Matko Talovac

Matko Talovac

Matko Talovac was born in the island of Korčula at the end of the 14th century. About that time or in the early 15th century, the Talovac family moved to the city of Dubrovnik. In contemporary sources, Matko is also called "Matko of Dubrovnik" (Mathico de Aragouse).^[5] The Talovac family was influential in the region of Cetina in the 15th century.^[6]

Matko's brother

Matko was appointed ban of all Slavonia in October 1435, and Ban of Croatia and Dalmatia in May 1436. He held the title of Croatian ban together with Stephen III Frankopan from 1436–1437, with Petar Talovac from 1437–1444, and with Petar and Franko Talovac until his death.^[9] His brothers Ivan and Franko succeeded him on the position of castellan of Nándorfehérvár.^[10]

He held land in Topolovica (old sources call it Thallowch, Talloca, Tallowcz, Tallocz, Tallovec, Tallovez or Talloucz), given to him by Sigismund from which he took the name Talovac. His rule came at a time of rapturous Ottoman incursions into Croatian^[11] territory and internal fighting of feudal lords.

The exact date of Matko's death is not known. He probably died in late 1444 or the beginning of 1445, in his fort of Prodavić (modern-day Virje in Croatia).^[12]

References