Obviously I chose this book in preparation for our upcoming trip to Croatia. Knowing the country's history increased my enjoyment when we visited Istanbul, and granted me opportunities to impress my wife.
I was able to extract the gist from this book, but too much of it is the fact-listing that gives history a bad name.
I was able to extract the gist from this book, but too much of it is the fact-listing that gives history a bad name.
The dynastic problems started in 1301, when the Arpad dynasty died out. The Subic supported the Anjou family, from Sicily and France, in their attempts to gain the crown. By 1308 this new Angevin dynasty had established itself in Hungary and Croatia under King Karoly Robert. Ironically, Karoly Robert's son, Lajos the Great (ruled 1342-82) very successfully strengthened the monarch's hand at the expense of the noble families ... The ascension of the Angevins was short-lived, however, since when Lajos died in 1382 Hungary and Croatia were plunged into a new dynastic conflict...I think I was able to see the broad outlines through the thicket of details. The book includes a few nice historical maps showing the evolution of the country. However, I would have preferred a collection of targeted essays to the attempted comprehensive chronology.
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