The Republic of Poljica and the Poljica Statute

The part of Dalmatia at the foot of the Mosor mountain is called Poljica. It is a group of villages with a rich and significant history, but this area is probably best known for the famous the Republic of Poljica, the important Poljica Statute and a very tasty traditional dish - soparnik.

Although the remains found in the area of Poljica indicate that the area has been inhabited since the Stone Age, the most interesting part of the history of this area is the Republic of Poljica, which has stretched since the thirteenth century in the area of today's Poljica. To this day, the said Republic has remained special in its advanced administrative and social organization. That special arrangement was the fact that the Republic of Poljica was ruled by peasants. Every year on the feast of St. George, a new leader was elected by voting - the prince of Poljica.

The Poljica Statute was drawn up in 1440 and amended in 1475. It is written in a special alphabet – poljičica, a type of Croatian Cyrillic that contains many local features. The Poljica Statute reflects the social structure of the Poljica community in the developed Middle Ages. In many examples it depicts the daily lives of people. It talks about life in home communities, inheritance, the relationship between agriculture and livestock, protection from wild animals, the values of movables and real estate, the maintenance of public roads, trade, sexual morality, slander and abuse of women. Along with the Vinodol Act, the Poljica Statute is the most valuable Croatian normative legal-historical monument.

Poljica soparnik is a bakery product made from soft wheat flour, chard, red onion, olive oil, garlic, salt and water. In the past, soparnik was one of the basic dishes of the poorer inhabitants of Poljica and was known only in that area. However, today it is a protected product and delicacy that testifies to the former way of life in the countryside. This dish was prepared on fasting days and on the eve of holidays. This simple dish has been passed down (and is still passed down today) from generation to generation. A special dish was made from the modest ingredients by the housewives of Poljica.

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