Hidden deep within the pages of Friedrich S. Krauss’s Slavische Volksforschungen (1908) lies a story that is rarely mentioned today, but stands apart from the vampire tales we know. In the coastal city of Split and the villages around Dalmatia, people once spoke of the Kozlak. This nocturnal being was not just a variation of the vampire, but a figure with unique and enigmatic traits.
The origin of the Kozlak
In local lore, the name Kozlak was more common than the flashier Vampir or Vukodlak. One of its most unsettling aspects was the belief that the condition could be inherited. If a father was a Kozlak, the son was thought destined to follow in his footsteps. This heritable curse gave the tale a disturbing realism, placing the supernatural squarely within family lineage.
Distinguishing characteristics
Although the Kozlak shared traits with the vampire, it was marked by notable differences. While alive, Kozlaks were believed to:
- Predict the weather, a valuable gift in farming and fishing communities.
- Move with uncanny speed, faster than ordinary people.
- Keep rare books, which only they could read, drawing mystical power from them to perform miracles.
This aura of hidden knowledge made the Kozlak both feared and avoided. Villagers hesitated to confront anyone suspected of bearing the mark.
Dealing with a Kozlak
In Dalmatia, where the Franciscans were central to village life, people often turned to them for guidance against a Kozlak. Families of the deceased would take small precautions, such as not sweeping the room of death for days, yet the Kozlak was still said to return. It disturbed households at night, rattled plates, and even pulled carts through the yard.
When such hauntings occurred, villagers sought out Franciscan friars. The priests were known for their protective writings, called zapisi (amulets). The counter-ritual was precise: the friar would visit the grave, summon the Kozlak, and pierce the corpse with a thorn from a drača (spina) bush. Folklore insisted that this thorn had to grow high in the hills, beyond the view of the sea. Only then could the Kozlak be brought to rest.
In conclusion
The legend of the Kozlak adds another dimension to vampire folklore, showing how Dalmatian traditions blended fear, piety, and geography into their own variant of the undead. Thanks to Krauss’s careful ethnography, this rare story survives—a reminder that the supernatural often took on deeply local forms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Kozlak in Dalmatian folklore?
A: The Kozlak is a regional vampire-like being from Dalmatia, remembered for its speed, weather-predicting skills, and occult knowledge. It disturbed homes after death until laid to rest through ritual.
How does the Kozlak differ from the classic vampire?
A: Unlike the blood-drinking vampires of Eastern Europe, the Kozlak was feared for its living powers—swiftness, prophecy, magical books—and for its restless hauntings after death. It was subdued with a thorn and prayer, not with stakes or decapitation.
Why is the Kozlak considered hereditary?
A: Tradition held that if a father was a Kozlak, his son might inherit the curse. This made it not only a supernatural fear, but also a family burden.
What role did the Franciscans play in dealing with a Kozlak?
A: Franciscans were trusted to prepare protective zapisi, summon the Kozlak at the grave, and pierce the corpse with a thorn from a drača bush growing out of sight of the sea.
Where does the main account of the Kozlak come from?
A: The most detailed written record comes from Friedrich S. Krauss’s 1908 ethnographic work Slavische Volksforschungen, which preserved Dalmatian testimonies about Kozlak lore and rituals.
