Ustrojstvo druπtva u srednjovjekovnom Trogiru
The structure of society in medieval Trogir

Summary/Abstract: Trogir was a small town in terms of town area and the number of its inhabitants. The population of Trogir during the late Middle Ages can be estimated at 2000 to 3000 inhabitants, and the commune to 5000 to 6000 inhabitants. The oldest indicators of the number of inhabitants of Trogir contain the ratios of economic and demographic power among individual communes. They are found in the Agreement on Alliance with Split from 1239, and with Zadar and Split from 1290. According to these agreements, the ratios of Zadar, Split and Trogir were: 3:2:1. There are two main characteristics of development of Trogirian medieval society: a strong idea of unity among the individuals and uniformity in relation to the outside world from one side, and from the other side, every individual had aspirations to secure better material and social position for himself and his family, which leads to social disintegration. The idea of unity must have developed very early and it lead to the establishment of a commune. The disintegration of Trogirian society was a longlasting process, and the final relations were established in the 16th century. There are sufficient data of a social structure from the period of commune, when the population consisted of free individuals ranked into three main social classes: noblemen, plebeians and districtuals. The members of the clergy were closely connected to all three social classes, but also separated from them. Before this communal period, the society of Trogir included only the inhabitants of Trogir, and a small number of persons living at its outskirts and on the island of »iovo. The picture of social changes that took place from the late ancient times to the formation of commune, can be only seen from the indicators of the conditions marking the beginning and the end of that period. Since the social classes of ancient cities were mainly closed and isolated, and at the beginning of communal period they were opened, and it can be assumed that some factors of development influenced the disappearance of gaps between social classes. At the end of protocommunal era, we see the separation of noblemen from plebeians, and the differences between these classes were later more and more obvious, what can be seen from the economic situation, the differences in property and legal rights, and the situation when the General assembly was taken over by the noblemen’s Great Council. The disintegration of the society was influenced by economic factors, which were often closely connected to legal and political factors as well. The social status and reputation is based on property rights, certain knowledge and skills, legal authorities and origin. As long as there is an equilibrium of criteria for gaining particular social status, the society itself can have a dynamic nature.

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