Gundulić

Gondola Gundulić
Country	Republic of Ragusa Austria-Hungary
Titles	Count
Founded	930
Dissolution	1800
Cadet branches	House of Getaldić-Gundulić

The Gondola (known in Serbo-Croatian as Gundulić) was a noble family of the Republic of Ragusa, considered one of the most prestigious families of the republic. It had origins in southern Dalmatia and Tyrol. The family´s motto is Tout ou rien ("All or nothing").

According to historian Cerva, the Gondola patriciate dates to 930, as does those of Gozze, Pozza and Giorgi, meaning that they were deemed the oldest ones of Ragusa. The first known member of the Gondola family was known as Silvanus. The mention of the name comes from 1024. The name Gondola derives from Greek, xovbu (vase à boire), as said, or xouvrexac; (barque).

In the 13th century, three generations of this family took leading roles in the public life in Ragusa. In the 15th century, Paladino Gondola (Paladin Gundulić) held the important position of a diplomat of the Republic to the Kingdom of Naples and Skanderbeg.

The poet Ivan Gundulić (1589-1638) became the most significant person in the Gundulić family, being named the Count of Konavle in 1615 and 1619. In 1634 he became a senator. At the end of 1638 he was elected to the Small Council, but died before he was able to take office. Ivan married Nikoleta Sorkočević, daughter of Šišmundo Sorkočević.

Ivan's son, Frano, served the Austrian Empire and the Polish King Jan III Sobieski in 1683, participating in the defeat of the Ottoman Turks at the Battle of Vienna. The family then obtained fiefdoms from Emperor Leopold I. The others sons, Šišmundo (Šiško) and Matej, spent several years in the military service of the Spanish Habsburgs. After his return to Dubrovnik, Matej lived in Turkey for 28 months, until 1674. Matej later married a commoner, but had no children. He was elected the Rector of Ragusa many times.

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