Bilješke iz povijesti Roma u Slavoniji, 1850.-1941.
Notes on the history of Romany people in Slavonia, 1850-1941

Summary/Abstract: In this paper the author analyzes the position of the Romany population in Slavonia in the period 1880-1941. The author has analyzed the archive material of the Department of internal affairs, Government in Zagreb, public conscriptions from the period 1880 till 1931, archives of the Committee for people's life and customs, newspapers and published articles. Author concentrated on understanding of the way of living, customs and the professions of the Romany population and the relations between the Romany population and the peasant population. In the analyzed period several Romany groups lived in Slavonia and they differ in the way of living, language, religion and customs. Several Romany groups as Drobni kovaèi or Koritari, lived within local community and they accepted language, religion and some of customs domicile population. Nomadic Romany groups like Èergari, continued keeping their language, religion, beliefs and customs. Author noted that most of the Romany population were illiterate and of Orthodox or Roman Catholic religion and they lived in rural parts of Slavonia. The relations between Romany and the domestic (peasant) population were marked by mutual distrust and suspicion. Author emphasizes that most of peasant population perceived the Romany population as thieves, loafers and immoral persons, and that is the reason for the radical suggestions of solving the «Romany question» (eq. sterilization of Romany people or concentration Romany groups in state camps). Author stresses that a part of the peasant population held in esteem and respected the parts of Romany population who were assimilated into local communities, accepting the local language, religion and customs.

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