Nikola III Zrinski
Encyclopedia
Nikola III Zrinski (*1488 or 1489(?); †Zrin
, 1534), was a Croatian nobleman, a member of the Zrinski
noble family, influential in the Croato-Hungarian Kingdom
.
, Nikola III Zrinski lived on his large Zrin
estate in central Croatia
. He was married to Jelena Karlović, the princess
of Krbava
, a sister of Ivan Karlović
, future Ban (Viceroy) of Croatia
. She bore him six children, among them Nikola Šubić Zrinski
, one of the greatest military leaders in Croatian history
and a national hero both in Croatia
and in Hungary
.
Nikola is known for his attendance at Croatian Parliament on Cetin
, where Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria
, was elected the new king of Croatia
on January 1, 1527. Among the seals of six Croatian noblemen on the charter confirming the election there is also his seal. Moreover, some historians believe that Zrinski was the one who played the crucial role for Ferdinand's choice.
In his castle Gvozdansko
, not far from Zrin, he had his own silver coins minted, like his father had done before. There were silver, gold and lead ore mines, smelteries, foundries and mints in his property.
In the time of the threatening Ottoman
danger, Nikola III Zrinski died in Zrin and was buried in the neighbouring Franciscan
church of St. Margaret (according to some historians: church of St. Mary Magdalene). He was succeeded by his son Nikola IV
, future Ban of Croatia
and hero of Szigetvár
.
Zrin Castle
Zrin Castle is a ruined castle located in the village of Zrin, south of the town of Sisak in central Croatia.-History:The castle was first mentioned in the 13th century as a fortress ruled by the Babonić clan. Later it was possessed by the members of Iločki family...
, 1534), was a Croatian nobleman, a member of the Zrinski
Zrinski
The Zrinski family was a Croatian noble family, influential during the period in history marked by the Ottoman wars in Europe in the Kingdom of Croatia and Hungary and in the later Austro-Hungarian Empire...
noble family, influential in the Croato-Hungarian Kingdom
Croatia in personal union with Hungary
Kingdom of Croatia after the succession crisis become a part of Kingdom of Hungary and — depending on sources — either was incorporated into Hungary or Croatia existed in a personal union with Hungary....
.
Life
Born as the son of Petar II Zrinski (1435-1493), who had fallen in the battle of Krbava fieldBattle of Krbava field
The Battle of Krbava field , was fought between the Ottoman Empire of Bayezid II and a Croatian army of the Kingdom of Croatia in personal union with the Kingdom of Hungary on September 9, 1493 in the Krbava field, a part of Lika region, southern Croatia...
, Nikola III Zrinski lived on his large Zrin
Zrin
Zrin is a village in Croatia, Sisak-Moslavina county.In the past it was the seat of Croatian noble family Šubić. Later they called themselves Zrinski, after Zrin. It was a strong point of Croatian defence in the Ottoman wars. There are still ruins of Zrin Castle in the village. In World War II the...
estate in central Croatia
Central Croatia
Central Croatia or Croatia proper is a term that refers to the areas of the Republic of Croatia that were part of the Habsburg Kingdom of Croatia which excluded Istria, Slavonia, and Dalmatia...
. He was married to Jelena Karlović, the princess
Princess
Princess is the feminine form of prince . Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or his daughters....
of Krbava
Krbava
Krbava is a region of mountainous Croatia. It can be considered either located east of Lika, or indeed as the eastern part of Lika. The town of Udbina is the central settlement of the Krbava karst field....
, a sister of Ivan Karlović
Ivan Karlovic
Ivan Karlović was the Ban of Croatia from 1521 to 1524 and again from 1527 to 1531. Karlović's seat was in Medvedgrad....
, future Ban (Viceroy) of Croatia
Ban of Croatia
Ban of Croatia was the title of local rulers and after 1102 viceroys of Croatia. From earliest periods of Croatian state, some provinces were ruled by Bans as a rulers representative and supreme military commander. In the 18th century, Croatian bans eventually become chief government officials in...
. She bore him six children, among them Nikola Šubić Zrinski
Nikola Šubic Zrinski
Nikola Šubić Zrinski , was a Croatian nobleman and general in service of Habsburg Monarchy, ban of Croatia from 1542 to 1556, and member of the Zrinski noble family...
, one of the greatest military leaders in Croatian history
History of Croatia
Croatia first appeared as a duchy in the 7th century and then as a kingdom in the 10th century. From the 12th century it remained a distinct state with its ruler and parliament, but it obeyed the kings and emperors of various neighboring powers, primarily Hungary and Austria. The period from the...
and a national hero both in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
and in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
.
Nikola is known for his attendance at Croatian Parliament on Cetin
Parliament on Cetin
The Parliament on Cetin was a gathering of the Croatian nobility in the town of Cetin caused by a monarchical crisis after the death of their king Louis II and a major defeat of the Kingdom of Hungary at the Battle of Mohács...
, where Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria
Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand I was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558 and king of Bohemia and Hungary from 1526 until his death. Before his accession, he ruled the Austrian hereditary lands of the Habsburgs in the name of his elder brother, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.The key events during his reign were the contest...
, was elected the new king of Croatia
Kingdom of Croatia (Habsburg)
The Kingdom of Croatia was an administrative division that existed between 1527 and 1868 within the Habsburg Monarchy . The Kingdom was a part of the Lands of the Crown of St. Stephen, but was subject to direct Imperial Austrian rule for significant periods of time, including its final years...
on January 1, 1527. Among the seals of six Croatian noblemen on the charter confirming the election there is also his seal. Moreover, some historians believe that Zrinski was the one who played the crucial role for Ferdinand's choice.
In his castle Gvozdansko
Gvozdansko
Gvozdansko is a village in the Sisak-Moslavina county, Croatia. It is connected by the D6 highway.High above the village there is a ruined Gvozdansko Castle from 15th century....
, not far from Zrin, he had his own silver coins minted, like his father had done before. There were silver, gold and lead ore mines, smelteries, foundries and mints in his property.
In the time of the threatening Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
danger, Nikola III Zrinski died in Zrin and was buried in the neighbouring Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
church of St. Margaret (according to some historians: church of St. Mary Magdalene). He was succeeded by his son Nikola IV
Nikola Šubic Zrinski
Nikola Šubić Zrinski , was a Croatian nobleman and general in service of Habsburg Monarchy, ban of Croatia from 1542 to 1556, and member of the Zrinski noble family...
, future Ban of Croatia
Ban of Croatia
Ban of Croatia was the title of local rulers and after 1102 viceroys of Croatia. From earliest periods of Croatian state, some provinces were ruled by Bans as a rulers representative and supreme military commander. In the 18th century, Croatian bans eventually become chief government officials in...
and hero of Szigetvár
Battle of Szigetvár
The Siege of Szigetvár or Battle of Szigeth was a siege of the Szigeth Fortress in Baranya which blocked Suleiman's line of advance towards Vienna in 1566 AD...
.