The nobility of the Republic of Ragusa included patrician families, most of which originated from the City of Dubrovnik, and some coming from other, mostly neighbouring, countries.
The Republic of Ragusa was ruled by a strict patriciate that was formally established in 1332, which was subsequently modified only once, following the 1667 Dubrovnik earthquake.
Patricianship, the quality of belonging to a patriciate, began in the ancient world, where cities such as Ancient Rome had a social class of patrician families, whose members were initially the only people allowed to exercise many political functions. In the rise of European towns in the 12th and 13th century, the patriciate, a limited group of families with a special constitutional position, in Henri Pirenne's view, was the motive force. In 19th century Central Europe, the term had become synonymous with the upper Bourgeoisie and cannot be interchanged with the medieval patriciate in Central Europe. In German-speaking parts of Europe as well as in the maritime republics of the Italian Peninsula, the patricians were as a matter of fact the ruling body of the medieval town. Particularly in Italy, they were part of the nobility.
The Republic of Ragusa was an aristocratic maritime republic centered on the city of Dubrovnik in South Dalmatia that carried that name from 1358 until 1808. It reached its commercial peak in the 15th and the 16th centuries, before being conquered by Napoleon's French Empire and formally annexed by the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy in 1808. It had a population of about 30,000 people, of whom 5,000 lived within the city walls. Its motto was "Non bene pro toto libertas venditur auro", a Latin phrase which means "Liberty is not sold for all the gold in the world".
The House of 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.
Stjepan Gradić, also known as Stefano Gradi was a philosopher, scientist and a patrician of the Republic of Ragusa.
The House of Božidarević or House de Bosdari is a noble family (patrician) of the city of Dubrovnik, dating from the Republic of Ragusa and Ancona, Italy.
The House of Natali was a noble family of the Republic of Ragusa.
The House of Gradi or Gradić was one of the oldest and one of the most recognized among the patrician families in the Republic of Ragusa. Many of its members were Rectors (Knez) of the Republic. The Austrian Empire recognized its long-standing nobility on 1 December 1817 after the fall of the Republic.
The House of Saraka or Saraca was an old noble family from the Republic of Ragusa. The family came from Kotor in the year 1172.
The House of Zlatarić was a noble family from the Republic of Ragusa.
The House of Bona, or Bunić, is a noble family long established in the city of Dubrovnik.
The House of Cerva or Crijević, was a Ragusan noble family from Ragusa, which held noble titles in the Republic of Ragusa, and in the Austrian and Austro-Hungarian empires. Descendants of the family live in Austria and Italy.
The House of Giorgi, Zorzi or Đurđević was a noble family of the Republic of Venice and the Republic of Ragusa.
The House of Bobali or Babalio was a noble family of the Republic of Ragusa.
The House of Buća was a noble family that served the Republic of Ragusa, and one of the most important families to come out of Kotor. A cadet branch was admitted to the nobility of the Republic of Ragusa, another branch moved instead to Šibenik.
The House of Tudisi was a Ragusan noble family, which produced people such as distinguished diplomat Martholus de Tudisio and merchant Give de Tudisio in the 14th century.
The House of Binciola or Binčulić was one of the patrician families of Dubrovnik and the Republic of Ragusa, active between the 12th and 17th centuries.
The House of Clasci or House of Klašić was a noble family from the city of Dubrovnik and the Republic of Ragusa. They belonged to the list of late patriciate families of the Ragusan nobility.
The House of Radagli or Radaljević was a noble family of the Republic of Venice in the 16th century and the Republic of Ragusa since 1666.
The House of Vodopić was a noble family from the city of Dubrovnik and the Republic of Ragusa. The family belonged to the list of late patriciate families of the Ragusan nobility.
The House of Pavlić was a noble family in the Republic of Ragusa, based in Dubrovnik in the 17th and 18th century.
