Biskup Vjenceslav Soić: žrtva borbe za opstanak Senja kao vjerskog i obrazovnog središta
Bishop Vjenceslav Soić: Victim of Senj’s Struggle for Survival as a religious and educational Centre

Summary/Abstract: The paper uncovers previously unknown things which are connected to the life of Vjenceslav Soić, particularly from the period between 1869 and 1875. Simultaneously followed are the activities which are connected with Soić’s political activity, the annual incomes and his status in the church hierarchy. From this it can be seen that at almost the same time an improvement in all areas (with the church, finances and politics) of activity was experienced. About how informed and regularly updated he was about things, which happened in his interest around him, is witnessed in the letters which Antun Vakanović sent, the then minister of finance, president of the parliament and acting ban. After that Senj came under civil administration and things began to change. The complexity of contemporaneous relations were shown sufficiently with the departure of Soić from the position of bishop. The cause may have been more, but the occasion was obvious – a double celebration in June 1875 in the Pope’s name. This initiated a public lynching against Soić who tried to sanitise the damage and reach a compromising solution with the closure of the lyceum, which could have been one of the causes of the dispute. Bedini, who wanted Rijeka to be the new centre of the bishopric, presented another cause. Senj became a completely different centre when it came under civil rule in April 1872, and Soić was no longer needed by the Emperor who ceased to be his supporter and thus held it in the place of the bishop.

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