Documents Granting Citizenship of Karlobag
Charters granting citizenship record the formal admission of an individual to the town’s civic community. In the documents presented here, the petitioners are already described as residents of Karlobag, yet it is their admission as citizens that grants them the rights and privileges enjoyed by the community’s other citizens. These documents therefore show that residing in the town and holding the status of a citizen were distinct.
The rights acquired also carried obligations. Both documents emphasise loyalty to the sovereign and the community, the taking of an oath, and the warning that misconduct could result in the loss of privileges. The charter of 1760 also expressly extends the grant to Antonio Surich’s lawful heirs.
Alongside their legal provisions, these documents preserve the names of the petitioners, officials and signatories. Their ceremonial wording, signatures and seals offer an insight into Karlobag’s history through the individuals concerned and the documents that defined their relationship with the town.
This account is based on the documents of 1760 and 1820 presented here. Source references accompany each document.
These two documents, dating from different periods, record the admission of individuals to the town’s civic community. Select a document to view it.
