The Society of Brethren of the Croatian Dragon ( Croatian: Družba "Braća Hrvatskoga Zmaja";

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

: ''Societas "Fratres Draconis Croatici"'') is a

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

n historical and cultural society founded on November 16th, 1905.

History

The Society was formed in times of Croatian territorial and political disunion. Certain autonomy had been bestowed only upon Banic Croatia in co-state with

Hungary Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia a ...

that was a part of

Austro-Hungarian Monarchy Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1 ...

. Other regions were out of reach of Croatian banus and parliament. The Society was founded in politically complex and difficult conditions for the

Croats The Croats (; hr, Hrvati ) are a South Slavic ethnic group who share a common Croatian ancestry, culture, history and language. They are also a recognized minority in a number of neighboring countries, namely Austria, the Czech Republic, G ...

, in times of rightly harbored hopes in resolving Croatian national positions, primarily national unification and integration of the Croatian lands in the pluralistic society shaped by political and national unity. In those times, the opportunities within Austro-Hungarian Monarch, as well as relationships between other European countries, were not encouraging nor affordable. Therefore, the founding of a Croatian cultural society upon the principles of

patriotism Patriotism is the feeling of love, devotion, and sense of attachment to one's country. This attachment can be a combination of many different feelings, language relating to one's own homeland, including ethnic, cultural, political or histor ...

, honest friendship, brotherly love, respect and unity, provided a major breakthrough in strengthening, developing, modern forming and prosperity of Croatian society and

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

. The Society was formed with the purpose to nurture and promote cultural and ethnic values of the Croatian people, strengthening national awareness, shaping modern social content, reviving memories of glorious Croatian historical events and famous Croats, as well as to preserve, renew and promote Croatian cultural and natural heritage. The Society's activity is testified by its work, erected monuments, placed memorial tablets, organized lectures, round tables, symposia and conferences, published books and publications, but also pilgrimages, commemorations, festivities and appropriate activities. The Society of Brethren of the Croatian Dragon is dedicated to Croatian people with all its activities. There are three different periods in its centennial activities. The first period, since the founding in 1905 until banning of its activities at the beginning of the single-mindedness in 1946, the second period from banning of its activities until Society's renewal in 1990, and the third period from the renewal until the present. During the

Independent State of Croatia The Independent State of Croatia ( sh, Nezavisna Država Hrvatska, NDH; german: Unabhängiger Staat Kroatien; it, Stato indipendente di Croazia) was a World War II-era puppet state of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy (1922–1943), Fascist It ...

, the Society was made into a Knight's Order in 1941. The Brethren was restored in 1945 before being banned in

Communist Yugoslavia The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, commonly referred to as SFR Yugoslavia or simply as Yugoslavia, was a country in Central and Southeast Europe. It emerged in 1945, following World War II, and lasted until 1992, with the breakup of Yugo ...

in 1946. It was reestablished in 1990. It is important to point out that the Society, from its founding as a decidedly cultural Croatian brotherhood, shared the destiny of Croatian people and the country. The Society of Brethren of the Croatian Dragon presently acts within the Dragon Headquarters in

Zagreb Zagreb ( , , , ) is the capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Croatia#List of cities and towns, largest city of Croatia. It is in the Northern Croatia, northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slop ...

and 19 Dragon Branches in Croatian countries. The membership consists of full members, contributory members and honorary members. There are but a few associations that always had so different, yet socially and professionally confirmed and successful individuals. That is the confirmation of the Society's wealth of knowledge and experience, but also a high awareness of Croatian values and identity, as well as the so important Croatian unity. With special honor and dignity, the Society wisely and patiently reflects and incorporates its activities within the value system of the Croatian state and society, along with their actions that, in essence, bring the truth and a deep devotion to the Croatian homeland and contribute to the patriotic and national values, but also those actions that ae reminiscent of Croatia's suffering and martyrdom. In its essence, the activities that fortify Croatian identity and raise Croatian awareness - the ones which are lively experienced and possess that certain special quality. The depth of the sense of Society's activities is best displayed though its motto: "

Pro aris et focis ''Pro aris et focis'' ("for hearth and home") and ''Pro Deo et patria'' ("for God and country") are two Latin phrases used as the motto of many families, military regiments and educational institutions. ''Pro aris et focis'' literally translates " ...

, Deo propitio!" - "For altars and hearths, with God's grace!". In addition, inside the Dragon Headquarters - in the Dragon and Knight's Hall within the Stone Gate Tower - other thoughts are carved into the beams, the contents and meanings of which are a constant inspiration for the Society. These are the thoughts of

Marquis A marquess (; french: marquis ), es, marqués, pt, marquês. is a nobleman of high hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The German language equivalent is Markgraf (margrave). A woman wi ...

Fran Krsto Frankopan Fran Krsto Frankopan ( hu, Frangepán Ferenc Kristóf; 4 March 1643 – 30 April 1671) was a Croatian baroque poet, nobleman and politician. He is remembered primarily for his involvement in the failed Zrinski-Frankopan conspiracy. He was a C ...

: ''"He who dies honorably lives forever!"'', those of poet

Ivan Gundulić Dživo Franov Gundulić ( it, Gianfrancesco Gondola; 8 January 1589 – 8 December 1638), better known today as Ivan Gundulić, was the most prominent Baroque poet from the Republic of Ragusa (now in Croatia). He is regarded as the Croatian nat ...

: ''"Fair liberty, beloved liberty, liberty sweet avowed, thou art the treasured gift that Good to us endowed!"'', and those of writer Antun Gustav Matoš: ''"As long as there is heart, there is Croatia!"''. Since its founding, the Society stands for

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

principles in science and art, and also in public and private life. The patron of the Society of Brethren of the Croatian Dragon is St. George Martyr, and Society enjoy a special advocacy of the Holy Virgin Mary of the Stone Gate. The Society Dragon's salute is: ''"God grant us happiness! - Long live the Croatian Dragon!"''. In 1907, the Society claimed to have found the remains of

Petar Zrinski Petar IV Zrinski ( hu, Zrínyi Péter) (6 June 1621 – 30 April 1671) was Ban of Croatia (Viceroy) from 1665 to 1670, general and a writer. A member of the Zrinski noble family, he was noted for his role in the attempted Croatian-Hungarian Mag ...

and

, and by 1919 those were moved to the

Zagreb Cathedral , native_name_lang = , image = Zagreb Cathedral 2020.jpg , imagesize = , imagelink = , imagealt = , landscape = , caption =Zagreb Cathedral in 2020, ...

Grand Masters

*Emilij Laszowski (1906–1935) *Milutin Mayer (1936–1941) *Mladen Deželić (1942–1945) * Antun Bauer (1990–1992) *Đuro Deželić (1992–1993) *Juraj Kolarić (1993–2001) *Matija Salaj (2001–2006) *Dragutin Feletar (2006–2011) *Nevio Šetić (2011–2021) *

Mislav Grgić Mislav Grgić (born in 1973 in Osijek, Croatia) is a university professor, scientist, Ph.D. in technical sciences, and electrical engineer. He served as a Dean of FER from 2014 until 2018. He was the Head of the Alumni Community of FER from 20 ...

(2021–current)

Members

Zvonimir Šeparović Zvonimir Šeparović (14 September 1928 – 30 January 2022) was a Croatian jurist and politician. Biography Šeparović was a professor of Criminal Law at the University of Zagreb and rector of the University from 1989 to 1991. He was also kn ...

Milan Bandić Milan Bandić (22 November 1955 – 28 February 2021) was a Croatian politician and the longest-serving mayor of Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. Bandić was mayor almost continuously from 2000 to 2021, except during the time between his resignati ...

References

External links

Official website
{{Authority control Organizations established in 1905 Cultural organizations based in Croatia 1905 establishments in Austria-Hungary