Povijesni prilozi, Vol. 35 No. 50, 2016.
Original scientific paper
Between Resistance and Loyalty: Lesser Nobility in the Territories under the Rule and Influence of the Nelipčić Family (after 1345)
Neven Isailović
Abstract
After the knez (comes) Ivan Nelipčić had received the royal grant by which he had been given the town of Sinj and its district called Cetina (in autumn 1345), he met with certain difficulties since the local nobles and gentry, already present in the district, did not want to lose their old rights and previously acquired privileges. Although the relations between the Nelipčić family and the middle or lesser nobility in the areas under their direct authority were not always harmonious, the largest part of the local nobility eventually accepted the supremacy of Knez Ivan and Knez Ivaniš, either voluntarily or by agreements which ultimately provided the satisfaction of interests for both parties. The limited resistance was more intense at the beginning of the reign of Knez Ivan – during his minority, the years of war in the region, and the struggle for the consolidation of power in the County of Cetina, which coincided with the time of the decree of King Loius the Great on equality of the nobility throughout the realm. The Domaldić family, old landowners in the region of Cetina, gave up their rights after reaching a settlement with Knez Ivan, while Semjun Pavlović kept some possessions as Nelipčić's familiaris. The cases in which such disputes were resolved by armed conflict (perhaps in case of Mislienus Jegeuich) or a full legal defeat of the weaker side (as happened with the Grubići) were rather rare. The institution of familiaritas satisfied the interests of the majority of lesser nobles in the territories of the Nelipčić. In the service of Knez Ivan and his son Ivaniš, they could retain their estates and even prosper (as Nenada Semjunović from the County of Cetina and Ivan Dminojević from the County of Knin).
In a similar way, Ivan and Ivaniš Nelipčić tried to establish relations with the nobility of the neighbouring territories, which did not belong to them either by the rulers’ grant or according to the laws and customs of the Kingdom of Croatia. However, they did not always achieve the desired goal, especially when the resistance (whether legal or military) was strong enough. Good examples are disputes with the Ratčić-Ugrinović family from Poljica and the Nenadić family from Radobilja. Despite the occasional crises of loyalty, conflict, and reconciliation, it can be concluded that there was a general atmosphere of co-existence and cooperation between the magnate family of Nelipčić and the lesser nobility or gentry in their territories, based on mutual interests.
Keywords
Middle Ages; 14th-15th centuries; Nelipčić; Domaldić; Grubić; Dminoje; Ivan Dminojević; Semjun Pavlović; Nenada Semjunović; Nenadić; Ratčić-Ugrinović; Croatia; County of Cetina; County of Knin; Poljica; Radobilja; nobility
Hrčak ID:
167124
URI
Publication date:
29.8.2016.
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