Družba „Braća Hrvatskoga Zmaja“ (abbreviated DBHZ), in English The Society of Brethren of the Croatian Dragon, in Latin Societas fratres draconis croatici, is a traditional Croatian secular fraternity and cultural association, established in Zagreb almost 120 years ago (in 1905), with the purpose to preserve and restore Croatian cultural heritage and revive memories of events from Croatia’s past and of meritorious Croats. The Society was the first cultural association that the authorities of the Yugoslav communist regime banned and dissolved in 1946 and confiscated its entire movable and immovable property. The association was re-established in Zagreb in 1990. The headquarters of the Society is in Tower over the Stone Gate (Kula nad Kamenitim vratima) in Zagreb, and the Society owns the medieval Ozalj Castle.

The Brethren of the Croatian Dragon Square (Trg Braće Hrvatskoga Zmaja) and the Stone Gate (Kamenita vrata) – headquarters of the Society – appearance as of February 2024. The gates itself were erected cca. 1266, first mentioned in writing in 1429.

Members of the Society are prominent persons of Croatian public and social life. Among its nearly two thousand members since its establishment, numerous persons of historical significance may be found. Here we may mention Dr. Franjo Tuđman, Bl. Alojzije Cardinal Stepinac, Franjo Cardinal Kuharić, Robert Frangeš Mihanović, Vjekoslav Heinzel, Dr. Franjo Bučar, Oton Iveković, Ivo Kerdić, Vjekoslav Klaić, Oton Kučera, Vladimir Mažuranić, Ivo Pilar, marquise Marija Ružička Strozzi, Mirko Seljan, fra Bernardin Sokol, Ante Trumbić, Baron Ljudevit Vranyczany-Dobrinović, Ivan von Zajc. The list women and men who were or are members of the Society makes certainly a kind of lexicon of Croatian meritorious people. Indeed, the vast majority of these names can be found in various actual encyclopedias and lexicons. Many of these names hold place in public knowledge, readily recognized and held in high esteem. The Society currently has around 350 members. It acts through the Draconian Matrix (Zagreb), with its seven draconian sections (history, education, arts, science, legal, cultural heritage and business) and through 19 draconian chapters throughout the Homeland.

The Society was established on 16 November 1905 in Zagreb by Emilij Laszowski and Dr. Velimir Deželić, Sr. The peculiar name was chosen after the Ordo equestris draconis (Order of Draconian Knights) of King Sigismund of Luxemburg, established in 1408, with significant number of Croats. The Society badge is a golden dragon with green wings protecting a shield with the Croatian coat of arms, and the patron of the Society is St. George the Martyr. The Society motto is Pro aris et focis, Deo propitio! (For altars and hearths with the grace of God). The Draconian greeting is Bog nam sreću daj! – Hrvatski nek živi Zmaj! (God grant us happiness! – Long live the Croatian Dragon!).

The Society is governed by the College of Masters (Meštarski zbor), consisting of the Grand Master and 8 masters, elected for five years term.

The Ozalj Castle, first mentioned in 1278 when it was owned by the King, afterwards property of noble family of Babonić, since 1398 Frankopan and since 1577 Zrinski. After the Zrinski and Frankopan sacrifice, it changed owners several times, finally owned by Thurn und Taxis family, who bestowed it to the Society in 1928.

The Dragon Hall in the Tower over the Stone Gate, redesigned in 1938 by architect Juraj Denzler, Dragon of Harmica. The gallery beams are inscribed with the Society motto over the masters chairs, while around the hall there are verses and mottoes from the national history. The gallery is adorned with the coats of arms of current masters above their seats, while the rest of the gallery displays coats of arms of the current members.

Among our numerous achievements, it is worth highlighting some projects by which the Draconian Society became famous: locating and preserving of the earthly remains of the 17th century national heroes Petar Zrinski and Fran Krsto Frankopan, executed in Wiener Neustadt in 1671, and transferred them to a crypt in the Zagreb Cathedral (1919), as was done with the remains of 1871 Croatian uprising leaders Eugen Kvaternik and his comrades (1921). We erected a monument to the Croatian anthem in Zelenjak (1935), we founded the City Library, the City Archives and the City Museum in Zagreb (1907), we saved from demolition the Zagreb Stone Gate, we founded the Zagreb Rescue Society – today’s Medical Emergency Service (1909), we arranged the grave of dr. Ante Starčević in Šestine (Father of the Nation), we initiated and led a large national celebration of the millennial anniversary of the Kingdom of Croatia (1925), and we placed a monumental Glagolitic inscription in the Zagreb Cathedral on the occasion of the 1300th anniversary of the Christianization of Croats – which is the largest inscription in the Croatian Glagolitic alphabet.

The Society continued to achieve monumental feats and lesser but still important projects after it’s reestablishment in 1990. These include the erection of monument to King Zvonimir in Knin, monument to Croatian Mother in Velika Erpenja, monument to the Croatian Language in Varaždinske Toplice, sculpture of falcon at the so called Falcon Mogila in the Maksimir park in Zagreb (1996), busts of Cardinal Stepinac in Gospić (2001) and in Odra (2005), figure of St. George at the Square of the Brethren of Croatian Dragon in Zagreb (1994), monument to dr. Ante Starčević (1999) at the Starčević House in Zagreb (today the seat of the City Library), numerous other public monuments and memorial plaques, around the country, including the Park of Distinguished Croatians in Osijek, currently with busts of four alumni of the Osijek gymnasiums, two being Nobel laureates, probably being the only high school in the world to raise more than one Nobel laureate.

The Society prepares for 2025 celebration of the 1100th anniversary of the Croatian Kingdom, as kind of continuation of our countrywide 1925 millennium celebrations. In 2027 we plan for the Quincentennial of the 1527 Cetingrad Assembly, a focal point that determined further centuries of Croatian history and our future by electing Habsburgs for Croatian kings. In continuation of Zrinski and Frankopan martyrology, we aim to transfer also the bones of Ana Katarina Zrinska to the crypt of the Zagreb Cathedral. Of course, there are also traditional activities in commemorating dates and people from Croatia’s past, recalling exceptional patriotic deeds and contributions to Croatia’s cultural and scientific heritage.

However, in addition to such projects of lasting value, the Society has always considered a significant part of its activities promotion of various Croatian heritage and therefore we regularly organize public lectures – held either by our members who are experts in certain fields or by other invited experts. It is difficult to find an area of human activity in which our members are not leaving a lasting mark every day, for the well-being and progress of our dear Homeland. We are encouraging our members to find valuable segments of our national heritage, and we find no shortage of projects and activities representing its significant parts worth marking and preserving.

The Society of Brethren of the Croatian Dragon was founded in Zagreb on November 16, 1905 by Emilij pl. Laszowski and Dr. Velimir Deželić Sr. with the wish that this extremely Croatian and patriotic cultural association be completely free from any political party. The distinctive name was chosen based on the example of the Ordo equestris draconis (Order of the Dragon Knights) of the Croatian-Hungarian King Sigismund, founded in 1408, which was originally predominantly Croats. The symbol of the Society became a golden dragon with green wings guarding a shield with the historic Croatian coat of arms, and the patron saint is St. George the Martyr, while the motto is Pro aris et focis Deo propitio (For altars and hearths, with God’s help). The rules of the Society were confirmed in 1906, but during its history they were changed and supplemented several times. The work of the Society is led by the Board of Masters, which changed its composition and number throughout history (today it consists of the Grand Master and 8 masters) and is elected for a term of 5 years. The honor of Grand Master in that period was held by Emilij Laszowski, Archdragon of Brlog and Ozalj I (1906-1935), Milutin Mayer, Dragon of St. Helen (1936-1941), and Dr. Mladen Deželić, Dragon of Klokoč IV (1943-1945). During the period of the Independent State of Croatia, without the knowledge of the membership, on November 19, 1941, the Society was turned into a state institution under the name “Knightly Order of the Croatian Dragon” by a legal provision, but it was re-established in its old capacity and with its original name on May 7, 1945, in the hours of the collapse of the Independent State, the day before the entry of partisan units into Zagreb.

The distinctly Croatian and patriotic work of the Dragons from 1905 to 1946, which also took place through the so-called working branches, like the one in Dubrovnik (today dragon chapters), gained a lot of merit in nurturing Croatian historical and cultural heritage. In order to preserve the memory of famous Croats for future generations, Dragons erected numerous memorial plaques and erected many monuments until the unjust dissolution and ban by the decision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Croatia on March 4, 1946. They also developed a significant publishing activity during that period. They saved the Stone Gate in Zagreb from demolition and in 1907 established the City Library, City Archives and City Museum in it, and since then the Society’s headquarters has been in the Tower over Stone Gate. In the period of the first forty years, the Dragons preserved the remains of Petar Zrinski and Fran Krsto Frankopan in Wiener Neustadt and transferred them to the Zagreb Cathedral (1919), as well as the remains of Eugen Kvaternik and his comrades (1921), erected a monument to the Croatian anthem in Zelenjak (1935), founded the Rescue Society (First Aid) in Zagreb (1909), arranged the grave of the Father of Homeland Ante Starčević in Šestine, initiated the great national celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the Croatian Kingdom (1925) and erected a large Glagolitic inscription in the Zagreb Cathedral (1944 ). The association acquired the old town of Babonić, Frankopan and Zrinski – Ozalj (1928), where it arranged a museum and library, and the Frankopan castle Bakar (1935).

From the beginning of its activity, the Society had in its ranks a large number of prominent names of Croatian culture and public life. Among the regular and honorary members of that era are many well-known names, and let some of them be mentioned: Josip Andrić, Gjuro Arnold, Ljubo Babić (Šandor Gjalski), Antun Bauer (musem director), Albert Bazala, Franjo Bučar, Frane Bulić, Joso Bužan, Juraj Denzler, Gjuro Stjepan Deželić, Velimir Deželić st., Nikola Faller, Andrija Fijan, Oto Frangeš, Robert Frangeš-Mihanović, Aleksandar Freudenreich, Dragutin Freudenreich, Dane Gruber, August Harambašić, Vjekoslav Heinzel, Rudolf Horvat, Oton Iveković, Ljubo Karaman, Ivo Kerdić, Vjekoslav Klaić, Oton Kučera, Božidar Kukuljević Sakcinski, Emilije Laszowski, Rudolf Matz, Milutin Mayer, Vladimir Mažuranić, Milan Ogrizović, Ivo Pilar, Gjuro Prejac, Ivan Rendić, Marija Ružička Strozzi, Mirko Seljan, bl. Alojzije Stepinac, Ivan Trnski, Ante Trumbić, Ivan Zajc.

The prohibition of activities and the long-term suspension of work could not eradicate the Society. When the Republic of Croatia was established, the Society was restored in Zagreb on June 23, 1990, and solemnly re-established on November 16, 1990. The headquarters of the Society is once again located in the Tower over Stone Gate, which the Society restored (1993– 1999). After the restoration of activities, the Grand Master honor was held by Dr. Antun Bauer, Archdragon-Restorer of Vučedol III (1990 – 1992), Dr. Đuro Deželić, Dragon-Restorer if Klokoč V (1992 – 1993), Dr. Juraj Kolarić, Dragon of St. George in Thorns of Hrašćan (1993 – 2001), Matija Salaj architect, Dragon-Restorer of Old Vukovar (2001 – 2006), Dr. Dragutin Feletar, Dragon of Veliki Otok (2006 – 2011), Dr. Nevio Šetić, Dragon of Istria (2011 – 2021) and Prof. Mislav Grgić, Dragon of Strossmayer since 2021.

The activities of the renewed Society began to strengthen at the same time as threats to the young Croatian democracy began to emerge from Belgrade. Already in December 1990, the association published in the media a telegram of support addressed to the President of the Republic of Croatia Dr. Franjo Tuđman and the Government of the Republic of Croatia in the defense of the Homeland. When the aggression of Serbia and the Yugoslav People’s Army and Serbian paramilitary formations in Croatia began in July 1991, the Society announced a call for aid for exiles to be paid to Caritas of the Bishops’ Conference. The association sends an “Appeal to the cultural public of Europe” on the occasion of the attack on Croatia, its people and the destruction of Croatian cultural heritage..

When the Croatian resistance was broken on November 18, 1991, and Vukovar was occupied, on December 1, 1991, the Society’s open letter to the Serbian, European and world public, entitled “Warning to the Serbian Fools”, was published in Zagreb’s “Večernji list”. Before that, on September 4, 1991, the project of the documentary monograph “Vukovar – a pearl-tear in the Croatian eye” was launched, giving glory to the deceased and respect to the living. That monograph was published in 1994 as a monumental trilingual edition with the title “Vukovar: an ancient Croatian town on the Danube – Ewige kroatische Stadt an der Donau – Eternal Croatian Town on the Danube”. In those terrible times in 1991, the Association instigated a series of actions that met with a strong response from the public. In co-organization with the University of Zagreb, in February 1991, an academy was held on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the martyrdom of Dr. Milan Šufflay, in May 1991, the cultural role of the Rama Franciscan Monastery was commemorated in the Dragon Tower over Stone Gate on the occasion of the 700th anniversary of the Franciscans in Bosnia, and in the same year, the Society initiated the performance of Julio Bajamonti’s first Croatian oratorio, “The Transfer of the Bones of St. Dujma” in the “Vatroslav Lisinski” Concert Hall in Zagreb.

After the renewal of the Society, the establishment of dragon chapters (tables) was immediately started. Even at the time of fierce battles in the Homeland War, the Dragon Chapter was founded in Zadar. This was followed by the establishment of vhaoters in all county centers. In our Homeland, there are 19 Dragon Chapters in addition to the Dragon’s Matrix in Zagreb. Dragon chapters in association with the Matix in Zagreb represent the immense and inexhaustible strength of the Society of Brethren of the Croatian Dragon in its work.

The association renewed its publishing activity, cooperating with other publishers. After several issues of “Hrvatski Zmaj” since 1993, it was renamed in 1995 as “Zmajske vijesti”. The Society launched two significant series of literary publications: from 1996, the “Library of Acta et Studia Draconica” (published 18 works), and from 2000, the “Library of Special Editions – Monumenta Draconica” (published 4 works). These are partly monographs and partly collections of papers from scientific meetings, works that deal with topics significant for Croatian culture and history. Dragon chapters also developed their publishing, especially in Zadar, Križevci, Čakovec, Rijeka, Varaždin and Osijek. On the occasion of the centenary of the Society, the Chronicle of the Society was issued in 2005. In 2012, the Society published a booklet, entitled simply The Society of Brethren of the Croatian Dragon, with the subtitle “In the second century of activities of the Society in preserving, restoring and promoting the culture of the Croatian people 1905 – 1990 – 2012”, in to which it is noted that the Society “with this appropriate publication wants to inform the public about its work and activity from its foundation to the present day. A more detailed overview of the publishing activity from the reconstruction to the present is presented separately.

Around a hundred memorial plaques and a significant number of monuments and memorials were erected throughout Croatia with the special contribution of dragon chapters in Dubrovnik, Čakovec, Karlovac, Koprivnica, Krapina, Križevci, Osijek, Pazin, Rijeka, Varaždin, Virovitica and Zadar. More important achievements from the reconstruction to the present day are also shown separately.