LEGAL STATUS OF ROMA IN CROATIA-SLAVONIA FROM 1868 TO 1918

Abstract

The aim of the paper is analysis of legal status of Roma in Croatia-Slavonia in the period after reaching Croatian-Hungarian Compromise in 1868 until dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in 1918. The basic thesis elaborated in the paper is that Croatian-Slavonian public affiliation was fundamental determinant of public status of Roma in Croatia-Slavonia while this cannot be said for Hungarian- Croatian national citizenship. Following this approach, the author analyses politics of differentiation of domestic, so called Croatian-Slavonian Roma, and other foreign Roma in which Roma from Hungary were also included. In the paper the author points out that the Croatian-Slavonian authorities implemented inclusive policy towards domestic Roma who acted in accordance with the law while applied repressive measures towards vagrant domestic Roma. In the last part of the paper the author analyses practical problems and solutions in cases when foreign belonging of Roma had to be determined. In addition, the author analyses policy of deportation of foreign Roma. The research is based on relevant literature, laws, regulations and archival sources available in Croatian State Archive, the materials of Internal Department of the Provincial Government.