The Illyrian Movement and the Revolution of 1848
In the 1840s, the majority of the people in Požega were supporters of the People's Party and the ideas of the Illyrian Movement. One of the most significant Illyrians was Vjekoslav Babukić (1812 – 1875), a native of Požega. He authored the “Ilirska slovnica” (1854), the first comprehensive Croatian grammar, and was the editor of “Danica ilirska.” In addition, he was a close collaborator of Ljudevit Gaj. During the 1848 Revolution, the Požega nobility favored the popular movement. Prominent figures in political life during that time were Svetozar Kušević, a nobleman, county prefect and a member of the Parliament, along with Miroslav Kraljević and Julije Janković, who were deputy county prefects of Požega County. At the session of the county assembly held in December 1847, Miroslav Kraljević's proposal to replace the existing Latin language with Croatian in all activities of Požega County was accepted. With this decision, Požega became one of the first cities where Croatian was used as an official language. Ban Josip Jelačić visited Požega on several occasions. During his visit on 14 July 1848, Ban Josip Jelačić praised Požega as the “symbol of the national spirit in Slavonia.”
Cultural and social life
At the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, a cultural circle formed in Požega led by a group of local writers such as Janko Jurković, Josip Eugen Tomić, Armin Pavić, Vilim Korajac, Kajo Agjić, Napoleon Špun Strižić and others. Franjo Ciraki was not only known for his political and literary activities but also for his extensive private library. Požega was abundant with various societies. With their activities, members, and humanitarian work, societies like the Volunteer Firefighters Society, the Gospojina Charity Society, the Society for the Beautification of the City, the Society for the Support of Impoverished Students of the General Education Secondary School, the “Vijenac” Croatian Singing Society, the Mountaineering Society, the Shooting Society and the Croatian Sokol particularly stood out.
New age
Before the First World War, Požega had around 5,000 inhabitants in an area of approximately 9 km². During those years, a series of new buildings were constructed, such as the First Požega Savings Bank, the Financial Palace, the Elementary School for Boys, etc. Požega was connected to the railway network by a branch line to Pleternica and the first locomotive arrived in the city in 1894. In 1912, a hydroelectric power plant called “Munjara” was put into operation in Kuzmica on the Orljava River, supplying Požega with electrical energy, primarily for public lighting. The majority of the population in Požega was engaged in agriculture, craftsmanship, and trade. Among the craft professions, furriers, shoemakers, blacksmiths, carpenters, joiners, barbers, pastry chefs and others stood out. Among the employed women, almost all of them were maids.
“Glasnik županije požeške” was published in Požega from 1891 to 1919. It was a newspaper covering education, economy, social and public life, encompassing the entire area of the then Požega County. It was abundant in news related to the social and political life of the city, the activities of various societies in Požega, anniversaries and jubilees, issues regarding the development of the city, roads and more. With its editorial style and numerous columns, “Glasnik” served as an example for later printing activities in Požega.