Petar Berislavić
Petar Berislavić was born in Trogir in 1475. He decided to follow the path of priesthood, leaving his hometown of Trogir for Hungary. In 1501 he is mentioned as a senior clergyman in Kalocsa, while in 1512 he became the Bishop of Veszprem. He also served various state duties, and in 1513 he became the Ban (viceroy) of Croatia, Dalmatia and Slavonia. Before that he firmly advocated for Dalmatia and his hometown Trogir to be taken back from the Venetians. That, however, did not happen. As a ban, he was strongly dedicated to defending Croatian lands from the Ottoman invasions. As early as August 1513, he defeated a large Ottoman host near Dubica with the help of other Croatian nobles, which echoed far beyond Croatian lands. In the next few years Petar tirelessly gathered assets needed for defense. In particular, he sought aid from the Pope, who showed willingness to help. All the while he fought back the Ottoman incursions, sword in hand. On multiple occasions he supported the defense of the important city and fortress of Jajce. Thus, in 1518 he reached the city with his forces, defeated the Ottomans and provided weapons and supplies to the defenders. During his time as a ban, he proved himself as an extraordinary military leader and a warrior who not only managed to stop the Ottomans, but also inflict several heavy defeats upon them. On 20 May 1520 he was killed during an attempt to destroy an Ottoman group at Vražja Gora near Korenica. On the day he died, Pope Leo X, unaware of his passing, named him cardinal. The previous year, in a letter to Ban Petar, Pope Leo X called Croatia the Vanguard of Christianity ("antemurale Christianitatis"). Petar's body was transferred to Veszprém and buried in the city's cathedral, where his grave has remained to this day, marked by a tombstone with his crest etched onto it.
