Dalmatia

(dul-ma's he-ah.) a p. of the Austrian empire, extending along the left shore of the Adriatic Sea, bet. 43°30'-44° 28' N. Lat., and 14° 59′-19° 9′ E. Lon., b.N.by Croatia, E.by Herzegovina, and S. and W. by the Adriatic. Area, including numerous dependent islands, 4,668 sq. m. Surface, rough and mountainous, being shut in on the N.W. by the Dinaric Alps; but with some fertile valleys, drained by the Cettina, Zermagna, and other rivers. The p. (which is nominally a kingdom) is divided into the 4 depts. of Ragusa, Cattaro, Zara, and Spalatro, and has its own legislature, besides being represented in the imperial parliament. C. Zara. The in hab. are of Sclavonic origin, and speak the Servian language. Italian is, however, the official and commercial tongue in uso. D., under the Romans, formed part of Illyricum, and, after the decline of the W. Empire fell into the hauds of the Slavonians, Hungarians, Venetians, and Turks succe ively. In 1797, itwas annexed to Austria, and in 1805 was incorporated by Napoleon I. with the kingdom of Italy. It was restored to Austria in 1814. Pop. 468,781. [s. 262]