Career
Marin"s uncle was another famous Croatian author Džore Držić. Ordained in 1526, Držić was sent in 1538 to Siena in Tuscany to study the Church Canon Law, where his academic results were average. Thanks to his extroverted and warm personality, he is said to have captured the hearts of his fellow students and professors, and was elected to the position of Rector of the University.
Losing interest in his studies, Marin returned to the Dubrovnik Republic in 1543.
After a brief sojourn in Vienna, Držić came back to his native city. Other vagabond exploits followed: a connection with a group of Dubrovnik outlaws, a journey to Constantinople and a brief trip to Venice.
After a career as an interpreter, scrivener and church musician, he even became a conspirator. Convinced that Dubrovnik was governed by a small circle of elitist aristocracy bent to tyranny, he tried to persuade in five letters (four of which survive) the powerful Medici family in Florence to help him overthrow the government in his home town.
They did not respond.
Marin died suddenly in Venice on 2 May 1567. He was buried in the Church of Saint John and Paul. Since its independence Croatia has awarded the Marin Držić Award for dramatic work.
The Croatian Parliament also declared 2008 the Year of Marin Držić, as it is the 500th anniversary of his birth.
An avenue in Zagreb is named after him. In Draškovićeva street (centre of Zagreb) there is a scenical stage named after Marin"s nickname Vidra.
Nicknames are given for various reasons. In Croatian word vidra could also point to a person who is perfidious and resourceful.
However, we would be prejudicing if we were to make that kind of assumptions about his character.
