The Venetians forged trade links with the Dalmatians, also known as Schiavoni, which developed in the 15th century when all the Dalmatian coastal regions passed under the rule of the Republic. The “Dalmatian Nation”, considered a confraternity of subjects of the Republic originally from the opposite shore of the Adriatic, supplied sailors for the Venetian fleet and carried out small trading activities. Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni was founded on 24th March 1451 in order to receive the Dalmatians in Venice under the patronage of San Giorgio (St. George), San Gerolamo (St.Jerome) and San Trifone (St.Tryphone), obtaining approval from the Consiglio dei Dieci (Council of Ten) in the same year. In 1796 the Serenissima, threatened by Napoleon, gathered together overseas armies. 11,500 Dalmatians arrived in Venice shouting, ''Viva S.Marco! Viva il nostro Principe!'' (Long live St Mark! Long live our Prince!)