Controversy Over Split ‘Countess’ at Croatian Inauguration

The news in Croatian

1. inauguracija (f.)
   ceremonija službenog početka nečijeg mandata ili dužnosti ↩︎
2. grofica (f.)
   žena plemićkog ranga iznad barunice i ispod markize ↩︎
3. plemićki
   koji se odnosi na plemstvo ili plemiće ↩︎
4. naslov (m.)
   imenovanje ili titula koja označava rang ili status ↩︎
5. organizacija (f.)
   skupina ljudi koja radi prema zajedničkom cilju ili svrsi ↩︎
6. kampanja (f.)
   niz aktivnosti usmjerenih prema postizanju određenog cilja, često u političkom kontekstu ↩︎

Translation

Text Comprehension

Question: Who was inaugurated as the new president of Croatia?

Question: What does Nikša pl. Kuščić claim about Jagoda Schön Milesi’s title?

Vocabulary

Croatian	English
inauguracija (f.)	inauguration
grofica (f.)	countess
plemićki	noble
naslov (m.)	title
organizacija (f.)	organisation
kampanja (f.)	campaign

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However, the legitimacy of her aristocratic title has been called into question by Nikša pl. Kuščić, head of the Split branch of the Croatian Noble Association. In a statement disseminated by local media, pl. Kuščić argues that the noble family Milesi has been extinct since 1833, thereby suggesting that Schön Milesi’s claims are unfounded. Furthermore, he highlighted that in most countries, such claims could lead to legal consequences, citing Italy, France, and Germany as examples where nobility titles are not officially recognized.

The backdrop to this controversy involves Jagoda Schön Milesi, who is also known by her birth name, Jagoda Miše. She is the president of the nonprofit organization Split Heritage, which focuses on the preservation of cultural heritage. Her influence and connections are evident as she regularly appears alongside figures from the Croatian political sphere, including Zoran Milanović. She also played a significant role in his presidential campaign as one of the prominent donors.

Beyond her public persona in the realm of cultural heritage, Schön Milesi has a personal narrative intertwined with notable figures. Her story includes a past relationship with an Italian businessman and her visible presence in high society circles. Despite her various claims to nobility and wealth, her exact background remains a subject of public intrigue and debate.

This incident has opened a broader discourse on the authenticity of noble claims in contemporary Croatia, especially regarding the significance of historical titles in modern societies. While some view her as a colorful figure of public interest, others question the ethics of assuming such titles without historical corroboration.

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