Period: 1848-1859
Chapter 8: The Croatian Military Border and Hungary: 1848-59
Key Family History Connections / Information of Interest:
- Hungary receives some freedom from Vienna and eventually revolts. Croatia (and the military border) eventually sides with Vienna against Hungary.
- Hungary is told they will get freedoms (but those are withdrawn shortly after being given).
- The military border now supports assimilation with civil Croatia in part because serfdom has been abolished and so they no longer enjoy special privileges relative to the people in civil Croatia.
[NOTE: The Udbina area is located in Lika which was located in the Karlstadt generalcy. Any references to these larger units provides insights into life in the Udbina area.]
Quotes from Chapter:
"When the great wave of revolutions rolled over the Austrian Empire in March, 1848, the Hungarian diet in Budapest promptly forced through a liberal constitution and abolished feudal rights and burdens in all the lands of St. Stephen's crown. While Croatians asserted that only the Sabor was competent to pass such a law for Croatia, the measure was put into effect by the peasants who promptly refused to render feudal services and was supported by the provisional national assembly hastily assembled in Zagreb....
These developments provided the background for the sudden elevation of Colonel Jelačić of the 2d Banal Regiment to the office of Ban on March 23, and within two weeks to Feldmarschall Leutnant and commanding general in Croatia and its military border." (Pages 143-144)
"On June 10 [Count Batthyany] obtained the famous imperial decrees deposing Jelačić... A definitely military party was emerging, determined to save the empire and centralized government, if necessary against he wishes of the emperor. support of Austria's position in Italy became the touchstone of loyalty. The military tried to obtain definite commitments from the Hungarians, but this the Budapest government was unwilling to do. Jelačić, however, gave immediate proof of his earnest intentions. News of the revolutions events at home had led to unrest and even to attempted mass desertions among the Grenzer battalions in Italy. On June 20 Jelačić issued a proclamation calling on the Grenzer in Radetsky's army to fight for the preservation of the state and the dynasty and assured them that 'we feel ourselves strong enough to protect your homesteads and guard our national interests.' This proclamation earned Jelačić the solid support of the army command, and from Vienna Kulmer reported 'everybody here is in your favor. The June 10 decree is null and void because it is not countersigned by any of the ministers.'
News of the edict aroused a wave of indignation in the Sabor and brought a temporary closing of the ranks. At the same time, the deposition of Jelačić prompted renewed demands for the immediate incorporation of the military border. And now that serfdom was ended, the Grenzer avidly supported this step." (Pages 148-149)
Jelačić led Croatian forces against a Hungarian nationalist army until... "Russian intervention finally brought about victory for the Austrians and the last Hungarian army capitulated on August 13, 1849." (Page 157)
[SIDE NOTE: The dramatic mobilization of soldiers in the military border for the purpose of putting down the Hungarian revolution shows up in the records]
"The military order received little support for its services. The promised benefits materialized in the new Gundgesetz of May 7, 1850, which made some economic concessions but preserved the military character of the institutions and its subordination to the war ministry. Landholdings now became actual and inheritable Grenzer property and occupational restrictions were lifted, but all able-bodied men remained permanently enrolled as soldiers, military justice was maintained, and the regiments continued as the exclusive administrative units. The new law disappointed the Grenzer, who had hoped for substantial relief from the military burdens." (Pages 157-158)
"Economically the situation of the Grenzer improved little in the period following the revolution of 1848. Agricultural production remained far behind civil Croatia. Banditry continued to flourish in Lika and Banal regiments and poverty was general." (Page 159)
"During these years Croatia was effectively administered by foreign officials and Ban Jelačić began to have less and less influence. He commanded the Grenzer in 1853, but soon thereafter he began to show signs of the mental decline that clouded his last years. As his influence failed, the Grenzer became more and more restive, and when he died in 1859, Croatia as well as the military border had become completely estranged from Vienna." (Page 160)
Links to the posts for the various time periods (each covered in a chapter of the book):
1500-1740
1740-1756
1756-1780
1780-1790
1790-1809
1804-1814
1815-1847
1848-1859
1859-1871
1871-1881
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