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Free State of Fiume
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Free State of Fiume
45°21′11″N 14°26′34″E / 45.3531°N 14.4429°E
The Free State of Fiume (pronounced [ˈfjuːme]) was an independent free state that existed from 1920 to 1924. Its territory of 28 km2 (6,900 acres) comprised the city of Fiume (today Rijeka, Croatia) and rural areas to its north, with a corridor to its west connecting it to the Kingdom of Italy.
Fiume gained autonomy for the first time in 1719, when it was proclaimed a free port of the Holy Roman Empire in a decree issued by the Emperor Charles VI. In 1776, during the reign of Empress Maria Theresa, the city was transferred to the Kingdom of Hungary and in 1779 gained the status of corpus separatum within that kingdom.
The city briefly lost its autonomy in 1848 after being occupied by Croatian ban (viceroy) Josip Jelačić but regained it in 1868, when it rejoined the Kingdom of Hungary, again as a corpus separatum. Fiume's status as an exclave of Hungary meant that despite being landlocked, the kingdom had a port. Until 1924, Fiume existed for practical purposes as an autonomous entity with elements of statehood.[citation needed]
In the 19th century, the city was populated mostly by Italians and as minorities by Croats and Hungarians and other ethnicities. National affiliations changed from census to census, as at that time "nationality" was defined mostly by the language a person spoke. The special status of the city, being placed between different states, created a local identity among the majority of the population.[citation needed] The official languages in use were Italian, Hungarian, and German; most of the business correspondence was carried out in Italian, and most families spoke a local dialect, a blend of Venetian with a few words of Croatian. In the countryside outside the city, a particular kind of Croatian Chakavian dialect with many Italian and Venetian words was spoken.
After World War I and the demise of Austria-Hungary, the question of the status of Fiume became a major international problem. At the height of the dispute between the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (later called Kingdom of Yugoslavia) and the Kingdom of Italy, the Great Powers (the United Kingdom, France and the United States) advocated the establishment of an independent buffer state. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson became the arbiter in the Yugoslav–Italian dispute over the city. Wilson suggested that Fiume be set up as an independent state and, indeed, as a potential home for the League of Nations organization.
The dispute led to lawlessness, and the city changed hands between a South-Slav National Committee and an Italian National Council, leading finally to the landing of British and French troops, who took over the city. The National Council overstamped Austro-Hungarian notes – the Fiume Kronen – which were used as official currency. The confusing situation was exploited by Italian poet/general Gabriele D'Annunzio, who entered the city on 12 September 1919 and began a 15-month period of occupation. A year later, after failure of negotiations with the Italian government, D'Annunzio proclaimed the Italian Regency of Carnaro.[citation needed]
On 12 November 1920, the Kingdom of Italy and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes signed the Treaty of Rapallo, whereby both parties agreed to acknowledge "the complete freedom and independence of the State of Fiume and oblige to respect it in perpetuity". With that act, the eternal "Free State of Fiume" was created, which, it turned out, would exist as an independent state for about four years. The newly created state was immediately recognized by the United States, France, and the United Kingdom. D'Annunzio refused to acknowledge the agreement and was expelled from the city by the regular forces of the Italian Army, in the "Bloody Christmas" actions from 24 to 30 December 1920.
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Free State of Fiume
45°21′11″N 14°26′34″E / 45.3531°N 14.4429°E
The Free State of Fiume (pronounced [ˈfjuːme]) was an independent free state that existed from 1920 to 1924. Its territory of 28 km2 (6,900 acres) comprised the city of Fiume (today Rijeka, Croatia) and rural areas to its north, with a corridor to its west connecting it to the Kingdom of Italy.
Fiume gained autonomy for the first time in 1719, when it was proclaimed a free port of the Holy Roman Empire in a decree issued by the Emperor Charles VI. In 1776, during the reign of Empress Maria Theresa, the city was transferred to the Kingdom of Hungary and in 1779 gained the status of corpus separatum within that kingdom.
The city briefly lost its autonomy in 1848 after being occupied by Croatian ban (viceroy) Josip Jelačić but regained it in 1868, when it rejoined the Kingdom of Hungary, again as a corpus separatum. Fiume's status as an exclave of Hungary meant that despite being landlocked, the kingdom had a port. Until 1924, Fiume existed for practical purposes as an autonomous entity with elements of statehood.[citation needed]
In the 19th century, the city was populated mostly by Italians and as minorities by Croats and Hungarians and other ethnicities. National affiliations changed from census to census, as at that time "nationality" was defined mostly by the language a person spoke. The special status of the city, being placed between different states, created a local identity among the majority of the population.[citation needed] The official languages in use were Italian, Hungarian, and German; most of the business correspondence was carried out in Italian, and most families spoke a local dialect, a blend of Venetian with a few words of Croatian. In the countryside outside the city, a particular kind of Croatian Chakavian dialect with many Italian and Venetian words was spoken.
After World War I and the demise of Austria-Hungary, the question of the status of Fiume became a major international problem. At the height of the dispute between the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (later called Kingdom of Yugoslavia) and the Kingdom of Italy, the Great Powers (the United Kingdom, France and the United States) advocated the establishment of an independent buffer state. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson became the arbiter in the Yugoslav–Italian dispute over the city. Wilson suggested that Fiume be set up as an independent state and, indeed, as a potential home for the League of Nations organization.
The dispute led to lawlessness, and the city changed hands between a South-Slav National Committee and an Italian National Council, leading finally to the landing of British and French troops, who took over the city. The National Council overstamped Austro-Hungarian notes – the Fiume Kronen – which were used as official currency. The confusing situation was exploited by Italian poet/general Gabriele D'Annunzio, who entered the city on 12 September 1919 and began a 15-month period of occupation. A year later, after failure of negotiations with the Italian government, D'Annunzio proclaimed the Italian Regency of Carnaro.[citation needed]
On 12 November 1920, the Kingdom of Italy and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes signed the Treaty of Rapallo, whereby both parties agreed to acknowledge "the complete freedom and independence of the State of Fiume and oblige to respect it in perpetuity". With that act, the eternal "Free State of Fiume" was created, which, it turned out, would exist as an independent state for about four years. The newly created state was immediately recognized by the United States, France, and the United Kingdom. D'Annunzio refused to acknowledge the agreement and was expelled from the city by the regular forces of the Italian Army, in the "Bloody Christmas" actions from 24 to 30 December 1920.
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