Memorial album of Zrínyi (előszó)
Hungarian foreword
Miklós Zrínyi, the hero of Szigetvár was born 500 years ago. Due to the lack of clear evidence, the exact date and circumstances of his birth are unknown. Most of the credible sources give 1508 as the year of his birth and this book also uses this date to celebrate this extraordinary semi-millennial anniversary. One thing is certain, though – as captain of Szigetvár, Zrínyi was killed in action during the Turkish siege of the castle in September 1566, as pointed out explicitly by both contemporary sources and later historic, literary and other artistic works.
There are different nations that laid claim to Zrínyi's battle against the Turks, his feat of heroism and his historical personage and still claim them as their own. Croatians should be mentioned first, as up until the 16th century the Zrínyi family, including the central figure of this book originated in Croatia and the family name was originally used in the Croatian form. The system of the estates and castles of the Zrínyi family was formed on Croatian land and this is where they were gained the title of count and joined the Croatian aristocracy. Several generations of the Zrínyi family, including the hero of Szigetvár, managed and expanded their country together with their estates and defended them against attacks as Bans of Croatia. It is not by chance that Croatians still honour Zrínyi's memory and maintain a number of historic, literary and art traditions about the great general who sacrificed his life fighting the Turks.
Zrínyi, of course, is a key figure in Hungarian history which was closely intertwined with Croatian history for centuries. By the mid-16th century, as a supporter of King Ferdinand I, Zrínyi had gradually transformed from a Croatian lord into a Hungarian aristocrat, and as from the late 1540s, his name took a Hungarian form. By the early 1560s several of his estates were located in Hungary and he had become one of the largest landowners in the Kingdom of Hungary, one of the three parts of the partitioned country. As a Hungarian aristocrat, he was given the titles of Master of Treasury and then chief captain of the Trans-Danubian region by the king. He fought bravely against the Turkish invasion in defence of the Hungarian military outposts and lands. He also stood up for the interests of Hungary against the royal court in Vienna and, as a consequence, had to suffer indignities more than once. His heroism and self-sacrifice as captain of Szigetvár has counterbalanced some controversial aspects of his personality and turned him into an eternal symbol of Hungarian patriotism.
His historical greatness was recognized by the royal family of Habsburgs – who, driven by shifting political and power relations, many times forsaken their loyal supporter – and ís still recognized by the Austrians. We should keep in mind that the advance of the Turks in the Middle Ages threatened a number of countries, even entire empires and, therefore, the fight against them also served key international interests. The struggle against Turkish imperialism often took form in the support of cooperation, which was more than often sacrificed for power. By defending Croatian and Hungarian areas, Zrínyi also helped protect the Habsburgs, and even joined the defence forces of Vienna on a number of occasions. In fact, Zrínyi's heroism defeated the purpose of the vast Turkish army, which lost too much time with the prolonged siege of Szigetvár to march against Vienna and were forced to turn back before the approach of winter.
Zrínyi's bravery and heroism is also respected by the Turks, the former enemy ruling part of Hungary for a century and a half. Back in the Middle Ages, Turkish expansion was explained by a need to fortify and increase their territories, which they had done at the expense of the other great power, the Holy Roman Empire. Croatia and Hungary were, however, blocking their way to Vienna. Therefore, defeating Zrínyi, who defended the castles of these two countries and thereby caused considerable losses to the enemy was an important part-priority for the Turks. Having won a number of battles, Zrínyi was considered a powerful foe and the Turks made several unsuccessful attempts to neutralize him (promises, blackmail, rewards, blood money, etc.). The defeat of Zrínyi who fought heroically and caused heavy losses to the enemy at Szigetvár meant eliminating a significant obstacle and a great national glory for the Turks. Of course, the more formidable the enemy, the more significant the military victory. That is why the fall of Szigetvár in 1566 and the defeat of Zrínyi became one of the great chapters of Turkish national history.
In the 16th century Croatians, Hungarians and the Habsburgs fought sometimes alone and sometimes jointly to protect their homelands against Turkish imperial invasion. This has become a part of our common history. Today, centuries later, these nations are no longer enemies. At the beginning of the 21st century, our countries maintain cordial and, in certain areas, amicable cooperation and fair international relations. In this multilingual book we focus on one of the key figures of our shared history, Miklós Zrínyi of Szigetvár. We hope that this great picture album collecting the various historic, literary and artistic traditions will be of great interest to all readers of our nations.
KATALIN SZILI
Speaker of the Parliament of Hungary
Croatian foreword
Nikola Zrinski, legendary hero of Sziget was born 500 years ago in the city of Zrin, nearby Hrvatska Kostajnica to an old Croatian tribe Subic, who had their ancient seats in Ostrovica and Bribir in Zadar hinterland. They gain estates by the river of Una, among them the city of Zrin in 1347. Since then they had used their surname as Zrinski, sometimes Zrini and Zrinio. In Hungarian literature they have been known as Zrinyi and rarely Zrini. History sources have not revealed the exact date of his birth. However, considering his date of birth, most of the credible sources give 1508 as the year of his birth. Therefore this book also uses this date of 1508 to celebrate this extraordinary, great and famous semi-millennial anniversary. As Ban of Croatia (1543–1556) much credit goes to Zrinski for "remains of the remains of sometime famous Croatian Kingdom" defending its boundaries from Senj to Virovitica. In the year 1546 he gained Cakovec and Medimurje, in 1561 he became the captain of Sziget, and in 1563 the captain of Trans-Danubian region. Even his contemporaries knew, and during the recent 500 years it has been confirmed numerous times that Nikola Zrinski, as a captain of Sziget, was killed in action defending Sziget by utmost courage on September, 7 1566.
There is a fact which says that his body, as a mark of respect, was buried under Sziget by his former prisoner Mustafa Vilic from Banja Luka, while his head wrapped in silk and black velvet – honouring the heroism of Zrinski – was sent to Pasha of Budim Mustafa Sokolovic by his brother GrandVezir Mehmed-Pasha Sokolovic, when the Pasha sent it to Emperor's camp in Gyor. From Gyor the head was taken to Cakovec by his son Juraj Zrinski and son-in-law Baltazar Becani. In Cakovec it was buried with the highest honors besides the body of his first wife Katarina Frankopanka in the Pavlin monastery of St. Helen, in the Mausoleum of Zrinski.
After the ancient Antique times no Middle European warrior gained unanimously the aureole of mythical Homeric hero as Nikola Zrinski of Sziget. Soon after his death crowned by incomparable heroism poets, both folk and academic, Croatian, Hungarian, German, Slovakian, musicians, painters of his heroic death, death of his counts and soldiers, create enthusiastic pieces of art.
Due to marriage relations with the Frankopans ever since the 16th century the Zrinski estates were spread from the south to the north of Croatia, as well as on the territory of South-West Hungary. Huge economic power, as well as constant prominence in fights with the Turks brought the Zrinski great respect among the Croatian aristocracy, which, starting with Nikola Zrinski of Sziget, elected them for Bans of Croatia. Due to history Zrinski, besides being the most distinguished defender of Croatia, has become one of the most prominent figures of Hungarian history as well.
By the mid-16th century, as a supporter of King Ferdinand I., Zrinski had gradually transformed from a Croatian lord into a Hungarian aristocrat. By the early 1560s several of his estates were located in Hungary and he had become one of the largest landowners in the Kingdom of Hungary. As a Hungarian aristocrat, he was given the titles of Master of Treasury and then chief captain of the Trans-Danubian region by the king. He stood up for the interests of Hungary against the royal court in Vienna and, as a consequence, had to suffer indignities more than once. His heroism and self-sacrifice as captain of Sziget has counterbalanced some controversial aspects of his personality and turned him into an eternal symbol of Croatian and Hungarian patriotism. Hungarian people have proven that in numerous ways. It was unfortunately prohibited to the Croats. Nikola Zrinski of Sziget – a name known in Croatia – as well as his famous descendants Croatian Bans, army leaders and poets were symbols of Croatian statehood as well, which was tried to hide by all means, even repressive, during the Yugoslav communist regime.
His historical greatness was recognized by the royal family of Habsburg – who, driven by shifting political and power relations, many times forsaken their loyal supporter. We should keep in mind that the advance of the Turks in the Middle Ages threatened a number of countries, even entire empires and, therefore, the fight against them also served key international interests. The struggle against Turkish imperialism often took form in the support of cooperation, which was more than often sacrificed for court interests of the Habsburgs, although by defending Croatian and Hungarian areas, Zrinski also helped protect the Habsburgs, and even joined the defense forces of Vienna on a number of occasions. In fact, Zrinski's heroism defeated the purpose of the vast Turkish army, which lost too much time and too many people with the prolonged siege of Sziget to march against Vienna and were forced to turn back before the approach of winter.
Zrinski's bravery and heroism is also respected by the Turks, the former enemy ruling part of Hungary for a century and a half, while already occupying the great part of Croatia.
Having won a number of battles, Zrinski was considered a powerful foe and the Turks made several unsuccessful attempts to neutralize him (promises, blackmail, rewards, etc.). The fall of Sziget and the defeat of Zrinski became a great victory for the Turks, bringing them numerous advantages in the future fights. The battle of Sziget represents great Turkish pride no matter huge losses. Of course, the more formidable the enemy the more significant the military victory. That is why the fall of Sziget in 1566 and defeat of Zrinski became one of the great chapters of Turkish military and national history.
In the 16th century Croatians, Hungarians and the Habsburgs fought sometimes alone and sometimes jointly to protect their homelands against Turkish invasions. This has become part of our common history. Today, centuries later, these nations are no longer enemies. At the beginning of the 21st century, our countries maintain cordial and, in certain areas, amicable cooperation and fair international relations. In this multilingual book we focus on Nikola Zrinski of Sziget – on the occasion of the 500th birth anniversary – one of the key figures of our shared history. We hope that this great picture album collecting the various historic, literary and artistic traditions will be of great interest to all readers of our nations.
LUKA BEBIC
Speaker of the Parliament of Croatia
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