Basic facts abotu Mljet

Mljet is the largest Croatian island in the southern Dalmatia, located in the vicinity of Dubrovnik, Korcula and Peljesac peninsula.
Mljet is an elongated island, approximately 3 km wide and 37 km long. It is an island of richness and contrast, and Mljet National Park occupies the northwestern part of his, which extends the area of 5375 hectares of protected land and surrounding sea. 11th November 1960, Mljet was proclaimed as national park and represents the first institutionalized attempt to protect an original ecosystem in the Adriatic.
Mljet belongs to the Mediterranean climate and the summers are long and dry, while winters are rainy and mild.

History about Mljet

The first inhabitants on the island Mljet were Illyrians tribe Ardijejci, who through the port Prapratno on the peninsula of Peljesac come on Mljet 4000 years ago. The first contact they had with the island of Mljet are ports Sobra and Okuklje, because they were the nearest peninsula, but they also come in contact with the ports and Polace and Kozarica. Arriving on a fully wooded island, slowly settled to the sources of drinking water and the edges of the island's valleys.

There are no material evidence of Greeks habitation on the island of Mljet. Greeks not settled Mljet, it was used for relaxation and as a shelter from bad weather. The proof is that underwater sites of Greek amphorae, the present ports Okuklje, Sobra and Polace, which occurred in the middle of incidents of ships in bad weather or during the pirate attack the local population. Mljet came under the authority of the Romans in 167th b.c.

Submitting to the local population, the Romans in the Gulf Polace during the 3rd century, began to build an impressive palace where dwelt the Roman governor of this property. Creating trades with the Illyrians, the Romans gradually completely romanized locals, who has been working manual for the Roman population.

After the division of the Roman Empire into East and West, Mljet was annexed to the Western Roman Empire and remained so until his part of his final decline and subsequently, the 493rd years, came under the authority of the Eastern Goths. After Justinijan campaign 535th against the East Goths, Mljet, together with the whole of Dalmatia, fell to the Eastern Roman Empire.

The arrival of the Slavs and Avars in these areas brings a historical turning point in particular because they destroyed all Roman town strongholds and thus officially ending of Roman rule, which lasted for more than 800 years in this region. At that time, all the Roman population fled from the mainland to the islands including Mljet receiving immigrants from Narona, Ragusium and small Roman towns on Peljesac and Korcula. Roman population at the end of 10th century clashed with Neretvani. Neretvani win the battle, resulting in complete migration of non slavian population.

Shortly after winning the battle with the Roman population and expelling the same island, Neretvan rule fell apart. Part of its area went to the medieval state of Croatia, while the islands of Korcula and Mljet belonged to Zahumlje, which ruled prince Ljutovit and in his possession will remain until mid-12th century.

After the enactment of the Statute of Mljet 1345th and after the liberation of the islanders from the bond susceptibility, Dubrovnik slowly began to prepare as soon as possible to establish its authority on the island of Mljet. The rebellion, which was built by Mljet population very quickly be stifled, and then Dubronik spread its power to Mljet.

Mljet will stay under Dubrovnik until the abolition of 1808th year. Abolition of the Republic of Dubrovnik, Mljet becomes part of the Illyrian Provinces, and later will rule on Mljet Austria, after World War I became part of the SHS State, the SHS Kingdom and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. As part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia into the Second World War on the side of the Germans and Italians.
Mljet in the composition of FNRJ and later Yugoslavia until its dissolution when the population in a referendum declare independence. From that moment until now Mljet is a part of Croatia.