(Ferdinand Zvonimir)
(media direktno.hr)
In a interview for Direktno.hr, by Marijan Opačak with Ante Brešić pl. Mikulić, a young researcher, on his next scientific article which focused on the lesser known part of the female line of the Habsburg family, which concluded that among others, present members of the Habsburg-Lothringen family are descendants of a couple of Croatian families among which the most notable are the Counts of Celje (Grafen von Cilli) and Royal Kotromanić and Trpimirović dynasties which ruled during medieval times.
When asked how he came to this subject of the research, he answered:
"The Habsburg-Lothringen family tree, that is the Habsburg, is quite researched. That's why I was interested in the female line, which was related to the mother of the Croatian King Maximilian I (II) and wife of Ferdinand I, and their connection to other families, which in the end went to the what we call national dynasties."
(Vienna Congress of 1515)
When asked how was the connection made, he answered:
"It all began in the early 16th century when Croatian and Hungarian Kingdoms were in a period of dynastic upheavals and uncertainty under the face of War with the Ottomans. To ensure the stability and successions of the Monarchies of Central Europe, which was all ready agreed upon in 1506. During the Vienna Congress of 1515, better known under the name of Wiener Fürstentag, which was presided over by the Emperor of Holy Roman Empire Maximilian Habsburg, Croatian-Hungarian and Bohemian King Vladislav II Jagiellon and Polish King Sigismund I Jagiellon, which would create a special relationship between does dynasties and monarchies.
During this congress new marriages were arranged, one of this was between, then Archduke Ferdinand Habsburg and Anne Jagiellon, daughter of King Vladislav II. Although the marriage was conceived to strengthen the relationship between countries and families, after different dynastic turmoils and the catastrophic outcome of the Battle at Mohács, in 1527 the Croatian Sabor (Royal Diet) in Cetingrad elects Ferdinand I as Croatian King..."
"...descendants of King Ferdinand I Habsburg and Queen Ana (Jageillon), have through her a connection, that is, are descendants of a couple of Croatian Royal Dynasties"
(Ferdinand I Habsburg and Anne Jagiellon)
He further in short explains the genealogy:
"Through Anne we come to her father Vladislav II, who is the son of Casimir IV and Elizabeth Habsburg. Elizabeth is the daughter of Albert Habsburg and Elizabeth of Luxemburg. Elizabeth (L) is the daughter of Sigismund and Barbara Cilli. And when we go from dynasty to dynasty we can fallow it from Cilli to Kotromanić (Catharine), then Nemanjić (Elisabeth), then Vukanović and then Vojislavljević.
From whom, if we take into account the Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja as a source, and we have no reason not to take it into account, since of its importance in the reconstruction of Croatian and other Royal dynasties. The Vojislavljević family descends from the Trpimirović dynasty. Then we have a question (which answer depends on different interpretations and theses) from which member of the Dynasty this cadet branch descends. From the brother of King Krešimir, son of King Trpimir II or others? On that question, you can read more in the upcoming research article, which will be published soon."
(Croatian Kings Tomislav I and Trpimir II)
On current Habsburg-Lothringen family descendants, he answered:
"...having in mind that current Habsburg-Lothringen family members, such as Crown Prince Karl (son of Otto von Habsburg) and his children Archdukes and Archduchess Eleonora Jelena, Ferdinand Zvonimir and Gloria descend from the Croatian King Blessed Karlo IV (Karl I ruled from 1916 until 1918). They can fallow their lineage through Franz I until Leopold II, son of Francis I Lothringen and Queen Maria Theresia Habsburg, and then fallowing the Habsburg family genealogy through King Karl III, all the way until Archduke Karl (brother of King Maximilian), son of King Ferdinand I Habsburg and Queen Anne (Jagiellon). Which makes today's members of the Dynasty as well as all Habsburgs after Ferdinand I, which were Croatian Kings, descendants of renowned families such as the Cilli, Kotromanić and Trpimirović."
(Crown Prince Karl and Prince George in Zagreb)
Marijan Opačak then asked if the Habsburg Rulers descend from the Kotromanić and Trpimirović dynasty, does that mean that the old Serbo-Yugoslav myth that only foreign blood dynasties ruled Croatia has failed, and with it the myth of Serbian bayonets liberating it in 1918? To what he answered:
"No matter the origin, Croatia was all ways ruled by Croatian Royal dynasties, since there is a simple rule. Every dynasty must be confirmed by the Croatian Sabor to become Royal, and with it, it becomes a Croatian Royal dynasty, the same goes for the rest of the nobility. Since Croatia has a long tradition of noble indigenat according to which, regardless of the Rulers decision, every noble family to become Croatian, must be confirmed by the Sabor or some other representing body like the Royal Government.
The practice of electing higher noble families of Europe is present on the whole Continent, as an example we can see today the United Kingdom (Saxe-Coburg-Gotha Windsor) or the Kingdom of Spain (Bourbon) which elected dynasties which became their domestic and national ones. Having in mind that the Habsburg dynasty (later Habsburg-Lothringen), is a Croatian Royal family since 1527, by the years gone by, we can not say it is a ''newer made'' family. Another interesting fact is that since the early medieval times there is a practice of weddings among higher European nobility.
Which is the main reason why the Habsburgs are descendants of the mentioned Croatian dynasties."
He further explained on Serbo-Yugoslav myths of foreign dynasties and the bayonet liberation:
"The problem with Yugoslav, as well as partially Serbian myths is that they came to being in a time when the Karađorđević family ascends the Serbian throne. A family which didn't have a noble ancestry or title, therefore more since it came to a bloody throne (May Coup) which brings to excessive need for legitimization of its prestige..."
"...Serbia viewed itself as the Piedmont of South Slavs. Having in mind that Croats had their own statehood, autonomy, continuity and territory until 1918. And that the Austro-Hungarian monarchy broke up from within and not from without. The myths of Serbian bayonet liberation, myths of the Habsburg prison of nations and Foreign occupation doesn't stand. But one fact remains, that Croatia in its centuries of relationship with both Austria and Hungary preserved its statehood until 1918, but with the creation of the Kingdom Serbs, Croats and Slovens (Yugoslavia), Croatia for the first time in its history has lost that same statehood."
(Croatian Royal Family, King Karlo IV, Crown Prince Otto and Queen Zita)
Marijan Opačak is an analyst and writer for Direktno.hr
Ante Brešić pl. Mikulić is a Doctoral student of Humanistic sciences of the University of Split, fields of his studies include Art history, Heraldry, Vexillology and History
The article will be published in the upcoming edition of the Obnova (Renewal) interdisciplinary magazine (link).
The translation was made from the interview and sources taken from Direktno.hr in the link bellow:
Translated by HKRV