Original scientific paper
Nikola Zrinski Library from Čakovec: on the Occasion of the 340th Anniversary of Zriniana
Zvonimir Bartolić
; Faculty of Teacher Education of the University of Zagreb – Čakovec Branche, Čakovec, Croatia
Abstract
The Nikola Zrinski library from Cakovec, also known as ZRINIANA, had been originally established in the XVII/XVIII century. Most books originate from that period, although there are some books that indeed came in the possession of the library later on. The founder and original owner of the library was the Croatian viceroy and a poet, NIKOLA ZRINSKI (1620-1664). The official beginning, although it must have existed earlier, probably dates back to 1662. This is when Nikola Zrinski ordered personally, applying his own classification concept, for the library books to be classified and a library catalogue to be made (latin: Catalogus omnium librorum bibliothecae csaktorniensis exellentissimi ataque illustrissimi domini comitis Nicolai a Zrinio ban. Anno Domini 1662. Die 10 octobris). This very catalogue, made in Latin - a rare and a valuable publication itself- has been preserved until today. After the death of Nikola Zrinski (1664), the library was inherited by his son Adam Zrinski (1662- 1691), who died as a soldier, a Lt. Colonel of Armored Cavalry, in a great battle for Slankamen. His wodow Marija Katarina (nee Lamberg) in 1692 remarried to Maximillian Arnost II from Vlasima. This is when the library was removed to Castle Bitov (Vottau) in South Moravia, today’s Czech Republic. The library was existed there until 1890, when it was purchased by Sigismund Kende, antiquities dealer from Vienna. In 1893 the library was again resold to the then Croatian governmment for 12 thousand forint. It was donated to the National university library in Zagreb. The entire holdings of the Nikokla Zrinski library from Cakovac along with its manuscripts- one of them the viceroy’s own literary writings “Adrijanskog mora sirene” (Mermaids of the Adriatic) - is a large collection of 731 library units. This includes the books belonging to ZRINIANA, as well as those accounted for at the moment of purchase. The Nikola Zrinski library of Cakovec - ZRINIANA - has been miraculously preserved. The Croatia’s most valuable library of the older periods was actually saved by its removal and transfer to Bitov. Had it not happened, it would probably be destroyed or robbed of its most valuable items- the same way it probably happened to libraries of Nikola Zrinski’s brother- a viceroy and a poet himself too- PETAR ZRINSKI, his wife and a governor/poetess too, KATARINA ZRINSKI FRANKOPAN (1625- 1673). Their books, as well as the books of another poet, FRAN KRSTO FRANKOPAN (1643-1671) were pillaged and destroyed.
Keywords
Zriniana; library; books; mermaids; Zrinski; poet; viceroy; Čakovec; Croatia; Croatian
Hrčak ID:
79118
URI
Publication date:
1.6.2002.
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