Ivan III Drašković (English: John III Drashkovich of Trakoshtyan; Hungarian: trakostyáni gróf Draskovich János, (Trakošćan, 13 March 1595(?) or 1603 – Óvár (Kingdom of Hungary), 5 August 1648), was a Croato-Hungarian warrior and statesman, a member of the Drašković noble family. He served as Palatine of Hungary from 1646 until his death.
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Biography
Family and education
Count Ivan III Drašković was a son of Ivan II Petar Drašković and his wife Eva Drašković née Istvánffy. Educated in Graz, Austria, where he finished philosophy studies, and in Bologna, Italy, where he graduated in law, Drašković spoke several foreign languages. He was also enrolled at the Classical gymnasium in Zagreb.
On 29 January 1629 he married Barbara Thurzó, a Hungarian countess, and they had five children, among which two sons, John IV and Nicholas II.
Political and military career
During his lifetime, the Drašković family achieved the highest point of its power, wealth and influence. Due to his successes in battles against the Ottomans, Ivan III Drašković was well known as defensor Croatiae (English: defender of Croatia), having organised the Croatian defence forces, fortified the towns and castles, as well as built border military strongholds at the same time. On 4 September 1631 he was given (together with his brother Nicholas I and his cousin Caspar II) the title count by the Croato-Hungarian king Ferdinand II.