profession and their money was usually invested in other
areas, predominantly trade and agriculture, which was characteristic for communes on the
eastern side of the Adriatic.

Aspects which will be analyzed in this paper will be based on production, as well as their
economic and social status. Topics regarding production will include age at which artisans
started their apprenticeship, duration of apprenticeship, average salary depending on the type
of profession, working methods and organization of work. Topics regarding their economic
and social status will include artisans' places of birth, relationships with their clients, amounts
of dowries given depending on the type of profession, family relations, political activity,
marriage, children, as well as places where they lived, clothes which they wore and their usual
nutrition. Other topics in this area which will be covered will be artisans' participation in trade
and agriculture. Finally, this paper will compare the status of slaves and servants in Šibenik as
well as eastern Italian communes.
Key words: artisans, Šibenik, Dalmatia, Italian cities, Adriatic, 15th century

I. Introduction

1409 represents a year when Dalmatian coast became a part of the Venetian Republic’s
system of Stato da mar, meaning that its communes were fully incorporated in its’ economic
and political system.1 The basis of Venetian authority were rectors - clerks who were installed
by Venetian government to govern the areas which were under Venetian dominance. 2 The
Venetian economy was based on two principles: securing economic domination of Venice as
well as fiscal economism.3 The later was particularly evident in salt trade, on which the state
has had the monopoly since 13th century.4 In general, all Venetian economic decisions, which
were realized in the 15th and 16th century, were based on these two aspects, meaning that
requests from Dalmatian communes regarding their rights and privileges were utterly
ignored.5

From the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 until final Venetian acquisition in
1409 Dalmatian communes enjoyed their economic and political autonomy which were based
on heritage from both Roman and Byzantine Empire, as well as influences from the Croatian
hinterland.6 From the 11th century, communal inhabitants were divided in two categories:
maiores (lit. larger – nobles) and minores (lit. smaller – folk).7 However, starting from the 12 th
century, minores were subject to a differentiation which resulted in the creation of a new
category of so-called “noble citizens” (nobiles cives).8 Inside that group, artisans were the
most recognizable members of society whose task was to satisfy consumer demands, which
were constantly increasing, by creating products which were necessary for everyday life of
society. This meant that the increase in demands was followed by increase of inputs in labor
and raw material.9

Unlike other Dalmatian communes, Šibenik is the only one whose beginnings are not
related to Roman or Byzantian era. The first reference of the commune is in the 11 th century,

1
Raukar 1982, p. 54
2
Ibid., p. 54-55
3
Ibid., p. 55
4
Ibid.
5
Ibid., p. 56
6
Raukar 2003, p. 277
7
Ibid.
8
Ibid., p. 277-278
9
Farr 2000, p. 49-50
precisely 1066, in a privilege made by then Croatian king Petar Krešimir the 4 th for St. Mary’s
monastery in Zadar.10 At that time, it was then known only as a castrum, and it was not until
the beginning of the 13th century when Šibenik formed an alliance with neighboring
communes Trogir and Split, however, it was still far from independence due to being put
under templar’s jurisdiction in exchange for Klis.11 At the same time, the Šubić dynasty was
given by Croatian-Hungarian kings Andrew and Bela the 4 th authority over the area between
Zadar and river Krka, including the district of Šibenik as a compensation for the loss of Trogir
and Split.12 The Šubić dynasty’s reign lasted until 1322 when Šibenik’s inhabitants decided to
subjugate themselves to Venetian rule in order to increase their autonomy, as well as obtain
the rights on the islands of Murter, Žirje and Arta.13

10
Kolanović 1995, p. 7; 11
11
Kolanović 1995, p. 11
12
Ibid., p. 11-12
13
Ibid., p. 13