Historical background to Cres
Cres has been inhabited ever since the Paleolithic time. In the start it was ruled by the Roman Empire. After the fall of the Roman Empire the island fell in to the hands of the Byzantine Empire, and remained this way for centuries.
In the 7th century the Croats invaded the island, and the other islands around it, and took the islands over. But in 866 the Croats were attacked by the Venetians and lost the island. For many years Cres was ruled by the Venetians until Napoleons victory created the Austrian rule on the island, which soon changed hands again to French Rule. After the defeat of Napoleon, Austria regained control of the island for 100 years. During this time Cres went through a lot of economy risings with olive trees, sage, and other plants which become the key to the success of the island.
When the Treaty of Rapallo was signed in 1920, the island was once again handed over to Italian Rule and it remained so until 1947, when the Islands, along with Istrian Peninsula, were returned to Croatia.