Croatian-Slovenian peasant revolt

Croatian–Slovene Peasant Revolt
A non-contemporary representation of the execution of Matija Gubec at the square in front of st. Mark's Church in Zagreb, by Oton Iveković (1912)
Date 28 January–9 February 1573 Location Northwest Croatia, Carniola and Styria, Habsburg Monarchy Result Rebellion suppressed
Belligerents
Croatian and Slovene peasants	Croatian, Styrian and Carniolan nobility Uskoks
Commanders and leaders
Matija Gubec Ilija Gregorić Ivan Pasanec Nikola Kupinić	Gašpar Alapić Josip Thurn
Strength
8,000-12,000 peasants	5,000 soldiers
Casualties and losses
3,000-5,000 killed

The Croatian–Slovene Peasant Revolt (Slovene: hrvaško-slovenski kmečki upor), Gubec's Rebellion (Croatian: Gupčeva buna) or Gubec's peasant uprising of 1573 was a large peasant revolt in the territory that nowadays belongs to Croatia and Slovenia. The revolt, sparked by cruel treatment of serfs by Baron Ferenc Tahy, ended after 12 days with the defeat of the rebels and bloody retribution by the nobility.

In the late 16th century, the threat of Ottoman incursions strained the economy of the southern flanks of the Holy Roman Empire, and feudal lords continually increased their demands on the peasantry. In Croatian Zagorje, this was compounded by cruel treatment of peasants by baron Ferenc Tahy and his warring with neighbouring barons over land. When multiple complaints to the emperor went unheard, the peasants conspired to rebel with their peers in the neighbouring provinces of Styria and Carniola and with the lower classes of townspeople.

The rebellion broke out simultaneously in large parts of Croatia, Styria, and Carniola on 28 January 1573. The rebels' political program was to replace the nobility with peasant officials answerable directly to the emperor, and to abolish all feudal holdings and obligations of the Roman Catholic Church. A peasant government was formed with Matija Gubec, Ivan Pasanac and Ivan Mogaić as members. Far-reaching plans were drawn up, including abolition of provincial borders, opening of highways for trade, and self-rule by the peasants.

The captain of the rebels, Ilija Gregorić, planned an extensive military operation to secure victory for the revolt. Each peasant household provided one man for his army, which met with some initial success; their revolutionary goals alarmed the nobility, however, which raised armies in response.

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