Ilarion (Jovan) Ruvarac ( sr, Иларион Руварац; September 1, 1832 — August 8, 1905) was a
Serbian historian and
Orthodox
Orthodox, Orthodoxy, or Orthodoxism may refer to:
Religion
* Orthodoxy, adherence to accepted norms, more specifically adherence to creeds, especially within Christianity and Judaism, but also less commonly in non-Abrahamic religions like Neo-pa ...
priest, a member of the
Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
The Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts ( la, Academia Scientiarum et Artium Serbica, sr-Cyr, Српска академија наука и уметности, САНУ, Srpska akademija nauka i umetnosti, SANU) is a national academy and the ...
(first
Serbian Learned Society and
Serbian Royal Academy of Sciences). Ruvarac introduced the critical methods into Serbian
historiography
Historiography is the study of the methods of historians in developing history as an academic discipline, and by extension is any body of historical work on a particular subject. The historiography of a specific topic covers how historians ha ...
. He was
archimandrite
The title archimandrite ( gr, ἀρχιμανδρίτης, archimandritēs), used in Eastern Christianity, originally referred to a superior abbot (''hegumenos'', gr, ἡγούμενος, present participle of the verb meaning "to lead") wh ...
of
Grgeteg monastery. His three brothers were all distinguished—the eldest, Lazar Ruvarac, as a high government official; the second,
Kosta Ruvarac (1837–1864), as a writer and literary critic; and the youngest,
Dimitrije Ruvarac
Dimitrije "Mita" Ruvarac ( sr, Димитрије Руварац; Stari Banovci, Austria Hungary October 25, 1842 — Sremski Karlovci, Kingdom of Yugoslavia December 16, 1931) was Serbian historian, Orthodox priest, academic and publisher. He is ...
, as a historian, Orthodox clergyman, politician and one of the most active publishers of his time.
Biography
Jovan Ruvarac was born at
Sremska Mitrovica on 1 September 1832 to Very Reverend Vasilije Ruvarac (1803–1873) and his wife Julijana, née Šević. He had three brothers, Lazar, Kosta and Dimitrije. His childhood was spent at
Stari Slankamen
Stari Slankamen ( sr-cyrl, Стари Сланкамен), also known as Slankamen ( sr-cyrl, Сланкамен), is a village located in the Inđija municipality, in the Syrmia District of Serbia. It is situated in the Autonomous Province of Voj ...
and Stari
Banovac Banovac, banski denar or banica is the name of a coin struck and used in Croatia between 1235 and 1384. The Latin name was derived from the words ''ban'' and ''denarius''. The word ''ban'' is a title of nobility used in Croatia, and roughly transla ...
in
Srem
Syrmia ( sh, Srem/Срем or sh, Srijem/Сријем, label=none) is a region of the southern Pannonian Plain, which lies between the Danube and Sava rivers. It is divided between Serbia and Croatia. Most of the region is flat, with the ex ...
, where he went to grammar school. In 1847 his family moved from Banovac to Karlovci and later to Vienna, where he completed his high school education at the
Gymnasium of Karlovci and a gymnasium in
Vienna
en, Viennese
, iso_code = AT-9
, registration_plate = W
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code =
, timezone = CET
, utc_offset = +1
, timezone_DST ...
before he enrolled at the
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna (german: Universität Wien) is a public research university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world. With its long and rich hist ...
's School of Law in 1852. At the same time, he studied history, a passion of his going back to high school days when two of his professors,
Jakov Gerčić and
Aleksandar Stojačković, instilled in him a curiosity that remained with him for the rest of his life. In Vienna in the early 1850s he met poet
Branko Radičević
Aleksije "Branko" Radičević ( sr-Cyrl, Алексије Бранко Радичевић, ; 28 March 1824 – 1 July 1853) was a Serbian poet who wrote in the period of Romanticism.
Biography
Branko Radičević was born in Slavonski Brod on 1 ...
, philologist
Vuk Karadžić
Vuk Stefanović Karadžić ( sr-Cyrl, Вук Стефановић Караџић, ; 6 November 1787 (26 October OS)7 February 1864) was a Serbian philologist, anthropologist and linguist. He was one of the most important reformers of the moder ...
, and historian
Leopold von Ranke
Leopold von Ranke (; 21 December 1795 – 23 May 1886) was a German historian and a founder of modern source-based history. He was able to implement the seminar teaching method in his classroom and focused on archival research and the analysis of ...
. After graduating with a law degree in 1856, he enrolled at the
Theological Seminary of Saint Arsenius (''Sveti Arsenije'') in Sremski Karlovci, graduating in 1859. Upon completing his studies in law, history, and theology, he decided to take holy orders and the new name of Ilarion on the date of his tonsure at
Krušedol monastery
The Krušedol Monastery ( sr-cyr, Манастир Крушедол, Manastir Krušedol, ) is a Serbian Orthodox monastery on the Fruška Gora mountain in the Syrmia region, northern Serbia, in the province of Vojvodina. The monastery is the lega ...
on 1 January 1861. Under his new name (Ilarion), he published numerous historical studies that he had written up until then. Ruvarac was devoted to his scholastic work in history, and was hospitable to the many friends and strangers who found their way to Karlovci. He had great admiration for Vuk Karadžić and
Đura Daničić, although their relation were never intimate. He met writer
Jovan Subotić (1817–1886) in 1852 and their mutual admiration and respect for each other lasted until Subotić's death in 1886. He was appointed clerk of the Serbian Orthodox Ecclesiastical Court at Karlovci. In 1872 he became a member of the teaching staff at the Gymnasium of Karlovci, his Alma mater. He was elevated to the rank of
Archimandrite
The title archimandrite ( gr, ἀρχιμανδρίτης, archimandritēs), used in Eastern Christianity, originally referred to a superior abbot (''hegumenos'', gr, ἡγούμενος, present participle of the verb meaning "to lead") wh ...
at the
Monastery of Grgeteg in 1874, and a year later, he was appointed
rector
Rector (Latin for the member of a vessel's crew who steers) may refer to:
Style or title
*Rector (ecclesiastical), a cleric who functions as an administrative leader in some Christian denominations
*Rector (academia), a senior official in an edu ...
of the Theological Seminary of Saint Arsenius in Karlovci. He was prominent in secular as well as religious works, interesting himself in every movement that promoted health, morality, or education, and especially serviceable as friendly, unofficial counsellor of all classes. His theology was that of a liberal high-churchman, and his sympathies were broad. In early 1880 he was commissioned to report on the state of education among Serbs in Austria-Hungary, and his able performance of this task brought him an offer of the bishopric of Karlovci, which he declined. In 1882 he decided to resume his monastic career as archimandrite of the Monastery of Grgeteg. The last years of his life were passed in complete seclusion at the monastery. He died there on the 8th of August 1905.
Ruvarac family
Ruvarac family settled in
Syrmia in
Austria-Hungary
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 ...
, today's
Serbia
Serbia (, ; Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin and the Balkans. It shares land borders with Hungar ...
, from the region between
Bihać
Bihać ( cyrl, Бихаћ) is a city and the administrative centre of Una-Sana Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situated on the banks of river Una in northwestern Bosnia and Herzegovin ...
and
Cazin
Cazin ( sr-cyrl, Цазин) is a city located in Una-Sana Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situated in northwest Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Bosanska Krajina region, near the borde ...
, nowadays
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of south and southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. Bosnia and H ...
, then
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...
.
His brother, Kosta Ruvarac (1837–1864), was a writer and literary critic who died while still a student at a university in Pest. Lazar Ruvarac who graduated from the University of Vienna, became a high official in the Serbian Government. His younger brother,
Dimitrije Ruvarac
Dimitrije "Mita" Ruvarac ( sr, Димитрије Руварац; Stari Banovci, Austria Hungary October 25, 1842 — Sremski Karlovci, Kingdom of Yugoslavia December 16, 1931) was Serbian historian, Orthodox priest, academic and publisher. He is ...
, was also a prominent historian and an Orthodox priest, besides being a politician and a publisher.
Ilarion Ruvarac, like many of his Serbian peers of his day, spoke several languages, Latin, Greek, German, Hungarian, Rumanian, and Italian.
Historiography
In 1887 a serious intellectual debate was being waged between adherents of old, traditionalist and romantic schools in Serbian historiography, represented by historians
Panta Srećković
Pantelija Srećković ( sr-Cyrl, Пантелија Срећковић; 3 November 1834 – 8 July 1903), also known as Panta Srećković (Панта Срећковић) was a Serbian historian and academician, the dean of the Grandes écoles (''V ...
and
Miloš Milojević, and the advocates of the new, critical and realistic school, headed by Ilarion Ruvarac and
Ljubomir Kovačević
Ljubomir Kovačević (4 January 1848 – 19 November 1918) was a Serbian writer, historian, academic, and politician. He is one of the early creators of the Serbian critical historiographical school and fighters for the separation of historical ...
.
Ruvarac was the first to make a name for himself as a historian who sought justice and truth in every critical work he undertook. He used scientific approaches to refute many deeply rooted and beloved legends, traditions about the treachery of Vuk Branković, the eternal freedom of Montenegro, and the death of Tsar
Stefan Uroš V
Saint Stefan Uroš V ( sr-cyrl, Свети Стефан Урош V, ; 13362/4 December 1371), known in historiography and folk tradition as Uroš the Weak ( sr-cyr, Урош Нејаки, Uroš Nejaki), was the second Emperor (Tsar) of the Ser ...
at the alleged hands of
Vukašin Mrnjavčević
Vukašin (Cyrillic script: Вукашин) is an old Slavic name of Serbian origin. It is composed from two words: Vuk (wolf) and sin (son), so it means sin vuka (son of wolf). In some places in Croatia and Bosnia it can be found as a surname.
...
. Ruvarac was the first to stress the use of primary sources as much as possible in order to obtain evidence of historical truth. He even questioned himself, more often than not, when critically examining historical texts, asking how they were obtained, who had written them and when, and for what purpose.
Being pitilessly conscientious and of cynical, sharp wit, Ruvarac exposed many Montenegrin fables that some wished to palm off as historical facts—either for personal, political gain, dynastic reasons (Habsburgs, Vatican, Ottomans), or simply to flatter their own vanity. Ruvarac ushered in a revision of all historical inconsistencies written by foreigners or inspired by them concerning Serbs of Montenegro and other regions, destroying one ill-conceived legend after another with no less passion than had those who fabricated them in the first place. Ruvarac, like most intellectuals, knew that so-called events can exert influence even though they never occurred.
He also proved that the so-called massacres as described in Njegoš's
The Mountain Wreath
''The Mountain Wreath'' ( sr, Горски вијенац / Gorski vijenac) is a poem and a play written by Prince-Bishop and poet Petar II Petrović-Njegoš.
Njegoš wrote ''The Mountain Wreath'' during 1846 in Cetinje and published it the fol ...
and in the Montenegrin histories of that period, had never taken place. He knew that Njegoš used
poetic license to create a drama in which he could get his ideas across. Ruvarac was right only in that he denounced such speculation as being unauthenticated and therefore unhistorical, as indeed they were.
Ruvarac had good reason sometimes to be exasperated by the inaccuracies and fabrications of histories because they were written by foreigners who perpetuated all kinds of stories and myths without researching Venetian archives. It was the Republic of Venice, after all, which had lorded it over the Adriatic coast and fought over it with the Turks for some four centuries (not to mention the French, Austrians, Hungarians, and the intrigue of the Vatican, each with their own
political agenda
In politics, a political agenda is a list of subjects or problems (issues) to which government officials as well as individuals outside the government are paying serious attention to at any given time.
The political agenda is most often shaped ...
).
Most of Ruvarac's career was spent mercilessly struggling with national myth which distorted the historical truth, but there was no turning back after him since he inspired other historians to investigate the past with a critical eye. The tradition of Ruvarac's scholarship and the critical method was carried on by
Stojan Novaković
Stojan Novaković ( sr-Cyrl, Стојан Новаковић; 1 November 1842 – 18 February 1915) was a Serbian politician, historian, diplomat, writer, bibliographer, literary critic, literary historian, and translator. He held the post ...
(1842–1915),
Ljubomir Kovačević
Ljubomir Kovačević (4 January 1848 – 19 November 1918) was a Serbian writer, historian, academic, and politician. He is one of the early creators of the Serbian critical historiographical school and fighters for the separation of historical ...
(1848–1918),
Mihailo Gavrilović
Mihailo Gavrilović ( Serbian Cyrillic: Михаило Гавриловић), (Aleksinac, May 8, 1868 – London, November 1, 1924), was a Serbian historian and diplomat.
Early life
Mihailo Gavrilović was born at Aleksinac in central Serbia on ...
,
Stanoje Stanojević
Stanoje Stanojević ( sr-Cyrl, Станоје Станојевић; 1874 in Novi Sad – 1937 in Belgrade) was a Serbian historian, university professor, academic and a leader of many scientific and publishing enterprises.
Career
Stanojević f ...
and many others.
Jovan Radonić
Jovan Radonić (9 February 1873, Mol, Austria-Hungary — 25 November 1956, Yugoslavia) was a Serbian historian, librarian of Matica Srpska library and member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts.
Biography
Radonić graduated from the Uni ...
dedicated his first book to Ilarion Ruvarac honoring him for the introduction of the critical approach to Serbian historiography.
Legacy
He is included in
The 100 most prominent Serbs
''The 100 most prominent Serbs'' ( sr-Cyrl, 100 најзнаменитијих Срба) is a book containing the biographies of the hundred most important Serbs compiled by a committee of academicians at the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts. ...
.
Selected works
*''O pećkim patrijarsima od Makarija do Arsenija III'', 1868, 1879.
*''Stari Slankamen'', 1892.
*''Dvije bosanske kraljice'' 1893.
*''Banovanje Tvrtka bana 1333. do 1377'', 1894.
*''Montenegrina, prilošci istoriji Crne Gore'', 1898.
*''O humskim episkopima i hercegovačkim mitropolitima do godine 1766'', 1901.
*''Raški episkopi i mitropoliti'' 1901.
*
References
Further reading
*
External links
Short biography on SANU web site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ruvarac, Ilarion
1832 births
1905 deaths
People from Sremska Mitrovica
Members of the Serbian Learned Society
Serb priests
19th-century Serbian historians
20th-century Serbian historians
People from the Principality of Serbia
People from the Kingdom of Serbia
Archimandrites
19th-century Eastern Orthodox clergy
20th-century Eastern Orthodox clergy
Burials at Serbian Orthodox monasteries and churches