the public. Politician in Croatia Eltz returned to Vukovar in 1991 after Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia where he began working with political leaders to help reconstruct the government. That same year, war broke out and Vukovar became the prime target of shelling by the heavily armed Serbs. He was present during the beginning of the Battle of Vukovar helping with the city's defence and even took up arms to defend it, despite being 70 years old (the Eltz Manor was destroyed during the battle and the tomb and bodies of the Eltz family desecrated). Due to his popularity, he was persuaded to run for office, and was elected by a large majority to the Croatian parliament in 1992 as an independent candidate for Vukovar. He also became a member of the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe where he promoted Croatia's case to joining the European Union. He continued serving in the Croatian parliament until his retirement in 1999, and was so highly regarded that he was asked to continue as an honorary member in his own right. He spoke six languages: Croatian, German, English, French, Italian, and Latin. He died in 2006 in Eltville, Germany. Ancestry Honours and awards Freeman of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece Maltese National Order of Merit References Umro grof Jakob Eltz Eltz castle Jakob Eltz Serbian Extremists Desecrate Croatian Church 1921 births 2006 deaths People from Kleinheubach Croatian people of German descent Croatian nobility Counts of Germany Knights of Malta Representatives in the modern Croatian Parliament Knights of the Golden Fleece Recipients of the National Order of Merit (Malta) People from the Rheingau Eltz