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Croatian-Slavonian Bani: ‘National’ Heroes, Hungarian Aristocrats and King’s Servant

Throughout the early modern period, the office of the Ban (viceroy, governor) of Croatian-Slavonian Kingdom within the Hungarian part of the Habsburg Monarchy laid the foundations of Habsburg rule in these parts of the Monarchy. The office was mainly occupied by the members of the most prominent magnate families in the Lands of St. Stephen, and was responsible for the defence of the eastern borders of the Monarchy from the Ottoman Empire, as well as for the Habsburg administration in Croatia-Slavonia. In Croatian historiography dealing with the early modern period, viceroys were often recognized as national heroes and key figures in the survival of the Croatian statehood, both against the Ottomans and within the multinational Habsburg Monarchy. However, if we look at the activity of individual viceroys more closely, we could state that most of the viceroys had, from today’s perspective, multiple identities: not only did their activities depend on royal authority, but they have also often originated from prominent Hungarian families, and were politically and economically more attached to their Hungarian estates than to their Croatian- Slavonian possessions or offices. Addressing political activities of Croatian- Slavonian viceroys in the 17th and 18th century, as well as their social ties and political goals, this paper aims to question notable judgements of earlier Croatian historiography about their role in early modern Croatian history. This period has been chosen in order to present both military significance of viceroy’s office during the Ottoman wars, as well as the changed role of viceroys as the king’s representative in Croatian- Slavonian administration during the reforms of enlightened absolutism. On the one hand, the emphasis will be laid on Ban Petar Zrinski (Péter Zrínyi), one of the leaders of the 17th-century magnate conspiracy in Hungary and Croatia-Slavonia. In Croatian historiography, family Zrinski/ Zrínyi was regarded as one of the most important keystones in defending the eastern borders of the Monarchy against the Ottomans, but also – due to Zrinski’s participation in conspiracy – as a victim and a martyr in an attempt to preserve Croatian-Slavonian “independence” within the Monarchy. However, it has often been forgotten that Zrinski’s role in the resistance against royal rule cannot be observed separately from his affiliation to Hungarian magnates. On the other hand, the role of several viceroys in the second part of the 18th century will be examined, e. g. Karlo (Károly) Batthyány, Franjo (Ferenc) Nádasdy, Franjo (Ferenc) Balassa and Ivan (János) Erdődy. The activity of these viceroys will be analysed within the context of early modern state-making processes and the coexistence of this processes with traditional political and social structures in Croatian-Slavonian Kingdom. Their role in the upcoming Hungarian-Croatian political disputes since 1790s will also be taken into account. The research is based on documents and correspondences kept in Austrian, Hungarian and Croatian State Archives, as well as on several contemporary political tractates, other writings and published sources.

Croatian History, History of Public Service, 17th century, 18th century, Multiple Identities

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