Croatian Greats (2017 - 2018)

In the turbulent 16th century, when the Ottomans were attempting to conquer Europe, there lived probably the most celebrated Croatian great figure – Nikola Šubić Zrinski. But did you know that young Nikola, due to his family status, in today’s terms was part of the “golden youth”? But instead of wrecking cars, Nikola from an early age was smashing the Ottomans, and already as a young man he took part in numerous other battles before the famous Siege of Szigetvár...

Ivan Mažuranić is part of the school curriculum because of the work *“The Death of Smail-aga Čengić”*, but also in your wallet on the 100 kuna banknote. But did you know that this literary classic is present in our everyday life through the words he coined (ice cream, rhinoceros...) as well as through the reforms he introduced into our schools. Precisely because of his influence, Joana Kornelija Emilija Henrijeta, that is, Ivana Brlić Mažuranić, also began her literary career...

He is one of the greatest minds of humankind, and his genius was accompanied by an intriguing character. By following his life, the team behind the series managed to uncover a secret you may not have known, Tesla’s final invention. Do you think it has something to do with energy transmission, magnetic induction, and alternating current, or perhaps with something that will completely change the human race? There is only one way to find out….

Few spoke of the homeland with such passion, few were imprisoned already in their youth like him. Discover his incredible life story, of shortsightedness, poverty, geese in the fog, of the life and work of the man who mobilized millions of Croatian peasants... From his native Desno Trebarjevo to the assassination in Belgrade!

A polymath, linguist, inventor, diplomat, engineer, bishop. The “father” of *homo volans*, the blueprint according to which the bridges in San Francisco and Dubrovnik were built, and a series of things that surround us. Find out how that genius lived and why he was the second man of Europe!

On 16 December 1914, Ivan pl. Zajc, composer and conductor, the founder of Croatian opera, a favorite of both fortune and the audience, left us. Lisinski, on the other hand, was born for great things, but fate took his health, then his work, love, fame... Which of them is the son of a butcher, who delights in the scent of roses and snuffing tobacco, who changed his name, and who changed musical history?

Marin Držić, a Croatian comedy writer, was a painter and interpreter of Dubrovnik Renaissance society, yet so brilliant that his works also depict our contemporary society. He wrote and staged comedies, dramas, and tragedies, and some of his most famous works are *Dundo Maroje*, *Skup*, *Novela od Stanca*, and the tragedy *Hecuba*. We will find out why he was beaten, where the nickname Vidra comes from, and what connection he has with football and Shakespeare.