Zvečaj (pronounced[zʋeːt͡ʃaj]) is a medieval ruined castle located on the left bank of the Mrežnica river in modern Karlovac county, Croatia. Around it formed an eponymous village, today separated into upper and lower. It has a rectangular floorplan, with a central tower. It survived in good condition much longer than most castles in the region.[2]
The castle is located about 6 km down the old road from Duga Resa. It is near a rock quarry.[1] The parish church in the 1334 ecclesiastical census was Sv. Juraj in Grabrje across the river from the castle, but that parish vanished, and in the 15th century, the parish church of Sv. Ivan, which still exists, and includes inscriptions from the years 1526, 1587, and 1687, was founded. Radoslav Lopašić infers from the inscriptions and the fact that the Church had been abandoned for 30 years in a 1558 document, that the year inscriptions are years of rebuilding.[2]
Historyedit
A 1639 military sketch of the castle.
Zvečaj in its early days had its own nobility, originally using the name "od Grabrja" (1334), but later changing it to "od Zvečaja" (1414, 1441) or Zvečaji. Around Zvečaj there lived a number of other low noble families: Tolići, Babinogorci, and Zubci. The last Zvečaj to be lord of the castle was Ivan, who married Katica, the daughter of Nikola Benvenjuda, lord of Skrad, who is mentioned as a widow in 1481. Upon the death of Ivan Zvečaj, the castle and surrounding lands were given to Nikola Frankopan Ozaljski by king Matthias Corvinus.[2]
In 1474, upon the death of Nikola Frankopan's son Bartol, that branch left their heritage to Stjepan Frankopan Modruški, his son Bernardin Frankopan, and his grandson Stjepan Frankopan Ozaljski. In 1558, the castle was pillaged together with the rest of the possessions of Stjepan Ozaljski, yet it had already been abandoned as a result of the Ottoman wars. There were only 38 "sela" (which in medieval times meant a house and its dependencies) in the domain of Zvečaj left. The region btwn the Mrežnica and the Korana was found to be completely abandoned. In 1580, after a legal feud following the death of Stjepan Ozaljski regarding his controversial will, which left his property to the Zrinski family while there was still a branch of the House of Frankopan left, the castle of Zvečaj, together with Novi Vinodolski and Severin, fell to the brothers Frankopan Tržački. In December 1598, a Turkish army 5000 strong hid in ambush near Zvečaj, Juraj Lenković heard about the force, but underestimated its size. He took a smaller army, and when they met, the Turkish army pushed Lenković's back, and many drowned in the Mrežnica, and Stjepan Blagaj was beheaded, ending his family's male line, though Lenković and his men managed to escape, having been in the rear. In 1608, when the brothers divided their property, Zvečaj and Novi went to Vuk. In 1670, after Fran Krsto Frankopan was imprisoned as a result of the Magnate conspiracy, the castle was looted by the army of Karlovac. The Frankopan line died out with the death of Fran Krsto in 1671.[2]
The castle was destroyed in 1777 for the construction of the Josephina.[2] Upon the ruins of the castle walls now sits a private house, built from its stones. All that remains are the walls themselves and parts of the tower.[1] In 2001, the surrounding village had 226 inhabitants,[3] in 74 families.[4]
zvečaj, castle, zvečaj, pronounced, zʋeːt, ʃaj, medieval, ruined, castle, located, left, bank, mrežnica, river, modern, karlovac, county, croatia, around, formed, eponymous, village, today, separated, into, upper, lower, rectangular, floorplan, with, central, . Zvecaj pronounced zʋeːt ʃaj is a medieval ruined castle located on the left bank of the Mreznica river in modern Karlovac county Croatia Around it formed an eponymous village today separated into upper and lower It has a rectangular floorplan with a central tower It survived in good condition much longer than most castles in the region 2 Zvecaj CastleDonji ZvecajCroatiaZvecaj castle in the late 19th centuryZvecaj CastleCoordinates45 23 40 N 15 26 05 E 45 39444 N 15 43472 E 45 39444 15 43472 1 better source needed TypeCastleSite informationOwnerprivate 1 Open tothe publicYes 1 ConditionRuinsSite historyBuiltmentioned XIVBuilt byTomasic familyMaterialsLimestone Contents 1 Geography 2 History 3 See also 4 ReferencesGeography editThe castle is located about 6 km down the old road from Duga Resa It is near a rock quarry 1 The parish church in the 1334 ecclesiastical census was Sv Juraj in Grabrje across the river from the castle but that parish vanished and in the 15th century the parish church of Sv Ivan which still exists and includes inscriptions from the years 1526 1587 and 1687 was founded Radoslav Lopasic infers from the inscriptions and the fact that the Church had been abandoned for 30 years in a 1558 document that the year inscriptions are years of rebuilding 2 History edit nbsp A 1639 military sketch of the castle Zvecaj in its early days had its own nobility originally using the name od Grabrja 1334 but later changing it to od Zvecaja 1414 1441 or Zvecaji Around Zvecaj there lived a number of other low noble families Tolici Babinogorci and Zubci The last Zvecaj to be lord of the castle was Ivan who married Katica the daughter of Nikola Benvenjuda lord of Skrad who is mentioned as a widow in 1481 Upon the death of Ivan Zvecaj the castle and surrounding lands were given to Nikola Frankopan Ozaljski by king Matthias Corvinus 2 In 1474 upon the death of Nikola Frankopan s son Bartol that branch left their heritage to Stjepan Frankopan Modruski his son Bernardin Frankopan and his grandson Stjepan Frankopan Ozaljski In 1558 the castle was pillaged together with the rest of the possessions of Stjepan Ozaljski yet it had already been abandoned as a result of the Ottoman wars There were only 38 sela which in medieval times meant a house and its dependencies in the domain of Zvecaj left The region btwn the Mreznica and the Korana was found to be completely abandoned In 1580 after a legal feud following the death of Stjepan Ozaljski regarding his controversial will which left his property to the Zrinski family while there was still a branch of the House of Frankopan left the castle of Zvecaj together with Novi Vinodolski and Severin fell to the brothers Frankopan Trzacki In December 1598 a Turkish army 5000 strong hid in ambush near Zvecaj Juraj Lenkovic heard about the force but underestimated its size He took a smaller army and when they met the Turkish army pushed Lenkovic s back and many drowned in the Mreznica and Stjepan Blagaj was beheaded ending his family s male line though Lenkovic and his men managed to escape having been in the rear In 1608 when the brothers divided their property Zvecaj and Novi went to Vuk In 1670 after Fran Krsto Frankopan was imprisoned as a result of the Magnate conspiracy the castle was looted by the army of Karlovac The Frankopan line died out with the death of Fran Krsto in 1671 2 The castle was destroyed in 1777 for the construction of the Josephina 2 Upon the ruins of the castle walls now sits a private house built from its stones All that remains are the walls themselves and parts of the tower 1 In 2001 the surrounding village had 226 inhabitants 3 in 74 families 4 See also editList of castles in Croatia Military history of CroatiaReferences edit a b c d e Lako Udruga 4 May 2017 Zvecaj lako com hr Retrieved 2 October 2017 a b c d e Lopasic Radoslav 1895 Oko Kupe i Korane Around the Kupa and the Korana in Croatian Zagreb Matica Hrvatska pp 318 324 SAS Output SAS Output Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zvecaj Castle amp oldid 1207014500, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
