After gaining independence in 14th century the Republic of Ragusa / Dubrovnik started growing into the most powerful economic centre on the eastern coast of the Adriatic which rivalled the Republic of Venice and other Italian maritime republics. Dubrovnik had developed a powerful fleet of merchant and war ships mostly built in its own shipyards. The Dubrovnik merchant navy matched world levels with its quality fleet of 180 to 200 ships in its best times. The Republic also gradually expanded on surrounding area and its full territory stretched from Klek in the north to Sutorina at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor, including the Pelješac peninsula, the nearby Elaphiti islands and the islands of Mljet and Lastovo. It is important to stress that the all the new territories hadn’t been taken by force and the Republic acquired them from their previous rulers, Bosnian and Serbian kings, through the contracts and periodical purchases. The trade of the Republic of Dubrovnik had spread from Syria to England and Germany and their ships
			sailed even as far as India and the Americas. Their commercial transactions were followed by strong diplomatic relations with a number of countries and cities. The Dubrovnik Republic was the only country at that time to have an exceptional commercial relations with powerful Ottoman Empire thanks to its skilled diplomacy. Dubrovnik acknowledged the supremacy of the Turkish Sultan whom it paid annual tribute in order to preserve its precious freedom. Throughout its existence the Republic successfully balanced its sovereignty between the interests of Venice and Ottoman Empire.