Firearms with the Zrínyi Coat of Arms

Abstract

For centuries, members of the Zrínyi family were outstanding heroes in the struggle against the expansion of the Ottoman Empire. The constant fighting led to the development of a rich and renowned arsenal of weapons, of which they were very proud. These weapons, banners, regalia and armour were a reminder of victorious battles and great deeds in the halls and corridors of the castle in Csáktornya. The battles of Mohács and Szigetvár, the Thirty Years’ War, countless raids, the Winter Campaign, the siege of Kanizsa and the defence of Zrínyi-Újvár are events in the life of the Zrínyi family that were remembered with pride by members of the family. In his will, Miklós Zrínyi (VII) (1620-1664) repeatedly refers to the fate of the accumulated weapons, as he strives to keep the collection intact. Unfortunately, after the fall of the Zrínyi-Frangepán uprising and the execution of Péter Zrínyi and Kristóf Frangepán, the imperial troops destroyed and partially plundered the Zrínyi estates, during which a significant part of the weapons and artefacts were lost. No detailed inventory has yet been found of the weapons that were once in the possession of the Zrínyis, so even identifying individual items requires a great deal of wides-ranging research, hard work and luck.