John Peter Marchi

John Peter Marchi was a Venetian jurist, member of the Split nobility and founder and president of the Illyrian Academy. Marchi supported and worked for the liberation of the Sanjak of Bosnia from the Ottoman Empire and conversion of its population to Catholicism.

Early life

After he received his PhD in Law in Padua in 1680, Marchi returned to Split, where he was a judge and legal advisor. He was librarian of the library of Ivan Paštrić.

Marchi was the most notable member of the Marchi noble family. In 1728 he received certificate which confirmed his Roman nobility membership.

Marchi was founder, president and member of the Illyrian Academy. Marchi's intention was to support the capture of the Sanjak of Bosnia from Ottoman Empire and conversion of its population to Catholicism. He believed that Eastern Orthodox Slavs from Bosnia would convert to the religion of the new lord of Bosnia.