Chest of Privileges: Most valuable records of the Kingdom of Dalmatia, Croatia and Slavonia
- by croatiaweek
- in News
(Photo credit: Croatian State Archives)
ZAGREB, 18 Oct (Hina) – A monograph called “Chest of Privileges” that presents copies of 144 documents stored in the historically important Chest of privileges of the Kingdom of Dalmatia, Croatia and Slavonia was launched on Tuesday in the building of the State Archives in Zagreb on the occasion of State Archives Days.
The State Archives institute says on its website that “on the basis of the Parliament resolution of 1643 terrestrial treasurer Ivan Zakmardi de Diankovec gives orders to make a special chest of Kingdom privileges financed by the state.”
“Terrestrial acts, charters, laws and privileges, accompanied with the inventory, were kept in there, so it established the foundation of the present” Croatian State Archives.
(Photo credit: Croatian State Archives)
The monograph by author Maja Pajnić is also translated into English and German.
(Photo credit: Croatian State Archives)
Also, a new replica of the Chest was presented today. The replica was made by Roman Fraj Sladoljev and will be put on display in the building of the Archives.
In the 18th century, the Croatian Parliament took measures to preserve and organize the Kingdom’s records, moving the Chest of privileges from the cathedral to the Parliament chamber. The Croatian Royal Council initiated the systematic categorization of historical documents, leading to the appointment of the first permanent archivist, Ivan Zrnčić, in 1800. In the mid-19th century, the Royal archives began evolving into an independent institution, with Ivan Kukuljević Sakcinski overseeing the restitution of Croatian archival records from abroad.
(Photo credit: Croatian State Archives)
After the Croatian-Hungarian settlement in 1868, the Archives became accessible to scholars, and the issuance of the Bulletin the archives began in 1899. The Archives received various important records, including military documents and county records, and moved to its current location in a new building in 1913. Despite being temporarily relocated to Budapest, the Archives regained its autonomy between the World Wars and was formally certified as an independent institution.
(Photo credit: Croatian State Archives)
In the latter half of the 20th century, it transformed into the Croatian central archive, establishing specialized units such as a laboratory and film archives to enhance its archival services.
(Photo credit: Croatian State Archives)
Croatian State Archives Days are observed from 17 to 22 October. This year, they are dedicated to the 380th anniversary of the manufacturing of the Chest and to the 110th anniversary of the construction of the building in Marulićev Trg square in Zagreb, which houses the State Archives.
