Anniversary of famous peasant uprising in Donja Stubica to be marked with reenactment
- by croatiaweek
- in News
8 February 2019 – Once again thousands are expected to converge on the northern Croatian town of Donja Stubica this Saturday to witness the reenactment of the famous Croatian-Slovene Peasants’ Revolt – Battle at Stubica (Seljačka buna – Bitka kod Stubice).
The day-long event will start at 11 am on Saturday, 9 February with a cultural programme, food and local specialties and arts. The revolt reenactment will commence at 2 pm. The day will culminate with the Buna after party featuring Psihomodo pop and DJ Gotz.
Zagreb Grad will be providing free buses to the event. The buses will depart from Ulica Grgur Ninskog at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00 and 13:00, and return from Donja Stubice at 19:00, 20:00, 21:00, 22:00 and 23:00.
The Croatian–Slovene Peasant Revolt of 1573 was a large peasant revolt in the territory that nowadays belongs to Croatia and Slovenia.
The revolt, sparked by the cruel treatment of serfs by the baron Ferenc Tahy, ended after 12 days with the defeat of the rebels and bloody retribution by the nobility.
The rebels’ political programme was to replace the nobility with peasant officials answerable directly to the emperor and to abolish all feudal holdings and obligations of the Roman Catholic Church.
A peasant government was formed with Matija Gubec, Ivan Pasanac and Ivan Mogaić as members. Far-reaching plans were drawn up, including the abolition of provincial borders, the 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.
On 5 February, imperial captain Turn defeated Ilija Gregorić and 2,000 men near the Lower Styrian town of Brežice. The next day, another rebel force was subjugated near Samobor. On 9 February, the decisive Battle of Stubičko polje was fought.
Gubec and his 10,000 men resisted fiercely, but after a bloody four-hour battle the baronial army defeated and captured Gubec. The revolt failed.
Retribution was brutal: in addition to the 3,000 peasants who died in the battle, many captives were hanged or maimed. Matija Gubec was publicly tortured and executed on 15 February.
The traditional celebration of the anniversary of the uprising is now in its 11th year, with the event winning an award in 2015 for the best historical reenactment.
