Hans Ungnad

Hans von Ungnad (1493–1564) was 16th-century Habsburg nobleman who was best known as founder of the South Slavic Bible Institute established to publish Protestant books translated to South Slavic languages. Military career In 1540 Ungnad had been appointed on the position of Captain General of Lower Austria (modern-day Slovenia), Croatia and other Habsburg estates. The main threat to the territory he was responsible for was the Ottoman Empire and its forces in Ottoman Bosnia. He believed that the best way to confront it was to spread the Protestantism to the very gates of Istanbul. In 1555 he refused to execute anti-Protestant measures requested by Ferdinand I, resigned his position and opted for voluntary exile in Germany. South Slavic Bible Institute The South Slavic Bible Institute was established in Urach (modern-day Bad Urach in Germany) in January 1561. Baron Ungnad was its owner and patron. Ungnad was supported by Christoph, Duke of Württemberg, who allowed Ungnad to use his castle (former convent) of Amandenhof near Urach as a seat of this institute.