Preliminary communication
Croato-Slavonian Vojna Krajina in the Sixties of 19th Century
Mirko Valentić
Abstract
During the 1860ies Croato-Slavonian Vojna Krajina (an armed district) became a vital problem in the Croatian policy; in 1871 it turns into the field for the up-rising under the leadership of the Croatian politician Eugen Kvaternik. One can easily assume that Kvaternik's idea for leading an up-rising in Vojna Krajina had a very realistic background incitement. It is to be discovered in heavy military duties and bard labour thrown on the inhabitants of the Krajina, in un-solved social problem of the simple soldier, in the dissatisfaction of merchant and trade society of Krajina, and, during the final stage of Krajina's existence (from 1867 Austrian and Hungarian Agreement onwards), in the awe of the military and managing representatives in Krajina of the arising danger from the Hungarian government after the pending disengaging and legal extinction of Vojna Krajina. In fact, after the Agreement in 1867, it became obvious that the problem of Vojna Krajina was soon going to be solved, though only to the interests of Hungary (Ugarska). The Decision of 1869 - to annul partly the duties of the Krajina - incited the until then un-heard of dissatisfaction throughout the district, though, really, it represented the continuation of the inhabitant's disposition from the time of the dualism. Through centuries built up docility of the military system in Krajina disappeared. Following each other were frequent public protests and meetings. Many a petition against the Decision for the part extinction of the Krajina was drawn up to be represented to the Sovereign or to the Minister of the Defense. The Sovereign's Decision for tho part extinction of the Krajina meant the first step taken towards Kvatemik's up-rising in Rakovica in 1871.
In my thesis, in order to better the existing explanations of the reasons of the failure of Kvatemik's up-rising, I divided the period before the rebellion in two stages: the stage of dissatisfaction in Krajina and the stage of the preparations for the up-rising itself. The period of dissatisfaction, that strong impetus to the up-rising, lasted from 1867 to June 8th 1871. The moment for the preparations for the up-rising must have started round 1869, though the general opinion has it decided on 1870.
Our historiography has not yet a clear explanation for the Kvaternik's up-rising, so, towards the end of my essay, I brought out a hypothesis which should be given more attention; the main idea is that Kvaternik and his companions reached the territory of Vojna Krajina a little too late. On June 8th 1871, the Sovereign made public the Decision for the legal extinction of the whole of Vojna Krajina. Apart from that Decision, which ended the centuries old existence of Vojna Krajina in the history of Croatia - the inhabitants of the Krajina longed for it far centuries, in fact, - some other important decisions opened the way to the improvement in their future husbandry and agricultural development.
The period of four months - from June to August, when was the up-rising of Kvaternik started in Rakovica - proved to be long enough to firm the peace in Krajina, all on the basis of the brought government decisions; however, it was too short for Kvatemik to fully grasp the importance of those changes. That is why the reasons for the failure of Kvaternik's up-rising in Rakovica should be found through a thorough analysis of those changes that took place after carrying out of the Sovereign's decisions of June 8th 1871.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
219169
URI
Publication date:
12.7.1972.
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