User:Antidiskriminator/Drafts of articles/Vlach Question

The Vlach Question in Croatia was a question of jurisdiction and antagonistic relationship of Croatian nobility and Catholic clergy toward Orthodox population settled on vacant territories of Dalmatia, Slavonia and Croatia (mostly known as the Croatian Military Frontier). The Orthodox population in this regions has always selfidentified themselves as Serbs. The Croatian nobility, clergy and some authors believed that this Orthodox people are in fact Vlachs.

Etimology
The etimology of Vlach question is controversial. Many authors from Croatia, including Adamček, refer to Vlach Question as it was a question of jurisdiction over Vlachs populated in Croatian Military Frontier.

The other group of authors believe that Vlach Question in Croatia refers to Serbs, not Vlachs. Nobody in 17th and 18th century identified Vlach settlers as Orthodox Croats, nor they considered themselves as such, but only as Serbs (Rascians).

Background
When Serb settlers came to Habsburg military frontier (in modern-day Croatia) they were settled on the land which remained vacant for more than 40 years. Initially, the feudal lords from Croatia did not react against them, probably because they were promised that newly settled population will return to their homeland after it would be recaptured in the war. When feudal lords realized that newly settled population was permanently settled on their estates, they requested to be entitled to collect rent from them for using their estates.

Soon after Serbs were settled in Slavonia, Nikola Stepanić Selnički, a Catholic bishop of the Archdiocese of Zagreb began with his activities against them. In 1598 Selnički received information that emperor Rudolf was going to grant Serbs privileges which would guarantee their status of people free from their feudal obligations. Selnički was the first of Croatian nobility who tried to impose his rule over Serb settlers. In fact, Selnički was actually the initiator of the "Vlach question" in Croatia with his intention to impose his feudal authority over Serbs, populated a year earlier on his estates by Varaždin general Sigismund. Since 1599 Croatian Sabor adopted conclusions to support claims of bishops and civil feudal lords.

Serbs found themselves on the territory significantly influenced by the Catholic Church which had intention to convert them into Catolicism trough their initial converstion to Eastern Catholic Church. Not only Chatolic bishops, but also civil feudal nobility laid their claims regarding newly settled population on military frontier. On the initiative of Croatian representatives the Hungarian assembly in Požun adopted conclusions regarding the Vlach Question.

Aftermath
The Vlach Question and pulling out Vlachs from ingerentions of Croatian Sabor resulted with problem between Croatia and centres of power within Habsburg Empire.