From Military Units to Marriage Contracts: Pula Exhibition Reveals Three Foundations of the Drašković Family’s Power

A new exhibition in Pula presents the Drašković family’s power through three connected foundations: property, military strength and family alliances. “Trakošćan: Three Foundations of Power” opens on Thursday, Sept. 10, at the Gallery of the Sacred Hearts.

Organized around three themes previously shown separately, the exhibition brings together the history of Trakošćan, the soldiers of Count Josip Kazimir Drašković and the question of who married whom in aristocratic society. The Trakošćan Court said the combined display offers a broader story about noble life and social position.

The first section follows Trakošćan across almost seven centuries, from a medieval fortress and Gothic additions to its acquisition by the Drašković family, its 19th-century transformations and its eventual conversion into a museum. The castle appears not only as an important example of architectural heritage, but also as a place of family life, representation and identity.

The second section explores the military career of Count Josip Kazimir Drašković and the 18th-century military world. Military service helped nobles gain and confirm prestige, while investment in a private military unit, equipment and images of military power displayed a family’s ambitions and standing. Portraits of officers, painted wallpapers showing military formations, genealogies, weapons, flags and sabers bring that world into view.

The final section examines noble marriages as tools for creating social, economic and political ties. Marriage contracts and dowries show how family connections, property and interests were linked across generations. The exhibition also highlights noblewomen’s roles in managing estates and preserving family identity and heritage.