The Tragic Romance of Miljenko and Dobrila: A Love Story Across the Adriatic
Ah, love! It can make you feel like you're walking on sunshine—or it can send you spiraling into the depths of despair. Enter the legendary tale of Romeo and Juliet, the ultimate romance gone wrong. But did you know there's a similarly swoon-worthy (and slightly tragic) love story just across the Adriatic Sea in Kaštel Lukšić, Croatia? Meet Miljenko and Dobrila, who faced more drama than a soap opera!
So, picture this: it’s the 17th century in Dalmacija, and our backdrop is the picturesque Kaštel Lukšić. Here, two noble families, the Vitturis and the Rušinićs (or Rosani, if you’re feeling fancy), are embroiled in a feud thicker than a Croatian stew. On one side, we have the fiery Vitturis, and on the other, the equally formidable Rušinićs. And right in the middle of this family feud? Our lovesick duo, Dobrila Vitturi and Miljenko Rušinić, who are so smitten with each other that they make every rom-com couple look like amateurs.
Now, let’s sprinkle in some history to this love potion! In the western part of modern Kaštel Lukšić, Mihovil Rosani built a castle in 1482, giving us a prime example of medieval real estate. Meanwhile, the Vitturis were not to be outdone! They snagged the Doge’s permission to build their own castle by the sea, ensuring the safety of their families and the peasants of Ostrog village. Completed in 1564, it was like the ultimate summer home—complete with a two-story building, a balcony, and even a drawbridge for dramatic entrances! Talk about living the dream!
Back to our lovebirds! Miljenko and Dobrila had to meet in secret, sneaking around like teenagers with a forbidden romance. But of course, as happens in these tales, their families eventually caught wind of their secret rendezvous. Cue the dramatic music! In a fit of rage, the Vitturis and Rušinićs decided to separate the young lovers. Miljenko got shipped off to Italy to serve the Doge of Venice (which sounds super fancy, but really it was just punishment), while Dobrila was kept under lock and key—no late-night rom-com marathons for her!
But Dobrila's father, Count Radoslav, had some other plans cooking. He wanted Dobrila to marry Družimir, an older nobleman from Trogir, because why not throw in a little more drama? Thankfully, a resourceful soldier from Kaštela slipped a message to Miljenko about the arranged marriage, and it was game on! Picture Miljenko, our heroic lover, sailing back to Kaštela on a boat instead of a white horse, ready to crash the wedding like a knight in shining armor. Spoiler alert: he made it just in time!
But wait, there's a twist! Count Radoslav was not pleased and was ready to dish out some serious punishment for this romantic interference. He had plans to send Dobrila to a monastery in Trogir—yikes! Not the dream destination for a girl in love. But Miljenko couldn’t let that happen. On the night of her impending exile, he tried to stage a rescue, but the plan fell flat. So, off to the monastery went Dobrila, while Miljenko found himself shipped off to another monastery on the island of Visovac. But true love knows no boundaries! They exchanged letters, plotting their grand escape like characters from an adventure movie. And escape they did! Miljenko donned a monk's disguise (how clever!), and they both slipped away into the night.
Now, you might think they’d finally catch a break, right? Wrong! Count Radoslav, realizing his daughter was missing, decided that peace was the way to go and offered a truce to the Rosani family. And, like a bad rom-com twist, the two families shook hands and thought it’d be all rainbows and butterflies from there. They even supported Miljenko and Dobrila’s plans to tie the knot!
So, in August of 1690, they had a wedding that seemed pulled straight from a fairy tale. But the happiness didn’t last long—because, of course, we need a tragic ending. The night after their wedding, the furious Count Radoslav ambushed Miljenko on the bridge in front of the Vitturi castle and—wait for it—shot him! What a plot twist! Devastated, Dobrila fell into despair, losing her mind (literally) and eventually passing away just months later. Her last wish? To be buried next to Miljenko in the Church of St. Ivan, which you can still find today, complete with a tomb that reads, “May God Rest the Lovers’ Souls.” No names, just pure heartbreak.
Now, not many historical artifacts remain to illuminate this tale, but the legend of Miljenko and Dobrila lives on, like a song you can’t get out of your head. It has inspired countless novels, plays, operas, and movie scripts—talk about love’s reach! And every year, the town of Kaštel Lukšić celebrates their story during the Days of Miljenko and Dobrila, held at the end of July or early August, making sure their love story continues to be shared.
Commentaires