Frankopan

Frankopan, often rendered Frangepan in older sources, refers to a prominent Croatian noble family that played a central role in the politics, warfare, and culture of Croatia and its Hungarian crown lands from the late medieval period into the early modern era. The family emerged in western Croatia in the 13th–14th centuries, with early power bases on Krk island and in Modruš, and later expanded its estates into Zagorje and other frontier regions.

Throughout the Middle Ages and early modern era, the Frankopans were among Croatia’s leading magnates, holding the title of counts and exercising high offices within the Kingdom of Croatia and the Hungarian Crown. They built and fortified towns and castles to defend frontier lands and to assert their influence. The family was also a major patron of the Catholic Church and of regional culture, contributing to architectural and artistic projects, including the notable Veliki Tabor castle in Hrvatsko Zagorje.

Notable members include Fran Krsto Frankopan, who, together with Petar Zrinski, led the 1671 Zrinski–Frankopan conspiracy against the Habsburg monarchy. The conspiracy ended with their execution and had a lasting impact on Croatian memory and frontier politics.

Over time the Frankopans’ political influence declined as estates were absorbed into crown lands and other noble houses. Today the name survives as a historical marker of medieval and early modern Croatian nobility, with the family’s castles and lands remaining important cultural and architectural legacies.