Original scientific paper
German pilgrims to Zadar in the 15th and the 16th century
Krešimir Kužić
; Hrvatski studiji Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
In the European context, the Holy Land was one of the three most favored destinations for pilgrims. Taken as a whole, the Germans made up the greatest number in this mass and most of them began their journey in Venice. According to their social position, the Germans were most frequently members of the high and middle nobility, church officials and of the more wealthy bourgeoisie, while according to their geographical place of origin they came from all parts of the monarchy. During their sea journey along the eastern Adriatic coast they almost always made a stop a Zadar as an important harbor and as the largest city on the Croatian coast. In travel books Zadar is mostly mentioned under its Italian name which is a consequence of making the journey on ships with Venetian crews. In relation to its positioning within the broader geographical context, some pilgrims place it within the framework of “Slavonia” which is at times conceived as a broader area while some see the city as a part of Croatia. Others see it as a place within Dalmatia while one author writes that Zadar is a part of Croatia. A few pilgrims knew that the Venetians took the city from the Hungarian king. The ruins of Biograd strongly drew their attention while the explanations show that members of the crew were those that supplied them with information – the only exception was count Heinrich of Stolberg. Doctor Rauwolf mentioned the sea pirates (Uskoci) while a number of pilgrims referred to the Turks – beginning with the earlier carefree times and continuing up to the time when they made deep incursions on the Adriatic coast. Zadar left a powerful and positive impression on almost all the pilgrims. The travel books mention churches, walls and the harbor but the largest space is devoted to St. Simon, the Receiver of God. This was in accordance with their pilgrimage but other Zadar saints were also mentioned. Sincere piety is evident in the 15th century descriptions while in records left by some of the 16th century there are hints of the influence of Protestantism. The plague is mentioned on two occasions. Zadar held the key position on the east Adriatic sailing route despite the fact that there were many sea crags in its vicinity. While the pilgrims traveled in galleys all of them made anchor in Zadar while later, at the time of sailing boats, such as the “nava” type of boat, most of them sailed the open seas in front of Zadar. In addition to dangerous sea crags, weather conditions posed big problems: tempestuous or adverse winds but also long periods of calm. Two pilgrims recorded two Zadar legends. It needs to be mentioned that 10 travel books derive from the book by Sigmund Feyerabend published in 1584. The travel book by the Dominican monk Felix Fabrio from 1483 is amongst these. The text is greatly abridged and in certain places it is changed in comparison with the original. Of the other authors, the travel books by Tucher (published already in 1482), Breitenbach (published as early as 1486) and by Rauwolf (published in 1582) need to be emphasized. Of the members of the high nobility who participated in the pilgrimages, mention must be made of Philip of Katzenelnbogen, of Wihelm III from Tringia, Albrecht of Brandenburg, Wilhelm I of Hessen and Alexander of Pfalz-Zweibrücken. The escort of duke of Tringia which consisted of 91 noblemen was particularly impressive.
Keywords
pilgrims; reliquaries; shipping; Zadar; Germany
Hrčak ID:
31834
URI
Publication date:
22.10.2008.
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