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Amalia Mavrič

Testimony of Elza Mavrič Kumar about Amalia Mavrič

How did the Battistig de Rothenfeld Pelican Fund for Single Women work?

Franc Anton Battistig de Rothenfeld was married to a noblewoman from the Brda region, Jožefa Zupančič, from Šlomberk near Biljana. Their daughter, Ivana, inherited the estate. In 1837, the noblewoman Ivana Battistig—known within her family circle by her fashionable French name, Jeannette—married Jožef Pelikan, the principal of a gymnasium in Zadar. Shortly after their marriage, this enterprising woman, along with her sister Beatrika Kos, began producing dried fruit.

Her only daughter, Marija Teodora Natalija Pelikan, unexpectedly passed away on her wedding day. In memory of her dearly departed daughter, Ivana decided to establish a fund in 1866 to support young women, primarily her descendants. The fund was named the "Battistig de Rothenfeld Pelican Fund" and operated under the auspices of the Gorizia municipality. Ivana Battistig-Pelikan outlined the conditions for receiving financial support in a public document. Priority was given to her female relatives, specifically the daughters and descendants of her sisters, Marija (married to Repič) and Beatrika (married to Kos), as well as her brother-in-law, Franc Pelikan. Other applicants for the dowry had to be legitimate daughters, unmarried, of the Catholic faith, of sound mind and good character, aged between 20 and 30, and living on December 20th, the day they would receive the dowry. They also had to be born in the Gorizia region.

 

The dowry was distributed by the mayor of Gorizia every year on December 20th, the anniversary of Marija Teodora Pelikan's death. Ivana Battistig-Pelikan passed away in 1878, and from then on, the fund operated regularly. The dowry amount was typically equivalent to the annual interest of five percent of the total inheritance, paid out in gold francs. Thus, each year, one woman from our extended family would go to the municipal office on that day.

I was one of the last recipients.

Who managed the fund?

The Municipality of Gorizia.

My grandmother Amalia’s brother, Eduardo, worked there as a municipal clerk. Every year, one woman would come to collect the dowry, and it was known in advance which girl would receive it. When my turn came in 1939, inflation was rampant, and the lira had lost much of its value. We didn’t know what to do. My grandfather Anton, acting as guardian of the dowry, went to the municipal office, withdrew the funds, deposited them in the bank, and waited for the lira to recover. But it never did. In 1942, Mussolini abolished the fund, and we never received the money.

Who received the dowry if there were no eligible descendants?

The dowry was intended for two prominent families from the same branch: De Rottenfeld and Zupančič. They owned large estates, including a grand house with a large portal in Zal Breg (old Šlomberk, Salimbergo), as well as properties in Cerovo and Gorizia. They were extremely wealthy. A girl could only receive the dowry once. If no eligible girl aged 20 or older was available, the dowry was given to a daughter of a public official from the Gorizia municipality. On our branch, through my grandmother Amalia, there were the most female descendants.

What is the connection to the Vuk family in Miren?

Amalia and Rosalia were sisters. Rosalia married into the Vuk family in Miren, where there was a shoe factory. Her husband was the factory's director. When World War I began, and Italy coveted these territories, the factory (which was also supplying shoes to the army) was moved to Celje, near the castle. It continued to operate throughout the war. My grandfather Anton, an Austrian soldier, tried to come home to Brda on leave but couldn’t due to the front line, so he went to Celje instead, where it was more accessible.

How many siblings were there, including Amalia?

Six. Amalia, Rosalia, Kristina, and another sister whose name I unfortunately don’t remember. The brothers were Eduardo and Poldo, and they shared the surname Musolin. When Amalia married Anton, she brought a dowry with her. On her wedding day, as was customary, she arrived on a carriage, holding a small chest with a statue of the Virgin Mary, full of cash. The Mavrič house in Šlovrenc had previously belonged to another family who could no longer maintain it financially. With Amalia’s dowry, Anton was able to buy it and become the owner. Only he and Amalia moved into the house. His brothers, Ninč and Karlo, remained in the lower house. When Amalia joined the household, only Anton’s mother was still alive.

Interestingly, Anton’s mother was a very strong-willed woman. During World War I, Šlovrenc was used as a logistical base for the Italian army. Displeased with the situation, she demanded an audience with the Italian king, who often visited a neighboring house in Šlovrenc to view the Sabotin front from the terrace. She complained about the soldiers causing too much disturbance. The king explained that it was war, after all, but she managed to secure access to the military kitchen for the villagers, allowing them to eat alongside the soldiers. This is how they became familiar with Italian pasta. Before that, we only knew certain types of pasta, like bleke.

What was Amalia like?

She brought money, but also a strong sense of enterprise. In those days, most people, especially women, were illiterate. Yet Amalia was an avid reader, always surrounded by books, borrowing them regularly. Reading expanded her horizons. At the farm, we had a mare that roamed freely and would often follow Amalia as she walked through the vineyards. The mare was so accustomed to Amalia that she even waited for her on the courtyard when she visited her aunt Ernestina in Gabrje (the lower part of Šlovrenc). Amalia was very attached to her.

Amalia was incredibly hardworking, often laboring in the fields alongside the farmhands (žaudarce). She didn’t shy away from any work on the farm and was always there when needed.

Did she have a role in the wine business?

Not directly. My grandfather handled most of the winemaking, but she often advised him. Wine production was extensive, and selling it required significant effort. We had regular buyers, including an innkeeper in Gradišče. Later, my grandfather opened a tavern in Monfalcone, seeing the business opportunity due to the shipyard there.

Anton and Amalia had ten children: Ernesta, Alojzija, Malka, Mirko, Jožef, Izidor, Ciril, Vencelj, Alojz, and Oskar. The original plan was for Mirko and Jožef to go to Argentina to earn money, which they did. Izidor (Doro) was supposed to take over the farm. The family also bought new land in the lower part of Šlovrenc. Ernesta and Alojzija married, while Malka, Ciril, and Vencelj died young. Oskar, the youngest, was supposed to inherit the tavern in Monfalcone. The tavern was very successful, especially because many Slovenians from the Karst worked at the shipyard in Monfalcone. They were happy to find good Brda wine, often buying it from our village suppliers. My sister Milena was in charge, and Amalia worked as her assistant. Izidor transported the wine, and when our own supply ran out, we sourced it from neighboring farms. It was a thriving business. Women would come to the tavern with bottles to buy wine, which was a common practice at the time.

How would you describe Amalia as a mother?

Amalia Musolin Mavrič from Medana came from a family that was deeply involved in viticulture. She was a descendant of the noble Zupančič Battistig de Rothenfeld lineage and received an excellent upbringing. Books were always present in her home, and she carried that love of reading throughout her life. She married Anton Mavrič in Šlovrenc, becoming a devoted wife and the mother of ten children. She was a role model to other mothers, loved reading passionately, and was deeply religious, attending Mass every morning. She passed away in 1951. To her grandchildren, she was exceptionally kind, teaching us, encouraging us to read, and praying with us every night. She wasn’t just a bystander; she actively worked on the farm and never hesitated to get her hands dirty.

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