Prešeren’s commemoration in Vrba on 15 September 1872

Abstract

The memorial plaque on the birth house of the poet France Prešeren in Vrba was solemnly unveiled on 15 September 1872. The commemoration was organized by the Slovenian Writers’ Association founded in April 1872 or, more specifically, members of the Young Slovenes movement seeking to gain more influence in the Slovenian Society. The inaugural address at the unveiling ceremony attended by more than six thousand people was delivered by Radoslav Razlag. The envisaged blessing of the memorial plaque was cancelled for not having received the authorization from the Ljubljana Prince Bishop. At Josip Vošnjak’s request, Josip Stritar wrote the poem »Na Prešernovem domu 15. septembra 1872,« which was put to music by Benjamin Ipavec. On 26 September 1872, the Slovenian Society’s general assembly held a ballot that gave the majority to the candidates of the Old Slovenes movement.