Original scientific paper
Henri Bégouen, Croatia and “Yugoslavs”
Ines SABOTIČ
; Institut društvenih znanosti Ivo Pilar, Zagreb
Abstract
Count Henri Bégouen published a book Chez les Yougoslaves il y a trente
deux ans (With Yugoslavs thirty-two years ago) in 1919, a collection of articles
from the Journal des débats, and private letters written in 1887 and 1888.
Given that the book was published shortly after the establishment of the
Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, the author gives support to the new
state. Although political issues are of primary importance in his writings, it is
also a travel book, where the author describes the landscapes, customs,
towns and villages as well as the people he encountered. His travels featured
discussions with Bishop Strossmayer, promoter of the South Slavic/Yugoslav
idea. Specifically, Bégouen was interested in national issues in the Austro-
Hungarian Empire, especially South Slavs, in particular Croats. The position
of Croatia in his book is even more important as the author, besides newspaper
articles, added numerous letters written from Zagreb and –akovo.
Bégouen describes the political situation in Croatia and Slavonia marked by
Magyarization and difficult political circumstances. Strossmayer is shown as a
key figure, and South-Slavism/Yugoslavianism as a program that can bring a
solution for the South Slavs of the Monarchy. However, Bégouen transmits a
simplified picture of the national issue. Namely, the terms South-Slavism and
Yugoslavianism are not always accurately and clearly used. In addition,
Strossmayer’s political concept is presented without a representation of its
major rivals’ opinions, the Hungarians and Austrians, or its main partners, the
Serbs. In 1919, the Yugoslavianism/South-Slavism of Bishop Strossmayer is
somewhat anachronistic with respect to the state unification of South Slavs,
loyal to Rome that should be achieved within the framework of the Austro-
Hungarian Empire.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
72589
URI
Publication date:
1.6.2011.
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