August Šenoa and Slava: The famous writer left his heart forever in Turopolje

Thousands of works have been published about the famous writer August Šenoa, but many people still do not know that it was here in the heart of Turopolje, which he loved so much, which was the inspiration for his many works, that he also met the love of his life. Šenoa fell in love with her, the young noblewoman Slava, whose family home was only a few steps away from the parish church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He dedicated numerous songs to her, drew strength and inspiration for his works from her, and his acquaintance with her from the first days awakened a real romantic, the different one, less known to most of Šenoa – a boyish in love. We have the opportunity to meet such a Šenao through the love letters he sent to his Slavica, which are kept today in the Turopolje Museum.

August Šenoa first saw the love of his life – Slava pl. Ištvanić on January 31, 1867, at a large civic ball in the Velikogorica inn “Bijela Ruza” at the time. All the famous people of Velikogorica were invited to the ball, including Mr. Đuro pl. Ištvanić and his three daughters Ana, Lorika and Slava. It was customary to invite guests from Zagreb and the surrounding area to such balls, so the invitation found its way to the intellectuals of the time, with the company of prominent young men, among whom was August Šenoa. They regularly visited such parties in the vicinity of Zagreb, which was also an opportunity for them to socialize and get to know members of the fairer sex.

When he saw Slava Šeno entering the hall with his company, he did not take his eyes off her. Soon they danced and danced the whole evening. True love was born in those moments, and it was these moments that Šenoa often recalled in his letters to Slava, showering her with compliments and outpourings of sincere love and rapture.

The girl with whom August Šenoa danced that January evening in the heart of Velika Gorica captured his poetic heart forever. The great Šenoa bowed before the young Turopoljka, who was only 17 years old at the time. He was 29, and already well known in the intellectual circles of the time.

However, Slava was not indifferent to this young man. She knew his works that were published in magazines, read them, he was already a famous writer at that time. She read his feuilletons published in Pozor even before they met.

After the meeting in “Bijela Ruza”, there were many meetings, but also expectations. The great Šenoa described the long hours without his Slavica in his love letters. He fell passionately and madly in love with this little girl from Turopolje, to whom he dedicated a cycle of songs – “Slavica”.

August Šenoa often came to Velika Gorica where he befriended many Turopoljes, he also got involved in politics here, and after he met his love, she became the main reason for his visit. Their relationship was serious from the beginning, Šenoa wrote letters and poems to Slava almost every day, and when he visited her in person, they would walk around the area, the three of them, because that was what customs dictated. On a walk, on March 25, 1867, August Šenoa swore eternal love to Slava in front of a crucifix at the crossroads of Polish roads. It was Easter when they got engaged, and a year later they crowned their love with marriage in the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Here, Shenona’s wishes and dreams were fulfilled, and the great love crowned with marriage continued for the rest of their lives.

In the heart of Turopolje, to which love forever bound him, there is a street that bears his name. August Šenou was inspired by this area for numerous works, among which the most notable are “Turopoljski Top”, “Young Gentleman”, “Diogenes”, “Cycle of Slavica Poems”, and he also collaborated with Emilio Lasowski in writing the work “History of the Noble County of Turopoljska”, and he was always supported by his faithful and beloved Turopoljka Slava, with whom he had six children.

Augusta Šenoa’s wife lived to a very old age. She died on October 2, 1944 at the age of 95, 63 years after the death of her husband. Slava was 12 years younger than August, and they lived in a happy marriage from 1868 until December 13, 1881, when the famous writer died. Symbolically, December 13 marks the Day of the City of Velika Gorica.