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FIRST CROATIANS IN THE AMERICAS
Adam S. Eterovich
on this web since 2006, with kind permission of the author
Since 1492 Croatians have been traveling to the Americas as business
men, mariners, sea captains, pilots and mercenaries on Spanish and English
ships or on their own ships in Spanish service.
American Revolution 1776
The thirteen American colonies wanted to be free from rule by Great
Britain. Freedom would make it possible to create a new kind of government
without a king. In the democracy envisioned by the country's earliest
leaders, Americans would govern themselves based on certain principles
or ideals. The British decided to use Hessian soldiers to fight against
the colonists. Hessians were mostly German mercenaries who fought for
anyone who paid them. The French decided to enter the war on the American
side. The government recognized American independence. In 1779 Spain
entered the war against the British. And the next year, the British were
also fighting the Dutch to stop their trade with America. The French
sent gunpowder, soldiers, officers, and ships to the Americans. However,
neither side made much progress in the war for the next two years. The
Americans were fighting at home, while the British had to bring troops
and supplies from across a wide ocean. The peace treaty ending the American
Revolution was signed in Paris in 1783. The independence of the United
States was recognized. Western and northern borders were set. Thirteen
colonies were free.
Croatian-Dalmatians to Fight in American Revolution of 1776
COUNT VESCOVICH
LETTER SIGNED WITH AUTOGRAPH SUBSCRIPTION, MANN (Sir HORACE, 1701-1786,
British envoy in Florence, friend and correspondent of Horace Walpole):
Letter to Lt. General [James] Murray, informing him that he has received
the King's approbation of what has been done 'with ample authority to
exert every means in my power for the very important object in question'
adding that it makes him 'tremble however for the safe arrival of the
Vessels that may be sent down, nevertheless all risk must be run', reporting
that General Paoli recommends that the Corsicans be incorporated 'in
some English, or Hanoverian Regiment, in consideration of whatever future
Events may happen', stating that he daily expects the return of Count
Vescovich from Venice to raise a number of Dalmatians (Croatians) and
wishing Murray 'compleat Success in the noble Exertions You are making
for the defence of your Castle and for the Honour of His Majesty's Arms',
3 pages, folio, contemporary docket partly obscured, top edge turned
over, Florence, 26 December 1781
In 1781, Minorca, where Murray was Governor, was threatened with a siege.
Murray sent his wife and family to Leghorn (doubtless the cargo referred
to in this letter). Murray shut himself up in Fort St. Philip and resisted
the attempts of the Duc de Crillon to capture the fort and the bribe
of ÂL1m to surrender. Eventually, almost all his men tainted with
scurvy, a capitulation was arranged and when laying down their arms declared
that 'they surrendered to God alone, as the victors could not plume themselves
on taking a hospital.' In the book by Pjera del Negro, Il Mito Americano
Nell Venezia del Settecento, 1975, Padova, on page 200-201, it is reported
that 3000 Venetians (Dalmatians) went to the Garrison at Port Mahon,
island of Minorca.
In Frederick Lane’s book, Venice a Maritime Republic,
1973, on page 425 it is reported that 3000 Venetian sailors were taken
into the British Fleet during the American Revolution as reported by
the French Consul. The majority were Dalmatian as per Lane. (Eterovich,
A. 2003)
Dalmatia in the New World-New England 1523
Giovanni Verrazano traveled to the New World in 1523-24 in the name
of the King of France and is credited with the discovery of parts of
Canada and the New England coast down to New York and the Carolinas.
New England was first called New Dalmatia.
Dalmatia in the New World: In a book by Jacques Habert on the voyages
of Verrazano in French, a chapter heading Is entitled: "La Dalmate
Da Nouveau Monde," A book by Carlos Pazzini in Italian on the adventures
of Verrazano we have "La Dalmazia del Nuovo Mondo.�
The American Scenic and Historical Society in a description of the American
coast also has a heading; "Dalmatia of the New World." This
is New England today.
"
The Verrazano letter, found in French archives, was widely quoted and
discussed by historians and cartographers, Ganong, one of the most respected,
quotes the letter as follows: "Departing from this place, skirting
between east and north a coast where no intercourse was had with the
natives, the land was found very beautiful, open and bare of forests,
with high mountains back inland, growing smaller toward the shore of
the sea. In fifty leagues we discovered XXXII islands, all near the continent,
small and of pleasing appearance, high, following the curving of the
land, among which were formed most beautiful ports and channels, as in
the Adriatic Gulf, in the Illyrias, and Dalmatia" (Croatia). (De
Costa 1880)
Gold Fleet "The 12 Apostles� 1588
Don Pedro d'Iveglia Ohmuchievich, obtained fame as a Spanish admiral.
He was in command of the first Hispanic-Ragusan squadron, organized by
him under Philip II of Spain. The Hispanic-Ragusan squadron which operated
in the American Indies and the Atlantic in the service of the kings of
Spain under the supreme command of Admiral Don Pedro d'Iveglia Ohmuchievich,
had exactly 12 big galleons. The ships were heavily armed,'' built with
three masts, and large enough to accommodate an imposing fighting force.
To mark the significance assigned to the 12 ships of Don Pedro's squadron,
Philip II called them "The 12 Apostles�. The ships
carried a complement of 3,200 men, mostly from the territory of Dubrovnik-Ragusa,
Croatia. The first appearance of Don Pedro's squadron at 1588 which would
indicate that the Hispanic-Ragusan flotilla, the constant aid of the
Spanish crown in the defense of its dominions in America. In the course
of ceaseless, voyages across the Atlantic over a period of twenty-six
years Don Pedro gained for his original squadron and for all the other
Hispanic-Ragusan squadrons which followed in its wake the widely recognized
and still remembered title "Squadra del' Indie " and "Squadra
del Mar Oceano". Don Pedro also chased and almost caught Sir Francis
Drake in the Caribbean. (Corbett, J. 1897)
Spanish Fleet Contracts
Increasingly during the seventeenth century, contracts were taken with
foreign adventurers offering to serve the king in the Atlantic fleet.
They sought employment, a share of the booty, and the prestigious title
of general of a squadron. Their offers were warmly received by the Council
of War in a period of chronic shortages of ships and men. Ragusans-Croatians
were particularly valued for their valour and expertise in navigation.
Perhaps the most esteemed of all was Jeronimo Masibradich who left Ragusa
in 1624 to serve Philip IV. His squadron of six galleons would serve
continuously in the Atlantic fleet for a quarter of a century. After
his death his heirs extended the much valued contract into the 1650s.
(Goodman, D 1997)
Spanish Ship Building
The crown, however, continued to chase after specifications of the
perfect ship. In the early 1640s this resulted in an injection of
foreign influence
in Spanish shipbuilding. Vicente Martolosich was appointed to produce
new ordenanzas. He was a Ragusan-Croatian who had come to Spain to
serve the king with his squadron, and subsequently rose to superintendent
of construction in the Atlantic fleet. Dismissive of the crown's
specifications, he offered to supply new data for the production
of 'perfect ships',
the fruit of long study. He had 'discovered the truth which so far
no one has achieved'. The secrets would be imparted to the king of
Spain in return for the naturalization of his two sons, giving one
the command of a galleon, the other an ecclesiastical benefice; and
for himself the title and pay of a general. 'I do not think this
is too much to ask, he added, because these favours were temporary,
in
contrast to his gift of 'knowledge that is perpetual. The king succumbed
to the offer of absolute truths for building perfect ships, By 1643
Martolosich had been given his generalship and was described as the
author of the currently observed ordenanzas. (Goodman, D 1997)
Croatian Mariners in Spanish Service
Stronger bonds of friendship linked Spain to the Adriatic republic
of Ragusa-Dubrovnik. Staunchly Catholic, it had maintained
its independence
as a protectorate of the Ottoman Turks, paying tribute to the sultan.
Ragusa had sent ships and men to bolster Spain's naval power from
the beginning of Philip 11's reign. In 1614 Luis Fajardo, captain-general
of the Atlantic fleet, reporting on worsening manning difficulties,
said 'the only solution is to bring a substantial number of gunners
and seamen from Ragusa, since they are Catholics and tried and tested
in His Majesty's armadas'. A few years later Philip III approved
a
contract with three Ragusan captains to bring over 500 seamen to
serve in the fleet. Some of these men settled permanently,
becoming vassals
of the king of Spain. Captain Blas Cunich lived with his wife and
children in Lima, Peru for eighteen years, sailing on fleets.
The longest serving
of all the Ragusans were the Masibradich family who provided the
command and crews for what became a permanent unit of the Atlantic
fleet. Its
commander, Jeronimo de Masibradich, married into one of Spain's most
illustrious military families, the Fernindez de Cordoba.
Goodman, David. Spanish Naval Power, 1589-1665. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press, 1997. Masibradich and Martolosich provided Spain
with ships and men for service in Spain. Over 500 Croatian mariners
were taken
into Spanish fleets in one year.
Croatian mariners in the New World;
Croatian Guilds and Collegiums
Croatia - its History, Culture and Science
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