In the framework of the International Conference “Chronicles of Mercenaries, Legends and Stereotypes” marking the 400th anniversary of the beginning of the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648), the Croatian History Museum has organized the exhibition “Sword, Spear and a Powder Keg” whose items selected from collections are trying to support and visualize the memory on this huge Pan-European conflict.

Soldiers from the Croatian territory, mostly from the Military Frontier, were one of the most important partakers of that significant conflict. Nikola Zrinski, Juraj Rattkay, Nikola Ostrošić and Nikola Kapilet, are just some of the participants whose role was significant in all periods of the War. In addition to those prints, presented are also those of European leaders Ferdinand II, Ferdinand III, military leaders such as Giovanni Lodovico Ettore Isolani, Albrecht Wallenstein and Walter Leslie, whose actions have left an undeniable trace in this deadly War and under whose command many Croatian soldiers have fought. The exhibition is accompanied not only with prints, but also with weapons and military equipment, flags, maps and coins of the time as to bring the visitors closer to one of the most turbulent times of European history.

10 April - 7 June 2018