The Slovene-Croatian Peasant Revolt (, ), Gubec's Rebellion () or Gubec's peasant uprising of 1573 was a large peasant revolt on territory forming modern-day northwestern Croatia and southeastern Slovenia. The revolt, sparked by cruel treatment of serfs by Baron Ferenc Tahy and led by Matija Gubec, ended after 12 days with the defeat of the rebels and bloody retribution by the nobility.

Background

[[File:Kingdom of Croatia 1573.png|thumb|Map of Croatia in 1573, at the time of the rebellion

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In the late 16th century, the threat of Ottoman incursions strained the economy of the southern flanks of the Holy Roman Empire, and feudal lords continually increased their demands on the peasantry. In Croatian Zagorje, this was compounded by cruel treatment of peasants by Baron Ferenc Tahy and his disputes with neighbouring barons over land, dating back to 1564, which escalated into armed conflicts. When multiple complaints to the emperor went unheard, the peasants conspired to rebel with their peers in the neighbouring provinces of Styria and Carniola and with the lower classes of townspeople.

Revolt

The rebellion broke out simultaneously in large parts of Carniola, Styria, and Croatia on 28 January 1573. The rebels' political program was to replace the nobility with peasant officials answerable directly to the emperor, and to abolish all feudal holdings and obligations to the Roman Catholic Church. A peasant government was formed with Matija Gubec, Ivan Pasanec, and Ivan Mogaić as members. Far-reaching plans were drawn up, including abolition of provincial borders, opening of highways for trade, and self-rule by the peasants.

The captain of the rebels, Ilija Gregorić, planned an extensive military operation to secure victory for the revolt. Each peasant household provided one man for his army, which met with some initial success; their revolutionary goals alarmed the nobility, however, which raised armies in response. The rebels used a network of informers who relayed the information on movements of the opposing units; in turn, spies among the peasants themselves passed the information on the spread of the rebellion to the nobility.

Backlash

On 5 February, Uskok captain and baron Jobst Joseph von Thurn () led an army of 500 Uskoks from Kostanjevica and some German soldiers that defeated a rebel detachment of Nikola Kupinič at Krško (in Lower Styria),

Legacy

The revolt and torture of Gubec acquired legendary status in Croatia and Slovenia. It has inspired many writers and artists, including the writers Miroslav Krleža and August Šenoa (The Goldsmith's Treasure), the poet Anton Aškerc and the sculptors Antun Augustinčić and Stojan Batič. Croatian film director Vatroslav Mimica produced the film about uprising, entitled Anno Domini 1573, in 1975, as well as television series in four parts. Gubec-beg, the first Croatian rock opera (1975), was also inspired by the events. The painter Krsto Hegedušić made in 1969 the stage curtain for the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, titled A.D. 1573.

A museum near Oršić Castle in Gornja Stubica and one in Krško (Slovenia) are dedicated to the revolt.

A reenactment of the Battle of Stubičko polje, held every year since 2008, has since become one of the most popular historical reenactments in Croatia.

<gallery widths="200px">

File:Spomenik seljačkoj buni 1573..JPG|Large monument in Gornja Stubica<br />(Antun Augustinčić, 1971)

File:Matija Gubec statue head closeup.jpg|Matija Gubec's bust in Zagreb

File:Matija.jpg|Statue of Matija Gubec, St. Mark's Square, Zagreb, Croatia

</gallery>

See also

  • Juraj Drašković
  • Hvar Rebellion

Footnotes

References

  • Peasants' Revolt Museum