Cyprus and Ragusa (Dubrovnik) 1280–1450

Abstract

Ragusa (Dubrovnik) maintained a steady if somewhat limited trade with the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean from the early fourteenth century onwards. Ragusans were involved in trade with Cyprus, initially as transporters of goods but also as traders, and the city had diplomatic contacts with members of the island's Lusignan dynasty and conveyed information about Cyprus to the kings of Hungary. This review of the archival evidence for these commercial and other contacts suggests that its merchants performed a useful and profitable role in transporting both their own merchandise and that of others and kept the city from becoming embroiled in conflicts either with Cyprus itself or with the powerful nations that had interests on the island.