Relief of Matija Gubec, leader of the peasant revolt, on St. Mark’s Square
At the corner of St. Mark’s Square and Ćirilometodska Street in Zagreb’s Upper Town, you’ll find a relief commemorating the execution of Matija Gubec, the leader of the Croatian-Slovene Peasant Revolt.
Ambroz Matija Gubec was a Croatian peasant who led a significant peasant uprising in Croatia and Slovenia in 1573. The revolt was triggered by increased taxes and harsh treatment by the nobleman Franjo Tahy.
Gubec, a serf from the village of Hižakovec, organized the uprising and led a portion of the peasant army in the Croatian Zagorje region, where he was proclaimed their “peasant king.”
After the revolt was suppressed, Gubec was captured and brought to Zagreb. He was publicly tortured in front of St. Mark’s Church with hot irons, forced to wear a red hot iron crown, and then quartered.
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Gubec’s bravery has been depicted in numerous works of Croatian art, including:
- August Šenoa‘s novel “Peasants’ Revolt”
- Matija Bogović‘s play “Matija Gubec”
- Ivan Lhotka Kalinski’s opera “Matija Gubec”
- Paintings by Oton Iveković and Ferdo Quiqerez
- Antun Augustinčić‘s monument in Gornja Stubica
- Vatroslav Mimica‘s film “Peasants’ Revolt 1573”
The corner statue of Matija Gubec’s head was erected by the Society of Brethren of the Croatian Dragon in 1923.
Location
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and largest city of Croatia. It is situated on the slopes of Medvednica mountain, in the Carpathian Basin, and on the banks of the Sava river. Zagreb has a rich and diverse history, culture, and architecture that reflect its long and turbulent past.
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