Reformation and Counter-Reformation in Zgornja Gorenjska
Keywords:
Bled, Lesce, Radovljica, Katzenstein near Begunje, Kranjska Gora, Bela Peč, Gorje, Jesenice, Kropa, Sava ironworks, Zásip, 16th century, Protestantism, Krištof Fašang, Peter Kupljenik, preachers, Herbard Auersperg, Moric von Dietrichstein, Juliana Kazianer, Bishop Tomaž Hren, Counter-Reformation commissionsAbstract
In the 16th century two major Protestant centres emerged in Zgornja Gorenjska. The first one developed in the seigniory of Bled under the leadership of preacher Krištof Fašang and the leaseholder of the Bled seigniory, Herbard Auersperg. The connections established between Lesce and Radovljica on the one hand and the Katzenstein Castle near Begunje on the other led to the flourishing of the second centre, with preacher Peter Kupljenik as the central figure and the leaseholder of the Radovljica seigniory, Moritz von Dietrichstein, and Juliana Kazianer as his main supporters. The latter arranged space in her castle near Begunje where the Protestants from the surrounding area (mostly townsmen from Radovljica) were free to practice their religion. During more turbulent times, however, the castle also provided refuge to persecuted preachers, including Jurij Dalmatin and Daniel Xylander. Apart from the aforementioned two major Protestant centres, there were also several smaller places where Protestantism could, at least for a while, develop unhindered (Bela Peč, Jesenice, Kropa). The Reformation in that area was ended by the Counter-Reformation commission under the Bishop Tomaž Hren, who visited Zgornja Gorenjska in March 1601.
