Pregledni rad
https://doi.org/10.22586/ss.25.1.2
The Religious Structure of the Population of Eastern Slavonia in the Second Half of the 18th and the Early 19th Century on the Basis of Canonical Visitations
Dubravka Božić Bogović
Sažetak
The objective of this paper is to determine the possibilities and limitations of the Canonical Visitations as a source for research into confessional-demographic characteristics taking the Canonical Visitations for dioceses in Eastern Slavonia in the second half of the 18th and the early 19th century published by the State Archive in Osijek as an example. For this purpose, the structure and the content of data on the population and its religious affiliation are analysed. Also analysed are demographic indicators, the religious structure of the population and the level of confessional homogeneity in certain areas of Eastern Slavonia during the period under analysis. Also analysed are the confessional-demographic trends in the context of Habsburg policy as regards religion and the population as well as enlightened absolutism.
In the analysed period the parishes in the Valpovo area were part of the diocese of Pécs, those in the Brod area were part of the diocese of Zagreb, the parishes in the Đakovo area were part of the diocese of Bosnia or Đakovo, whereas the parish of Osijek was an exception and fell under the jurisdiction of the archdiocese of Esztergom. From 1773, this area was canonically united in the diocese of Bosnia or Đakovo and the diocese of Syrmia with the exception of those in the Valpovo area where the parishes remained within the diocese of Pécs.
Canonical visitations are useful historical-demographic sources; however, they exhibit several methodological limitations, which have to be taken into consideration in analysis and interpretation. Nevertheless, the canonical visitations allow an inspection and analysis of the number of settlements, the number of Catholics and, partly, the age and gender structure as well as some of the characteristics of families and households. During the observed period, a continuous increase of the number of inhabitants in Eastern Slavonia is noticeable. The population exhibited characteristics typical of the traditional community before the beginning of the first demographic transition. Because of the irregular and imprecise records of data on members of non-Catholic confessions, it is not possible to conduct a systematic analysis on the religious structure, but only to determine the general characteristics. During the period considered, Eastern Slavonia exhibited a high level of religious homogeneity with a predominantly Catholic population. Along with the Catholics, the Orthodox population was the most numerous, particularly in the Osijek and, to some extent, in the Brod area, whereas notes on members of Protestant communities and Jews are very rare.
Ključne riječi
Eastern Slavonia; canonical visitations; second half of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century; religious structure; historical demography
Hrčak ID:
339732
URI
Datum izdavanja:
25.11.2025.
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