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Count Josip Jelačić of Bužim (16 October 1801, Petrovaradin – 20 May 1859, Zagreb; also spelled Jellachich or Jellačić) was the ban of Croatia between 23 March 1848 and 19 May 1859. Jelačić was a noted army general, remembered for his military campaigns during the Revolutions of 1848 and for his abolition of serfdom in Croatia. [edit] Early Life and MilitaryJelačić was born in Petrovaradin, at the time part of the Slavonian part of the Military Frontier of the Habsburg Monarchy, which today is Vojvodina, Serbia. He was the son of Croatian Baron Franjo Jelačić Bužimski (or in other documents, Franz Freiherr von Jelačić) (1746–1810) a Lieutenant Field Marshal (Feldmarschall-Leutnant), and Anna Portner von Höflein of Austrian origin. He was educated in Vienna at the Theresianische Ritter-Akadémie, (today Theresianum). He had a versatile education in the Academy, he was interested in history and foreign languages. Afterwards he entered the Austrian army in 11 March 1819 as a novice with the rank of lieutenant. in the regiment of Vinko Freiherr von Knežević, which was named after his uncle. He spoke well all South-Slavic languages, as well as German, Italian, and French. He was promoted to first lieutenant on 1 May 1825 and to captain on 1 September 1830 in Karlovac (in German: Karlstadt). He led a military campaign against the Bosnian Ottoman troops in Velika Kladuša in 17 October 1835, for which he received a medal. He was promoted to major on 20 February 1837 in the Freiherr von Gollner regiment, then in 1 May 1841 he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in the First "Banal-Grenz-Regiment" (Croatian Frontier Guard Regiment) in Glina in central Croatia, then promoted to colonel on 18 October 1841. As colonel, the administrative commander in the region, he won the sympathy of the border nations, which later in crucial times proved an advantage. On 22 March Jelačić was promoted to major-general, at the same time, the Sabor, the National Assembly of Croatia (which was under Kingdom of Hungary) elected him as ban of Croatia. The Sabor also declared that future representatives to the Assembly would be elected, the first elections to be in May 1848. Jelačić was promoted to lieutenant field marshal in 7 April 1848, becoming the commander of all Habsburg troops in Croatia. [edit] 1848 March revolutionsJelačić's opposed the Hungarian Revolution of 1848-1849, therefore his reputation is different in Austria, Croatia, and Hungary. He traveled to Vienna to take the oaths. He took the oath to become counsel of the Austrian Emperor, but refused to take the oath as Ban of Croatia, because it was dependent on Hungary. The relationship between Hungary and Austria had deteriorated after the outbreak of the Hungarian Revolution in 15 March 1848. He later took the oath as Ban of Croatia on 5 June 1848. Because of the absence of Bishop Juraj Haulik, he took the oath before the Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Josif Rajačić.[1] The new Ban supported the Croatian aim to maintain autonomy from the Hungarians. Jelačić proceeded to sever all official ties of Croatia with Hungary. The Austrian imperial court initially opposed this act of disobedience and separatism, declaring him to be a rebel and the Sabor to be illegal. However, the imperial court soon realized Jelačić and his Croatian army were a support against the newly formed Hungarian government under Lajos Batthyány. Traveling back to Zagreb in April, Jelačić refused to cede to the newly formed Hungarian government of Lajos Batthyány, refused any cooperation, and called for elections to the Sabor on 25 March 1848. [edit] Croatian Parliament, the Sabor The Sabor - now acting as the National Assembly - declared the following demands to the Habsburg emperor:
The Sabor strongly opposed the "massive nationalist Magyarization politics of the Kingdom of Hungary from Carpathians to Adria, which the newly formed government represents, especially Lajos Kossuth." On 19 April 1848 Jelačić proclaimed the union of Croatian provinces, and the separation from Kingdom of Hungary. At the same time, he proclaimed unconditional loyalty to the House of Habsburg. The Croatian Constitution of 24 April 1848 declared "languages of all ethnicities should be inviolable". Regarding serfdom, it was apparent that changing the status of the Croatian peasantry would have to wait until the end of the revolution. Jelačić maintained the institution of the Military Frontier in order to be able to draft more soldiers. The people in the region protested this, but Ban Jelačić quashed the dissent by summary court-martialing and executing many dissenters. Later that year in May, Jelačić established the Bansko Vijeće or the Council of Ban (in German: Rat des Banus). The scope of authority of the Council of Ban covered de facto ministerial tasks (Internal Affairs, Justice, School and Education, Religion, Financial, and Military resorts), so this council was acting as a governing body in Croatia. [edit] Intermediary discussionsThe Austrian emperor called Jelačić to Innsbruck (to which the court had fled), where the emperor informed him that the Croatian and Slavonian troops in the Italian provinces wanted to join the troops in Croatia, but this would weaken the forces in Italy. As a result, Jelačić called on all troops stationed in the Italian provinces to remain calm and to stay put. The Austrian court did not grant the independence of Croatia from Hungary. During his travels back to Zagreb, Jelačić read in the railway station of Lienz that on 10 June, the Emperor had removed him from all his positions. However, Jelačić was still loyal to the Emperor, and kept the relationship with the imperial court, especially with Empress Sophia, the mother of Franz Joseph. Immediately after arriving to Zagreb, he got the order to join the intermediary discussions with the Hungarian government in Vienna. During these discussions, Jelačić stated his position was derived from the Pragmatica Sanctio, while Lajos Batthyány called him "a separatist" seeking to break-away from the Habsburg Monarchy. Jelačić called this a rebellion. Count Batthyány warned Jelačić this could cause civil war. Jelačić cut of the discussions, stating that "civil war is the worst that could happen" - but that he "will not be intimidated by this, however shocking it might be to hear". Jelačić returned to Croatia, where Hungarian troops had gathered on the border and hostile proclamations were given against the Ban. [edit] War against the Kingdom of HungaryBy August, Ban Jelačić proclaimed a decree for the Croatians, where he denied accusations of separating Croatia in the name of panslavism. According to the decree "being a son of (the Croatian) nation, being the supporter of liberty, and being subject to Austria, I am faithfully committed to the constitutional Emperor of the Empire and its Kings, and I long for a great, free Austria", and the closing words were "the Hungarian government, as it is evident, would not like to agree on this, they insist on their separatist moves, which means they struggle to dismantle our Empire. It is the command of our duty and honour to go till the ultimate and to call for arms against them. And we, not sparing our wealth, blood and life, will stand for our rightful demands and sacred deeds." Jelačić found disorder in the Empire was growing so he decided for immediate action. In 1 September in Varaždin (in Hungarian: Varasd) he crossed the Drava with 45,000 soldiers, and another 10,000 Croatian insurgents, led by brigadier Roth, crossed Drava from the lower part of the river. Jelačić occupied the mainly Croatian-habited Međimurje (in Hungarian: Muraköz). The two forces were poorly armed because of the rapid engagement. Supplies also were not well organised, so the advance into Hungarian territory was difficult. Supplies were obtained by the requisition from the local population. The Hungarian squadrons led by Count Wrbna, Count Kress and Count Hardegg joined Jelačić's troops. The enthusiasm of the Croatian troops grew when at Siófok the Ban received a letter from Ferdinand I cancelling the decree removing him from all positions, also promoting him to be general commander of all troops in Hungary. During his march toward Pest-Buda (now Budapest), Jelačić got a message from Archduke Stephen, situated in Veszprém, to inform him of the decision of the Emperor that count Lajos Batthyány was approved to set up a new government, and calling him to stop the troops, and to discuss further actions at his office. Jelačić replied he could not stop his army at that moment, but was prepared for discussions with the archduke at the port of Balatonszemes. The meeting did not take place. According to Austrian sources, advisors of Jelačić persuaded him not to attend, due to a threat of being assassinated by agents of the Hungarian government. After the fiasco of the meeting, Archduke Stephen resigned and fled from Hungary. [edit] Battle of PákozdThe army of the ban occupied Székesfehérvár (in Croatian: Stolni Biograd) 26 September 1848. The same day the Kaiser appointed lieutenant-general Ferenc Lamberg as general commanding all troops in Hungary, but this was anulled by the Hungarian Parliament. Lajos Kossuth called the Hungarians for resistance, and the Országos Honvédelmi Bizottmány (National Homeguarding Committee) was given the power of execution. Lamberg, trying to take over the command of the Hungarian troops was identified and killed. Jelačić advanced onward, reaching Lake Velencei in September 29, where they met Hungarian troops. After the first strikes, lieutenant-general János Móga withdrew to north to Sukoró. Jelačić asked Móga to stand against the rebels, and "get back to the road of honour and duty", but Móga refused, and his army attacked Jelačić between Móga and Pákozd. The Battle of Pákozd lasted for some hours]].[2][3][4] The Hungarians accounted it a victory, to the extent that up to 1991 the date of this battle (September 29) was celebrated in Hungary as "Army Day" ("a honvédség napja"). However, the Croatian forces were far from broken, allowing them to define the result as "a draw". The day after, 30 September, Jelačić asked for armistice for three days; he wanted to use these days to wait for Roth's army. Soon he could sum up the preponderance of the Hungarian troops and the poor armament and fatigue of his troops, moreover, at October 1 the supply routes to Croatia was cut by rebels, so he advanced toward Vienna. on 3 October Móga was going after Jelačić, but wanted not to attack the troops. On 4 October, Kaiser Ferdinand V. has again nominated Jelačić as the general commander of all troops in Hungary, and dismissed the Hungarian Parliament. [edit] Fight against the Revolution in ViennaAustrian Minister of Military Theodor Baillet von Latour called the guards in Vienna to join the troops of Jelačić, but this caused a revolt in Vienna on 6 October. Latour was identified in Magyar-Óvár (German: Ungarisch Altenburg) where he was killed. On 7 October commander Mór Perczel defeated the armies of General Roth and General Filipović, and took them into custody. The Hungarian Parliament annulled the Emperor's decree of October 4. Jelačić moved onward to Vienna to join the troops around the city. Under lieutenant-general Todorović, he organised a body of 14,000 soldiers to move south to Stayer for the protection of Croatia. The Viennese revolution committee asked for the help of the Hungarian government. On 10 October at Laaer Berg, Jelačić joined Austrian troops lead by Auersperg, and the army was strengthened with troops of Karger from Pressburg (now Bratislava), a regiment of Count Wallmoden and Franz Joseph regiment. Jelačić's forces were soon under Field Marshal Windisch-Graetz. On 21 October seeing preponderance, Móga returned from the borders of Austria, and the revolution in Vienna was suppressed. Jelačić's forces were fighting at Landstrasse, Erdberg and Weissgerber suburbs. [edit] The winter campaign of WindischgrätzOn 21 October - which was too late - Lajos Kossuth ordered Móga to turn back to Vienna, they met forces of Jelačić at Schwechat in 30 October. A day of artillery fight broke out, and Jelačić initiated a counterattack in the evening. Led by general Zeisberg, the attack pushed back the Hungarian forces and defeated them. After this defeat, Móga stepped off as general commander, and Kossuth nominated general Artúr Görgey in his position. On 2 December 1848 the camarilla resigned Ferdinand the V, and appointed Franz Joseph as Kaiser. On 13 December Windischgrätz crossed the Hungarian border. On 16 December, Jelačić also crossed the border and defeated Hungarian troops at Parndorf, later occupying Magyar-Óvár and Győr. Being informed that Mór Perczel is stationed at Mór, Jelačić made a detour toward this city and defeated the Hungarian troops there, taking into custody 23 officers and 2000 honvéds. With this battle, Pest-Buda became vulnerable, so the Hungarian government fled to Debrecen. Görgey could resist the march of Jelačić at Tétény for some time, but on 5 January Windischgrätz, together with Jelačić occupied Pest-Buda. [edit] More military campaignsAfter the occupation of Pest-Buda the greater campaigns have ceased. Windischgrätz declared military dictatorship, caught Batthyány and asked for capitulation. He moved to Debrecen but was stopped by Perczel at Szolnok and Abony. Kossuth nominated Dembinszky Henrik to replace Görgey, and started a strategic counterattack but was defeated near Kápolna. Windischgrätz ordered Jelačić to march quickly to Jászfényszaru. On 4 April Klapka attacked him but at Tápióbicske the bayonets of Otočany of Jelačić pushed them back. On 5 March Damjanich re-occupied Szolnok. Jelačić now got a new order to turn from Jászfényszaru and head to Gödöllő. On 2 April Jelačić met Damjanich at Tápióbicske and was defeated. On 6 April Windischgrätz, together with Jelačić, was heavily defeated near Isaszeg, retreating to Pest-Buda suburbs, Rákospatak. After the defeat, count Windischgrätz was exempted from general command, and was replaced by general Welden and later Haynau. Jelačić was ordered to gather the scattered troops in south Hungary and to organise an army. This army was consisted of 15,800 footsoldiers, 5100 cavaliers and 74 cannons, and moved to Osijek (in Hungarian: Eszék) immediately. During his march southward, Jelačić had to make order in the region from rebels, esepcially in Pécs (in Croatian: Pečuh). After a series of wrong decisions, the army of Jelačić could not join the imperial army, so it was put to defensive fights. [edit] Fights in SlavoniaIn May, 1849 Jelačić moved from Osijek (in Hungarian: Eszék) to Vukovar (in Hungarian: Vukovár), Ilok (in Hungarian: Újlak), Srijemski Karlovci (in Hungarian: Karlóca), Tovarnik (in Hungarian: Tárnok) and Irig (in Hungarian: Ürög), his base was established in Ruma (in Hungarian: Árpatarló). He was in a bad situation, as the Austrians were calling for the help of Russian Empire to suppress the Hungarians and the support from Vienna dissolved. Jelačić was lacking proper clothing, armament and equipment, and cholera took a lot of his troops. The Serbian troops led by Kuzman Todorović had to surrender strategic points to the honvéds. The Hungarians have occupied and fortified Petrovaradin, where the troops received supplies as the population supported the Hungarian revolution. In April, Mór Perczel have occupied Szenttamás drove away the ring around Petrovaradin (in Hungarian: Pétervárad), defeated Todorović so he could occupy Pancsova and finally, together with Józef Bem occupied Temesköz region. Jelačić, cut off from all supplies, have fortified his armies for defense and fought small battles in Slavonia. The supply from the Austrian Empire was stuck at Slankamen (in Hungarian: Szalánkemén). In June he decided to break out and advance to Zombor-Dunaföldvár. During his march, on 6 June, Perczel attacked him near Káty (Kać) and Zsablya (Josefsdorf), and defeated Perczel, marched forward, but could not occupy Újvidék (today:Novi Sad). On 24 June he successfully occupied Óbecse, but was retaken by Hungarians on 28th. This way Jelačić could not push out Hungarian forces from Bačka. On 6 July Richard Guyon drove out Croatian troops at Kishegyesnél (today: Mali Iđoš, Serbia). On 14 July Hungarians took control over Feketehegy (today:Feketić) and Szeghegy (Sekić, today: Lovćenac), and Jelačić had to retreat. This was the last fight in the region. After Timişoara (in Hungarian: Temesvár) fell, Jelačić joined troops of Haynau, and after the end of revolution, he traveled to Vienna to take part in discussions of reorganising Croatia, Slavonia and the frontier regions. [edit] After the RevolutionWhen peace was restored, Jelačić returned to Croatia where he was treated as national hero, the saviour of the homeland. He received the medal of order of Maria Therese, the cross of order of Lipot from Franz Joseph. He was elected as count on 24 April 1854 (Jelačić von Bužim). He received medals from the Russian tsar, the king of Saxony, king of Hannover, duke of Parma. [edit] Unpopularity and popularity
.jpg) After the war the Empire's new constitution stripped the local authorities in Hungary of their political power, but this punishment also affected Croatia despite its assistance to the imperial cause during the revolution. Nevertheless, ban Jelačić implemented the new Constitution (published 4 March 1849), and proceeded to outlaw various newspapers that published anti-Austrian opinions. In 1851, when Baron Alexander von Bach came to power in the Kingdom of Hungary, Jelačić worked under him and made no objections to the Germanization of Croatia. He remained in office until his death in 1859 in Zagreb. In his time and shortly after, Jelačić was a fairly unpopular figure among the Croatian political elite, including Ante Starčević and others, and especially among the people who suffered losses due to his military campaigns and had little benefit from his economic measures. He is also quite unpopular in Hungary as one of the main thwarters of their national revolution. However, he only fought for the good of Croatia[citation needed] and is a national hero as well as Ante Starčević, the "father of Croatia" and Stjepan Radić, Croatian political leader until 1928. He died on 20 May 1859 from illness. [edit] Aftermath Today, Ban Jelačić is considered an important and admirable figure in Croatian history. The central square of the city of Zagreb was named Ban Jelačić Square in 1848, and a statue of him was erected in 1866. Originally, the statue of Jelačić "pointed" with his saber north towards Hungary. Today the statue's position is reversed. The patriotic song Ustani bane (Rise, ban) was written to glorify Jelačić . Jelačić's portrait is depicted on the obverse of the Croatian 20 kuna banknote, issued in 1993 and 2001.[5] [edit] References
[edit] External links
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