Freemasonry in Croatia (Croatian: Slobodno zidarstvo u Hrvatskoj) may be traced to the second half of the 18th century when it was introduced by the officers that came back from the Seven Years' War (1756–1763).
Freemasonry in Croatia is directly connected to the establishment of one of the first lodges in Austria, Zu den drei Kanonen in Vienna on September 17, 1749 because one of the founders of that Lodge was Croatian bishop Josip Franjo Sigismund Gondola (Gundulić), principal of the Theological Faculty at the University of Vienna.
Count Ivan Drašković VIII encouraged the establishment of the Lodge 'Perfect Union' (Croatian: Savršen savez, French: L’union parfaite), which was established in Varaždin in 1772 by the Russian army captain Breščić, doctor Jean Baptist Lalange, Bjelovar-Križevci County prefect Count Stjepan Niczky and lawyer Pavel Kugler.
The Lodge changed its name twice, first in 1774 into 'Libertas' (English: Liberty, French: Liberté) and second in 1781 to 'Good advice' (Croatian: Dobar savjet, German: Zum gutten War).
[9] Count Stjepan Niczky founded in 1773 in Osijek Lodge 'Vigilance' (Croatian: Budnost, German: Zur Wachsamheit).
Known Lodge's presidents were its founder, Bjelovar-Križevci County Deputy Prefect Franjo Dolovac, and Stjepan's nephew, Count Juraj Niczky.
[11] In 1775 Count Franjo Drašković and Austrian Lodge 'Zur gekrönten Hoffnung' founded in Varaždin Lodge 'Three dragons' (Croatian: Tri zmaja, German: Zu den drei Drachen), which officially started to work in 1776 under the name 'Friendship' (Croatian: Prijateljstvo, German: Zur Freundschaft).
From June 22 to 24, 1777 founding assembly for the 'Croatian Grand Lodge' (Croatian: Hrvatska Velika loža; Latomia Libertatis sub Corona Hungariae in Provinciam redacta) was held in the Brezovica Castle near Zagreb.
[4][13] First Lodge in Otočac, 'Invincible with weapon in our hands' (Croatian: Nepobjedivi s oružjem u rukama, French: L’invincible aux bras armés), was founded in 1777 by Ivan Drašković VIII.
Lodges 'Freedom' (Varaždin), 'Wisdom' (Zagreb), 'War friendship' (Glina), 'Invincible with weapon in our hands' (Otočac), 'Vigilance' (Osijek), Generosity (Budapest), Stillness (Bratislava), Green Lions (Prague) and Three White Lilies (Timișoara) were under VLH protection.
In the year 1795 Freemasonry was banned in Austria, Hungary and consequently in Croatia after conspiracy organized by Ignác Martinovics and a certain number of Masons who wanted to start an upheaval following the example of the French Revolution was discovered.
Among suspects for planning the plot was the Bishop of Zagreb Maksimilijan Vrhovac, who then burned the first part of his "Diary" (Diariuma) in which he was writing notes about his contacts with Freemasons, and Josip Kralj who fled to Budapest and eventually committed suicide in one inn.
After the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Croatia, then a possession of Hungary, was offered to the King of Serbia – the Karadjordjevic Royal Dynasty, as spoils of war.
The Croatian Sabor representatives, encouraged by Masonic principles of unity and solidarity of all men, urged the Serbs to establish a common state rather than annex Croatia.
It developed under the patronage of the Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia who had good relations with the state authorities in Belgrade, and close contacts with the King of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
One conspiracy theory perpetrated by the fascist held that the "Grand Orient masonry and its funds" were conspiring together with the Serbs against fascism and Nazism.
Anti-Serb sentiment soon engulfed Fascist Croatia after the NDH was established, and Jews, Serbs, and Freemasons were persecuted, arrested, and murdered, many being taken to the Jasenovac Concentration Camp.
[17][18][19][20][21] The 16 lodges under its jurisdiction are: Grof Ivan Drašković (Count Ivan Drašković), Hrvatska vila (Croatian Fairy), Tri svjetla (Three Lights), Ormus, Savršeni savez (Perfect Union), Harmonija (Harmony), Quatuor Coronati, Libertas, Isis, Pravednost (Justice), Mudrost (Wisdom), Lux Histriae, Concordia Fratrvm, Maksimilijan Vrhovac, Budnost (Vigilantia).