During this period the town was under the protection of the mighty Byzantine Empire that helped Dubrovnik / Ragusa in the wars against Saracens, Bulgaro-Macedonians, and Serbs. After the Crusades, in 1205 it fell under the Venetian reign and in 1358 it became part of the Hungarian-Croatian Kingdom. Although Dubrovnik had a certain level of autonomy under the Byzantine reign, which enabled it to develop as an important Mediterranean maritime republic with strong commercial arrangements all over Adriatic and Balkans, its golden age as a free state started from this moment when it was granted the entire self-government. Dubrovnik was obliged to pay a tribute to the Hungarian-Croatian king and had to provide an assistance with its fleet, but in fact it was functioning as an
			independent Mediterranean republic with its own constitution, statute and government. Republic of Dubrovnik was ruled by aristocracy that formed three councils: the Major Council (supreme governing body), the Minor Council (executive power) and the Senate. The head of the state was the Rector elected for a term of office for one month.