Matija Mažuranić

Who was Matija Mažuranić?

Matija Mažuranić, was a Croatian writer.

Travelogue writer, brother of more noted Ivan, the writer of the well-known wpic Smrt Smail-age Čengića. He attended a German school in his native town, where he was trained to became a blacksmith. Often he indulged into travels, and exceptionally in a few occasions to Bosnia. In 1841 he was back to Novi, practicing his craft and agriculture, but also engaging in literature and cultural issues in general. In 1847 he ended up in Vienna, in 1848 again in Bosnia. At the end of 1848, in a latter addressed to his brothers he says: "I don't know when I shall return home, for I have been, I'm afraid, created for this country. Turks are very fond of me for my prudence, they say, and rayah grows ever more trust in me, and therefrom there is no other outcome but mitre on the head or a stake in the arse". After Sarajevo, Matija went to Istanbul, and according to some legends even further, to Suez and the Egypt. In 1852 Matija was back to Novi, where he settled until growing ill in 1879.