Statuta Valachorum
Encyclopedia
Statuta Valachorum was the name for a number of laws (statutes) enacted in the 17th century
both by the king of the Habsburg Monarchy
as well as the Parliament of Croatia
(Sabor), whose purpose was to
define rules on the taxation and tenancy rights of Vlachs
in the Military Frontier
.
In 1608, Austrian emperor Rudolf II
instituted such a law, under which the Vlachs of the Military Frontier, regardless of their faith, owed 1/10th of their income to the Bishop of Zagreb, and 1/9th to the feudal lords whose land they occupied. This law had little practical effect, but it appeased the Croatian nobility at the time.
In 1627, emperor Ferdinand II
passed a decree allowing the Frontier Vlachs land use regardless of the land's ownership, in an effort to make the Grenzer independent of the Croatian nobility, and more willing to wage wars for him.
In 1629, Sabor also passed such a law in order to calm the Vlachs who were revolting and were refusing to pay taxes to Croatian gentry, blackmailing them by threatening to enter into an alliance with the Ottomans. By persuasion of military command of Croatian Military Frontier and Christian Orthodox Church, Vlachs refused that law and they demanded confirmation of royal benefits from 1627.
In 1630, despite of decision made by Sabor, Ferdinand II had enacted Statuta Valachorum according to which Vlachs would freely settle in the military captaincies of Križevci
, Koprivnica
and Ivanec
and keep privileges they had in the Ottoman Empire
.
Territorialization of area which was under Varaždin
Generalat, respectively Slavonian Military Frontier i.e. formation of delineation was also included in Statuta Valachorum. Until then, Varaždin Generalat had not been delimited.
The 1630 Statuta Valachorum applied only to Vlachs in the area of Varaždin
Generalat, located between Drava
and Sava, but later, all Vlachs used that statute. The goal of Statuta Valachorum was to bring the Vlachs under supervision of the imperial court, giving them an appearance of autonomy, despite the fact that the level of self-government they had before them was actually decreased.
Ferdinand II did not include matters of land ownership in the statute, so that he wouldn't upset Croatian nobility.
When Ferdinand III
came to power, the ownership of Croatian Military Frontier land was transferred to the imperial court, without actual legal basis. In the 18th century, the nobility was finally formally deprived of all Frontier land when it was declared an imperial fief.
17th century
The 17th century was the century which lasted from 1601 to 1700 in the Gregorian calendar.The 17th century falls into the Early Modern period of Europe and in that continent was characterized by the Dutch Golden Age, the Baroque cultural movement, the French Grand Siècle dominated by Louis XIV, the...
both by the king of the Habsburg Monarchy
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
as well as the Parliament of Croatia
Parliament of Croatia
The Parliament of Croatia or the Sabor is the unicameral representative body of the citizens of the Republic of Croatia and legislature of the country. Under the terms of the Croatian Constitution, represents the people and is vested with the legislative power...
(Sabor), whose purpose was to
define rules on the taxation and tenancy rights of Vlachs
Vlachs
Vlach is a blanket term covering several modern Latin peoples descending from the Latinised population in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. English variations on the name include: Walla, Wlachs, Wallachs, Vlahs, Olahs or Ulahs...
in the Military Frontier
Military Frontier
The Military Frontier was a borderland of Habsburg Austria and later the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, which acted as the cordon sanitaire against incursions from the Ottoman Empire...
.
In 1608, Austrian emperor Rudolf II
Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor
Rudolf II was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Hungary and Croatia , King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria...
instituted such a law, under which the Vlachs of the Military Frontier, regardless of their faith, owed 1/10th of their income to the Bishop of Zagreb, and 1/9th to the feudal lords whose land they occupied. This law had little practical effect, but it appeased the Croatian nobility at the time.
In 1627, emperor Ferdinand II
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
passed a decree allowing the Frontier Vlachs land use regardless of the land's ownership, in an effort to make the Grenzer independent of the Croatian nobility, and more willing to wage wars for him.
In 1629, Sabor also passed such a law in order to calm the Vlachs who were revolting and were refusing to pay taxes to Croatian gentry, blackmailing them by threatening to enter into an alliance with the Ottomans. By persuasion of military command of Croatian Military Frontier and Christian Orthodox Church, Vlachs refused that law and they demanded confirmation of royal benefits from 1627.
In 1630, despite of decision made by Sabor, Ferdinand II had enacted Statuta Valachorum according to which Vlachs would freely settle in the military captaincies of Križevci
Križevci
Križevci is a town in central Croatia with a total population of 21,155 and with 11,219 in the city itself , the oldest town in its county, the Koprivnica-Križevci county.-History:...
, Koprivnica
Koprivnica
Koprivnica is a city in northern Croatia. It is the capital of the Koprivnica-Križevci county. In 2011 the city administrative area had a total population of 30,872, with 23,896 in the city itself.-Population:...
and Ivanec
Ivanec
Ivanec is a town in northern Croatia, located southwest of Varaždin and east of Lepoglava, north of the mountain Ivanščica.In the 2011 census, the population of the municipality is 13,765, in the following settlements:* Bedenec, population 731...
and keep privileges they had in the Ottoman Empire
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...
.
Territorialization of area which was under Varaždin
Varaždin
Varaždin is a city in north Croatia, north of Zagreb on the highway A4. The total population is 47,055, with 38,746 on of the city settlement itself . The centre of Varaždin county is located near the Drava river, at...
Generalat, respectively Slavonian Military Frontier i.e. formation of delineation was also included in Statuta Valachorum. Until then, Varaždin Generalat had not been delimited.
The 1630 Statuta Valachorum applied only to Vlachs in the area of Varaždin
Varaždin
Varaždin is a city in north Croatia, north of Zagreb on the highway A4. The total population is 47,055, with 38,746 on of the city settlement itself . The centre of Varaždin county is located near the Drava river, at...
Generalat, located between Drava
Drava
Drava or Drave is a river in southern Central Europe, a tributary of the Danube. It sources in Toblach/Dobbiaco, Italy, and flows east through East Tirol and Carinthia in Austria, into Slovenia , and then southeast, passing through Croatia and forming most of the border between Croatia and...
and Sava, but later, all Vlachs used that statute. The goal of Statuta Valachorum was to bring the Vlachs under supervision of the imperial court, giving them an appearance of autonomy, despite the fact that the level of self-government they had before them was actually decreased.
Ferdinand II did not include matters of land ownership in the statute, so that he wouldn't upset Croatian nobility.
When Ferdinand III
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand III was Holy Roman Emperor from 15 February 1637 until his death, as well as King of Hungary and Croatia, King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria.-Life:...
came to power, the ownership of Croatian Military Frontier land was transferred to the imperial court, without actual legal basis. In the 18th century, the nobility was finally formally deprived of all Frontier land when it was declared an imperial fief.