Career
Karlo Pavao baron Gvozdanović was born in Žumberak, a range of mountains between Croatia and Slovenia, known for his uskoks, the refugees from parts of Croatia occupied by the Ottoman Empire and traditional guerrilla soldiers. He was a relative of Petar Vid Gvozdanović, Fieldmarshal Lieutenant, who distinguished himself in the War of the Bavarian Succession (1778-1779) and the War of the First Coalition (1792-1797). Having started his military career as a young man, he was promoted gradually, becoming captain in 1796, major in 1801, colonel in 1809 and finally major general on 12 May 1813.
He fought in many battles during several wars at the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century (Austro–Turkish War (1787–1791), French Revolutionary Wars, Napoleonic Wars).
Gvozdanović died at the beginning of 1814 in Pančevo, a town in Banat Military Frontier of the Habsburg Monarchy, at the age of 53.
