Original scientific paper
Stjepan Radić and Kunovec Rebellion in 1903
Mira Kolar Dimitrijević
orcid.org/0000-0002-6050-5700
; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb – Full Professor (retired)
Abstract
The viceroy Khuen Hedervary never celebrated his twentieth anniversary of his rule in Croatia, because of the rebellion in 1903. Historiography usually characterizes this uprising as inadvertent and leaderless rebellion. Yet, further, more detailed research shows, that the rebellion was a result of political work of Stjepan and Antun Radić, who exposed Croatia’s poor economic and financial situation. They claimed it was a result of wrong Hungary’s policy toward Croatia, where Croatia was not an equal partner country, but a deprived subject. This unequal relationship existed on several levels: a showcase inequality was particularly exposed in the state railways, which were run and operated by exclusive use of Hungarian language, even in Croatia. In March,1903 the uprising movement began with a public gathering, which exposed the true nature of unfavorable financial position of Croatia. It insisted on the need for revaluation and a new financial, more favorable, deal. After such an assembly in Zaprešić, the protest focused on the Hungarian railways policies. However, in April, 1903 Stjepan Radić was arrested and put in jail, and the rebellion was out of control. The people were demanding that public gathering and assemblies be allowed by law, which the authorities denied and outlawed. On April 18, the viceroy Khuen Hedervary was granted special authorities, enabling him to ban public gatherings and prohibit such activities altogether. In Križevci county, a court-martial was established, which provided a method of crushing rebellion with brutal force. The explosive situation only needed a spark, which soon happened in the place of Kunovec, near Koprivnički Ivanec: an incident broke out, while the police were placing the public notice on court-martial on an announcement board. The public protest and disturbance resulted in six deaths of men from Kunovec, killed by the local police. Soon the news on worsened political situation in Croatia was spilt outside the country, creating tensions that resulted in the viceroy’s leaving Croatia for Hungary, to 63 D. be nominated for another post. His replacement, the new viceroy Pejačević, was unable to curb down the protests and unrest, even with Radić in prison; it continued after Radić’s release in August. New public gatherings and assemblies continued, which convinced Radić that peasants should be involved in politics. In late 1904 S.Radić founded a new political group - Croatian Peasants’ Party - and continued a fight for his ideas in a peaceful way. As Stjepan Radić in his previous political rhetoric emphasized a need for ‘people’s defense’, it was obvious that he blamed himself for Kunovec rebellion and the bloodshed. From that time on, in all his future political activities, he always insisted on peaceful politics and non-violent means to achieve it.
Keywords
Stjepan Radić; Antun Radić; ideological foundation of movement in 1903.; oposition assembly; Kunovec rebellion; consequence of rebellion
Hrčak ID:
79079
URI
Publication date:
1.12.2003.
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