Slovenija Branch

The Dismas Fraternity was founded in 1688 in Ljubljana, Carniola (Slovenia) by Sir Wolfgang Sigismund von Kunpach and Sir Franz von Erberg as a non-religious society of knights, intellectuals, aristocrats and educated individuals who supported the arts. The founding members, limited to 26 were to secure the common good, and protect and promote beautiful and poetic customs of the land. The society's was distinctive in an environment in which there were an abundance of religious or church based societies. The Dismas Fraternity may be compared to today's Rotary Clubs or Lions Clubs.

Dismas, also known as the "Good Thief" or the "Penitent Thief" is an unnamed person who was curcified alongside and to the right of Jesus. The name "Dismas" was given to the thief in the Catholic tradition, however, he was never canonized by the Church, but is venerated as a saint because it was Christ who blessed him before he died. Members of the Fraternity, despite the Fraternity being a non-religious society, were expected to be practicing Christians. In the Cathedral in Ljubljana, the Fraternity funded the construction of their own alter and grave located to the right of the main alter, mimicking the "Penitent Thief" to the right of Christ.

The Fraternity, initially limited to 26 members, was later increased to 51. It was an exclusive organization, only accepting those of a knightly background, intellectual or aristocratic/upper class. They were responsible for the creating of the Academia Operosorum Labacensium, founded in 1693, a forerunner of the modern Slovenska akademija znanosti in umetnosti or Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts. In 1702, they founded the Academia Philharmonicorum or Slovenian Academy of Music.

Shortly after the formation of the Fraternity, from 1689 - 1801, the Chronicle of the Dismas Fraternity was started written in German, containing illustrations of the coats of arms of its members, each accompanied with a biography or cirriculum vitae, their signature and a pseudoname of each of the members in Latin. The 500 page Chronicle contained 186 full-page miniature paintings and illustrations of the members' coat of arms which were commissioned whenever a noble joined the Fraternity. Its members included prominent members of the elite of Slovenian regions of the Austro-Hungarian empire, which also encompassed areas of present day Austria, Italy and Croatia. The Chronicle contains the work of several painters of the period, including Anton Trost, Bartholomeus Ramschissl, Matthias Greyscher and Simon Thaddeus Grahovar, as well as some unknown illustrators.


Franz Anton Freiherr von Moschkon, imperial and royal True Treasures, enrolled under the name of "The Steadfast One" and the motto "The Unerring Spirit in a Restless World", Fol. 137. Painted by S. W. Grahovar.	Johann Anton Thalnitscher von Thalberg, Dean of Ljubljana cathedral, enrolled on November 28th 1689 under the name of "The Conscerated One" and the motto "Only to God" Fol. 23/22. Anonymous.

The following are example plates depicting the coat of arms of some of the members of the Fraternity. Click on any of the images below to view an enlarged image of the same.

The book is available to examine at the Archive of the Republic of Slovenia. The book is beautifully bounded in dark blue leather with metal hinges, including a leather strap and lock on the open end of the book. The pages are edged with gold, and the illustrations in the book are beautifully rendered. The staff of the Archive of the Republic of Slovenia were very helpful. It is recommended that if you examine the book, you should have a pair of cotton gloves, although they may have a pair available with the book.

About the author: , born in Canada, son of Slovenian parents, is director of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada (RHSC), president of the Toronto Branch of the RHSC, president and founder of the Academy of European Medieval Martial Arts in Toronto, and is also the founder of the Societas Heraldica Slovenica. During his study, research and reconstruction of medieval martial arts, he discovered heraldry had played a significant part in medieval history, and has expanded his research and study to include heraldry of Slovenia.

Chronicle of the Dismas Fraternity in Ljubljana, 1689 - 1801