Drašković family - in general

The Drašković family was a magnate family. With their social activity they had a significant impact on historical events in Croatia.

The political circumstances during the sixteenth century dictated that, together with other Croatian nobles, the Drašković family sided with the Habsburgs who sought to centralize their power and gradually introduced absolutism relying on individual clans and personalities. The Drašković family, as zealous supporters of Maximilian II and successful defenders of the Croatian borders, were given large manorial estates as a token of gratitude for their loyalty to the dynastic interests.

Family members successfully performed military and administrative functions, which resulted in their acquisition of the title of barons. The magnate status greatly facilitated career development for the coming generations.

Drašković family – the counts

In the seventeenth century, the members of the Drašković family became counts. In spite of the oscillations and divisions among them, their wealth increased, and they managed to keep together their estates for the next centuries. The Trakošćan estate was the foundation of the continuous growth of wealth and power of the Drašković family.

The family members attained high ecclesiastical offices. Their worldview made them adhere to Catholicism and anti-Reformation movement.

They showed great merit in battles against the Turks. Since the eighteenth century, they had fought as Austrian and royal military officers on battlefields across Europe.

The cultural role that this noble family played should also be emphasized, whether they were involved as active creators, patrons or purchasers of fine arts.

The counts of Drašković had a very long and rich social life. They were involved in almost all contemporary events and attained a distinguished position among the aristocratic families.