Ban of Croatia

Not to be confused with Banovina of Croatia.

The heraldic standard of the Croatian ban in the 19th century included the historical coats of arms of Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia

Ban of Croatia (Croatian: Hrvatski ban; Hungarian: horvát bán) was the title of local rulers or office holders and after 1102 viceroys of Croatia. From earliest periods of Croatian state, some provinces were ruled by Bans as a rulers representative (viceroy) and supreme military commander. In the 18th century, Croatian bans eventually become chief government officials in Croatia. They were at the head of Ban's Government, effectively the first prime ministers of Croatia. The institution of ban in Croatia persisted until the 20th century.

Origin of title

Main article: Ban (title)

South Slavic ban (Croatian pronunciation: [bâːn], with a long [a]). The long form is directly attested in 10th-century Constantine Porphyrogenitus' book De Administrando Imperio as βο(ε)άνος, in a chapter dedicated to Croats and the organisation of their state, describing how their ban "has under his rule Krbava, Lika and Gacka".

Medieval bans

References from the earliest periods are scarce, but history recalls that the first known Croatian ban is Pribina in the 10th century (in 949 and in 969). Ban on his territory was pursuing administrative, judicial and military authority.

The meaning of the title was elevated to that of provincial governor in the Kingdom of Croatia (for example, King Dmitar Zvonimir was originally a ban in 1065 serving under King Peter Krešimir IV).

Bans in the Kingdom of Croatia

Name	Dates	Notes
Pribina	c. 949-969	First historically attested ban.
Godemir	c. 969-995
Gvarda (Varda)	c. 995-1000
Božeteh	c. 1000-1030
Stephen Praska	c. 1035-1058
Gojko	c. 1059-1069
Demetrius Zvonimir	c. 1059-1074	Became King of Croatia in 1076
Petar	c. 1075-1091

Bans (c. 1102 - c. 1225)

After the Croats elected Hungarian kings as kings of Croatia in 1102, the title of ban acquired the meaning of viceroy - bans were appointed by the king, as his representatives in Kingdom of Croatia, heads of the Parliament and also as supreme commander of Croatian Army.

Croatia was governed by the 'viceregal' ban as a whole between 1102 and 1225, when it was split into two separate banovinas: Slavonia and Croatia. Two different bans were occasionally appointed until 1476, when the institution of a single ban was resumed. Most of bans were native nobles but some were also of Hungarian ancestry.

Most notable bans from this period were Pavao Šubić, Petar Berislavić.

Name	Dates	Notes
Ugra	1102 - c. 1105	Governs on behalf of Coloman of Hungary
Sergije	c. 1105	Governs on behalf Coloman of Hungary
Ugrin, archbishop of Kalocsa	1107	Governs on behalf of Coloman of Hungary
Klaudije	1116–1117
Aleksije or Dominik	c. 1130 - c. 1141
Beloš Vukanović	1142–1158	Son of Uroš I of Rascia of the House of Vukanović-Urošević. He is dux and comes palatinus of Kingdom of Hungary, he rules the kingdom with his sister, Helena, since his nephew and heir Géza II is a minor.
Arpa	1158
Beloš Vukanović	1163	Second term
Ampudin	1164–1180
Mavro or Dionizije	c.1180 - 1183
Suban	1183–1185
Kalán	1190–1193
Dominik	1193–1195
Andrija	1198–1199
Nikola + Branko or Benedikt	1199–1200
Martin Hontpázmán	1202–1203
Hipolit	1204
Merkurije	1205–1206
Stjepan Mihaljević	1206–1208
Banko	1208–1209
Bertold Andechs VII Meranski	1209–1211	(b. 1282 - d. 1251)
Mihajlo	1211–1213
Ðula Šikloški (Gyula of Siklós)	1213
Ohuz or Okić	1214–1215
Ivan	1215–1216
Poža	1216–1217
Bank	1217–1218
Ðula Šikloški (Gyula of Siklós)	1218–1219	second term
Ohuz or Okić	1219–1220
Šalamon	c. 1222 - c. 1225
Mihajlo or Aladár	1225

Parallel bans of Slavonia and Dalmatia

From 1225 to 1476 there were parallel bans of "the Croatia and Dalmatia" and of "the Whole of Slavonia". The following is the list of the former; the latter are listed at Ban of Slavonia. During the period of separate titles of ban, several persons held both titles, which is indicated in the notes.

Bans of the Dalmatia and Croatia
Name	Reign	Notes
Vojink	1225
Valegin	1226
Stjepan	1243–1251
Butko	1259
Nikola Omedejev (son of Amade Aba)	1272–1273
Paul I Šubić of Bribir	1273–1312
Mladen II Šubić of Bribir	1312–1322
Nikola I Lacković	1342–1343
Nikola Bánffy of Lendava	1345–1346	also at the time the Ban of Slavonia
Pavao Ugal	1350	also at the time the Ban of Slavonia
Stjepan I Lacković	1350–1352	also at the time the Ban of Slavonia
Nikola Bánffy of Lendava	1353–1356	second term, also at the time the Ban of Slavonia
Ivan Ćuz	1356–1358
Nicholas Széchy	1358–1366
Konja Széchényi	1366–1367
Mirko (Emmeric) Lacković	1368
Šimun (Simon) Mauricijev	1369–1371
Charles of Durazzo	1371–1376
Nikola Széchy	1377–1380	second term
Emerik Bubek	1380–1383
Stjepan II Lacković	1383–1384
Toma	1384–1385
John of Palisna or Ivan de Paližna	1385-1386	Co-Ruled with relative Ivan (John) Anjou Horvat de Radics (1385,1386,1387), also at the time the Ban of Slavonia
Ladislav of Lučenac	1387
Dionizij of Lučenac	1387–1389
John of Palisna or Ivan de Paližna	1389	also at the time the Ban of Slavonia
Ivan	1389–1392
Ivan Frankopan of Krk	1391–1393	(died 1393), also at the time the Ban of Slavonia

After the death of King Louis I of Hungary, his daughter Mary succeeded to the throne, which led to kings Charles III and Ladislaus of Naples claiming the Lands of the Crown of St. Stephen. A war erupted between forces loyal to Mary and later to her husband and successor, Sigismund of Luxembourg, and those loyal to Ladislaus.

During this time, Sigismund appointed Nikola II Gorjanski (who was also count palatine) the ban of Croatia and Dalmatia in 1392, Butko Kurjaković in 1394, and then again Gorjanski in the period 1394–1397. Nikola Gorjanski, between 1397 and 1402, was also at the time the Ban of Slavonia, succeeded by Ladislav Grdevacki (1402–1404), Pavao Besenyő (1404), Pavao Pecz (1404–1406), Hermann II of Celje (1406–1408).

Ladislaus in turn appointed his own bans, including Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić. In 1409, this dynastic struggle was resolved when Ladislaus sold his rights over Dalmatia to the Republic of Venice.

Bans of the Dalmatia and Croatia
Name	Reign	Notes
Pavao Kurjaković	1410–1411	co-ruled with Ivan Kurjaković
Petar de Alben	1412–1419
Dionizije IV Lacković	1416–1418	also at the time the Ban of Slavonia
Albert de Ungh	1419–1426
Nikola Frankopan	1426–1432	Son of ban Ivan Frankopan
Stjepan Frankopan	1434–1437	co-ruled with Ivan Frankopan 1434-1436
Ivan Hunyadi	1446–1450
Ladislav Hunyadi	1454–1455
co-Ban Nikola Frankopan	1456–1458	Son of Ban Nikola Frankopan; also at the time the Ban of Slavonia
Pavao Špirančić	1459–1463
Mirko (Emeric) Zapoljski	1464–1465	also at the time the Ban of Slavonia
Ivan Thuz of Lak	1466–1467	also at the time the Ban of Slavonia
Blaž Mađar Podmanički	1470–1472	also at the time the Ban of Slavonia
Nikola Iločki	1472	also at the time the Ban of Slavonia (1457-1463)
Damjan Horvat	1472–1473	also at the time the Ban of Slavonia
Damjan Horvat	1473–1476

Bans of Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia

From 1476 onwards, the titles of Ban of Dalmatia and Croatia and Ban of Whole of Slavonia are again united in the single title of Ban of Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia:

Name	Reign	Notes
Andrija Bánffy of Lendava	1476–1477
Ladislav of Egervár	1477–1481
Blaž Madar Podmanicki	1482
Matija Gereb	1483–1489	known from the Battle of Una
Ladislav of Egervár	1489–1493
Emerik (Mirko) Derencin	1493	known from the Battle of Krbava field
Ivan Bot	1493
Ladislav Kaniški	1493–1495
Ivaniš Korvin	1495–1498
Juraj Kaniški	1498–1499
Ivan Korvin	1499–1504
Franjo Balassa of Gyarmat	1505
Andrija Bot	1505–1507
Marko Mišljenović	1506–1507
Ivan Ernust of Čakovec	1508–1509
Juraj Kaniški	1508–1509
Andrija Bot	1510–1511
Mirko (Emeric) Perényi	1512–1513
Petar Berislavić	1513–1520	known from the Battle of Dubica
Ivan Karlović (Johann Torquatus) of Krbava (Corbavia)	1521–1524
Ivan Tahy	1525
Franjo Baćan (Batthyány)	1525–1527
Krsto (Christopher) Frankopan (Frangepan)	1527	(died 1527) Grandson of Ban Stephen Frankopan

Habsburg-era Croatia

Josip Jelačić, ban of Croatia (1848-1859)

The title of ban persisted in Croatia after 1527 when the country became part of the Habsburg Monarchy, and continued all the way until 1918.

Among the most distinguished bans in Croatian history were the three members of Šubić/Zrinski family - Nikola Šubić Zrinski and his great-grandsons Nikola Zrinski and Petar Zrinski. Also there are two notable Erdödys: Toma Erdödy, great warrior and statesman in one person, and Ivan Erdödy, to whom Croatia owes much for protecting her rights against the Hungarian nobility, his most widely known saying in Latin is Regnum regno non praescribit leges, "a kingdom may not impose laws to a(nother) kingdom".

In the 18th century, Croatian bans eventually become chief government officials in Croatia. They were at the head of Ban's Government, effectively the first prime ministers of Croatia. The most known bans of that era were Josip Jelačić, Ivan Mažuranić and Josip Šokčević

Bans in the Habsburg Monarchy

The Habsburg dynasty ruled Kingdom of Croatia and Slavonia between 1527 and 1848, and appointed the following bans:

Ivan Karlović (Johann Torquatus) of Krbava (Corbavia)	1527–1531	(died 1531) Married Jelena (Ilona) Zrinski
Simon Erdődy with...	1530–1534
Louis Pekry of Petrovina	1532–1537
Tamás Nádasdy opposed by...	1537–1542
Petar Keglević of Buzin	1537–1542
Nikola Šubić Zrinski	1542–1556	(born 1508, died 1566) 1543 married Katalin Frangepan, daughter of Ban Christopher Frangepan
Petar Erdődy of Monyorokerek	1557–1567
Lucas Zekel of Ormosd	1567
Juraj Drašković with...	1567–1575
Fran Frankopan (Frangepan) of Slunj and then...	1567–1573
Gašpar Alapić (Alapy) of Veliki Kalnik (Nagy-Kemle)	1574–1575
Krsto Ungnad of Sonneg	1576–1583
Toma Erdődy of Monyorokerek (Eberau)	1583–1595
Gašpar Stankovački	1595–1596
Ivan II Drašković of Trakošćan	1596–1606	(born 1550, died 1613)
Toma Erdödy	1608–1615
Benedikt Thuroczy	1615–1616
vacant	1616–1617
Nikola Frankopan of Tržac	1617–1622
Juraj V Zrinski	1622–1626
Žigmund (Sigismund) Erdödy	1627–1639
Ivan III Drašković	1639–1646
Nikola VII Zrinski	1647-1664ign	(born 1620, died 1664)
Petar Zrinski	1665–1670
Nikola Erdödy	1670–1693
Adam Baćan (Batthyány)	August 26, 1693 - September 7, 1703
Ivan Pálffy	January 24, 1704 - February 17, 1732
Ivan V Drašković	February 17, 1732 - January 4, 1733	(died 1733)
Josip Eszterházy of Galanta	August 13, 1733 - June 25, 1741
György Branyng	1741–1742
Karlo Baćan (Karl Josef Batthyány)	March 16, 1743 - July 6, 1756
Franjo Leopold Nádasdy opposed by...	1756–1783
Franjo Fauszty	1757- ?
Franjo Eszterházy opposed by...	1783–1785
Franjo Szechenyi	1783–1785
Franjo Balassa of Gyarmat	1785–1790
Ivan Erdödy	1790 - March 30, 1806
Ignaz Gyulai von Máros-Nemethy und Nádaska	1806–1831
Franjo Vlašić	February 10, 1832 - May 16, 1840
Juraj Haulik	1840 - June 16, 1842	Acting Ban
Franz Haller	June 16, 1842 – 1845	(born 1796, died 1875)
Juraj Haulik	1845 - March 23, 1848	Acting Ban

Bans of the interregnum during the Revolutions of 1848

Croatia was a Habsburg crown territory between 1849 and 1867 during which time the following bans were appointed:

Josip Jelačić of Bužim	March 23, 1848 - May 19, 1859	(born 1801, died 1859)
Johann Coronini-Cronberg	July 28, 1859 - June 19, 1860	(born 1794, died 1880)
Josip Šokčević	June 19, 1860 - June 27, 1867	(born 1811, died 1896)

Bans in the Austro-Hungarian Empire

Croatia was returned to Hungarian control in 1867 when the Habsburg Empire was reconstituted as the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary. Between then and 1918 the following bans were appointed:

Levin Rauch	June 27, 1867 - January 26, 1871 (acting to December 8, 1868)	(born 1819, died 1890)
Koloman Bedeković Komorski	January 26, 1871 - February 12, 1872	(born 1818, died 1889)
Antun Vakanović	February 17, 1872 - September 20, 1873	Acting Ban; (born 1808, died 1894)
Ivan Mažuranić	September 20, 1873 - February 21, 1880	(born 1814, died 1890)
Ladislav Pejačević	February 21, 1880 - September 4, 1883	(born 1824, died 1901)
Hermann Ramberg	September 4, 1883 - December 1, 1883	Acting Ban; (born 1820, died 1899)
Dragutin Karoly Khuen-Héderváry	December 4, 1883 - June 27, 1903	(born 1849, died 1918)
Teodor Pejačević	July 1, 1903 - June 26, 1907	(born 1855, died 1928)
Aleksandar Rakodczaj	June 26, 1907 - January 8, 1908	(born 1848, died 1924)
Pavao Rauch of Nyek	January 8, 1908 - February 5, 1910	(born 1865, died 1933)
Nikola Tomašić	February 5, 1910 - January 19, 1912	(born 1864, died 1918)
Slavko Cuvaj	January 19, 1912 - July 21, 1913 (acting from April 5, 1912)	(born 1851, died 1931)
Ivan Skerlecz	July 21, 1913 - June 29, 1917 (acting to November 27, 1913)	(born 1873, died 1951)
Antun Mihalović	June 29, 1917 - January 20, 1919	(born 1868, died 1949)

Kingdom of Yugoslavia

Ban was also the title of the governor of each province (called banovina) of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia between 1929 and 1941. The weight of the title was far less than that of a medieval ban's feudal office. Most of Croatian territory was divided between Sava and Littoral Banovina, but also some parts were outside this provinces.

In 1939 Banovina of Croatia was created with Cvetković-Maček agreement as a unit of limited autonomy. It consisted of Sava and Littoral Banovina along with smaller parts of Vrbas, Zeta, Drina and Danube Banovina's. Ivan Šubašić was appointed for the Ban of Banovina of Croatia until the collapse of Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1941. Šubašić was also the last person who held the position of Croatian Ban.

Bans in the Yugoslav Kingdom

Following a brief period of self-rule at the end of World War I, Croatia was incorporated into the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in 1918, under the Karađorđević dynasty.

Ivan Paleček	January 20, 1919 - November 24, 1919
Tomislav Tomljenović	November 24, 1919 - February 22, 1920
Matko Laginja	February 22, 1920 - December 11, 1920	(born 1852, died 1930)
Teodor Bošnjak	December 23, 1920 - March 2, 1921	acting Ban
Tomislav Tomljenović	March 2, 1921 - July 3, 1921

In 1929, the new Constitution of the Kingdom renamed it Kingdom of Yugoslavia and split up Croatia between several banovinas (provinces):

Bans of the Sava Banovina	Bans of the Littoral Banovina
Name Reign Josip Silović October 3, 1929 - 19.. Ivo N. Perović 19.. - 1935 Marko Kostrenčić 1935–1936 Viktor Ružić 1936 - 26 August 1939	Name Reign Ivo Tartaglia 1929 - June 1932 Josip Jablanović 1932–1935 Mirko Buić 1935 - 26 August 1939

In 1939, the Banovina of Croatia was created with Cvetković-Maček agreement as a unit of limited autonomy within Kingdom of Yugoslavia. It consisted of Sava and Littoral Banovina along with smaller parts of Vrbas, Zeta, Drina and Danube Banovina's.

Ivan Šubašić

August 26, 1939 - April 10, 1941

(born May 7, 1892, died March 22, 1955)

See also

• Croatian Parliament
• List of rulers of Croatia
• History of Croatia
• Timeline of Croatian history
• Tabula Banalis

External links

• "Bans of Croatia and Dalmatia (style Ban Hrvatske i Dalmacije)" at World Statesmen.org