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These cards will take you through the history of Rijeka. A BANKNOTE symbolizes the rise of Rijeka in the early 19th century, as it became an industrial and commercial centre. The KING of the BANKNOTE is FRANCIS I, the Austrian emperor (depicted as the king of Illyria) during whose reign the Empire went through bankruptcy. He visited Rijeka in 1816. The BARON of the BANKNOTE is count LAVAL NUGENT, of Irish descent. He was a general, benefactor and art collector. He also renewed the Trsat fort. A friend of his, ANDRIJA LJUDEVIT ADAMIĆ, an industrialist and the driver of the commercial and social life of Rijeka is shown as the MASTER of the BANKNOTE.
The TORPEDO, a naval weapon invented in Rijeka, symbolizes Rijeka as the centre of technological progress as well as its industrialization throughout the 19th century. The KING of the TORPEDO is Franz Joseph, shown as the emperor of Austria whose reign saw the rise of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy as a prominent naval force, with the torpedo playing a significant part. The BARON of the TORPEDO is ROBERT WHITEHEAD, director and owner of Rijeka’s torpedo factory. He was an English engineer who perfected the invention of IVAN LUPPIS, our MASTER of the TORPEDO.
The HEART tells a story of the brave women of Rijeka. The QUEEN of HEARTS, Queen MARIA TERESA, was a brave defender of the family heritage, and she indebted Rijeka by driving commerce and manufacture. The BARONESS of HEARTS, baroness JOSEPHINA MOLLINARY VRANICZANY was braver than any man when she willingly put her hand in an X-ray machine during one of the very first presentations of an X-ray machine in the world. The MISTRESS of HEARTS, KAROLINA BELINIĆ, also known as Karolina of Rijeka, was the one who stopped the British bombardment and saved Rijeka in 1813.
The QUILL gives closure to our story of Rijeka’s history. The KING of the QUILL is FRANZ JOSEPH again, but this time shown as the king of Hungary. He signed the fateful “Patch of Rijeka”. IVAN ZAJC, shown as the BARON of the QUILL, was a fruitful composer and conductor. Our MASTER of the QUILL really was a true master of the written word: JANKO POLIĆ KAMOV, an avant-garde writer and poet, whose work has recently been acclaimed across the world. After the deaths of Zajc and Kamov, in 1914 and 1910 respectively, Rijeka enters a time of war and political turbulence…
