Kresimiria Karlovac University

Karlovac University

Karlovac University is the oldest, largest, and one of the most prestigious institution of higher learning in the Divine Republic of Kresimiria. It is closest followed in age by the University of Sinj, which was founded in 1892. Located in the heart of District IX (Decelska), it serves as the primary educational and theological center of the region. The university is particularly renowned for its vast Faculty of Divinity, which is the principal training ground for the Kresimirian clergy and the state’s political and administrative elite.

The university is tragically known as the site of the infamous 1960 bombing, a pivotal terrorist attack that profoundly altered the course of Kresimirian history.

History

Founding and Early Years

Karlovac University was founded in 1885, during the latter period of the Vosti Empire. While established under imperial charter, its creation was driven by Kresimirian intellectuals and religious leaders who sought to create a center for the preservation and study of Kresimirian culture and the Sanctian Church. In its early decades, it became the preferred institution for the sons of the Kresimirian elite, producing many of the figures who would later play roles in the nation’s independence, including a young Kresimir Basic, who graduated with a degree in Divinity in 1902.

Role in the Republic

Following the establishment of the Divine Republic in 1921, Karlovac University’s importance grew exponentially. Under Article 38 of the new Constitution, which mandated that all education be aligned with the state religion, the university became the official apex of the Kresimirian educational system. Its curriculum, particularly within the faculties of State Administration and History, was reformed to align with the principles of the Republic.

Its Faculty of Divinity was cemented as the sole institution for the formal training of Diviners, the religious officials who hold significant power over citizenship and voting rights in the Republic. As such, graduation from Karlovac became an almost essential prerequisite for anyone aspiring to a high-ranking position in the government or the clergy.

The 1960 Bombing

On September 12, 1960, the university became the target of a devastating terrorist attack. Operatives from the Bosken separatist group BRC-21 detonated a bomb in the crowded atrium of the Faculty of Divinity, killing 14 people and injuring over 60. The attack, intended to strike a symbolic blow at the heart of the Kresimirian establishment, instead caused a wave of national revulsion that galvanized the government of Chancellor Kresimir Kresimirovic III to seek a negotiated peace, leading directly to the 1961 Treaty of Brod Moravice.

Campus and Academics

The Karlovac campus is expansive, known for its grand, neoclassical architecture. The centerpiece of the university is the Divinity Quarter, a large complex of interconnected buildings that houses the Faculty of Divinity. This quarter includes lecture halls, libraries containing sacred texts, chapels for religious services, the university’s main archival facility, and residential halls for students training to become Diviners.

While the Faculty of Divinity is its most prominent, the university maintains a strong reputation in other fields vital to the Kresimirian state, including:

  • State Administration: Training future members of the Federal Councils and civil service.
  • Military History and Tactics: Closely linked with the Council for Defence, providing education for future officers of the Kresimirian Army.
  • Growth and Agriculture: A leading research center for the nation’s agricultural sector.

Notable Alumni and Staff