Review article
Tadija Smičiklas in the Rački - Strossmayer correspondence
Maja Polić
; Institute of Historical and Social Sciences of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts in Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
*
Matea Plišić
; Kastav, Croatia
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
The Croatian region of the 19th century was, among other notable figures, marked by Franjo Rački and Josip Juraj Strossmayer in political, economic, ecclesiastical, scientific, cultural and artistic terms. Their mutual relations are revealed by a very extensive and substantial correspondence, part of which was published in four books by the historian and university professor Ferdo Šišić in the period from 1928 to 1931. Rački and Strossmayer give their opinion on the problems of their time through the lens of the South Slavic character - the unity of the South Slavs, which developed in various forms, from cultural cooperation to political unity. Due to the form of the letters and replies, we can follow the development of events and circumstances fluently and without interruption. These are capital sources for the history of Croatia, other South Slavic countries, regions in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, as well as for the rest of Europe, with assessments of numerous personalities and events. These sources also contain information about the person of like mind, Tadija Smičiklas. In addition to current political and church topics, Smičiklas’s rectorship activities are also mentioned, along with his concern for the legacy of Križevci bishop Ilija Hranilović and assistance in relation to the Križevci chapter, followed by his affection for Strossmayer, which is visible in the content of the lecture entitled “Thoughts and works of bishop Strossmayer”, as well as his private matters, such as trips to Vienna, Rome, Križevci, Rogatec, etc. and his alleged marriage.
Keywords
Tadija Smičiklas; Franjo Rački; Josip Juraj Strossmayer; correspondence
Hrčak ID:
347302
URI
Publication date:
10.5.2026.
Visits: 390 *