Decorations of Dr Janez Bleiweis
Decorations and honorary appointments of the father of the Slovenian nation — a 2009 donation to the Gorenjska Museum by great-great-grandson Dipl. Eng. Andrej Bleiweis, together with decorations belonging to his son Dr Karel and grandson Janko.
Born
19. 11. 1808
Knighthood
17. 6. 1881
Donation
2009
Khislstein Castle
Father of the Slovenian nation
In Kranj we encounter the name of Dr Janez Bleiweis, the father of the Slovenian nation, every day without even thinking about it. One of the main thoroughfares is Bleiweisova Street; we also have his monument and birthplace with a commemorative plaque.
Janez, the first child of Kranj merchant Valentin Pleiweiss and Theresia née Smrekar, was born on 19 November 1808. After schooling in Kranj and Ljubljana he went to Vienna to study medicine and veterinary science; he completed his medical studies in 1832 and a year later earned the title of Master of Obstetrics under the surname Bleiweis. He became Master of the Veterinary Art in 1836. During his studies he met Karolina Fellner, married her, and their son Karel was born (Vienna, 1834–Ljubljana, 1909). The family moved to Ljubljana in 1841.
“On his seventieth birthday he became the father of the nation, as a major manifestation for a United Slovenia was organised.”
He began his professional career as a lecturer in veterinary science at the Medico-Surgical Institute of the Ljubljana Lyceum until 1850, when the lyceum closed. In 1856, together with fellow countryman from Čirče Dr Simon Strupi, he founded the Veterinary and Farriery School at Poljane in Ljubljana. Dr Janez Bleiweis became the school’s headmaster and lecturer. He was head of the maternity hospital, a member of the Provincial Health Council and of the Ljubljana City Health Committee. He worked to improve hygiene and to prevent epidemics, especially cholera. In 1843 he published the first Slovenian veterinary book, Bukve za kmeta (Books for the Farmer).
In 2009 the Gorenjska Museum received a particularly important donation: great-great-grandson Dipl. Eng. Andrej Bleiweis permanently transferred to the museum the decorations and honorary appointments of Dr Janez Bleiweis, as well as those of his son Dr Karel and grandson Janko.
Physician and veterinarian
In Vienna he studied medicine and veterinary science, becoming Master of Obstetrics (1833) and Master of the Veterinary Art (1836). In Ljubljana he lectured, headed the maternity hospital and advocated for hygiene and the prevention of epidemics, especially cholera.
In 1856, with Dr Simon Strupi, he founded the Veterinary and Farriery School at Poljane — becoming its headmaster and lecturer.
Editor and politician
In 1842 he became secretary of the Agricultural Society in Ljubljana and remained so until his death. In 1843 the society began publishing the only Slovenian newspaper, Kmetijske in rokodelske novice (Agricultural and Crafts News); Bleiweis became its editor and thus also entered politics. He was a deputy in the Carniolan Provincial Assembly.
He was also active in the Slovenska matica society: president from 1875 to 1881 and editor of the Letopis Slovenske matice. On 17 June 1881 Emperor Franz Joseph I granted him a knighthood and the coat of arms of the noble Trsteniški.
1843
year · Novice
Did you know?
Bukve za kmeta
In 1843 he published the first Slovenian veterinary book — Bukve za kmeta — in the same year that Kmetijske in rokodelske novice began to appear.
Noble Trsteniški
Emperor Franz Joseph I granted him a knighthood and coat of arms on 17 June 1881 — from then on Bleiweis of the noble house of Trsteniški.
Three generations
The 2009 donation includes the decorations of Dr Janez Bleiweis, his son Dr Karel (1834–1909) and grandson Janko — permanently owned by the Gorenjska Museum.
Photographs of the decorations and heritage
Zgodbe za predmeti
1–3 / 3
01 / 03
Nejc Zaplotnik’s high-altitude boots
Višinski čevlji, ki jih je na alpinistični odpravi Everest 1979 nosil legendarni Nejc Zaplotnik. Čevlje je izdelalo podjetje Alpina Žiri.
Več o predmetu
02 / 03
Horsehair sieves
Coloured sieves made from horse-tail hair — a speciality of the villages between Kranj and Škofja Loka. From the 16th to the mid-20th century Stražišče and its surroundings were Europe’s largest sieve-making centre, prod…
Več o predmetu
03 / 03
Decorations of Dr Janez Bleiweis
Decorations and honorary appointments of the father of the Slovenian nation — a 2009 donation to the Gorenjska Museum by great-great-grandson Dipl. Eng. Andrej Bleiweis, together with decorations belonging to his son Dr…
Več o predmetu