The last Frankopan: Irishman Laval Nugent's contribution to Croatia
Irishman Count Laval Nugent played an important role in Croatian history – politically, militarily and culturally. He was undoubtedly the most important Irishman in Croatian history and his legacy is regularly celebrated by the Irish community in Croatia, with exhibitions and tours marking significant moments and locations in his life.
Born in 1777 at Ballynacor House in County Westmeath, Nugent was of noble birth with ties to the Habsburgs. His grandfather, Michael Nugent, had been a senior member of the Empire's administration.
Military career
Following his father's death, Nugent went to Vienna at the age of 12, where his uncle secured him a cadetship within the Military Engineering Academy. He was made a lieutenant in the engineering corps at the age of 16 and then advanced quickly through the ranks, becoming a colonel by 1807.
Nugent led a small army of Croatian soldiers against the French occupation in 1813. As a result, a fondness for the land and its people was established which remained with him throughout his life.
Later, he was made a Roman prince by a grateful Pope Pius VII for his role in freeing the Eternal City from French occupation, and was promoted to lieutenant field marshal by the Habsburg Emperor.
Family life
In November 1815 he married Giovanna Riario Sforza in Naples, who had ties to the Croatian noble family Frankopan. He is sometimes known in Croatia as 'the last Frankopan'.
During the peaceful times that followed, he became an enthusiastic collector of antiquities. Returning to Croatia in 1820, he dedicated himself to his family, acquiring and restoring ancient castles across the region and indulging his chief passion: enlarging his collections.
The growing collection allowed him to establish his own private museum at Trsat Castle in Rijeka to house and display them. This is considered to be the first such museum in Croatia.
His collections included works by the Old Masters (Da Vinci, Raphael, Caravaggio and Titian), an impressive collection of Grecian and Etruscan pottery, bronze works, coins and an extensive library. Much of Nugent's collections remain in Croatia in the care of a number of museums.
Along with his military victories and cultural accomplishments, Nugent was in part responsible for Josip Jelačić being named the Croatian viceroy in 1848. Nugent's son Albert held the Croatian flag at Jelačić's investiture.
Nugent died in August 1862 in Bosiljevo Castle and was buried in Trsat Castle.