Review article
https://doi.org/10.21857/mzvkptqkg9
The Mažuranić Family in the Croatian Cultural Circle of Rijeka in the 19th Century
Ivona Smolčić
; Rijeka, Croatia
Abstract
The nineteenth century in Croatia was marked by the division of the lands, economic
and cultural stagnation, and many attempts at denationalization, which were
successfully carried out through the system of education. Rijeka was in those times an
important centre of the Hungarian economic interest; this caused increasingly pronounced
political attempts to usurp the city. Its sovereignty was particularly sought
to be undermined during the era of neo-absolutism, when the Germanization of all
non-Germanic peoples under the rule of the Monarchy was carried out. Additionally,
a part of the citizens of Rijeka were under the influence of ideologies unfavourable to
the Croatian interests, which they considered dangerous and foreign. Nevertheless, the
grammar school there produced many distinguished intellectuals and guardians of folk
values. The first of its students who understood how important it was to fight for the
national spirit and, above all, the national language was Ivan Mažuranić (1814–1890),
who later became poet and the first viceroy commoner. His brother Antun (1805–1888),
another student of the Rijeka grammar school, became professor in Zagreb – the first
one to teach the Croatian (Illyrian) language and literature in the same Croatian
(Illyrian) language. He later returned to his old school in the capacity of principal,
implementing his revivalist ideas with the initial support of both students and colleagues.
The earliest writings by Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić record her visit to Rijeka,
and offer plenty of valuable historiographical data. Thanks to the subsequently concluded
family ties between the Brlić and the Ružić families, this city today houses the
library and the monumental collection of the Mažuranić family, which include books
and objects of exceptional importance for the national culture.
Keywords
Mažuranić Family of Novi; Rijeka grammar school; Antun Mažuranić; Ivan Mažuranić; Ivana Brlić Mažuranić; Villa Ružić.
Hrčak ID:
250189
URI
Publication date:
7.1.2021.
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