Ferdo Šišic
Encyclopedia
Ferdo Šišić was a Croatian historian, the founding figure of the Croatian historiography
of the 20th century. He made his most important contributions in the area of Croatian early Middle Ages
.
. After graduating from the comprehensive school in Zagreb
in 1888, he studied at the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Zagreb
, earning a "Teacher's Candidate" diploma in the summer of 1892. Prominent Croatians of the age like Natko Nodilo
, Đuro Pilar, Petar Matković, Franjo Marković
and Armin Pavić
were his teachers. Ferdo continued his studies in Vienna
, where he met with even more famous individuals that affected his life's work like Vatroslav Jagić
, Jakob Minor, Josef Seemüller and Rikard Heinke. Šišić returned to Zagreb after the 6th semester
and attended the lectures of Tadija Smičiklas
and Tomislav Maretić
. Between 1892 and 1902 he mostly worked as a teacher. He taught in Gospić
from 1892 to 1893, then in Zagreb
to 1894 and finally in Osijek
until 1902.
In 1900 he obtained his Ph.D. at the Zagreb University with the work "Zadar and Venice from 1159 to 1247". In 1902 he earned his habilitation
with the work "Miha Madijev de Barbezanis" and became the private assistant professor for Croatian history
from the 12th to the 14th century (i.e. until 1409) in the Upper Town comprehensive school in Zagreb, where he earned his fame by 1906 by becoming suplent. For his newfound political beliefs, he was suspended in 1908, but rehired in 1909 as a casual university professor. In 1910 he became a member of the Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts
. His success was mostly connoted to his alleged membership within the Free Masons. He worked continually a university professor until the summer 1937/1938 semester and went into volunteer early retirement in 1939. He died a year later in Zagreb
, in 1940.
in Croatia. His greatest work is History of the Croats Under Home Rule, while his most popular work is Overview of the History of the Croatian People, which was edited by Jaroslav Šidak and widely used for almost five decades. History of the Croats under the Arpad Kings
(1102-1301), an unfinished compilation published after his death, is generally considered below the level of his magnum opus.
Other notable Šišić's books are the important monograph on Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić and a critical edition of Dukljanin's Chronicles. His compilations of Croatian history of later periods (from the 15th to the 19th century) are not as valuable as his epochal history of the Croatian early Middle Ages
.
The work of Ferdo Šišić is characterized by a systematic, objective and informed approach. His opus, however, is the high point of "genetic history" or the archivist's approach, which patiently weaves the tapestry of the chosen period without engaging in speculations that are sometimes necessary to fill the gaps left open by archive materials. Also, the Croatian historiography came to be dominated by the multidisciplinary approach combining demographics, culturology
, history of economy and art only in the second half of the 20th century, putting Šišić in the position of a classic who laid inestimable foundations but cannot be the role model for contemporary historical science.
Another relevant aspect of his work is the personal library he built during his life, containing more than 20,000 titles (books, articles, historiography collections). When he died, those books became the most valuable part of the collection of the Croatian State Archives
in Zagreb. As an expert archivist, Šišić diligently collected materials from numerous collections in Croatia, but also in Hungary, Austria, Britain, France, Italy, Belgium, Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Historiography
Historiography refers either to the study of the history and methodology of history as a discipline, or to a body of historical work on a specialized topic...
of the 20th century. He made his most important contributions in the area of Croatian early Middle Ages
Medieval Croatian state
Medieval Croatia can refer to:* Principality of Pannonian Croatia - medieval duchy in existence between the 7th and 10th centuries A.D.* Principality of Littoral Croatia - medieval principality in existence between the 8th century and 925 A.D....
.
Life
Ferdo was born in VinkovciVinkovci
Vinkovci is a city in Croatia, in the Vukovar-Syrmia County. In the 2011 census, the total population of the city was 35,375, making it the largest town of the county...
. After graduating from the comprehensive school in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
in 1888, he studied at the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Zagreb
University of Zagreb
The University of Zagreb is the biggest Croatian university and the oldest continuously operating university in the area covering Central Europe south of Vienna and all of Southeastern Europe...
, earning a "Teacher's Candidate" diploma in the summer of 1892. Prominent Croatians of the age like Natko Nodilo
Natko Nodilo
Natko Nodilo was Croatian politician, historian, publicist, university professor and rector of the University of Zagreb....
, Đuro Pilar, Petar Matković, Franjo Marković
Franjo Markovic
Franjo Marković , was a Croatian philosopher and writer.He was an academician, the first professor of philosophy at the renovated University of Zagreb in 1874...
and Armin Pavić
Armin Pavić
Armin Pavić was Croatian linguist, university professor and rector of the University of Zagreb.He received a degree in Classical philology and Slavic studies in Vienna in 1864...
were his teachers. Ferdo continued his studies in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, where he met with even more famous individuals that affected his life's work like Vatroslav Jagić
Vatroslav Jagic
Vatroslav Jagić was a Croatian language researcher and a famous expert in Slavic languages in the second half of the 19th century.-Life:...
, Jakob Minor, Josef Seemüller and Rikard Heinke. Šišić returned to Zagreb after the 6th semester
Academic term
An academic term is a division of an academic year, the time during which a school, college or university holds classes. These divisions may be called terms...
and attended the lectures of Tadija Smičiklas
Tadija Smiciklas
Tadija Smičiklas was a Croatian historian and politician.Smičiklas finished gymnasium in Zagreb at the Greek Catholic seminary, and went on to study history and geography in the then imperial capital Vienna...
and Tomislav Maretić
Tomislav Maretic
Tomislav Maretić was a Croatian linguist and lexicographer.He attended primary school in Virovitica and the gymnasium in Varaždin, Požega and Zagreb...
. Between 1892 and 1902 he mostly worked as a teacher. He taught in Gospić
Gospic
Gospić is a town in the mountainous and sparsely populated region of Lika, Croatia. It is the administrative centre of Lika-Senj county. Gospić is located near the Lika River in the middle of a karst field....
from 1892 to 1893, then in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
to 1894 and finally in Osijek
Osijek
Osijek is the fourth largest city in Croatia with a population of 83,496 in 2011. It is the largest city and the economic and cultural centre of the eastern Croatian region of Slavonia, as well as the administrative centre of Osijek-Baranja county...
until 1902.
In 1900 he obtained his Ph.D. at the Zagreb University with the work "Zadar and Venice from 1159 to 1247". In 1902 he earned his habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
with the work "Miha Madijev de Barbezanis" and became the private assistant professor for Croatian history
History of Croatia
Croatia first appeared as a duchy in the 7th century and then as a kingdom in the 10th century. From the 12th century it remained a distinct state with its ruler and parliament, but it obeyed the kings and emperors of various neighboring powers, primarily Hungary and Austria. The period from the...
from the 12th to the 14th century (i.e. until 1409) in the Upper Town comprehensive school in Zagreb, where he earned his fame by 1906 by becoming suplent. For his newfound political beliefs, he was suspended in 1908, but rehired in 1909 as a casual university professor. In 1910 he became a member of the Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts
Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts
The Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts is the national academy of Croatia. It was founded in 1866 as the Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts , and was known by that name for most of its existence.- History :...
. His success was mostly connoted to his alleged membership within the Free Masons. He worked continually a university professor until the summer 1937/1938 semester and went into volunteer early retirement in 1939. He died a year later in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
, in 1940.
The historian
As a scientist, Šišić was primarily interested in the history of the early and high Middle AgesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
in Croatia. His greatest work is History of the Croats Under Home Rule, while his most popular work is Overview of the History of the Croatian People, which was edited by Jaroslav Šidak and widely used for almost five decades. History of the Croats under the Arpad Kings
Árpád dynasty
The Árpáds or Arpads was the ruling dynasty of the federation of the Hungarian tribes and of the Kingdom of Hungary . The dynasty was named after Grand Prince Árpád who was the head of the tribal federation when the Magyars occupied the Carpathian Basin, circa 895...
(1102-1301), an unfinished compilation published after his death, is generally considered below the level of his magnum opus.
Other notable Šišić's books are the important monograph on Hrvoje Vukčić Hrvatinić and a critical edition of Dukljanin's Chronicles. His compilations of Croatian history of later periods (from the 15th to the 19th century) are not as valuable as his epochal history of the Croatian early Middle Ages
Medieval Croatian state
Medieval Croatia can refer to:* Principality of Pannonian Croatia - medieval duchy in existence between the 7th and 10th centuries A.D.* Principality of Littoral Croatia - medieval principality in existence between the 8th century and 925 A.D....
.
The work of Ferdo Šišić is characterized by a systematic, objective and informed approach. His opus, however, is the high point of "genetic history" or the archivist's approach, which patiently weaves the tapestry of the chosen period without engaging in speculations that are sometimes necessary to fill the gaps left open by archive materials. Also, the Croatian historiography came to be dominated by the multidisciplinary approach combining demographics, culturology
Culturology
Culturology is the branch of Social Sciences concerned with the scientific understanding, description, analysis and prediction of cultural activities, cultural systems and culture broadly-construed.-History of the term in Russia:...
, history of economy and art only in the second half of the 20th century, putting Šišić in the position of a classic who laid inestimable foundations but cannot be the role model for contemporary historical science.
The politician and archivist
Šišić was politically engaged as a member of the Croato-Serbian Coalition from 1908 to 1917. His biographers sometimes talk about Šišić's political inconstancy, material ambitions, weak character and opportunism. But Šišić is neither interesting nor relevant as a politician. His lasting contribution to the Croatian culture and science is his gigantic and painstaking opus in historiography, including more than 450 works.Another relevant aspect of his work is the personal library he built during his life, containing more than 20,000 titles (books, articles, historiography collections). When he died, those books became the most valuable part of the collection of the Croatian State Archives
Croatian State Archives
The Croatian State Archives are the national archives of Croatia located in its capital, Zagreb. The history of the state archives can be traced back to the 17th century. There are also regional state archives located in Bjelovar, Dubrovnik, Gospić, Karlovac, Osijek, Pazin, Rijeka, Sisak,...
in Zagreb. As an expert archivist, Šišić diligently collected materials from numerous collections in Croatia, but also in Hungary, Austria, Britain, France, Italy, Belgium, Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Works
- Hrvatski saborski spisi (Documents of the Croatian Parliament)
- Ljetopis popa Dukljanina (Dukljanin's Chronicles)
- Korespodencija Rački-Strossmayer (Correspondence between RačkiFranjo RackiFranjo Rački was a Croatian historian, politician and writer. He compiled important collections of old Croatian diplomatic and historical documents, wrote some pioneering historical works, and was a key founder of the Yugoslavian Academy of Sciences and Arts.-Historian:Rački was born in Fužine,...
and StrossmayerJosip Juraj StrossmayerJosip Juraj Strossmayer was a Croatian politician, Roman Catholic bishop and benefactor.-Early life and rise as a cleric:...
) - Dokument o postanku Kraljevine SHS (Document on the Creation of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes)
- Hrvatska povijest (Croatian History)
- Pregled povijesti hrvatskog naroda (Overview of the History of the Croatian People)
- Povijest Hrvata u vrijeme narodnih vladara (History of the Croats Under Home Rule), Zagreb, 1925
- Poviest Hrvata za kraljeva iz doma Arpadovića (1102.-1301.) (History of the Croats under the Arpad KingsÁrpád dynastyThe Árpáds or Arpads was the ruling dynasty of the federation of the Hungarian tribes and of the Kingdom of Hungary . The dynasty was named after Grand Prince Árpád who was the head of the tribal federation when the Magyars occupied the Carpathian Basin, circa 895...
(1102–1301)), Zagreb, 1944