Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/10.21857/9e31lhdxzm
Vlačić, who was not Vlačić
Tullio Vorano
Sažetak
On the 450th anniversary of death of the famous reformer of Labin, the author of
this paper has made the issue regarding his family name more topical by presenting
documents witnessing that Matija Vlačić’s true name was indeed Matija Franković
(Labin, 3rd March 1520 – Frankfurt am Main, 11 March 1575). All his relatives –
father, brothers, sisters and nephews – used only the family name Franković. As of
the year 1542 (foreword to Ravius), subsequently 1547 (foreword to Buchholz), and
1549 (his first autonomous work, entitled De vocabulo fidei), Matija started signing his
published works as Matthias Flacius Illyricus. Two authors, Bonifacio and Stemberger,
argue that Flacius is the Latin version of the word Vlah. The first author understands
the term Vlah as family nickname, while the other believes it to be a synonym for the
word shepherd. Supposedly, Matija wanted to portray himself as the spiritual leader
– or shepherd – of all the Illyrians. The form Flacius may moreover be considered the
Croatian version of the family name Vlačić. In 1569, under public pressure, or rather
under the pressure of numerous opponents and enemies, Matija had a certificate issued,
which was signed by Baldissera Trevisan, podesta of Labin. According thereto,
his father Andrija was using the surnames Vlačić and Franković interchangeably. This
had however been disputed in the original documentation. Regretfully, this certificate,
which did not support the true state of facts, paved the way to the present state: Matija’s
surname is, almost without exception, believed to be Vlačić.
Ključne riječi
Matthias Flacius Illyricus; Matija Vlačić-Franković; Labin.
Hrčak ID:
346599
URI
Datum izdavanja:
24.4.2026.
Posjeta: 0 *