IN THE SERVICE OF THE MIGHTY KING: POLITICAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE COUNTS OF BLAGAJ AND KING SIGISMUND OF LUXEMBURG

The Counts of Blagaj were descendants of the noble Babonić family, which was one of the most powerful magnate families not only in medieval Slavonia, but in the whole medieval Realm of Saint Stephen (Kingdom of Hungary-Croatia), during the second half of the 13th and the beginning of the 14th century. While the second half of the 14th century represents the period of their decline, the same cannot be said of the very end of the 14th and the first four decades of the 15th century, which was when King Sigismund of Luxemburg was on the Hungarian-Croatian throne. The latter period was significantly marked by the dynamic and not always beneficial relations between the Counts of Blagaj and King Sigismund of Luxemburg. Therefore, the main goal of this paper is to analyse various questions concerning the political relations between the Counts of Blagaj and King Sigismund of Luxemburg during his long reign as the king of the Realm of Saint Stephen. First of all, it shall be analysed how resolute and firm the Counts of Blagaj were as opponents of King Sigismund in the last decade of the 14th century, that is, during the period of his constant abject struggle to gain and keep the Hungarian-Croatian throne. Further on, it shall be analysed what kind of socio-political mechanisms and family connections had influenced the change of this political position in the first decade of the 15th century. Moreover, several other questions will be asked – did all members of the Blagaj Dinasty have the same political agenda towards King Sigismund; was there among them any individual who defined the family policy towards the King; what did it actually mean to serve the King faithfully; and finally, was there any and, if so, how important was the economical and geopolitical benefit of loyal service to King Sigismund of Luxemburg for the Counts of Blagaj