Arhivska prelamanja. Anonimus o Šćepanu Malom

The three chapters of this study, entitled Archival Refractions: Anonymous on Stephen the Little, specifically address archival sources in Italian pertaining to Stephen the Little, including both previously published works and, notably, new, unpublished materials. This primary material sourced from the Venetian Archives primarily encompasses reports by spies and superintendents, which contribute to the broader historical and cultural understanding of Stephen the Little. Moreover, this study introduces some entirely new content, notably a manuscript attributed to an anonymous Venetian official – likely a spy – also written in Italian. This manuscript, housed in the State Archives of Zadar, significantly enriches our understanding of the enigmatic figure who appeared in Montenegro in November 1766 and simultaneously opens avenues for further research and contextualization. The first chapter, entitled “A Century of Impostors, a Century of Spies”, outlines the historical and social context of the 18th century, highlighting some of the most famous impostors of this era, often referred to as the “century of impostors” in Europe. In this context, Venice became a magnet for numerous impostors, while its extensive foreign relations frequently precipitated political and social turbulence. As the number of impostors and political adversaries increased, so too did the number of spies. The extensive materials generated by these secret services, primarily consisting of reports, have been preserved in the archives of Venice. Consequently, the second chapter is entitled “In the Venetian Archives” and is subdivided into two sections. The first section details Petar II Petrović Njegoš’s stay in Venice, during which he sought materials pertaining to Stephen the Little within the Venetian Archives – the foundation for his historical poem The False Emperor Stephen the Little (1850). The second section, entitled “Research by Šime Ljubić”, examines the research conducted by the Croatian historian in the Venetian Archives over the course of two years. In addition to transcribing thousands of documents regarding the South Slavs and later publishing them in 1868, Šime Ljubić compiled reports in Italian from various Venetian officials, which he published in Belgrade under the title Monuments of Stephen the Little (1870). The third chapter focuses on an unpublished manuscript in Italian, housed in the State Archives of Zadar. This unfinished work, entitled Anonimus, dates from the second half of the 18th century and is a primary source of considerable significance for the history of Stephen the Little. This manuscript presents itself as an “historical story”, as stated by its anonymous author. It is grounded in factual events and aims for objectivity while simultaneously offering a narrative that interprets the events and characters within the relevant historical context of Montenegro. The anonymous author declares at the outset of his work that he draws inspiration from Tacitus, a figure renowned as a “poet of history”. Thus, one could argue that thismanuscript essentially features two main characters: Stephen the Little and the anonymous author himself, manifesting as a narrative discourse grounded in historical facts. Just as with Tacitus’s works, Anonymus requires historiographical evaluation; nonetheless, its exceptional artistic value is undisputed. The manuscript Anonimus, preserved in the State Archives of Zadar, does not resolve the enigma of Šćepan Mali; rather, it does the opposite: it opens up new avenues for research and introduces fresh dimensions for interpreting and narrating the historical facts associated with this mysterious figure. Similar to Šćepan Mali himself, who stands as both a historical and poetic icon within our cultural heritage, the anonymous author positions himself at the intersection of history and poetics.