Original scientific paper
The noblemen of the Križevci County and the Paulines of the Blessed Virgin Mary monastery on Garić: chosen examples
Silvija Pisk
orcid.org/0000-0001-7279-5170
; Department of History, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagrebof Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The Blessed Virgin Mary monastery on Garić (Moslavačka gora) is the oldest Pauline monastery on the territory of present day Croatia. Some clues, which date back to as early as 1257, point to the existence of a hermit dwelling on the very location of the Pauline monastery on Moslavina Hill, which was explicitly mentioned for the first time in 1273. This renowned monastery was supported by local landowners, as well as the king, and was used as a depository for valuable objects. It was destroyed in an Ottoman raid in the 16th century and was never rebuilt. Systematic archeological investigations have been conducted on this site since 2009.
The Paulines of Garić held estates in the Garić and Gračenica districts, which became a part of the great Križevci County in the middle of the fourteenth century. Some of the most famous aristocratic families, such as Moslavački (de Monoszlo), Čupor Moslavački (Csupor de Monoszlo), Babonić, Ruh od Deče (Ruh de Desce), Kastelanović (Castelan), Kapitanić (Capitan), Geletić iz Sredne (Geleth, Gele de Zredna), Paližna (Palichna) and after 1493 Erdödy, also held estates there. In addition, the influence of the bishops of Zagreb could be felt in the area since the second half of the 13th century.
The relationship between the nobility of the Križevci County and the Garić Paulines was complex. Some noblemen fostered neighborly relations and traditionally bestowed gifts to the Church of the Holly Virgin Mary on Garić, while some individuals and even whole families often clashed with the Paulines. There are, however, examples of positive interaction between the Paulines and their former adversaries. For example, the widow of a longtime adverse party left her considerable fortune to the monastery, where she wished to be buried. Another woman testified for the Paulines against her husband, despite the fact that she also spent a number of years in legal proceedings with them. In short, one should not lose sight of the fact that it is impossible to form an overall picture due to the lack of documents from that time. Therefore, it is sometimes difficult to discern why quite recent adverse parties left valuable objects for safekeeping with the Paulines or even bestowed gifts to the monastery church or to even claim that they did. The conflicts were most often caused by disputes over boundaries (or disregarding them), estates and milling. Problems with the inability to exercise their right to testamentary disposition have also compelled the Paulines to lodge complaints and initiate court proceedings. According to the Croatian historian Josip Adamček, estates and money were bestowed to the Paulines only by the old, feeble and dying, while all others took to litigation. Church historian Kamilo Dočkal claims that the Garić Paulines evil neighbors and were therefore often forced to settle the matters in court. However, the preserved documents contest the claims of both authors and show that the historical truth can be found somewhere in-between, that is that the monks of the Pauline monastery and their serfs were victims of different acts of violence, but were sometimes also rightly labeled as the perpetrators.
Local nobility left their valuable objects to the Paulines for safekeeping because the monastery was considered to be a safe and reliable place. In some cases the transfer of valuable objects was not easily made. However, due to the fact that a list of the valuables kept was not preserved, it is likely that most transfers were done in a way that was satisfactory to both parties.
Keywords
Pauline monastery of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Garić; nobility; Paulines; Middle Ages,; Moslavina; Križevci County; conflicts; testamentary disposition; court proceedings
Hrčak ID:
150061
URI
Publication date:
28.12.2015.
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