Saint Vlaho in Africa and India

Adam S. Eterovich

The book about the Voyage of Pedro Alvares Cabral to Brazil and India,1937, London, Hakluyt Society has South Africa with two place names: Cape of Good Hope and Sao Bras (Saint Vlaho) in 1500-1501.

The Portuguese controlled the spice trade In the East. Nicholas Mirkovich In his study of Ragusa-Portugal and the spice trade with Goa, India, Malacca and Batavia indicates that Ragusa-Dubrovnik and Venice were firmly established in the countries of the Mamelukes at the time when the Portuguese established themselves in India. Mirkovich states:

“During the absence of Venice the largest part of the oriental trade was taken over by Ragusa, which about 1530-1540 had a virtual monopoly of that trade. For a decade or two there existed a sharp competition between Ragusa and Portugal, which was carried on also in Portugal's own East Indian empire. The Ragusan colony Sao Braz (Saint Vlaho) near Goa is one of the strangest and most interesting examples of the economic expansion of that little republic in the period of the commercial revolution.”

A Ragusan, Melik Jesa Dubrovcanin, came to India in 1480 and became a Viceroy In Gujarat. He built a palace at Diu.

A Ragusan colony was established on the Malabar Coast in north Goa, India. The Church of Sao Braz-Saint Vlaho was built in 1563. This colony had at one time 12000 residents. The church bell was brought from Dubrovnik.

In the 1540's Jean Alfonce In his voyages states passing SE of Ceylon near two Islands called the Islands of Gold and coming to a bay called Baye de Sainct Blaise ( Saint Vlaho). He further states passing the Golfe de Sainct Blaise NE and SW of Ceylon near the Maldives.

Saint Vlaho Day in California

1927 San Francisco: One of the most impressive and first celebrations among the Croatians of California and America is the observation of the Saint Blaise Day, which was initiated in San Francisco. Saint Blaise (Sveti Vlaho), as all our older people know, is the patron saint of the ancient Republic of Dubrovnik-Ragusa. It has become in a short pace of time one of the outstanding events among the Croatians of California. People from all over the State, including Los Angeles, San Pedro, Fresno, Watsonville, Sacramento and other towns in California come to San Francisco to take part in this celebration.

Ragusa-Dubrovnik and its vicinity; namely, Rijeka Dubrovacka, Zupa Dubrovacka, Konavlje, and other immediate communities, celebrate Saint Vlaho. The powerful city of Ragusa, better known today as Dubrovnik. Due to its favorable location and the business ability of its inhabitants this city had gradually become a dangerous commercial rival of another famous city on the Adriatic Sea, the city of Venice. In the rivalry which followed, the little republic developed a tremendous commerce and wealth, which were the basis of its greatness. The fifteenth century marks the golden are of the Republic of Ragusa. She was commanding a navy consisting of three hundred ships, coined her own money and had several million ducats in her treasury. The city proper has 30,000 inhabitants. “In every city of the Peninsula,” writes the scion of the ruling house of the ancient republic, Knez (Duke) Lujo Vojnovic, “the language of Ragusa was spoken, settlements were established, and the Catholic churches and chapels were built.” This indicates that the Republic of Ragusa had become a great maritime power, which commanded the respect of the leading powers of Europe. The republic survived until1808, when Napoleon took possession of the city and abolished its government.

It was customary with all European cities of the Middle Ages to have their patron saints, to protect them form misfortunes and enemies. About 971 A.D., Ragusa chose Saint Blaise, the one-time bishop of the city, as its protector. During the period of its greatest development and the establishment of a free state, which took place during the twelfth century, the emblem of Saint Blaise was adopted as the official emblem of the republic. Under the flag of Saint Blaise, inscribed with the word, “Libertas,” the vessels of the merchants of Ragusa were sailing all over the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, and around the coast of Africa to India.

The first celebration of the Saint Blaise day took place in the year 1312, and from that year on, this celebration has become a regular annual event in the city of Dubrovnik. In respect to these celebrations, the aforementioned Knez Lujo Vojnovic writes as follows:

“The celebration of the Saint Blaise Day, which occurs on February 3, is a solemn event, accompanied with he discharge of cannons and rifles, waving of flags, religious performances, and the shouting of enthused citizens. During the stormy history of the city, her patron saint has seen her rise form a small community to a wealthy state, and has witnessed all her joys and sorrows. He protected here from misfortunes and followed her glory from the shores of the Adriatic to the far-off India. Recalling her history, your immagination pictures the shadow of the old Ragusa, moving before you eyes. The spectacle which the city presents during the celebration is full of magic colors and profoundly touching scenes. At the dawning of the day, in the morning breeze, you will witness the procession of the pilgrims from Zupa and Brgat approaching the city, flying their flags and accompanied by the discharge of guns. The scene reminds you of some celebrated painting by Rubens. At Pile the pilgrims from Zupa meet the multitudes arriving from Rijeka and the coast towns as far west as Ston, and having saluted in unison with their flags the ancient walls of the city, they enter the richly decorated capital of the ancient republic. The next performance is the flag salute in front of the church of Saint Blaise are carried, reciting the history of Dubrovnik, blessing the pilgrims, conducting folk dances and discharging the cannons. In the days of the republic this occasion was used for pardoning the criminals, holding the patriotic parades and reviews, celebrating peace and reviving the old Croatian customs.  This was the day of the glory for the chief magistrate of the city, a moment when its citizens took stock of their navy, and tier wealth, of their great history and the future prospects.” This description gives us a general view of the manner in which the Saint Blaise Day is celebrated in Dubrovnik.

Five years ago some of the older members of our colony decided to give an entertainment with a short program for the benefit of our indigent citizens both in San Francisco and in the old country. Since most of those who took interest in this matter came either from Dubrovnik of its immediate vicinity, it was agreed to hold this affair on the Sunday following Saint Blaise Day. Since no one anticipated a very large attendance, we hired a small hall and did not do much advertising. We did announce, however, that we would have the old-country folk dances and a lottery, as customary in Dubrovnik. We urged our guests to attend, if possible, in national costumes. To our great surprise, we had so many people that the hall was not large enough to accommodate them all.

The news of this celebration spread all over the State, and the following year we had an even larger attendance that the year before. Since that time, the popularity of the Saint Blaise Day has grown from year to year, so that today all our people in California look upon it as an important national affair. Gradually this celebration is assuming the attributes of the performances as given in the ancient hometown of Saint Blaise.

The clear proceeds for this affair are now being distributed among the destitute Croatian families in the San Francisco Bay cities. On the committee for 1932 were the following: Anton Vukota, Vlaho Mortigia, John Tomicich, Luka Bogdan, Anton Petrusich, John Zec, Rade Dumarac, Steve Cvietusa, Nick Vojovich, Peter Bogdan, Matte Sriensich, Andrew Butrica, Angelo Cantone, Bernard Markoncich, Jakob Kurtela, Anton Simatovich, Ilar Spiletak, Jack Markovich, John Skance Jr., Nick Medo, Nick Sanbrailo, John Skance Sr., Marko Lucich, Paul Misich, Matt Kurtela, Luka Buich, Charles Micich, Chris Petrusich and Peter V. Knego. I have endeavored in these few lines to give the history of the Saint Blaise Day celebration, which is now annually conducted by our people on the Pacific Coast, far away form our beloved Dubrovnik.  May I hope that this brief description will serve to create the interest in our American-born generation for the homeland of their parents, and especially for the glorious history of the ancient Republic of Ragusa. Peter Knego.