Čolić family

After the Ottomans had conquered their homeland, the family, originally from Herzegovina, moved to Dubrovnik in the 15th century, and belonged very soon to the venetian nobility. In the 16th century they moved then to Senj, where they also soon obtained (1585) a nobility title and became highly esteemed citizens. The family possessed a big family house that hosted in the later years the famous Senj gymnasium. On the 31st December 1706 the Emperor Joseph 1. awarded the town judge Andrija Čolić with the Hungarian nobility title. In 1721 Andrija obtained a Carniola nobility title as well. Later on, the bishop of Senj, Juraj Vuk Čolić "Löwenberg" became part of the Hungarian nobility (1753) and in the same year Hungarian baron; this latter title that was confirmed in the occasion of the Croatian Sabor. There are two branches of the family: the Senj branch, the older one, and the branch in Slavonija, which has younger roots. It is assumed that the Slavonian branch was originated by members of the Senj family who migrated to that region. The most famous members from the Senj branch were the bishop of Senj and Modruš Juraj Vuk Čolić "de Löwenberg" (1699.-1764.), Maksimilijan Čolić (1749. -1818.), PhD. In Theology and Philosophy and the representative of the town of Senj during the ''sabor'' (parlament) of Požun (Bratislava); and the archdeacon of Senj Franjo Čolić. Another well-known family member was the officer and knight Karlo Nikola Čolić (Brinje in 1784. - Senj in 1850). And among the famous slavonian Čolić family members we remember the baron and field marshal of the Austrian army Marko Csollich (1766.-1844.), who fought in many battles on European battlefields; and Pavao Csollich (1768.-1838.), general, marshal lieutenant and commandant in Veliki Varadin.