Fran Krsto Frankopan

Fran Krsto Frankopan was born in Bosiljevo on March 4, 1643, scion of the ancient Frankopan princely house. Educated in Zagreb and Rome, he wrote exquisite baroque poetry blending Kajkavian, Chakavian, and Shtokavian dialects.

Joining the Zrinski conspiracy against Habsburg centralization, Frankopan was captured and imprisoned in the fortress of Wiener Neustadt. While awaiting execution, he composed the lyrical masterwork Gartlic za čas kratiti. Executed at age twenty-eight, his famous verse Navik on živi ki zgine pošteno became the timeless national motto of Croatia.