Background
Kažotić was born around 1260 in Trogir into a noble family, and entered the Dominican Order at a young age, either in Trogir, or in nearby Split.
Kažotić was born around 1260 in Trogir into a noble family, and entered the Dominican Order at a young age, either in Trogir, or in nearby Split.
He completed his studies in Paris in 1287.
He was one of the first humanist figures to appear in southern Croatia. In 1303, Pope Benedict XI, himself a Dominican, named him Bishop of Zagreb. Bishop Kažotić established a library and a cathedral school which provided free schooling to underprivileged students.
Augustin was particularly considerate to the poor.
In his actions the prebendary of the Catholic school was provided a regular income, but Kazotic strictly forbade him to take money from his poorer students, or a request to any other service. From his salary as a bishop, he often turned to charity and donated some of his income to the needy.
According to the historian Baltazar Krčelić, while the Zagreb Cathedral was being built in 1312, there was a drought, and a source of water was dug out on today"s Ban Jelačić Square by the request of Kažotić. The source is now known as "Manduševac".
In 1318 he travelled to Avignon to seek the pope"s assistance in regard to ongoing conflicts with the King of Croatia and Hungary, Charles Robert of Anjou.
Kažotić found himself exiled from the kingdom. He waited four years for the king to allow him to return to his see. In 1322, the pope assigned him to the newly restored Diocese of Lucera in southern Italy.
Augustin Kažotić was given the task of rebuilding a Christian presence in Lucera.
A Saracen struck him in the head with an iron shaft, and he died from his injuries on August 3, 1323 in Lucera, Italy.