Junije Palmotić

Who was Junije Palmotić?

Junije Palmotić, was a Croatian baroque writer, poet and dramatist from the Republic of Ragusa.

Alongside Vinko Pribojević and Juraj Križanić, he was an early pioneer of the ideas of Slavic unity. He was a Ragusan patrician, member of the Palmotić noble family. Palmotić's parents were Džore Palmotić and Ora Gradi, who was related to the Gundulić family. Ore was close cousin of Dživa, the mother of great poet Ivan Gundulić, which made Junije his nephew. Ore and Džive were the daughters of two Gradi's. He had an older brother Džore and younger Ivan, who died young in his childhood.

Little is known about his schooling, but he may have attended city school as it was mandatory for male nobles. It is known that he attended a private school opened in 1619 by the Jesuits and whose lecturers included, in the next few generations, Ivan Gradi, Ignjat Tudiši, Marin Gundulić, Ivan Dražić and Bartol Kašić. As Palmotić's teachers in that school, Stjepan Gradi especially mentions Ignjat Tudisi and a Sienese Italian, Camillo Gori.

Aged 18, he became a member of the Great Council in the Republic of Ragusa.