Luka Svetec
Encyclopedia
Luka Svetec was a Slovene politician
, lawyer
, author
and philologist. In the 1870s and 1880s, Svetec was one of the most influential leaders of the so-called Old Slovenes
, a national conservative political group in 19th century Slovene Lands
. He was renowned as an honest and principled politician, and was praised for his decency and his straightforward, practical attitude to political questions and life in general. The Old Slovene leader Janez Bleiweis
called him "a crystallized Slovene common sense". Because of his failure to take over the political leadership of the party after the death of its leader Janez Bleiweis, also called Father of the Nation
, Svetec was mockingly referred in the press to as "Stepfather of the Nation".
n village of Podgorje
near Kamnik
, in what was then the Austrian Empire
(now in Slovenia
). After finishing the grammar school in Ljubljana
, he enrolled at the University of Vienna
, where he studied law
. After graduation in 1853, he worked in the Austrian administration in Croatia
. After 1861, he returned to his native Carniola
, at first as a senior official in the Austrian judicial administration in Mokronog
and Kočevje
, and subsequently as a district judge in Brdo
. Between 1866 and 1871, he worked in the municipal administration in Ljubljana, and later as a civil law notary
in Idrija
and Litija
.
He participated in the Slovene national movement since 1848. He was very active in the discussions on the creation of a literary standard
for the Slovene language. He was one of the most vocal defendants of Slovene linguistic and national individuality against pan-Slavism
and Yugoslav
ism. He entered active politics in 1862, when he was elected to the provincial diet of Carniola
. In the 1870s, especially after the death of Lovro Toman
, he emerged as one of the most influential leaders of the Old Slovene political movement. Against the pragmatism of most of its leaders, Svetec called for an intransigent political action, thus frequently siding with the radical Young Slovenes
. Throughout his life, he defended the idea of United Slovenia
. He opposed national demands based on historical state rights, and firmly supported the idea of natural right of peoples.
After 1881, he was designated as the successor of Janez Bleiweis
as the leader of the Old Slovene movement. However, his leadership was rejected by the more conservative factions in the movement. After the mid 1880s, Svetec grew closer to the Slovene liberal nationalists, and finally joined the National Progressive Party
.
He died at the age of 94 in Litija
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and philologist. In the 1870s and 1880s, Svetec was one of the most influential leaders of the so-called Old Slovenes
Old Slovenes
Old Slovenes is the term used for a national conservative political group in the Slovene Lands from the 1850s to the 1870s, which was opposed to the radical national liberal Young Slovenes...
, a national conservative political group in 19th century Slovene Lands
Slovene Lands
Slovene Lands or Slovenian Lands is the historical denomination for the whole of the Slovene-inhabited territories in Central Europe. It more or less corresponds to modern Slovenia and the adjacent territories in Italy, Austria and Hungary in which autochthonous Slovene minorities live.-...
. He was renowned as an honest and principled politician, and was praised for his decency and his straightforward, practical attitude to political questions and life in general. The Old Slovene leader Janez Bleiweis
Janez Bleiweis
Janez Bleiweis was a Slovene conservative politician, journalist and public figure. He was the leader of the so-called Old Slovene political movement. Already during his lifetime, he was called father of the nation....
called him "a crystallized Slovene common sense". Because of his failure to take over the political leadership of the party after the death of its leader Janez Bleiweis, also called Father of the Nation
Father of the Nation
Father of the Nation is an honorific title given to a man considered the driving force behind the establishment of their country, state or nation...
, Svetec was mockingly referred in the press to as "Stepfather of the Nation".
Life and career
Svetec was born in the Upper CarniolaUpper Carniola
Upper Carniola is a traditional region of Slovenia, the northern mountainous part of the larger Carniola region. The centre of the region is Kranj, while other urban centers include Jesenice, Tržič, Škofja Loka, Kamnik, and Domžale.- Historical background :...
n village of Podgorje
Podgorje, Kamnik
Podgorje is a settlement that is a now suburb of the town of Kamnik in the Upper Carniola region of Slovenia.The local church is dedicated to Saint Nicholas.-External links:*...
near Kamnik
Kamnik
Kamnik is the name of a municipality in Slovenia as well as the town that serves as its administrative, cultural, economic, and educational center. The municipality is in north central Slovenia. It encompasses a large part of the Kamnik Alps and the surrounding area...
, in what was then the Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
(now in Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
). After finishing the grammar school in Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
, he enrolled at the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
, where he studied law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
. After graduation in 1853, he worked in the Austrian administration in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. After 1861, he returned to his native Carniola
Carniola
Carniola was a historical region that comprised parts of what is now Slovenia. As part of Austria-Hungary, the region was a crown land officially known as the Duchy of Carniola until 1918. In 1849, the region was subdivided into Upper Carniola, Lower Carniola, and Inner Carniola...
, at first as a senior official in the Austrian judicial administration in Mokronog
Mokronog-Trebelno
Mokronog-Trebelno is a municipality in Slovenia. The municipality was created in 2006 when it seceded from the Trebnje municipality. It is part of the traditional province of Lower Carniola. The municipality is now included in the Southeast Slovenia statistical region.Tombs dating to the Early...
and Kočevje
Kocevje
Kočevje is a city and a municipality in southern Slovenia. In terms of area it is the largest municipality in Slovenia. It is located between the rivers Krka and Kolpa and is part of the traditional region of Lower Carniola. It is now included in the Jugovzhodna Slovenija statistical region...
, and subsequently as a district judge in Brdo
Brdo pri Lukovici
Brdo pri Lukovici is a small settlement next to Lukovica in the eastern part of the Upper Carniola region of Slovenia.Brdo Castle is the located in the settlement. It is a 16th century castle. In the 19th century it housed the local court, revenue offices and prison...
. Between 1866 and 1871, he worked in the municipal administration in Ljubljana, and later as a civil law notary
Civil law notary
Civil-law notaries, or Latin notaries, are lawyers of noncontentious private civil law who draft, take, and record legal instruments for private parties, provide legal advice and give attendance in person, and are vested as public officers with the authentication power of the State...
in Idrija
Idrija
Idrija is a small town and municipality in the Goriška region of Slovenia. It is known for its mercury mine and lace....
and Litija
Litija
Litija is a town and a municipality in central Slovenia. It is located in the valley of the river Sava, to the east of the capital Ljubljana. Traditionally, the area was situated on the border between the historical provinces of Carniola and Styria. Most of the municipality belonged to the...
.
He participated in the Slovene national movement since 1848. He was very active in the discussions on the creation of a literary standard
Standard language
A standard language is a language variety used by a group of people in their public discourse. Alternatively, varieties become standard by undergoing a process of standardization, during which it is organized for description in grammars and dictionaries and encoded in such reference works...
for the Slovene language. He was one of the most vocal defendants of Slovene linguistic and national individuality against pan-Slavism
Pan-Slavism
Pan-Slavism was a movement in the mid-19th century aimed at unity of all the Slavic peoples. The main focus was in the Balkans where the South Slavs had been ruled for centuries by other empires, Byzantine Empire, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Venice...
and Yugoslav
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
ism. He entered active politics in 1862, when he was elected to the provincial diet of Carniola
Carniola
Carniola was a historical region that comprised parts of what is now Slovenia. As part of Austria-Hungary, the region was a crown land officially known as the Duchy of Carniola until 1918. In 1849, the region was subdivided into Upper Carniola, Lower Carniola, and Inner Carniola...
. In the 1870s, especially after the death of Lovro Toman
Lovro Toman
Lovro Toman was a Slovene politician and author. Together with Janez Bleiweis and Etbin Henrik Costa, he was part of the leadership of the national conservative Old Slovene party....
, he emerged as one of the most influential leaders of the Old Slovene political movement. Against the pragmatism of most of its leaders, Svetec called for an intransigent political action, thus frequently siding with the radical Young Slovenes
Young Slovenes
Young Slovenes were a Slovene national liberal political movement in the 1860s and 1870s, inspired and named after the Young Czechs in Bohemia and Moravia. They were opposed to the national conservative Old Slovenes. They entered in a crisis in the 1880s, and disappeared from political life by the...
. Throughout his life, he defended the idea of United Slovenia
United Slovenia
United Slovenia is the name of an unrealized political programme of the Slovene national movement, formulated during the Spring of Nations in 1848...
. He opposed national demands based on historical state rights, and firmly supported the idea of natural right of peoples.
After 1881, he was designated as the successor of Janez Bleiweis
Janez Bleiweis
Janez Bleiweis was a Slovene conservative politician, journalist and public figure. He was the leader of the so-called Old Slovene political movement. Already during his lifetime, he was called father of the nation....
as the leader of the Old Slovene movement. However, his leadership was rejected by the more conservative factions in the movement. After the mid 1880s, Svetec grew closer to the Slovene liberal nationalists, and finally joined the National Progressive Party
National Progressive Party (Slovenia)
The National Progressive Party was a political party in the Carniola region of Austria-Hungary. It was established in 1894 by Ivan Tavčar as the National Party of Carniola and renamed in 1905 to The National Progressive Party...
.
He died at the age of 94 in Litija
Litija
Litija is a town and a municipality in central Slovenia. It is located in the valley of the river Sava, to the east of the capital Ljubljana. Traditionally, the area was situated on the border between the historical provinces of Carniola and Styria. Most of the municipality belonged to the...
.