Seven Communities
Encyclopedia
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.
The municipalities are located on a high plateau
northwest of Vicenza
. 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 1807.
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 Robàan and its district Mittebald/Toballe (Mittewald, Mezzaselva) has Cimbrian survived.
Robàan has the cultural institute "Agustin Prunner" which is a repository of the Cimbrian culture and cooperates with other linguistic enclaves in Lusern, Fersental, Sappada, Sauris, the Thirteen Communities
and Timau. Vestiges of the once dominant language are family and place names, which are mostly still Cimbrian.
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...
northwest of Vicenza
Vicenza
Vicenza , a city in north-eastern Italy, is the capital of the eponymous province in the Veneto region, at the northern base of the Monte Berico, straddling the Bacchiglione...
. They consist of:
- Sleghe/Schlège
- Gell(e)/Ghel (Gelle, Gallio)
- Robàan (Rovan or Rain, Roana)
- Vüsche/Vütsche/Fütze (Foza)
- Ghenebe/Jenève (Jeneve, Enego)
- Rotz (Ross, Rotzo)
- Lusaan (Lusian, Lusiana)
History
The seven communities formed together into a loose commonwealth in 1310. 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 1807.
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 Robàan and its district Mittebald/Toballe (Mittewald, Mezzaselva) has Cimbrian survived.
Robàan has the cultural institute "Agustin Prunner" which is a repository of the Cimbrian culture and cooperates with other linguistic enclaves in Lusern, Fersental, Sappada, Sauris, the Thirteen Communities
Thirteen Communities
The Thirteen Communities were a group of municipalities in the Veneto region that spoke the Cimbrian language, a dialect of Upper German, as their native tongue....
and Timau. Vestiges of the once dominant language are family and place names, which are mostly still Cimbrian.