Juraj Rukavina Vidovgradski (soldier)

Baron Juraj Rukavina of Vidovgrad
Portrait of Juraj Rukavina
Native name	Juraj Rukavina Vidovgradski
Other name(s)	Georg Freiherr Rukavina von Vidovgrad
Born	(1777-03-21)21 March 1777 Trnovac near Gospić, Kingdom of Croatia
Died	9 September 1849(1849-09-09) (aged 72) Timișoara, Hungary
Buried	St. George Cathedral
Allegiance	Austrian Empire
Years of service	1793–1849
Rank	General of the Artillery
Unit	Ogulin Regiment Otočac Regiment
Commands	Ogulin Regiment Ban of Croatia Brigade (Petrinja) Petrovaradin Division Timișoara Fortress
Battles / wars	Battle of Landshut Battle of Aspern-Essling Siege of Temesvár
Awards	Order of Leopold Military Order of Maria Theresa Order of the Iron Crown Order of Saint George
Spouse(s)	Cecilia Volgenut Greiftal ​ ​ (m. 1810⁠–⁠1849)​
Children	Marija, Alfred
Relations	Mathias Rukavina von Boynograd
Other work	Member of the Sabor of the Kingdom of Croatia

Baron Juraj Rukavina Vidovgradski (21 March 1777 – 9 September 1849) was a Croatian soldier and politician.^[1] Rukavina fought in the Napoleonic Wars and against the Ottoman Empire, rising to the rank of the General of the Artillery. He held several commands, including that of the Ban of Croatia Brigade based in Petrinja, a divisional command in Petrovaradin and the command of the Timișoara Fortress. The Ban of Croatia also appointed Rukavina the vice-captain of the Kingdom of Croatia. Rukavina was a member of the Sabor of the Kingdom of Croatia where he held his inaugural speech in the Croatian language in 1832, long before it became the official language of the Sabor.

Juraj Rukavina was born in the village of Trnovac near Gospić in the Kingdom of Croatia, then a part of the Habsburg Monarchy. His father Dujam (Duje) was awarded hereditary status of Austrian nobility in 1800 and the title "Vidovgradski" (lit. of Vidovgrad) for his military service. Other family members were active in the military as well and a total of three Austrian army generals and 58 other officers came from that family.^[a] Rukavina attended military school in Gospić and joined the Ogulin Regiment of the Croatian Military Frontier in 1793. With the regiment, Rukavina took part in the War of the First Coalition. He also took part in the 1809 Battle of Landshut and the Battle of Aspern-Essling by which time he was promoted to the rank of Major.^[2]

In 1814–1819, Rukavina held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Otočac Regiment, before assuming command of the Ogulin Regiment. In 1829, he was promoted to the rank of Major General and given command of the brigade of the Ban of Croatia based in Petrinja and he held that post until 1833. During that time, the Ban of Croatia also appointed Rukavina the vice-captain of the Kingdom of Croatia. For his conduct in the 1833 Battle of Velika Kladuša against the Ottoman Empire, Rukavina was awarded the Order of Leopold by emperor Ferdinand I of Austria.^[2] He was honored by being named inhaber (proprietor) of Infantry Regiment Nr. 61 in 1836, after the previous inhaber Franz Xaver Saint-Julien died. He held the position until his death when he was succeeded by Julius Strassoldo-Grafenberg.^[3]

In 1836–1840, Rukavina was the divisional commander in Petrovaradin, holding the rank of lieutenant field marshal. In 1840, Rukavina was awarded the title of baron. In the same year he received the command of the Timișoara Fortress and the Military Order of Maria Theresa. Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria granted Rukavina the Order of the Iron Crown and the Order of Saint George and the rank of the General of the Artillery.^[2]

Rukavina married Cecilia Volgenut Greiftal in Timișoara in 1810 and had daughter Marija and son Alfred. He was a member of the Sabor of Croatia where he held his inaugural speech in the Croatian language in 1832, well before start of the Croatian national revival, contributing to affirmation of the national language. Rukavina was killed defending the Timișoara Fortress during the Hungarian Revolution and was buried in the St. George Cathedral in the city.^[2]