Zaguri family
A Venetian noble family of Cattaro with documented activity from the fourteenth to the sixteenth centuries.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Zaguri family was a Venetian noble family originating in Cattaro, the present-day city of Kotor in Montenegro. The family belonged to the ancient Slavic-speaking Catholic nobility of the Bay of Kotor and maintained connections with the political, commercial, military, literary, and ecclesiastical life of the eastern Adriatic and the Republic of Venice. Its documented history extends from the fourteenth century into the early nineteenth century, although the family’s principal period of prominence was between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries. The family’s early background is associated in local tradition with Petilovrijenac, a group of three Catholic martyrs whose dates are variously placed in 840, 1169, or 1249. More securely documented records begin in 1326, when Ilija Nikolin Zagurović, who had moved from Bar to Kotor, acquired a house there. The family’s rise within Kotor’s urban elite was reinforced by his marriage to Ruža Nucije Gile, a woman from a Kotor noble family. Members of the family subsequently appear in records connected with local government, trade, the Venetian political order, and military service. By 1505, the Zaguri family had obtained Venetian citizenship. In 1623, its members were granted Venetian noble status, formalizing a position that had already been built through service and social alliances. The family’s activities were not confined to Venice itself: its members were active in Kotor, Venice, Zara, Constantinople, and other territories administered or influenced by Venice. Their careers reflected the strategic importance of the eastern Adriatic, where commerce, Ottoman-Venetian warfare, diplomatic communications, and maritime administration overlapped. Several members became notable in their own right. Stefan Zagurović was recorded in 1420 as a member of Venice’s Great Council. Laurencije Zagurović was a trader in Kotor in 1437 and later distinguished himself during the defense of Venetian-held Kotor against Ottoman attacks in 1503. His son Trifun combined commercial, political, military, and diplomatic responsibilities. He represented Kotor in the Venetian Senate, served as a deputy on several occasions, participated in the Battle of Lepanto, worked as an agent of the Council of Ten, and handled diplomatic mail between Venice and Constantinople. He later served as deputy of Zara and died of plague in Constantinople in 1575 while attached to a diplomatic mission. The family also contributed to the literary and publishing culture of the period. Ilija Zagurović was a notable poet. Another prominent member, Jerolim Zagurović, was a Catholic connected by marriage to the Crnojević dynasty of Zeta. Jerolim married Antonija Crnojević, daughter of Đurađ Crnojević, the last ruler of the Principality of Zeta. This connection linked the family to one of the most important ruling houses of the medieval and early modern western Balkans. After Đurađ Crnojević was forced into exile, the Zaguri family hosted him at their palazzo in Venice. Jerolim’s sons Anđelo and Ivan Zagurović supported the publication of a Catholic catechism in Venice in 1583. The work was written by Jacques Ledesma and probably translated by Bartol Sfondrati, and it was printed by Camillo Zanetti. This episode illustrates the family’s participation in the circulation of religious and Slavic-related literary culture through Venetian printing networks. The Venetian line eventually became extinct. The last members of the lineage died on 12 September 1810. The Zaguri family is therefore best understood not as a continuing commercial brand or corporate entity, but as a historical noble house whose significance arose from its integration into Venetian institutions, its role in the defense and administration of the eastern Adriatic, its diplomatic activity, and its links to regional literary and dynastic history.
History
The Zaguri family emerged within the Catholic and Slavic-speaking nobility of the eastern Adriatic. Tradition connects its earliest identity with the story of the three Catholic martyrs of Petilovrijenac, although the dates associated with that tradition vary considerably. Documentary evidence becomes clearer in 1326, when Ilija Nikolin Zagurović, originally from Bar, settled in Kotor and purchased a house. His marriage to Ruža Nucije Gile of Kotor helped establish the family among the local elite. During the fifteenth century, members of the family entered the political and commercial structures of the Venetian sphere. Nikola Zagurović was mentioned in a document dated 8 August 1397. Stefan Zagurović was recorded in 1420 as a member of the Great Council of Venice, while Laurencije Zagurović was active as a Kotor trader in 1437. The family’s position was strengthened through service to Venetian institutions and through participation in the defense of Kotor, a strategically important port exposed to Ottoman pressure. Laurencije distinguished himself during the defense of Venetian-held Kotor in 1503. His son Trifun pursued a wide-ranging career that included trade, representation of Kotor in the Venetian Senate, military service, intelligence and administrative work for the Council of Ten, and diplomatic communications between Venice and Constantinople. He participated in the Battle of Lepanto and later became deputy of Zara. His death from plague in Constantinople in 1575 occurred while he was accompanying a diplomatic mission led by Giacomo Sorzano. The family’s integration into Venice was formally recognized in stages. It obtained Venetian citizenship by 1505 and received Venetian noble status in 1623. These recognitions followed generations of activity in government, commerce, defense, diplomacy, and social alliance-building. The family also maintained links with the Crnojević dynasty of Zeta. Jerolim Zagurović married Antonija Crnojević, daughter of Đurađ Crnojević, who had been the final ruler of the Principality of Zeta. When Đurađ was driven into exile, the Zaguri family provided him accommodation at its Venetian palazzo. Literary and religious production formed another part of the family’s historical profile. Ilija Zagurović was known as a poet, and Jerolim belonged to a branch connected with Catholic publishing. In 1583, Jerolim’s sons Anđelo and Ivan financed and commissioned the printing in Venice of a Catholic catechism written by Jacques Ledesma and probably translated by Bartol Sfondrati. The work was printed in Camillo Zanetti’s workshop, placing the family within the multilingual publishing environment of early modern Venice. The family’s prominence declined over subsequent generations. Although noble status continued into the early modern period, the last members of the Venetian lineage died on 12 September 1810. The Zaguri family is consequently a historical house rather than a surviving business organization. Its importance lies in the way its members connected Kotor and the wider eastern Adriatic with Venetian political institutions, maritime defense, diplomatic networks, dynastic alliances, and literary culture.
- 1810
The Venetian lineage becomes extinct
[1]The last members of the Venetian Zaguri lineage die on 12 September 1810.
- 1623
Venetian noble status is granted
[1]The family receives formal Venetian noble status.
- 1583
Zagurović family members support catechism publication
[1]Anđelo and Ivan Zagurović finance and order the printing in Venice of a Catholic catechism associated with Jacques Ledesma and Bartol Sfondrati.
- 1575
Trifun dies in Constantinople
[1]Trifun Zagurović dies of plague in Constantinople while participating in Giacomo Sorzano’s diplomatic mission.
- 1571
Trifun participates in the Battle of Lepanto
[1]Trifun Zagurović takes part in the Battle of Lepanto as part of his military service within the Venetian sphere.
- 1553
Trifun represents Kotor in the Venetian Senate
[1]Trifun Zagurović serves as Kotor’s representative in the Venetian Senate, beginning a documented period of political and diplomatic service.
- 1505
Venetian citizenship is granted
[1]The family is recorded as having become citizens of Venice.
- 1503
Laurencije participates in the defense of Kotor
[1]Laurencije Zagurović distinguishes himself during the defense of Venetian-held Kotor against Ottoman attacks.
- 1420
Stefan Zagurović joins Venice’s Great Council
[1]Stefan Zagurović is recorded as a member of the Great Council of Venice.
Ilija Nikolin Zagurović appears in Kotor records
[1]A record identifies Ilija Nikolin Zagurović, who had moved from Bar, as a house purchaser in Kotor. This is among the earliest documentary references to the family.
Products and positioning
Historical noble family associated with Venetian citizenship and nobility, eastern Adriatic administration, commerce, military service, diplomacy, literature, and Catholic publishing.
Religious publication · 1583
Catholic catechism printed in Venice
A Catholic catechism written by Jacques Ledesma and probably translated by Bartol Sfondrati was printed in Venice in 1583 with financial and commissioning support from Anđelo and Ivan Zagurović. The publication reflects the family’s patronage of religious and literary activity rather than a commercial product line.
Brand decisions
1583
Support for the printing of a Catholic catechismOtherBackground
Members of the family were involved in the Venetian religious and publishing environment and supported the production of a Catholic catechism.
Action taken
Anđelo and Ivan Zagurović ordered and financed the printing of the catechism in Camillo Zanetti’s Venetian printing house.
Aftermath
The publication remains an example of the family’s role as patrons of Catholic literary production in early modern Venice.
Sources1 sources
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