Petar Kružić

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Depiction of Petar Kružić on a painting in the pilgrimage church of Our Lady of Trsat in Rijeka

Petar Kružić (dt. Peter Krusitsch , Hungarian. Krusics Péter ; † 1537 in Klis ) was a Croatian nobleman of the 16th century, who was best known for defending the city of Klis against the Ottomans .

Life

Coat of arms of the noble family Kružić

Kružić ruled over the high fortress and town of Klis in Central Dalmatia , which was about 15 km from Split , which was flourishing at the time , and carried the title of nobility "kliški knez" after this town.

He managed to defend Klis against the soldiers of the Ottoman Empire for 15 years. In 1524, when Petar Kružić had traveled to Senj for a few days to recruit soldiers, the city was surrounded by the Ottoman general Mustafa . When Kružić returned via the port of Solin after just one day , he put the clearly outnumbered Ottoman forces to flight with an overwhelming victory.

However, after the military defeat in the Battle of Mohács and the fall of Obrovac in 1526, the city was surrounded on all sides by the Ottomans. Klis was captured by betrayal while Petar Kružić was in Ancona to recruit new troops. Kružić reacted quickly and sailed back to Klis with around 2,000 soldiers. He defeated the Ottomans again and recaptured the neighboring city of Solin, which was taken again by the Ottomans shortly afterwards.

Kružić could always count on the help of the Vatican ; the Popes Clement VII and Paul III. appreciated this and supported him so much that Sultan Suleyman I even proclaimed that Klis was a papal city that had to be captured for that very reason. In 1531 Kružić had the steps to the pilgrimage church of Trsat built, which still bear his name today.

In 1535 the Ottomans were lured into a trap and defeated within the walls of the city of Klis, which they believed had already been won. But when Solin was conquered by the Ottomans in 1536, the troops of the Ottoman Empire prepared for the decisive battle for Klis. When the city was attacked a year later, 3,000 German soldiers and 700 Italians (sent by Pope Paul III ) went into battle with Kružić . After the Turks started running down from the mountain with loud screams, tradition has it that the German and Italian troops withdrew in fear and left Kružić alone with a few men on the battlefield.

Petar Kružić's grave slab

Kružić was unable to escape and was killed by Ottoman soldiers. After his death, Klis was surrendered without a fight, on the condition that the Turks should have control of the surrounding area, but not of the city.

literature

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personal data
SURNAME Kružić, Petar
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Croatian national hero
DATE OF BIRTH 15th century or 16th century
DATE OF DEATH 1537
Place of death Klis