Croatian ban Franjo Frankopan was the worst enemy of Turks. He was the last Frankopan from the old lineage of princes from Senj.
Therefore it brought about a lot of joy when it was announced in 1572 that Frankopan was going to pass through Varaždin with his bride-to-be. On his way from Zagreb to Varaždin, Frankopan had a headache because of a little wound behind his ear. At the time, Croatia had no educated doctors. Usually the barbers would do the doctors’ job: they pulled out teeth and healed up the wounds with all kinds of oils, ointments and spices.
In Varaždin of that time, a barber and a surgeon was an Italian who smeared scorpion’s oil on the ban’s wound. Frankopan died the next day, and Croatia was in mourning. Instead of the wedding, a funeral was prepared.