Jure Grando – Europe’s First Vampire
In the heart of Istria, Croatia, nestled amongst rolling hills and vineyards, lies the unassuming village of Kringa. Yet, this tranquil setting belies a chilling legend, one that speaks of a time when the dead refused to stay buried and terrorised the living. This is the story of Jure Grando – Europe’s First Vampire, a historical account that predates many of the more famous vampiric narratives and offers a unique glimpse into the folklore that shaped our understanding of the undead. His tale, documented by contemporary chroniclers, stands as a chilling testament to the power of belief and fear in 17th-century Europe.
The Unquiet Grave of Kringa
The year was 1656. Jure Grando, a villager of Kringa, passed away after an illness and was buried in the local cemetery. His death, however, marked not an end, but a terrifying beginning. Shortly after his interment, a wave of inexplicable deaths and unsettling phenomena began to plague the village. Reports surfaced of Grando, or rather his spectral form, wandering the village at night, knocking on doors.
It was a macabre omen: those whose doors were knocked upon would invariably die within a few days, succumbing to an unknown malady. The fear intensified when Jure Grando began to appear in the bedroom of his horrified widow, Ivana, described as smiling eerily and gasping for breath, subjecting her to nocturnal visitations that were both terrifying and violating.
The Štrigon's Reign of Terror
The locals of Kringa referred to this malevolent entity as a ”štrigon”, a regional term encompassing both vampire and warlock. For sixteen long years, Jure Grando’s reign of terror held the village in its icy grip. The nightly knocks and subsequent deaths created an atmosphere of pervasive dread.
Villagers lived in constant fear, their nights punctuated by the horrifying anticipation of a knock on their own door. Even the village priest, Father Giorgio, who had officiated at Grando’s funeral, was not spared. He reportedly encountered the reanimated Grando, holding out a cross and crying, ”Behold Jesus Christ, you štrigon! Stop tormenting us!” The creature, though momentarily startled and shedding tears, continued its horrifying nightly rounds.
The Desperate Exhumation
The villagers, pushed to the brink of despair, eventually decided that drastic measures were necessary. Led by the brave prefect Miho Radetić, a group of nine determined men, including Father Giorgio, ventured to the cemetery one night in 1672. Their mission: to put an end to Jure Grando’s monstrous existence.
They dug up his coffin, their hearts pounding in their chests. What they discovered inside sent shivers down their spines: Grando’s body was perfectly preserved, as if he had only just died. His cheeks were reportedly rosy, and a ghastly smile was fixed upon his face, his eyes open.
The Brutal End of the First Vampire
The sight of the intact corpse, seemingly mocking them, initially caused several of the men to flee in terror. But Radetić, resolute, rallied them back. Father Giorgio, standing over the open grave, once again raised his crucifix and uttered prayers of exorcism. They attempted to pierce Grando’s heart with a sharpened hawthorn stake, a traditional method for dispatching the undead. Yet, to their horror, the stake simply bounced off his hardened flesh, unable to penetrate.
It was Stipan Milašić, one of the villagers, who finally took decisive action. Grabbing a saw, he began to saw off Grando’s head. As the blade cut through the skin, the undead creature let out a bloodcurdling scream, and fresh blood gushed forth from the wound, reportedly filling the grave. With the decapitation, the grotesque smile on Grando’s face vanished, and his body convulsed. They quickly covered the grave, and from that night onwards, the terrifying visitations ceased. Peace, at long last, returned to Kringa.
Jure Grando's Legacy and Visiting Kringa Today
The historical account of Jure Grando was meticulously documented by Johann Weikhard von Valvasor, a Carniolan scientist and polymath, in his extensive 1689 work, ”The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola.” This detailed record marks the earliest known written account of a ’vampire’ by name and surname in Europe, cementing Jure Grando’s place in the annals of supernatural history and influencing subsequent vampire lore. While the scientific community today might offer alternative explanations for the phenomena attributed to Grando, his story remains a powerful testament to the enduring human fascination with death and the unknown.
Today, Kringa has embraced its macabre claim to fame. The village offers a unique opportunity for those interested in exploring the roots of vampire legends. While Jure Grando’s unmarked grave lies in the local cemetery, the village has a small ”Vampire Museum” dedicated to his story, offering insights into the folklore and the historical context of his legend. You can also find a charmingly themed ”Vampire Bar,” a nod to the village’s most famous, albeit undead, resident. Visiting Kringa provides a fascinating journey into a corner of Croatian history where myth and reality intertwine, allowing you to walk the very streets where Europe’s first recorded vampire once roamed.