Religious, Social and National Goals of the Istrian Bishop Juraj Dobrila

Abstract

The article explores the key influences on the activities of Juraj Dobrila (1812–82), a bishop who played a pivotal role in the national integration of Istrian Croats. Istria, a peninsula situated in the northern Adriatic Sea, had been a meeting point between Croatian, Slovenian, and Italian populations. In the nineteenth century, the Italian bourgeoisie dominated the area. The article highlights Bishop Dobrila’s attitudes and efforts, characterised by the convergence of religious, social, and national aspirations. It also examines his achieved results and his complex relationships with both ecclesiastical and secular authorities. Despite enjoying the trust of the Holy See and the Habsburg authorities, Bishop Dobrila was unable to secure their full support for his primary goal – the establishment of a boys’ seminary (lat. seminarium puerorum) in central Istria. The bishop relied on his own resources and local collaborators to improve the challenging conditions faced by the rural population, predominantly Istrian Croats, in the early stages of national integration. By investing significant efforts and resources, Bishop Dobrila aimed to promote education and literacy. His initiatives laid down a solid foundation for organised political and national mobilisation among Istrian Croats, which continued to grow after his death.