Jovan Talovac

Jovan Talovac
Nationality	Ragusan, Hungarian
Other names	Ivan Talovac, Joannes Talocz, Thallöczy

Jovan Talovac or Ivan Talovac (Hungarian: Tallóci János) was 15th-century Ragusan and Hungarian nobleman of Serbian origin who was the prior of Vrana and member of the Order of the Knights of Saint John. Talovac was the first governor of Pakrac.

Jovan Talovac was born in Talovac family which was influential family in the region of Cetina. Talovac's brother was Matija or Matko Talovac, who served at the Serbian court of Stefan Lazarević. He later became castellan of Hungarian held Belgrade, before he was appointed on the position of ban of Croatia in 1435. His brother Franko Talovac (Hungarian: Frank Thallóczi alias de Ragusio) succeeded him on the position of castellan of Belgrade. Another brother of Jovan, Petar Talovac was also Ban of Croatia. It is possible that Talovac managed to achieve the position of the governor of Belgrade thanks to the connections of Talovac's family at the Hungarian court, besides his own merits.

In 1440 Talovac was a Hungarian military officer of Serbian origin. He was commander of Hungarian forces mostly consisting of local Serbs during the Ottoman siege of Belgrade. Besides Talovac's banderij (around 500 men) from Croatia the garrison was enforced with Czech and Italian mercenaries who were archers. Local Serb population also assisted defenders Taloci was not immediately aware of the size of the Ottoman forces and initially had intention to defeat them on the open battlefield. When he went out of the castle and realized that his forces are heavily outnumbered by the Ottomans, he retreated to the city. During this battle the rifles were used against the Ottomans for the first time in history, by Talovac's forces.

After 1441 Talovac was župan of the Dubica Župa. In December 1442 he was mentioned as count of Cetina. Talovac was the Prior of Vrana in period between 1446 and 1461.

...
Wikipedia