Contribution to the Biography of Mihovil Matija Spalatin of Rab – Bishop in Šibenik (1796–1807)

Abstract

Mihovil Matija Spalatin is the offspring of a noble family of Rab, from which throughout history a number of prominent participants of the political, ecclesiastical and cultural history of Rab and Dalmatia had derived. In the course of his ecclesiastical career, which is still far from being enough researched in the historiography, Spalatin filled the honorable post as bishop of Kotor (1794−1796) and Šibenik (1796−1807). Within this contribution special attention is given to Spalatin’s bishopric career in Šibenik. The work is based on to the date historical researches and on the use of new and unpublished sources from the State Archives in Zadar. The introductory part of the work deals with the present notions of the historiography, which was mainly concerned with the role of the bishop Spalatin in the process of controlling riots in Šibenik in June, 1797. Afterwards follows a brief presentation of the life path and activities of Mihovil Matija Spalatin with special emphasis on the period of time when he was bishop of Šibenik. In the second part of the work the subject of debate is Spalatin’s last will, made on Rab in 1798, as well as the codicil (a later addition to the will), written in Šibenik just before his death in 1807. In the contribution the complete transcript of Spalatin’s will and codicil are published.