Janko Drašković (
Hungarian: ''Draskovich János''; 20 October 1770 – 14 January 1856) was a
Croatian politician who is associated with the beginnings of the
Illyrian movement
The Illyrian movement (; ) was a pan-South-Slavic cultural and political campaign with roots in the early modern period, and revived by a group of young Croatian intellectuals during the first half of the 19th century, around the years of 1835 t ...
, a 19th-century national revival. Drašković studied law and philosophy before joining the military, from which he was discharged on medical grounds. In the 1790s, Drašković pursued a political career, winning a seat in the
Croatian Parliament
The Croatian Parliament () or the Sabor is the Unicameralism, unicameral legislature of Croatia. Under the terms of the Constitution of Croatia, Croatian Constitution, the Sabor represents the nation, people and is vested with legislative power. ...
and in the
Diet of Hungary
The Diet of Hungary or originally: Parlamentum Publicum / Parlamentum Generale () was the most important political assembly in Hungary since the 12th century, which emerged to the position of the supreme legislative institution in the Kingdom ...
.
Drašković advocated for the protection of Croatian interests against the threats of
Germanisation
Germanisation, or Germanization, is the spread of the German language, people, and culture. It was a central idea of German conservative thought in the 19th and the 20th centuries, when conservatism and ethnic nationalism went hand in hand. In l ...
and
Magyarisation
Magyarization ( , also Hungarianization; ), after "Magyar"—the Hungarian autonym—was an assimilation or acculturation process by which non-Hungarian nationals living in the Kingdom of Hungary, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, adop ...
in the
Habsburg monarchy
The Habsburg monarchy, also known as Habsburg Empire, or Habsburg Realm (), was the collection of empires, kingdoms, duchies, counties and other polities (composite monarchy) that were ruled by the House of Habsburg. From the 18th century it is ...
, and subsequently in the
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire, officially known as the Empire of Austria, was a Multinational state, multinational European Great Powers, great power from 1804 to 1867, created by proclamation out of the Habsburg monarchy, realms of the Habsburgs. Duri ...
, Drašković preferred gradual political reforms; he became a leading figure in the Croatian national revival following the 1832 publication of the ''Dissertation'', a manifesto outlining the main political, cultural, economic, social development and cohesion problems in Croatia. The ''Dissertation'' became largely regarded as the programme of the Croatian national revival. Drašković supported and significantly contributed to the group gathered around
Ljudevit Gaj
Ljudevit Gaj (; born Ludwig Gay; ; 8 August 1809 – 20 April 1872) was a Croatian linguist, politician, journalist and writer. He was one of the central figures of the pan-Slavist Illyrian movement.
Biography
Origin
He was born in Krapina ( ...
in working toward the objective outlined in the ''Dissertation''. Gaj's group and others supporting the objectives of the Croatian national revival became known as Illyrians after the term Drašković used for the unified Croatian lands proposed in the ''Dissertation''.
Drašković's lasting contribution to the
culture of Croatia
The culture of Croatia has historically been influenced by Central European, Mediterranean, and Balkan cultures. Croatia's unique culture and identity can be traced back to the historical llyricum. The Croatian language is believed to hav ...
is ''
Matica hrvatska
Matica hrvatska () is the oldest independent, non-profit and non-governmental Croatian national institution. It was founded on February 2, 1842 by the Croatian Count Janko Drašković and other prominent members of the Illyrian movement during ...
'', which he helped establish in 1842. The institution, which was initially named ''Matica ilirska'', was established to promote literacy and knowledge in Croatia – in the national language – to improve the economic circumstances of the country and its people. Drašković served as the first president of the newly established institution, and co-founded the
People's Party, one of Croatia's first two political parties. Drašković was the party's first leader and chaired the Croatian Parliament in 1848.
Background
A prominent Croatian noble family, the
Draškovići claimed descent from a Crusader knight who had fought in the
Fifth Crusade
The Fifth Crusade (September 1217 - August 29, 1221) was a campaign in a series of Crusades by Western Europeans to reacquire Jerusalem and the rest of the Holy Land by first conquering Egypt, ruled by the powerful Ayyubid sultanate, led by al- ...
. They were first documented as landowners in the
Lika
Lika () is a traditional region of Croatia proper, roughly bound by the Velebit mountain from the southwest and the Plješevica mountain from the northeast. On the north-west end Lika is bounded by Ogulin-Plaški basin, and on the south-east by t ...
region in the . Although the family lost lands due to the
Ottoman conquests in Croatia, the Draškovići became increasingly powerful. By the , three Draškovići became
Catholic bishops
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an Holy orders in the Catholic Church, ordained Minister (Catholic Church), minister who holds the fullness of the Sacraments of the Catholic Church, sacrament of holy orders and is responsible for teachin ...
, and
one of them rose to the rank of a
cardinal
Cardinal or The Cardinal most commonly refers to
* Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds
**''Cardinalis'', genus of three species in the family Cardinalidae
***Northern cardinal, ''Cardinalis cardinalis'', the common cardinal of ...
. Four other members of the family were
viceroy
A viceroy () is an official who reigns over a polity in the name of and as the representative of the monarch of the territory.
The term derives from the Latin prefix ''vice-'', meaning "in the place of" and the Anglo-Norman ''roy'' (Old Frenc ...
s, holding the title of
Ban of Croatia
Ban of Croatia () was the title of local rulers or office holders and after 1102, viceroys of Croatia. From the earliest periods of the Croatian state, some provinces were ruled by Ban (title), bans as a ruler's representative (viceroy) and sup ...
, and
Ivan III Drašković was also royal lieutenant in
Hungary
Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, 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 and ...
as
Palatine
A palatine or palatinus (Latin; : ''palatini''; cf. derivative spellings below) is a high-level official attached to imperial or royal courts in Europe since Roman Empire, Roman times. . He was rewarded with the
comital title in 1631. Some Drašković distinguished themselves as high-ranking officers in the service of the
Habsburg dynasty
The House of Habsburg (; ), also known as the House of Austria, was one of the most powerful dynasties in the history of Europe and Western civilization. They were best known for their inbreeding and for ruling vast realms throughout Europe d ...
. Among them, Janko's father rose to the rank of
Colonel
Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...
.
The Draškovići held vast estates in Croatia and
Transylvania
Transylvania ( or ; ; or ; Transylvanian Saxon dialect, Transylvanian Saxon: ''Siweberjen'') is a List of historical regions of Central Europe, historical and cultural region in Central Europe, encompassing central Romania. To the east and ...
in the
Habsburg Empire. Within the empire, Croatia, Hungary, Transylvania, and from 1779 the
City of Rijeka formed the
Lands of the Hungarian Crown
The Lands of the Hungarian CrownLaszlo PéterHungary's Long Nineteenth Century: Constitutional and Democratic Traditions in a European Perspective BRILL, 2012, pp. 51–56 () was the titular expression of Hungarian pretensions to the various terri ...
. The Croatian
Sabor
The Croatian Parliament () or the Sabor is the unicameral legislature of Croatia. Under the terms of the Croatian Constitution, the Sabor represents the people and is vested with legislative power. The Sabor is composed of 151 members elected ...
, or parliament, sent delegates to the
bicameral
Bicameralism is a type of legislature that is divided into two separate Deliberative assembly, assemblies, chambers, or houses, known as a bicameral legislature. Bicameralism is distinguished from unicameralism, in which all members deliberate ...
Hungarian
Diet—three delegates to the Diet's lower house, and one to the upper house. According to custom, issues of common interest were regulated through consensus in the Diet's Upper House, and the Sabor often rejected claims by Hungarian governmental bodies to interfere in state administration in Croatia. From 1760s, relationship between Croatia and Hungary was changing not independently of the Habsburg monarchs' "
enlightened absolutism
Enlightened absolutism, also called enlightened despotism, refers to the conduct and policies of European absolute monarchs during the 18th and early 19th centuries who were influenced by the ideas of the Enlightenment, espousing them to enhanc ...
", especially under
Joseph II (). He virtually abolished Croatia, by replacing the counties—the traditional units of regional administration and self-government—with districts, sometimes uniting Croatian and Hungarian territories in the same district.
After his death, the Sabor decided Croatia's interests need be better protected against the potential return of absolutism and the threat of
Germanisation
Germanisation, or Germanization, is the spread of the German language, people, and culture. It was a central idea of German conservative thought in the 19th and the 20th centuries, when conservatism and ethnic nationalism went hand in hand. In l ...
. As the Sabor concluded that Croatia was too weak to defend national interests, it decided to recognise the competence of the
Lieutenancy Council—the supreme governmental office in the
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary was a monarchy in Central Europe that existed for nearly a millennium, from 1000 to 1946 and was a key part of the Habsburg monarchy from 1526-1918. The Principality of Hungary emerged as a Christian kingdom upon the Coro ...
—over matters otherwise reserved to Croatian officials appointed by the Sabor. The transfer of power was intended to be temporary, until Croatia regained territories previously lost to the
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice, officially the Most Serene Republic of Venice and traditionally known as La Serenissima, was a sovereign state and Maritime republics, maritime republic with its capital in Venice. Founded, according to tradition, in 697 ...
and the Ottoman Empire. This was explained as a necessary measure for Croatia to have sufficient resources to sustain its own government. The decision was motivated by the Sabor's opinion that the closer alignment with Hungarian interests would be the best defence angainst absolutism. The 1790 decision strengthened the relationship between the two countries, making a move towards a unified state.
Life
Family, education and military career
Born 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, north of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the ...
in
Croatia
Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...
on 20 October 1770, Janko Drašković was the son of Count Ivan VIII Drašković and Eleonora Felicita Malatinski. Janko's early education consisted of tutoring at the family's estates at
Brezovica and
Rečica in Croatia, and at Csíkszereda in Transylvania (now Miercurea Ciuc, Romania). He moved to the Habsburg capital Vienna to study law and philosophy before enlisting in the
military
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. Militaries are typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with their members identifiable by a d ...
in 1787 as a ('
Ensign
Ensign most often refers to:
* Ensign (flag), a flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality
* Ensign (rank), a navy (and former army) officer rank
Ensign or The Ensign may also refer to:
Places
* Ensign, Alberta, Alberta, Canada
* Ensign, Ka ...
') following his father's footsteps. Drašković joined the 37th Hungarian Infantry Regiment. He served at Nagyvárad in Hungary (now Oradea, Romania), and in the Habsburg
Kingdom of Galicia
The Kingdom of Galicia was a political entity located in southwestern Europe, which at its territorial zenith occupied the entire northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. In the early 10th century, the Kingdom of Galicia was formed following the div ...
, and fought at the
1789 Siege of Belgrade. In late 1792, he was discharged on medical grounds with the rank of ('Senior Lieutenant'). He rejoined the military, fighting in anti-Napoleonic volunteer units in 1802, 1805 (in the
Dalmatia
Dalmatia (; ; ) is a historical region located in modern-day Croatia and Montenegro, on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. Through time it formed part of several historical states, most notably the Roman Empire, the Kingdom of Croatia (925 ...
n theatre of the
War of the Third Coalition
The War of the Third Coalition () was a European conflict lasting from 1805 to 1806 and was the first conflict of the Napoleonic Wars. During the war, First French Empire, France and French client republic, its client states under Napoleon I an ...
), and 1809–1811, ultimately becoming a Colonel and thus matching his father's rank.
Drašković married twice, and his two wives belonged to the Croatian nobility. First, in 1794, he married
Cecilija Pogledić who died childless in 1808. His second wife
Franjica Kulmer gave birth to their only son Josip who died in his youth, leaving no issue. By the time of his second marriage, he had sold his Transylvanian estates and Brezovica, and settled in Rečica.
Political career until 1830
Drašković became involved in politics in 1792, as a member of the Sabor for the first time. Shortly after entering the Sabor, Drašković was elected as the Croatian delegate to the
House of Magnates
The House of Magnates (; ; ; ) was the upper chamber of the Diet of Hungary. This chamber was operational from 1867 to 1918 and subsequently from 1927 to 1945.
The house was, like the current House of Lords in the United Kingdom, composed of ...
—the upper house of the
Diet of Hungary
The Diet of Hungary or originally: Parlamentum Publicum / Parlamentum Generale () was the most important political assembly in Hungary since the 12th century, which emerged to the position of the supreme legislative institution in the Kingdom ...
—in Pozsony (
Bratislava
Bratislava (German: ''Pressburg'', Hungarian: ''Pozsony'') is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the Slovakia, Slovak Republic and the fourth largest of all List of cities and towns on the river Danube, cities on the river Danube. ...
, Slovakia). Drašković, and the two Croatian delegates to the Lower House of the Hungarian Diet,
Herman Bužan and
Antun Kukuljević Sakcinski, were tasked with representing Croatia's views on several issues, especially with emphasizing the temporary nature of the 1790 decision on the Lieutenancy Council, and advocating the union of the Habsburg realm of
Dalmatia
Dalmatia (; ; ) is a historical region located in modern-day Croatia and Montenegro, on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. Through time it formed part of several historical states, most notably the Roman Empire, the Kingdom of Croatia (925 ...
, the
Croatian Military Frontier
The Croatian Military Frontier ( or ') was a district of the Military Frontier, a territory in the Habsburg monarchy, first during the period of the Austrian Empire and then during Austria-Hungary.
History
Founded in the late 16th century out of ...
and the
Free City of Rijeka with Croatia. The delegates were also instucted to resist any attempt to replace Latin with Hungarian as official language.
While supporting political reforms and economic modernisation, Drašković advocated a gradual approach like Count
István Széchenyi
Count István Széchenyi de Sárvár-Felsővidék (, ; archaically English: Stephen Széchenyi; 21 September 1791 – 8 April 1860) was a Hungarian politician, political theorist, and writer. Widely considered one of the greatest statesme ...
, the leader of the moderate faction of the Hungarian national movement, regarding the political evolution in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
as an example. He wanted to strengthen the Croatian economy through the development of the
Port of Rijeka and educational reforms. With the educational reforms, he also wanted to resist
Magyarisation
Magyarization ( , also Hungarianization; ), after "Magyar"—the Hungarian autonym—was an assimilation or acculturation process by which non-Hungarian nationals living in the Kingdom of Hungary, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, adop ...
, demanded by the Hungarian nobility. When the
Hungarian Diet
The Diet of Hungary or originally: Parlamentum Publicum / Parlamentum Generale () was the most important political assembly in Hungary since the 12th century, which emerged to the position of the supreme legislative institution in the Kingdom ...
was reconvened in 1825, in addition to his seat in the Croatian Sabor, Drašković was again elected as a delegate to the Hungarian Diet. In 1827, the Hungarian Diet decided to introduce the Hungarian language as a mandatory part of the school curriculum in Croatia starting in 1833. In response, the Croatian delegates spoke of the decision as a Hungarian attack against Croatian rights, and the first step of the introduction of Hungarian as the official language in Croatia.
In response to the policies aimed at centralisation of the
Lands of the Crown of Saint Stephen
The Lands of the Crown of Saint Stephen (), informally Transleithania (meaning the lands or region "beyond" the Leitha River), were the Hungarian territories of Austria-Hungary, throughout the latter's entire existence (30 March 1867 – 16 ...
and Magyarisation of Croatia, the Croatian national movement emerged among nobility and the more wealthy
bourgeoisie
The bourgeoisie ( , ) are a class of business owners, merchants and wealthy people, in general, which emerged in the Late Middle Ages, originally as a "middle class" between the peasantry and aristocracy. They are traditionally contrasted wi ...
in the first half of the 19th century. The conflict was presented by the proponents of the Croatian national movement as the struggle to preserve limited political rights—largely
municipal rights
Town privileges or borough rights were important features of European towns during most of the second millennium. The city law customary in Central Europe probably dates back to Italian models, which in turn were oriented towards the tradition ...
—against Austrian and especially Hungarian efforts to curb or abolish them and gave rise to the concept of the
Croatian state right. The Croatian state right was the legal foundation for the claim that the Croats as a political nation were the bearers of
sovereignty
Sovereignty can generally be defined as supreme authority. Sovereignty entails hierarchy within a state as well as external autonomy for states. In any state, sovereignty is assigned to the person, body or institution that has the ultimate au ...
in the former territory of the
medieval Croatian kingdom, which was now governed by Habsburg monarchs as the kingdoms of Croatia,
Slavonia
Slavonia (; ) is, with Dalmatia, Croatia proper, and Istria County, Istria, one of the four Regions of Croatia, historical regions of Croatia. Located in the Pannonian Plain and taking up the east of the country, it roughly corresponds with f ...
, and
Dalmatia
Dalmatia (; ; ) is a historical region located in modern-day Croatia and Montenegro, on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. Through time it formed part of several historical states, most notably the Roman Empire, the Kingdom of Croatia (925 ...
. Unification of the three kingdoms (and subsequently further territories) into the
Triune Kingdom, affirmation of the Croatian state right and increased power of the Croatian Sabor became staples of the national movement.
''Dissertation''
In response to the efforts aimed at Magyarisation, a group of young authors known as the ''Idejna grupa iz Kapucinske ulice'' (Kapucinska Street Conceptual Group) gained prominence after they were introduced to Drašković through a mutual acquaintance,
Ljudevit Vukotinović
Ljudevit Farkaš Vukotinović (13 January 1813 – 17 March 1893) was a Croatian politician, writer and naturalist.
He was born in Zagreb. He studied philosophy in Szombathely, and law in Zagreb and Bratislava, where he graduated. In 1836, he ...
. Drašković became a patron of the group, which became the core of the
Illyrian movement
The Illyrian movement (; ) was a pan-South-Slavic cultural and political campaign with roots in the early modern period, and revived by a group of young Croatian intellectuals during the first half of the 19th century, around the years of 1835 t ...
—primarily the Croatian national revival movement. The group was led by
Ljudevit Gaj
Ljudevit Gaj (; born Ludwig Gay; ; 8 August 1809 – 20 April 1872) was a Croatian linguist, politician, journalist and writer. He was one of the central figures of the pan-Slavist Illyrian movement.
Biography
Origin
He was born in Krapina ( ...
and included
Josip Kušević,
Pavao Štoos, and
Ivan Derkos. In 1832, following his contact with the group, Drašković anonymously published his ''Dissertation''. It was the first political, cultural and economic programme of the Croatian national revival. Although it was published anonymously, authorship of the ''Dissertation'' was immediately apparent to Drašković's contemporaries.
''Dissertation'', which was printed in Karlovac by Joan Nepomuk Prettner, was written in the
Shtokavian dialect—the most-widely used dialect that was promoted by Gaj— as an instruction to future Croatian delegates to the Hungarian Diet. It examined then-current problems of Croatian lands and provided instructions prepared by Croatian Sabor for its delegation to the 1832 Hungarian Diet—Bužan, Kukuljević Sakcinski, and Drašković. Its instructions were to defend municipal rights of Croatia; the temporary nature of the decision to cede authority to the Hungarian Diet until Croatia has sufficient territory to become self-reliant; and to protect the official status of
Latin
Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
. The delegates were also directed to petition the king, if they were unsuccessful in the parliament, to grant Croatia the same autonomy as enjoyed by Transylvania. In ''Dissertation'', Drašković stated the first ideas about the standardisation of the Croatian language. He called for a restoration of the authority of the Ban of Croatia, the establishment of an independent government without breaking of constitutional bonds with Hungary, use of the national language as the official language in the lands which would—apart from the Triune Kingdom of Croatia—encompass the demilitarised
Military Frontier
The Military Frontier (; sh-Cyrl-Latn, Војна крајина, Vojna krajina, sh-Cyrl-Latn, Војна граница, Vojna granica, label=none; ; ) was a borderland of the Habsburg monarchy and later the Austrian and Austro-Hungari ...
and later
Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to th ...
and the
Slovene Lands bordering Croatia, proposing the territory be called the "Great Illyria" or "Illyric Kingdom". Drašković assumed the imperial authorities in Vienna would support the plan because
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
Francis II and I (; 12 February 1768 – 2 March 1835) was the last Holy Roman Emperor as Francis II from 1792 to 1806, and the first Emperor of Austria as Francis I from 1804 to 1835. He was also King of Hungary, List of rulers of Croatia, Croa ...
, had established the
Kingdom of Illyria
The Kingdom of Illyria was a crown land of the Austrian Empire from 1816 to 1849, the successor state of the Napoleonic Illyrian Provinces, which were reconquered by Austria in the War of the Sixth Coalition. It was established according to th ...
in parts of the Slovene Lands,
Istria
Istria ( ; Croatian language, Croatian and Slovene language, Slovene: ; Italian language, Italian and Venetian language, Venetian: ; ; Istro-Romanian language, Istro-Romanian: ; ; ) is the largest peninsula within the Adriatic Sea. Located at th ...
and Croatia after the French had left the
Illyrian Provinces
The Illyrian Provinces were an autonomous province of France during the First French Empire that existed under Napoleonic Rule from 1809 to 1814. The province encompassed large parts of modern Italy and Croatia, extending their reach further e ...
.
The Sabor accepted Drašković's ideas but they were not universally popular among Croats, and were criticised as feudal and
Austro-Slavism
Austro-Slavism or Austrian Slavism was a political concept and program aimed to solve problems of Slavic peoples in the Austrian Empire. It was most influential among Czech people, Czech Liberalism, liberals around the middle of the 19th century ...
incapable of achieving
trialism in the monarchy. Croatian nobility and clergy supported the national movement as a means to frustrate Hungarian plans to abolish feudal institutions and grant
Protestantism
Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...
in Croatia status equal to that of
Roman Catholicism
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
. The court in Vienna supported Drašković, with some reservations, and refused
royal assent
Royal assent is the method by which a monarch formally approves an act of the legislature, either directly or through an official acting on the monarch's behalf. In some jurisdictions, royal assent is equivalent to promulgation, while in othe ...
to two laws establishing Hungarian as the official language in Croatia the Hungarian Diet passed in the 1830s.
Final years
Drašković devoted his final years to strengthening Croatian national awareness through institutions and by helping Gaj on several occasions. Drašković arranged for Gaj to meet Francis II in 1833, launch his newspaper ''Novine Horvatske'' in 1835, and introduced him to politicians at the 1836 diet in Pozsony, where Gaj could promote his ideas.
Ferdinand I of Austria
Ferdinand I ( 19 April 1793 – 29 June 1875) was Emperor of Austria from March 1835 until his abdication in December 1848. He was also King of Hungary, King of Croatia, Croatia and King of Bohemia, Bohemia (as Ferdinand V), King of Lombardy– ...
recognised Drašković's efforts; he awarded Drašković the
Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary
The Order of Saint Stephen () is an order of chivalry founded in 1764 by Maria Theresa. In 1938, Miklós Horthy took the rights and activities of Grand Master as Regent of Hungary. The name of the Order changed to the Royal Hungarian Order of ...
in 1836. In 1835 and 1836, Drašković published several poems in ''
Danica ilirska
Danica ilirska was the first Croatian literary magazine launched on 10 January 1835 as a weekly supplement to ''Novine horvatske'' newspaper in Zagreb, the Kingdom of Croatia.
It was initially published under the title of ''Danicza horvatzka, sl ...
''. Like other poetry of the Croatian national revival, they glorify homeland, freedom, and wine while condemning traitors. In 1838, Drašković published ''Ein Wort an Illyriens hochherzige Töchter'', a manifesto aimed at curbing the spread of Germanisation among women of Croatian nobility and attracting them to the Illyrian movement. In the same year, three Illyrian reading rooms (''Ilirska čitaonica'') were founded – largely due to Drašković's efforts – in Varaždin, Karlovac, and Zagreb. The Illyrian reading room in Zagreb helped speed up cultural and overall development. In 1841, the first political parties in Croatia were established, including the
Illyrian Party (later renamed People's Party (''Narodna stranka'')) which based its programme on the ''Dissertation''. Drašković led the People's Party until 1848 and chaired the sitting of the Sabor, which appointed
Josip Jelačić Ban of Croatia.
In 1842, ''Matica ilirska'' (later renamed ''
Matica hrvatska
Matica hrvatska () is the oldest independent, non-profit and non-governmental Croatian national institution. It was founded on February 2, 1842 by the Croatian Count Janko Drašković and other prominent members of the Illyrian movement during ...
''), which was tasked with development of Croatian language, was established as a special branch of the Illyrian reading rooms. In his speech at the founding of ''Matica ilirska'', Drašković stated its main purpose was the spreading of science and literacy in the national language, providing youth opportunities for education. He said this mostly meant the publication of good books at affordable prices. Drašković added ''Matica ilirska'' should translate useful books published abroad and publish such books. He added the objective should be the improvement of trade and agriculture to ensure appropriate food supply and income for the nation. Drašković served as the first president of ''Matica hrvatska'' until 1851. In 1853, Drašković was appointed as an imperial and royal advisor. Drašković died in
Bad Radkersburg
Bad Radkersburg (; ; archaic Divald, Kornél. 1931. ''Old Hungarian Art''. London: Oxford University Press, p. 117.) is a spa town in the southeast of the Austrian States of Austria, state of Styria, in the Districts of Austria, district of Südo ...
on 14 January 1856, while he was travelling to
Bad Gleichenberg. Since 1893, his remains are buried at the Illyrian Arcade, which is part of Zagreb's
Mirogoj Cemetery
The Mirogoj City Cemetery (, ), also known as Mirogoj Cemetery (), is a cemetery park that is considered to be among the more noteworthy landmarks in the city of Zagreb. The cemetery inters members of all religious groups: Catholic, Orthodox, M ...
.
Legacy
In the 21st century, Croatian literary historians predominantly view Drašković as the progenitor and ideologue of the Croatian national revival. He played a key role in representing the Illyrian movement before authorities, nobility, and the general public. The establishment of ''Matica ilirska'' is deemed to be Drašković's main achievement. This view was held by late-19th-century Croatian literary historians such as
Đuro Šurmin. Poems celebrating Drašković's achievements were written by and
Ljudevit Jelačić during Drašković's lifetime, and posthumously by
Dimitrija Demeter,
Ivan Mažuranić
Ivan Mažuranić (; 11 August 1814 – 4 August 1890) was a Croatian poet, linguist, lawyer and politician who is considered to be one of the most important figures in Croatia's political and cultural life in the mid-19th century. Mažuranić se ...
, and Štoos.
In the 20th century, following the
unification of South Slavs in a Yugoslav state, there were different views and nuanced interpretations of ''Dissertation'' and Drašković in line with prevailing political views. In 1918, literary historian
David Bogdanović wrote of the ''Dissertation'' as a monumental blow to Croatian separatism, equating its call for unification with the then-current processes of unification of the
South Slavs
South Slavs are Slavic people who speak South Slavic languages and inhabit a contiguous region of Southeast Europe comprising the eastern Alps and the Balkan Peninsula. Geographically separated from the West Slavs and East Slavs by Austria, ...
in a single state, giving greater prominence to Gaj over Drašković in the context of the Illyrian movement. In the mid-1920s, literary historian
Branko Vodnik interpreted Drašković's role as that of a political patron of the Illyrians and the ''Dissertation'' as the most-progressive Croatian political programme to date. He said
Yugoslavist ideas were the basis of the ''Dissertation'' with the leading role in the unification intended for Croatia as the South Slavic land with the greatest degree of political rights left intact. During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, following
the occupation of Yugoslavia and the establishment of
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany, officially known as the German Reich and later the Greater German Reich, was the German Reich, German state between 1933 and 1945, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party controlled the country, transforming it into a Totalit ...
-aligned
puppet
A puppet is an object, often resembling a human, animal or Legendary creature, mythical figure, that is animated or manipulated by a person called a puppeteer. Puppetry is an ancient form of theatre which dates back to the 5th century BC in anci ...
the
Independent State of Croatia
The Independent State of Croatia (, NDH) was a World War II–era puppet state of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy (1922–1943), Fascist Italy. It was established in parts of Axis occupation of Yugoslavia, occupied Yugoslavia on 10 April 1941, ...
, literary historian interpreted the ''Dissertation'' as a call to unify in the Croatian lands within
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe#Before World War I, Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military ...
and not in a pan-South-Slavic state. At the same time, Ježić deemed the roles played by Drašković and Gaj equally significant for the Croatian revival. In
Communist-ruled Yugoslavia, this view was again reversed by literary historians such as , who ascribed Drašković a ceremonial role in the Illyrian movement as a member of the feudal class and saw the ''Dissertation'' as a feudal manifesto – a view that was congruent with that of the state authorities that Drašković, as any nobility, could at best be portrayed as sympathetic to the
French Revolution.
A
bust of Drašković is displayed in the entrance lobby of the
Croatian Parliament
The Croatian Parliament () or the Sabor is the Unicameralism, unicameral legislature of Croatia. Under the terms of the Constitution of Croatia, Croatian Constitution, the Sabor represents the nation, people and is vested with legislative power. ...
as one of its eight great parliamentarians, along with busts of Jelačić, Mažuranić,
Josip Juraj Strossmayer
Josip Juraj Strossmayer, also Štrosmajer (; ; 4 February 1815 – 8 April 1905) was a Croatian prelate of the Catholic Church, politician and benefactor (law), benefactor. Between 1849 and his death, he served as the Bishop of Đakovo, Bishop ...
,
Eugen Kvaternik,
Ante Starčević
Ante Starčević ( ; 23 May 1823 – 28 February 1896) was a Croatian politician and writer. His policies centered around Croatian state law, the integrity of Croatian lands, and the right of Croats, his people to self-determination. As an import ...
,
Frano Supilo
Frano Supilo (30 November 1870 – 25 September 1917) was a Croatian politician and journalist. He opposed the Austro-Hungarian domination of Europe prior to World War I. He participated in the debates leading to the formation of Yugoslavia as ...
, and
Vladimir Nazor
Vladimir Nazor (30 May 1876 – 19 June 1949) was a Croatian poet and politician. During and after World War II in Yugoslavia, he served as the first President of the Presidency of the Croatian Parliament (Croatian head of state), and first ...
. The
Croatian State Archives is preserving in its collection works created through Drašković's public activities, as well as a portion of his private and official correspondence.
Bibliography
* Manifestos
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* Poems
** ''Poskočnica'' (1835)
** ''Pěsma domorodska'' (1835)
** ''Napitnica ilirskoj mladeži'' (1835)
** ''Mladeži ilirskoj'' (1836)
Footnotes
References
Sources
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Draskovic, Janko
Janko
Writers from the Austrian Empire
Croatian nobility
Croatian writers
People of the Illyrian movement
Politicians from Zagreb
Counts
Habsburg Croats
1770 births
1856 deaths
Burials at Mirogoj Cemetery
Counts of Croatia
18th-century Croatian nobility
19th-century Croatian nobility
Presidents of the Matica hrvatska