Josip Kazimir Drašković (1716–1765) was a Croatian general who played an important role in the

Seven Years' War The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European Great Powers, and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (1754� ...

(1756–1763). He was

Count Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...

of the noble

House of Drašković A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...

(Draskovich). From 1736 to 1739, Drašković took part in the war against the Ottomans, fighting in

Serbia Serbia (, ; Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe, Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Bas ...

and

Wallachia Wallachia or Walachia (; ro, Țara Românească, lit=The Romanian Land' or 'The Romanian Country, ; archaic: ', Romanian Cyrillic alphabet: ) is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Lower Danube and so ...

. In 1745, he became a lieutenant colonel in the 32nd Line Infantry Regiment of Forgách, with whom he successfully fought in Italy during the

War of the Austrian Succession The War of the Austrian Succession () was a European conflict that took place between 1740 and 1748. Fought primarily in Central Europe, the Austrian Netherlands, Italy, the Atlantic and Mediterranean, related conflicts included King George's W ...

(1740-1748). He was promoted to colonel in 1749 and became general a year later. In the Seven Years' War he distinguished himself at the Battle of Lobositz on October 1, 1756, by successfully commanding the frontiersmen who held back the Prussians, and inflicted heavy losses on them. He took part in the Battle of Prague on May 6, 1757. At the end of the year, December 5, 1757, General Draskovic took part in the

Battle of Leuthen The Battle of Leuthen was fought on 5 December 1757 and involved Frederick the Great's Prussian Army using maneuver warfare and terrain to rout a larger Austrian force completely, which was commanded by Prince Charles of Lorraine and Cou ...

. On July 25, 1760, during the capture of the Glatz Fortress, General Laudon's Austrian forces repelled the Prussians under General Fouqué towards Breslau, captured

Landshut Landshut (; bar, Landshuad) is a town in Bavaria in the south-east of Germany. Situated on the banks of the River Isar, Landshut is the capital of Lower Bavaria, one of the seven administrative regions of the Free State of Bavaria. It is also t ...

, and surrounded the fort. On November 3 of that year, Drašković fought in the battle of Torgau, and in 1761 he led his own corps in

Upper Silesia Upper Silesia ( pl, Górny Śląsk; szl, Gůrny Ślůnsk, Gōrny Ślōnsk; cs, Horní Slezsko; german: Oberschlesien; Silesian German: ; la, Silesia Superior) is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia, located ...

with the task of protecting

Moravia Moravia ( , also , ; cs, Morava ; german: link=yes, Mähren ; pl, Morawy ; szl, Morawa; la, Moravia) is a historical region in the east of the Czech Republic and one of three historical Czech lands, with Bohemia and Czech Silesia. The me ...

. In 1761, Drašković distinguished himself in capturing Schweidnitz. He was promoted to the rank of artillery general on 26 February 1763, and was awarded the Commander's Cross of the Order of Maria Theresa for his services throughout the war. He is also noted for his love and marriage to a noblewoman of lower descent (Suzana Malatinski) which hurt his brilliant military career and made it impossible for him to advance socially, politically or militarily. The couple had a chapel built on

Trakošćan Castle Trakošćan Castle (pronounced , hr, Dvor Trakošćan or ''Dvorac Trakošćan'') is a castle located in northern Croatia (in Varaždin County) that dates back to the 13th century (although the first written mention of the toponym "Trakošćan" i ...

grounds in 1754 which still stands that is consecrated to the Holy Cross. Trakoscan Castle is the ancestral home of the Draskovich family and was built in the Baroque Classicism style. The Holy Mass was once celebrated four times a year, while today, apart from regular Sunday mass, the chapel also hosts traditional castle weddings. Drašković died in the Klenovnik castle near Ivanec on November 9, 1765.

References

1716 births 1765 deaths Croatian soldiers Croatian nobility Croatian Roman Catholics Josip Kazimir Military commanders of Croatian kingdoms Counts of Croatia 18th-century Croatian people Habsburg Croats Commanders Cross of the Military Order of Maria Theresa 18th-century Croatian military personnel 18th-century Croatian nobility {{Croatia-bio-stub