Antemurale Christianitatis
Encyclopedia
Antemurale Christianitatis (Latin for the Bulwark of Christianity) was a country defending frontiers of Christian Europe from the Ottoman Empire.
Pope Leo X
called Croatia
the Antemurale Christianitatis in 1519, given that Croatian soldiers made significant contributions to the struggle against the Turks
. The advancement of Ottoman Empire in Europe was stopped on Croatian soil, which could be in this sense regarded as a historical gate of European civilization. Nevertheless the Muslim Ottoman civilization conquered part of Croatia from the 15th to the 19th century and a large number of Croats, having remained on their occupied soil, converted to Islam
.
For its centuries-long stance against the Muslim advances, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth would gain the name of Antemurale Christianitatis. In 1683, the Battle of Vienna
marked the final turning point in a 250-year struggle between the forces of Christian
Europe and the Islam
ic Ottoman Empire
. Wespazjan Kochowski
in his Psalmodia polska (The Polish Psalmody, 1695) tells about the special role of Poland
in the world (antemurale christianitatis – the bulwark
of Christianity
) and the superiority of Polish
political system
(złota wolność – the golden liberty
).
Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X , born Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, was the Pope from 1513 to his death in 1521. He was the last non-priest to be elected Pope. He is known for granting indulgences for those who donated to reconstruct St. Peter's Basilica and his challenging of Martin Luther's 95 Theses...
called Croatia
Croatia in personal union with Hungary
Kingdom of Croatia after the succession crisis become a part of Kingdom of Hungary and — depending on sources — either was incorporated into Hungary or Croatia existed in a personal union with Hungary....
the Antemurale Christianitatis in 1519, given that Croatian soldiers made significant contributions to the struggle against the Turks
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. The advancement of Ottoman Empire in Europe was stopped on Croatian soil, which could be in this sense regarded as a historical gate of European civilization. Nevertheless the Muslim Ottoman civilization conquered part of Croatia from the 15th to the 19th century and a large number of Croats, having remained on their occupied soil, converted to Islam
Islam in Croatia
Islam in Croatia was introduced by the Ottoman Empire. Muslims constitute about 1.3% of the population of Croatia. The Islamic Community of Croatia is officially recognized by the state....
.
For its centuries-long stance against the Muslim advances, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth would gain the name of Antemurale Christianitatis. In 1683, the Battle of Vienna
Battle of Vienna
The Battle of Vienna took place on 11 and 12 September 1683 after Vienna had been besieged by the Ottoman Empire for two months...
marked the final turning point in a 250-year struggle between the forces of Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
Europe and the Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. Wespazjan Kochowski
Wespazjan Kochowski
Wespazjan Kochowski was one of the most noted historians and poets of Polish Baroque, the most typical representative of the philosophy and literature of Sarmatism.- Life :Kochowski was associated with Małopolska during all his life...
in his Psalmodia polska (The Polish Psalmody, 1695) tells about the special role of Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
in the world (antemurale christianitatis – the bulwark
Bulwark
Bulwark may refer to:*A bastion or fortifications in general*In naval terminology, an extension of a ship's sides above deck level*HMS Bulwark, any of several Royal Navy ships*USS Bulwark, any of several US Navy ships...
of Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
) and the superiority of Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
political system
Political system
A political system is a system of politics and government. It is usually compared to the legal system, economic system, cultural system, and other social systems...
(złota wolność – the golden liberty
Liberty
Liberty is a moral and political principle, or Right, that identifies the condition in which human beings are able to govern themselves, to behave according to their own free will, and take responsibility for their actions...
).
See also
- Holy League (1538)Holy League (1538)The Holy League of 1538 was a short-lived alliance of Christian states arranged by Pope Paul III at the urging of the Republic of Venice.In 1537 the Ottoman corsair and admiral Barbarossa Hayreddin, Pasha of Algiers, had nearly captured the Venetian stronghold of Corfu and ravaged the coasts of...
- Holy League (1571)
- Holy League (1684)Holy League (1684)Holy League of 1684 was initiated in by Pope Innocent XI, and composed of the Holy Roman Empire, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Venetian Republic. Tsardom of Russia joined the League in 1686. This alliance opposed the Ottoman Empire in the Great Turkish War and lasted until the Treaty...
- Holy League (1717)Holy League (1717)The Holy League of 1717 was one of many coalitions organised by the Papal States to deal with the Ottoman threat.This last one comprised Portugal, the Republic of Venice and Malta.-Background:...
- Christ of EuropeChrist of EuropeThe Christ of Europe is the messianic doctrine based in New Testament, first popularized among various European nations by the Church of Jesus Christ of Europe in the 16th to the 18th centuries...
External links
- http://uni-graz.academia.edu/EvaPosch/Papers/311110/Tourist_Narratives_of_Identity_-_How_CEE_SEE_countries_negotiate_European_national_and_regional_identities_by_constructing_historical_narratives_in_tourist_materialsCroatia was already called "Antemurale Christianitatis" (The Frontwall of Christianity) since the battle of Krbava field in 1493 - text by Eva Posch, M.Sc., University of Graz, Austria]
- Pope Leo X called Croatia "Antemurale Christianitatis" (Shield of Christianity) in 1519
- Pope Leo X honoured the Croatians with the title "Antemurale Christianitatis" - "The Bulwark of Christianity"
- Antemurale Christianitatis - Bulwark of Christianity (video)
- Croatia was given the honourable title "Antemurale Christianitatis" by the pope Leo X (video)