Franz Nopcsa von Felsö-Szilvás
| Franz Nopcsa von Felső-Szilvás | |
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| Native name | Ferenc Nopcsa |
| Born | May 3, 1877 Szentpéterfalva, Austria-Hungary |
| Died | April 25, 1933 (aged 55) Vienna, Austria |
| Citizenship | Austria-Hungary |
| Nationality | Hungarian |
| Patrons | University of Vienna |
| Known for | Albanology, paleobiology, geology, ethnology |
Baron Franz Nopcsa von Felső-Szilvás (also Baron Nopcsa von Felső-Szilvás, Baron Nopcsa, Ferenc Nopcsa, Nopcsa Ferenc, Baron Franz Nopcsa, and Franz Baron Nopcsa) (May 3, 1877 – April 25, 1933) was a Hungarian-born , adventurer, scholar, and paleontologist. He is widely regarded as one of the founders of paleobiology and Albanian studies.
Nopcsa was born in 1877 in Transylvania, which at that time was part of Austria-Hungary, to the Nopcsa family of magyarised Romanian origin. In 1895 Nopcsa's younger sister Ilona discovered dinosaur bones at the family estate at Szentpéterfalva in Săcel (Szacsal), Transylvania. This led to Nopcsa's enrollment at the University of Vienna to study the fossilized bones. He advanced quickly in his studies; he gave his first academic lecture at the age of twenty-two.
In addition to Mesozoic reptiles, Nopcsa's interests included nationhood for Albania, then a mere province of the Turkish-Balkan Ottoman Empire, but aspiring to independence. He was one of the few outsiders who ventured into the mountainous areas in the north of Albania. He soon learned the Albanian dialects and customs.
Eventually, he had good relations with the leaders of the nationalist Albanian resistance against the Turks who occupied the region. Nopcsa gave passionate speeches and smuggled in weapons. In 1912 the Balkan states joined forces to drive out the Turks. This was successful, but the newly liberated states were immediately plunged into internal conflicts. However, out of these conflicts, Albania arose as an independent state. At an international conference aiming to clarify the status of Albania, Nopcsa was at first a contender for the throne of that country.
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