The moniker Zmaj, meaning dragon, originated from the 3 May 1848 assembly and became permanently attached to Jovan Jovanović Zmaj after he founded a satirical journal by that name in 1864. Born in Novi Sad in 1833, he navigated a career spanning medicine and literature, leaving an indelible mark on Serbian Romanticism through his versatile output.
Early Life and Medical Training
Born into a noble family in Novi Sad, then part of the Austrian Empire, Jovanović attended schools in Halas and Preßburg. Although his father pressured him to study law in Budapest, Prague, and Vienna, he pursued medicine instead. He returned to his hometown to serve in an official capacity but resigned after one year to focus on literary endeavors. He later earned a Doctor of Medicine degree while serving as director of the Tekelijanum in Budapest.
Literary and Journalistic Contributions
His initial poem appeared in Srbski Letopis in 1852. Throughout the following decades, he contributed to journals such as Neven, Sedmica, Javor, and Žiža. He edited the comic journal Komarac in 1861 and later published the chronicle of the Russo-Turkish War starting in 1877. Beyond original works, he translated Lermontov, Pushkin, Goethe, Heine, Longfellow, Sándor Petőfi, and János Arany into Serbian. In 1866, his comic play Šaran achieved notable success.
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Jovanović is recognized for his children's literature, which remains embedded in the Serbian national consciousness. His lyrical collections, specifically Đulići and its sequel Đulići Uveoci, are regarded as his masterpieces. The latter was composed following the death of his wife in 1872 and the subsequent loss of his children. His broader body of work includes six volumes of Pevanija, covering themes of love, patriotism, and politics.
Medical Practice and Public Life
Resuming his medical practice in 1870 in Novi Sad, he addressed public health through articles on hygiene and diet. He was a member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, the Society of Serbian Letters, the Serbian Learned Society, the Serbian Medical Society, and Matica srpska. He advocated for cremation and believed the Serbian nation should transcend religious divides. He died in Sremska Kamenica in 1904.
Fast facts
- Born: 1833, Novi Sad
- Died: 1904, Sremska Kamenica
- Academic Degree: Doctor of Medicine
- Key Literary Movement: Romanticism
- Famous Collection: Đulići
- Notable Satirical Journal: Zmaj
- Membership: Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
- Citizenship: Austrian Empire, Austria–Hungary, Kingdom of Serbia
Questions readers ask
Why is he called Zmaj?
The name means dragon and was adopted following his founding of a popular satirical journal titled Zmaj in 1864.
What is his most significant contribution to literature?
He is best known for his children's poetry, which remains widely known and sung across the Balkans, alongside his lyrical collections Đulići.
Did he balance his medical career with his writing?
Yes, he worked as a physician in Novi Sad while continuing to contribute to literary journals and writing scientific articles on hygiene and health.
