Controversy Over Split ‘Countess’ at Croatian Inauguration

Learner News | 22/02/2025

In today’s edition of Croatian Learner News, our topic is the recent presidential inauguration, highlighting controversies around a prominent campaign figure’s noble title. Discover who claims inauthenticity and what this means for Croatian politics.

Controversy Over Split 'Countess' at Croatian Inauguration

CTA Placeholder: EN > HRV > Posts > News > Hero

The news in Croatian

Zoran Milanović je novi hrvatski predsjednik. Na inauguraciju1 je došla Jagoda Schön Milesi, koja se predstavlja kao grofica2 . Međutim, Nikša pl. Kuščić tvrdi da njezin plemićki3 naslov4 nije legitiman. Schön Milesi vodi organizaciju5 Split Heritage i imala je važnu ulogu u Milanovićevoj kampanji6 . Njena prošlost izaziva zanimanje javnosti.

  1. inauguracija (f.)
    ceremonija službenog početka nečijeg mandata ili dužnosti ↩︎
  2. grofica (f.)
    žena plemićkog ranga iznad barunice i ispod markize ↩︎
  3. plemićki
    koji se odnosi na plemstvo ili plemiće ↩︎
  4. naslov (m.)
    imenovanje ili titula koja označava rang ili status ↩︎
  5. organizacija (f.)
    skupina ljudi koja radi prema zajedničkom cilju ili svrsi ↩︎
  6. kampanja (f.)
    niz aktivnosti usmjerenih prema postizanju određenog cilja, često u političkom kontekstu ↩︎

Translation

Zoran Milanović is the new Croatian president. At his inauguration, Jagoda Schön Milesi, who presents herself as a countess, was in attendance. However, Nikša pl. Kuščić claims that her noble title is not legitimate. Schön Milesi leads the organisation Split Heritage and played an important role in Milanović’s campaign. Her past is attracting public interest.

Text Comprehension

Question: Who was inaugurated as the new president of Croatia?

Zoran Milanović was inaugurated as the new president of Croatia.

Question: What does Nikša pl. Kuščić claim about Jagoda Schön Milesi’s title?

Nikša pl. Kuščić claims that Jagoda Schön Milesi’s noble title is not legitimate.

Vocabulary

CroatianEnglish
inauguracija (f.)inauguration
grofica (f.)countess
plemićkinoble
naslov (m.)title
organizacija (f.)organisation
kampanja (f.)campaign

Free 6-week email course

Want to get started with Croatian? Over six weeks, you’ll get one lesson per week with essential phrases and grammar, plus a mid-week exercise to reinforce what you’ve learned.

Read the full story

However, the legitimacy of her aristocratic title has been called into question by Nikša pl. Kuščić, head of the Split branch of the Croatian Noble Association. In a statement disseminated by local media, pl. Kuščić argues that the noble family Milesi has been extinct since 1833, thereby suggesting that Schön Milesi’s claims are unfounded. Furthermore, he highlighted that in most countries, such claims could lead to legal consequences, citing Italy, France, and Germany as examples where nobility titles are not officially recognized.

The backdrop to this controversy involves Jagoda Schön Milesi, who is also known by her birth name, Jagoda Miše. She is the president of the nonprofit organization Split Heritage, which focuses on the preservation of cultural heritage. Her influence and connections are evident as she regularly appears alongside figures from the Croatian political sphere, including Zoran Milanović. She also played a significant role in his presidential campaign as one of the prominent donors.

Controversy Over Split 'Countess' at Croatian Inauguration
Controversy Over Split ‘Countess’ at Croatian Inauguration

Beyond her public persona in the realm of cultural heritage, Schön Milesi has a personal narrative intertwined with notable figures. Her story includes a past relationship with an Italian businessman and her visible presence in high society circles. Despite her various claims to nobility and wealth, her exact background remains a subject of public intrigue and debate.

This incident has opened a broader discourse on the authenticity of noble claims in contemporary Croatia, especially regarding the significance of historical titles in modern societies. While some view her as a colorful figure of public interest, others question the ethics of assuming such titles without historical corroboration.

Info: ‘Croatian Learner News’ is a service from ‘Let’s Learn Croatian’, a language school dedicated to teaching the Croatian language. We offer various types of online courses, including Croatian language classes, designed to cater to diverse learning needs.


More Learner News

Discover more news from Croatia to stay informed and practise your skills:

  • Croatian Educators Set for Strike Over Pay Dispute

    Learner News | 08/03/2025

    Croatian Educators Set for Strike Over Pay Dispute

  • Pensioners Rally in Zagreb Demanding Government Resignation

    Learner News | 04/03/2025

    Pensioners Rally in Zagreb Demanding Government Resignation

  • Boris Milošević Leads Serbian National Council

    Learner News | 02/03/2025

    Boris Milošević Leads Serbian National Council

Learn to speak Croatian!

Send us your details and our learning coordinator Andrea will contact you directly
to find out about your learning goals and how we can help.

    By submitting this form, you agree to the processing of your data as described in our privacy policy.

      Thanks for filling out the form!

      We’ll be in touch shortly. If you’d like to speed things up and help us find the best option for you, feel free to share some or all of the following details. This step is completely optional.

      ×