Summary/Abstract: On the basis of the data from the Statute of Kotor and Cadestral book of Roanne (1457), we tried to explain the notion of deforis (foreigner) – when it first appeared in Kotor and under which circumstances. Acording to a decision of the Statute of Kotor from 1367 only the citizens of Kotor who lived in Kotor were allowed to possess land in Grbalj, while foreigners were prohibited from owning land in Grbalj regardless of living in the city or having the citizenship of Kotor. However, when Kotor came under the rule of Venice in 1420, aforementioned statutary decision was not respected and Venetian citizens were made equal in rights with citizens of Kotor. Therefore, all Venetian citizens who lived on the territory of the Republic of Venice could own land in Grbalj. Those citizens of Kotor who were not living in Kotor and in the territories under Venetian rule could not own land in Grbalj (those who lived in Dubrovnik, Bar and other places). Their land was confiscated for the benefit of Kotor region and they were considered foreigners (deforis).
