This week, given that Hallowe'en is fast approaching, we are discussing the beautiful island of Lokrum, off the coast of Dubrovnik. Already a key day trip destination for those who have found a holiday rental in Dubrovnik for many reasons, one more spooky reason and one more fascinating thing about the place is the Lokrum Curse.
Rooted in the removal of monks from the monastery on the island, which had been built to honour a saint who had saved Dubrovnik from a great fire in the 11th century (read the first part here to find out all of the details), it immediately resulted in the deaths and misfortune of those who became involved with the place.
Rooted in the removal of monks from the monastery on the island, which had been built to honour a saint who had saved Dubrovnik from a great fire in the 11th century (read the first part here to find out all of the details), it immediately resulted in the deaths and misfortune of those who became involved with the place.
Such issues continued to befall those who took over ownership of the island. A Captain Tomaševic became the owner of the island following the fall of the Republic and the impossibly wealthy man became bankrupt soon after having purchased it. He then sold Lokrum to Archduke Maximilian, the younger brother of the Austrian Emperor Francis Joseph I. Having discovered the island upon being shipwrecked on its shores (not a great beginning), he fell in love with the place and moved in with his wife upon purchasing it. Not too long afterwards, he was made Emperor of Mexico and after three years, was taken prisoner by the rebellious general Juarez and later shot.
The island was next purchased by the lawyer Dr. Jakopovic from Budapest, who managed the business affairs of the emperor Francis Joseph I. Shortly after purchasing the island, however, it was discovered that he had illegally given himself the title of Doctor of Legal Sciences and was actually a barber. When his nephew inherited the island he drowned just before his first arrival on the shore!
Next, Rudolf, the only son of the emperor Francis Joseph I and empress Elisabeth of Bavaria, came into possession of the island and moved there with his wife. Shortly thereafter, he fell in love and he and his mistress, Maria Vecer, both took their own lives. The empress, hearing of the curse after this event, tried to return the island to the Benedictines to the lift the curse but the monks had sworn they would never return and turned down the offer. The Dubrovnik Dominicans, however, did agree to take the island, under the condition that any of the Habsburg’s could repurchase the island when and if they so desired. One such family member did desire it and Princess Elizabeth Windischgratz, daughter to Rudolph, took over the island once more, shortly afterwards the empress Elisabeth was killed by the Italian anarchist Lucceni, in a case of mistaken identity. The family continued to unravel with more family members dying in tragedy and becoming involved in scandals. In 1918, the family finally lost it all and became crownless.
This is not yet where it all ended so be sure to read onto the final post in this series on Lokrum, in Croatia, the legends that grew and how it became the tourist attraction that it is today, after years of fear and abandonment.
The island was next purchased by the lawyer Dr. Jakopovic from Budapest, who managed the business affairs of the emperor Francis Joseph I. Shortly after purchasing the island, however, it was discovered that he had illegally given himself the title of Doctor of Legal Sciences and was actually a barber. When his nephew inherited the island he drowned just before his first arrival on the shore!
Next, Rudolf, the only son of the emperor Francis Joseph I and empress Elisabeth of Bavaria, came into possession of the island and moved there with his wife. Shortly thereafter, he fell in love and he and his mistress, Maria Vecer, both took their own lives. The empress, hearing of the curse after this event, tried to return the island to the Benedictines to the lift the curse but the monks had sworn they would never return and turned down the offer. The Dubrovnik Dominicans, however, did agree to take the island, under the condition that any of the Habsburg’s could repurchase the island when and if they so desired. One such family member did desire it and Princess Elizabeth Windischgratz, daughter to Rudolph, took over the island once more, shortly afterwards the empress Elisabeth was killed by the Italian anarchist Lucceni, in a case of mistaken identity. The family continued to unravel with more family members dying in tragedy and becoming involved in scandals. In 1918, the family finally lost it all and became crownless.
This is not yet where it all ended so be sure to read onto the final post in this series on Lokrum, in Croatia, the legends that grew and how it became the tourist attraction that it is today, after years of fear and abandonment.
