Thirteen Communities
Encyclopedia
The Thirteen Communities (Cimbrian
: Dreizehn Komoin, ) were a group of municipalities in the Veneto
region that spoke the Cimbrian language
, a dialect of Upper German
, as their native tongue.
The municipalities are located on a high plateau
northeast of Verona
. They consist of:
and then under the Republic of Venice
. Under both they enjoyed wide cultural and political autonomy in exchange for their loyalty. The autonomous status came to an end with the Napoleonic Wars
and the demise of the Serenìsima in 1797.
Due to the high pressure from the Italianization
from fascists such as Ettore Tolomei
and the government of Benito Mussolini
did the Cimbrian language eventually almost completely disappear and become extinct. Only in Ljetzan has Cimbrian partly survived.
Ljetzan has the cultural institute "Tautsche Püachar Haus" and ethnological museum which is a repository of the Cimbrian culture and cooperates with other linguistic enclaves in Lusern and the Seven Communities
. Vestiges of the once dominant language can be found in some place names.
Cimbrian language
Cimbrian refers to any of several local Upper German varieties spoken in northeastern Italy. The speakers of the language are known as Zimbern....
: Dreizehn Komoin, ) were a group of municipalities in the Veneto
Veneto
Veneto is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about 5 million, ranking 5th in Italy.Veneto had been for more than a millennium an independent state, the Republic of Venice, until it was eventually annexed by Italy in 1866 after brief Austrian and French rule...
region that spoke the Cimbrian language
Cimbrian language
Cimbrian refers to any of several local Upper German varieties spoken in northeastern Italy. The speakers of the language are known as Zimbern....
, a dialect of Upper German
Upper German
Upper German is a family of High German dialects spoken primarily in southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Northern Italy.-Family tree:Upper German can be generally classified as Alemannic or Austro-Bavarian...
, as their native tongue.
The municipalities are located on a high plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
northeast of Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
. They consist of:
- Vellje
- (Rovereid, Roverè Veronese)
- (gen Wiesen, Erbezzo)
- Brunghe (Prugne, Selva di Progno), Ljetzan (Gletzen or Gliesen, Giazza) is a part of it
- Nuagankirchen (Neuenkirchen, Bosco Chiesanuova)
- Kalfàain, Màbado or Kam'Abato (Kalwein or Kalfein, Badia Calavena)
- Tschirre' or Sèr (Silva Hermanorum, Cerro Veronese),
- (Sankt Moritz, San Mauro di Saline)
- Asarin (Asarin, Azzarino), today a part of the municipality of Vellje
- Bòrtolom (San Bortolo or in the past San Bartolomeo tedesco), a part of Brunghe
- (Porrental, Val di Porro), a part of Nuagankirchen
- (Tavernole), today a part of San Mauro di Saline
- (Kampsilvan, Camposilvano), a part of Vellje
History
The thirteen communities formed together into a loose commonwealth around 1280. They were historically under the suzerainty of the Milanese House of ViscontiHouse of Visconti
Visconti is the family name of two important Italian noble dynasties of the Middle Ages. There are two distinct Visconti families: The first one in the Republic of Pisa in the mid twelfth century who achieved prominence first in Pisa, then in Sardinia where they became rulers of Gallura...
and then under the Republic of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
. Under both they enjoyed wide cultural and political autonomy in exchange for their loyalty. The autonomous status came to an end with the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
and the demise of the Serenìsima in 1797.
Due to the high pressure from the Italianization
Italianization
Italianization or Italianisation is a term used to describe a process of cultural assimilation in which ethnically non or partially Italian people or territory become Italian. The process can be voluntary or forced...
from fascists such as Ettore Tolomei
Ettore Tolomei
Ettore Tolomei was an Italian nationalist and fascist. He was designated a Member of the Italian Senate in 1923, and ennobled in 1937.- Pre-World War I activism :...
and the government of Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
did the Cimbrian language eventually almost completely disappear and become extinct. Only in Ljetzan has Cimbrian partly survived.
Ljetzan has the cultural institute "Tautsche Püachar Haus" and ethnological museum which is a repository of the Cimbrian culture and cooperates with other linguistic enclaves in Lusern and the Seven Communities
Seven Communities
The Seven Communities were a group of municipalities in the Veneto region that spoke the Cimbrian language, a dialect of Upper German, as their native tongue....
. Vestiges of the once dominant language can be found in some place names.
Example
The Cimbrian that was spoken in the Thirteen Communities was a slightly different dialect from Cimbrian spoken elsewhere.| Cimbrian | German | English |
|---|---|---|
Vatar usar ta Do pist ime Himmel, gaholagat sait Dai name. Kime Daine Raich. |
Vater unser der Du bist im Himmel, geheiligt werde Dein Name. Dein Reich komme. |
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, |