Georg von Rukavina von Widovgrad

Baron Juraj Rukavina Vidovgradski (21 March 1777 – 9 September 1849) was a Croatian soldier and politician. Rukavina fought in the Napoleonic Wars and against the Ottoman Empire, rising to the rank of the General of the Artillery. He held several commands, including that of the Ban of Croatia Brigade based in Petrinja, a divisional command in Petrovaradin and the command of the Timișoara Fortress. The Ban of Croatia also appointed Rukavina the vice-captain of the Kingdom of Croatia. Rukavina was a member of the Sabor of the Kingdom of Croatia where he held his inaugural speech in the Croatian language in 1832, long before it became the official language of the Sabor.

Biography Start of military career Juraj Rukavina was born in the village of Trnovac near Gospić in the Kingdom of Croatia, then a part of the Habsburg Monarchy. His father Dujam (Duje) was awarded hereditary status of Austrian nobility in 1800 and the title "Vidovgradski" (lit. of Vidovgrad) for his military service. Other family members were active in the military as well and a total of three Austrian army generals and 58 other officers came from that family. (In addition to Juraj Rukavina himself, those were Mathias Rukavina von Boynograd (1737–1817) and Jerko Rukavina (1796–1879).) In addition, Ivan Rukavina of Klanačko Polje (1853–1917) and Stjepan Rukavina (1857–1936) were generals in the Austro-Hungarian army, and Ivan Rukavina (1912–1992) was a Partisan and Yugoslav People's Army general. Rukavina Vidovgradski led the Austrian troops to capture Zadar on 5 July 1797. The capture was confirmed later that year through the Treaty of Campo Formio. He also took part in the 1809 Battle of Landshut and the Battle of Aspern-Essling by which time he was promoted to the rank of Major. Rukavina was honored by being named inhaber (proprietor) of Infantry Regiment Nr. 61 in 1836, after the previous inhaber Franz Xaver Saint-Julien died. He held the position until his death when he was succeeded by Julius Strassoldo-Grafenberg.

In 1836–1840, Rukavina was the divisional commander in Petrovaradin, holding the rank of lieutenant field marshal. In 1840, Rukavina was awarded the title of baron. In the same year he received the command of the Timișoara Fortress and the Military Order of Maria Theresa. Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria granted Rukavina the Order of the Iron Crown and the Order of Saint George and the rank of the General of the Artillery.

Family life and parliamentary service Rukavina married Cecilia Volgenut Greiftal in Timișoara in 1810 and had daughter Marija and son Alfred. He was a member of the Sabor of Croatia where he held his inaugural speech in the Croatian language in 1832, well before start of the Croatian national revival, contributing to affirmation of the national language. Rukavina was killed defending the Timișoara Fortress during the Hungarian Revolution and was buried in the St. George Cathedral in the city.