1. Brlog woven into my being

In this place very sacred to me

In deep thought…

I recalled, with my heart full and heavy gloom,

A tender childhood that was once mine.

Because every little corner of this ruin

Reminds me of happy days

My childhood and childhood dreams.

Everything seems like it was last year.

It is linked to Emilij’s peaceful and carefree childhood and early youth, family warmth, and the most important people. Peaceful land, meadows, gardens, orchards and forests, Kupa river that flows calmly under the town, scents and sights – everything was woven into his being.

The place where he came from shaped the essence and character of Laszowski, his affinities, personality, love, and then also that eternal remorse for the loss of that most important, almost imaginary place for him… He always returned to it as a symbol of a happier past.

His hometown inspired him all of his life. It was the origin of all his endeavours and determined his destiny in many ways – his calling, service, love for the Croatian history and heritage, literary, professional and scientific work… The first published work of the then 21-year-old was an article titled Brlog na Kupi i njegovi gospodari (Brlog na Kupi and its masters) from 1889.

Brlog shaped him and its loss marked him. He outpoured only a part of his grief, present throughout his life, in his poem Brlog-grad from 1897.

1.1: Town of Brlog na Kupi

Josip Horvat Međimurec, 1939

At his 50th birthday celebration, which was ceremoniously organised for him by his friends from the “Brethren of the Croatian Dragon” Society in 1918, there were many speakers and a plentiful program. On that occasion he was given a monetary gift as a smidgen towards getting back my cradle, the town of Brlog, or to dispose of it as I please…

Nostalgia for the lost hometown was well known to all his Brothers, but even though it was valuable, the donated money was not sufficient to buy what was left of it. And almost a quarter of a century after the public auction in which Brlog was sold and subsequently almost completely demolished, that event was still painfully present for Laszowski.

1.3: From a trip to Brlog

Photographer unknown, Brlog, 1940

Laszowski standing forth from the left.

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1.2: Brlog

Vladimir Horvat, Brlog, 1929

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1.4: Model of the town of Brlog na Kupi

Emilij Laszowski, Zagreb, 1905

This small plaster and wood model was made by Laszowski at a time when the town of his childhood had been gone for 11 years, that is, only a part of the eastern main wing remained. Observing the model, one cannot but get an impression that he made it to at least make such Brlog tangible, real.

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Family roots grown together with the Brlog landscape

Emilij Laszowski was born on April 1, 1868 in Brlog na Kupi and was christened as Emilij Filip at the Brlog chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Čisla on the same day. He was born so frail and ill that his family thought he would not survive. Therefore, a man without hope for life… as he described his first days in his diary entries.

His father was a Pole, Sigismund Laszowski Szeliga (1830 – 1868), of noble roots, with a Polish father and a German mother, an Austrian officer, first lieutenant, born in Galicia. Mother Sidonija Šufflay Otruševečka (1844 – 1916) was a Croatian noblewoman, and her family was also of German origin.

Sidonia married his father in 1865. Their happiness did not last long, because already in 1866, Sigismund (or Žiga as he was called) went to war that led between Austria and Prussia. During the war, he fell seriously ill with pneumonia and returned to his wife in Brlog. He never met his son. He died only a few months after Emilij’s birth, in a hospital in Graz, where he was treated unsuccessfully.

For Emilij Laszowski those unfortunate beginnings were compensated with love and attention, first of all, by his self-sacrificing mother, Sidonija, who was completely dedicated to her only child, and by his grandfather, Filip Šufflay Otruševečki, the only real father figure in the life of Emilček (little Emilij), as the boy was affectionately called.

1.5: Sigismund Laszowski Szeliga

Emilija Skrowni Laszowski, 1898

Father of Emilij Laszowski. Painting was painted based on a photograph by Emilij’s first wife.

1.6: Sidonija Laszowski Szeliga

Spiridon Milanese, 1874

Mother of Emilij Laszowski.

1.7: Vjenčani list Sigismunda i Sidonije

Kamanje, excerpt from 1873

Parents of Emilij Laszowski got married in Brlog on 22 June 1865 .

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1.8: Birth certificate of Emilij Laszowski

Extract from baptism register, Kamanje, April 15, 1913

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1.9: Emilije Laszowski

Ferdo Kelemen, Zagreb, circa 1871

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1.10: Emilije Laszowski

Ferdo Kelemen, Zagreb, circa 1872

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1.11: Genealogical listing of Emilij Laszowski

Milovan Petković and Ana Jakić-Divković, Zagreb, 1999

1.12: Family crest of Laszowski Szeliga

Vjera Bojničić–Zamola, beginning of 20th century

Lords of Brlog

The town of Brlog is located near Ozalj, on the plateau above the right bank of the Kupa.

In his travel sketch Brlog na Kupi from 1889 Dušan Lopašić described it, in a romantic tone typical of the 19th century, as follows: On the hillside of the wooded river Kupa, right next to its silver waves, the Burlog-Town frowns, like an eagle that has spread its wings and sits on a bare rock. Baltazar Adam Krčelić, Croatian historian of the 18th century, described it as an elegans castellum.

The castle was a large building, built over several centuries, surrounded by gardens with exotic trees, orchards, vineyards, forests… With four one-story wings, a rectangular inner courtyard with arcaded porches, on the courtyard side with a tall recognizable tower with a clock and two bells and a steep four-sided hip roof, it had a special charm of diverse stylistic features.

Laszowski was fascinated by Zrinski and Frankapan families all his life, and the root of that love can be found again in Brlog.

The town was first mentioned in sources in 1562. The oldest structure was that of Prince Stephen III Frankapan Ozaljski built in the first half of the 16th century, which in 1544 became the property of Nikola IV Šubić Zrinski, Croatian ban, a hero of Sziget upon formation of a community of estates. According to the heritage contract, the Zrinski family acquired all the estates of the Frankapan Ozaljski family. This oldest structure in Brlog was destroyed by the Ottomans in 1582.

Towards the end of the 16th century brothers Juraj IV and Nikola V Zrinski built a fortified castle protected by a wall, with trenches filled with water and embankments. Brlog was the allodium of the Ozalj manor, a hunting court.

1.13: In front of Brlog Town – Laszowski and Matilda (Tilly) baroness Clauer

Photographer unknown, Brlog na Kupi, 1918

Main eastern front of the Town is in the photograph.

Photograph is from the album Our summer of 1918 made by Laszowski with notes under photographs.

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After the downfall of the Zrinski-Frankapan Revolt of 1670, all of the Petar Zrinski’s estates were confiscated, including Brlog. It was in the possession of the royal fisc until 1682, when King Leopold I gifted it to Prince Janko Šubić of Peranski. Brlog was thus separated from Ozalj and became the centre of a separate manor. In the period between 1682 and 1689, the new owner expanded the manor and built on a brick floor, and his daughter Barbara Sidonija married Delišimunović built a chapel in the late 17th or early 18th century.

The biggest additions to Brlog took place during the time of the owner Sigmund Benevenuto Count von Petazzi. From 1746 to 1756, he thoroughly renovated the older manor house and the chapel, added the western wing with a large staircase and basement, and built a new southern and eastern wing of the castle. This gave Brlog the appearance of a baroque representative court, as remembered by Laszowski. Petazzi also built outbuildings, a greenhouse around the castle, he designed a garden, arranged a pond and built a mill on the river Kupa, the remains of which are still visible on the riverbank.

In 1836, Count Petazzi’s granddaughter Julijana and her sisters’ heirs sold Brlog to Filip Šufflay Otruševečki, Emilij Laszowski’s grandfather.

This is how the new story of this court begins.

1.14: Brlog na Kupi

Emil Laszowski, 1896

MKM, FKB

Last owners of Brlog

Filip Aleksandar Šufflay Otruševečki (1794 – 1882) was a special man, an eternal role model for his grandson Emilij, a father figure, the embodiment of justice and character, a moral authority, the one who nurtured him, raised him with his mother, who taught him everything and played a crucial role in shaping of his life, outlook, affinities, education… He was a lawyer by education, a Croatian nobleman by birth, originating from a family of German miners from the Württemberg area who settled near Samobor mid-16th century, and to whom in 1675 King Leopold I granted the Croatian-Hungarian nobility.

In 1889 Dušan Lopašić wrote about him in Svjetlo as follows:

Who did not know Filip Šuflaj? I have to admit that even in the early days I heard a lot and a lot about that man, who was not of an ordinary mind, but a man who rose from humble beginnings to become the lord of the town of Brlog, the owner of the castle of Šimunec and Bubnjarac, who started thinking about the barony, who rose from the son of a citizen of Samobor to great honours and reputation. Whenever I was in Brlog, I looked at Filip Šuflaj’s cheerful face a hundred times, so I wanted to see his soul. But in vain, whoever wants to understand this man should look at his works, study his life, read his memoirs and poems, almost all written in Latin, contemplate his library, which contains historical, legal, medical, statistical, economic works, and at every task, Filip Šuflaj was a complete man…

1.15: Filip Šufflay

Circa 1860

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1.15: Filip Šufflay

Circa 1860

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1.16: 60th anniversary of the death of an exceptional Croatian economist Filip Aleks Noble Šufflay

E.L. (Emilij Laszowski) / Nova Hrvatska, 1942

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In the article, 60th anniversary of the death of a brilliant excellent Croatian economist Filip Alek. Noble Šufflay, then already 74-year-old Emilij Laszowski (signed as E. L.), describes the importance of his grandfather as a successful owner of an estate with rich income. It also touches upon his grandfather’s character in relation to servants and peasants:

As a “gentleman of the land”, he almost never used his power to the detriment of the serfs, what is more, he remained a friend and aid to the people after the abolition of serfdom… He was honourable and good towards his “companions” – his servants…

During the Šufflay era, it was a palace with large rooms, elaborate furniture and paintings, porcelain-tiled and marble stoves, stucco walls, a large dining room and a table for 72 persons (!), a salon, an alchemy lab (because grandfather was also involved in this), a billiard room, library, city archives and museum – in fact a collection of weapons and armour in the octagonal room above the beautiful baroque chapel. Along with all other farm buildings that were already located around the town, it is interesting that Šufflay built a silk mill – a silk spinning mill….

Filip Šufflay died in 1882, at the age of 89, and was buried in the Brlog chapel next to his wife, Barbara Babok Vukšinečka. They had ten children and they also had six grandchildren.

In his will, he left the Brlog property to his youngest daughter Sidonija for lifelong use. She also inherited money and the complete castle equipment as well as one third of the estate. The other two thirds were inherited by three of Filip’s grandchildren, the children of the late Emilija, Sidonija’s sister, and Josip Tomašić.

Emilij was 14 years old when his grandfather left this earth. It was also an end of an era, the end of true carefreeness.

1.17: Plan of the park and garden around the town of Brlog in 1888

Emilij Laszowski, 1945.

In the right corner, Laszowski writes Plan of the park and garden around the Town of Brlog in 1888. In the lower right corner, there is signature visible stating By memory of E. Laszowski. The year of manufacture is smeared with ink. The plan was inserted into a folder titled in his handwriting Drafts etc. on the restoration of the Town of Brlog. Conceived by E. Laszowski in 1896.

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Greatest family grief – devastation of the hometown

The town of Brlog and the estate would be sold at a public auction 11 years after the death of Filip Šufflay due to family disputes over the inheritance and soon the court would be almost completely demolished.

After her father’s death, Sidonija tried to run the estate independently, but made a decision that would ultimately seal the fate of Brlog.

According to Filip’s last will, Sidonija was obliged to take care of her nephews, Nikola, Emilija and Bela Tomašić, and they were to receive their two-thirds of the estate only after her death. Sidonija was supposed to take care of her disinherited brother Julije Šufflay with a life annuity and housing in Brlog.

Unfortunately, she listened to the advice of Fr. Sapčić, tutor of her underage nephews, and in 1884 dissolved the co-ownership relationship. This made her the sole owner of Brlog, but she had to pay her nephews a great sum of money, but she did so only partially, remaining indebted to them. Julija paid it off in full. This left her with no means to run the estate. Nature got involved as well, so the biggest income – the sale of wine – failed due to vine disease. That is why she came into conflict with her family, and her marriage to Stojan Klaić, manager of the Ribnica manor, did not help either. There were family lawsuits, foreclosures, she asked for loans…

1.18: Brlog na Kupi – Dvor Delišimunović from the 17th century, before partial demolition

Emilij Laszowski, Brlog, 1896

MKM, FKB

1.19: In the birth room in Brlog

Photographer unknown, 1912

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1.19: In the birth room in Brlog

Photographer unknown, 1912

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Nikola Tomašić (1864 – 1918), Emilij’s first cousin, son of his aunt Emilija, future doctor and professor of law and Croatian ban, from childhood – as a few years older -a great role model of Emilij, was at the time of the family “affair” with the inheritance Brlog the main culprit for its downfall.

Out of many feelings of resentment, then 25-year-old Nikola started a lawsuit against Sidonija in 1889. In the end, Brlog was put up for public auction in 1892, the equipment of the manor was sold in 1893, and finally the old town was almost completely demolished in 1894. This made Sidonija and Emilij with his wife Emilija and daughter Feodora homeless.

Tomašić certainly felt remorse later for that act and remained Emilij’s protector all his life. He helped him financially and with political connections, during the time when he was ban he mediated in the realisation of many of his social actions and ideas, and he also left him a larger financial inheritance after his death.

Emilij eventually forgave Nikola, actually relatively quickly, because they had been very close since childhood. But the sorrow for the beloved town never abated. He managed to reach Brlog before the complete demolition.

He wrote about that day: … I painfully felt this moment, as if some part of my being was breaking…

1.20: Emilija Tomašić with Nikola and Ema

Photographer unknown, circa 1870

Aunt of Emilij Laszowski Emilija (Milka), sister of his mother Sidonija, with two out three of her children – Nikola and Ema.

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1.22: Bela Tomašić

Atelier Varga, Zagreb, circa 1886

Emilij Laszowski’s cousin, third child of Emilij’s aunt Emilija and Josip Tomašić.

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1.21: Josip Tomašić

Photographer unknown, circa 1870

Husband of Emilij’s aunt Emilija.

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1.22: Bela Tomašić

Atelier Varga, Zagreb, circa 1886

Emilij Laszowski’s cousin, third child of Emilij’s aunt Emilija and Josip Tomašić.

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1.23: Julije Šufflay

A. Suppan, 1864

Emilij Laszowski’s uncle.

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1.23: Julije Šufflay

A. Suppan, 1864

Emilij Laszowski’s uncle.

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End of an era

Mother Sidonija also felt a great remorse over the loss of Brlog. After living as a subtenant in Zagreb for a short time, she secretly went to New York. Her intention was to earn enough money to give it to her son and try to compensate him somewhat for the loss of the estate. In America, she married a German farmer Friedrich Stoll for the third time and became an American citizen. She stayed there for 13 years and often sent her son money. After the death of her husband, she returned to Zagreb, stayed for two years, and at the age of 64, made a sudden decision to return to the USA. But soon she returned, due to illness and exhaustion. For the rest of her life, and she died in 1916, she lived with her son Emilij and his family.

She was an energetic, intelligent woman, and very romantic, you could say just like her son. She was always worried about him, always wanted to help him. Maybe she was overdoing it, but Emilij himself wrote that he was a spoiled child. For Emilij, she was a role model of a mother, he was gentle and generous towards her. His mother’s death deeply saddened him and he mourned her profoundly and lastingly. In the end, he would be buried in the same tomb with his mother at Mirogoj, and not next to one of his three deceased wives.

1.24: Main portal of the easter wing of the town of Brlog

A. Bugar, Brlog, 2023

The year 1750 is carved into the headstone of the portal. There is a memorial plaque dedicated to Emilij Laszowski to the right of the entrance. Brlog is owned by the Petrina family.

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1.25: Memorial plaque of Emilij Laszowski on the ruins of the Town Brlog na Kupi

A. Bugar, Brlog, 2023

Memorial plaque, made by the sculptor Stjepan Divković, placed by “Brethren of the Croatian Dragon” Society on the occasion of the 130th birthday of Emilij Laszowski, 11 April 1998.

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1.26: Detail of a wooden gate of the main

portal of the eastern wing of the town of Brlog

A. Bugar, Brlog, 2023

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1.27: Parts of a collapse on the site of the former northern wing of the town of Brlog

A. Bugar, Brlog, 2023

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1.28: In front of the door inside the house, in the former eastern wing of the town of Brlog

A. Bugar, Brlog, 2023

The year 1746 is engraved in the keystone of the door.
In the picture, Mrs. Lucija Busija (in the middle), the sister of the current owner of the house, Mr. Ivan Petrina, and the authors of the exhibition, Dajana Batinić and Milena Bušić.

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1.29: Vaulted basement of the eastern wing of the town of Brlog

M. Bušić, Brlog, 2023

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1.30: In front of the main portal of the town of Brlog

M. Bušić, Brlog, 2023

In the picture, Mr. Ivan Petrina, owner of the house built on the foundations of the town of Brlog
with his sister Mrs. Lucija Busija (in the middle), and the authors of the exhibition, Dajana Batinić and Aleksandra Bugar.

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