Episode 143
Tvoj dan je danas!
Today is your day! In this episode of Let’s Learn Croatian, we’ll review all of the days of the week.
Petak is our favourite day, but we can’t forget the others!
Lesson
Sunday - nedjelja
Monday - ponedjeljak
Tuesday - utorak
Wednesday - srijeda
Thursday - četvrtak
Friday - petak
Saturday - subota
today - danas
yesterday - jučer
tomorrow - sutra
Super Slatko Report
For the current edition of the Super Slatko Report, DJ Moe takes us back in time to the fifteenth century. Join us as he tells us about Barbara of Celje, also known as the Black Queen. She has quite a story and we are all ears!
Kicking things off in the 15th century, a time of castles, political intrigue; Enter Barbara of Celje, also known as the “Black Queen.” Born around 1392 in what is now Slovenia, she was the daughter of Count Herman II of Celje, a powerful noble with ambitions that stretched across Central Europe. Her mother, Anna of Schaunberg, came from another influential dynasty. Barbara was born into a world on the brink of change—knights were still a thing, but gunpowder was making battles a whole lot messier. The Catholic Church was losing its grip, and the Renaissance was peeking over the horizon. In short, it was the perfect time for someone with power to shake things up.
When she was old enough, she was betrothed/wed. Barbara married into an empire. In 1408, she tied the knot with Sigismund of Luxembourg, who at the time was the King of Hungary and Croatia. But that was just the start. By 1411, she was Queen of the Romans (a title for the Holy Roman Empire’s ruler-in-waiting), and in 1433, she became the Holy Roman Empress herself when Sigismund was crowned Emperor. At her peak, she was Queen of Hungary, Croatia, Germany, and Bohemia.
Barbara was now a queen but she was so much more; she was also very smart, multilingual, and, according to some also very independent. She spoke Latin, German, Hungarian, and likely Slavic languages, which made her a diplomatic powerhouse. She was deeply interested in alchemy and the occult, which, combined with her sharp political mind, earned her the nickname “The Black Queen.” Some say it was because of her rumored dark magic, others because she wore black a lot—either way, it added to her mystique. She was also said to be very beautiful with dark Raven like hair, combine that with her favorite dark colored clothing, she definitely had a vibe going on.
So, what is she most known for? First, she co-founded the Order of the Dragon with Sigismund, a chivalric order meant to defend Christianity (and, their own political interests). Second, she played a key role in the Council of Constance (1414-1418), which helped end the Western Schism—basically, there were three popes at the time pushing their own agendas, and she helped sort out that mess. Third, she pushed for economic reforms, supporting trade and the growth of cities, which strengthened her territories. These achievements helped shape the future of Central and Eastern Europe.
After Sigismund’s death in 1437, Barbara was sidelined by political rivals, stripped of power, and imprisoned for a time. She died in 1451, possibly of the plague, possibly of something more sinister—history is vague on the details unfortunately. But her legacy endures. In Croatia and beyond, she remains a figure of fascination, symbolizing power, intelligence, and mystery. Some say her spirit still haunts Medvedgrad Castle near Zagreb, and her legend continues to inspire stories, books, and even modern feminist interpretations of strong medieval women. The Black Queen may be gone, but she’s far from forgotten.
Just wanted a big thanks to Dundo for the most excellent topic suggestion.
And that’s it for the Super Slatko Report.
