Freemasonry in Croatia

Throughout the history, the family members were very much attached to the church and held the highest ranking offices. The cardinal Juraj II was the imperial representative at the Trento Council, and many of the Drašković family members distinguished themselves as zealous defenders of Catholicism. However, Ivan  VIII is associated with the appearance of freemasonry in Croatia. The connection of the Drašković family with the freemasons started with Ivan VIII's father who was a member of the first Austrian lodge.

John VIII first came in touch with Masonic ideas while keeping company with the officers who fought in the Seven Years' War. Together with them, he established a Masonic lodge in Glina in 1759, under the name L'Amitié de Guerre (War Friendship), as the first Masonic lodge in Croatia. John VIII encouraged the establishment of other lodges: in Zagreb, Varaždin and Otočac. In the castle of Klenovnik, in 1777, the constitution that declared autonomy from all foreign lodges as well as statutes and rituals (the so-called Drašković's Observance) were adopted. The Grand Lodge of Croatia, with Ivan VIII as Grand Master until 1784 when he quit the leadership, was established in 1778.