TE17 Mysterious Montenegro

Dominik

courtiers, but the bishops remained behind with the people.

Later I learned that the princess was well received in Ragusa, and that as a sign of gratitude for this hospitality she consigned her galley and barge to the Ragusans so they might make use of them for as long as she was a guest of the city. After the initial forced cordiality, however, Archbishop Gregory could not help but quarrel with the Ragusan pastor, Tribun, who refused to accept him as an equal. So as to avoid any further humiliation, he left the princess and sailed to his home city of Zadar. When I went to Ragusa later, as a member of the delegation from Bar cathedral, I had the opportunity to see the deed concerning consignment of the ships, which the Dioclean great princess signed with the council of the city. She was then no longer there, because the Ragusans did not want to defy the Rascians any longer, so she went to Venice. I copied the deed word for word, and it read: In the name of Christ. In the year of our Lord 1189, in the month of August, on Saint Stephen’s Day, in the city of Ragusa, before the undersigned witnesses, I, Princess Desislava, wife of Great Prince Mihailo, being free and without duress, willingly consignmy galley and barge to the City Council of Ragusa. I determine that these ships, as long as they are in the city, shall be in my possession but at the service of the City Council. Should they be lost by ill chance, I determine that the City Council shall pay me one hundred

25

Made with FlippingBook Publishing Software