Džore Držić

Džore Držić (Croatian pronunciation: [dʒǒːre dř̩ːʒitɕ]; Italian: Giorgio Darsa) (February 6, 1461 – September 26, 1501) was a Ragusan poet and playwright, one of the fathers of Croatian literature.

Držić was a citizen of the Republic of Ragusa (now Dubrovnik, Croatia). He was the uncle of the noted Croatian playwright Marin Držić, the rector of the Church of All Saints, the chancellor of the Dubrovnik chapter, a contemporary of the poet Marko Marulić, and the creator of a poetic opus that made significant contributions to the evolution of Croatian literature. His poetic works are considered an early expression of the linguistic form that would later become the standard Croatian language.

Držić's Pjesni ljuvene (Love Poems) were posthumously included by Nikša Ranjina in his manuscript collection which also contained love poems composed by other young Dubrovnik poets for their romantic partners.

Some of Držić's poetry diverged from the conventional Petrarchist style, incorporating elements reminiscent of folk songs. They are included in Ranjina's Miscellany. Držić's poem Odiljam se ("I Am Going Away"), written in 16-syllable verses, reflects the influence of the bugarštica poetic tradition.

His eclogue Radmio and Ljubmir, discovered recently, was dated to the late 15th century and is notable as it is the first Croatian play with a secular theme. This work would open a new period of Croatian theater.

See also

• Republic of Ragusa
• List of notable Ragusans
• Dubrovnik
• Dalmatia
• History of Dalmatia

Sources

• Držić, Džore at lzmk.hr (in Croatian)