Count Josip Jelačić von Bužim (16 October 1801 – 20 May 1859) was the Ban of Croatia between 23 March 1848 and 19 May 1859.
Jelačić supported the Croatian aim to maintain autonomy from the Kingdom of Hungary. He had a pivotal role in the establishment of the modern Croatian Parliament in 1848. Jelačić proceeded to sever all official ties of Croatia with Hungary, which had lasted since the 12th century under various arrangements.
The statue of him on a horse, with his sabre drawn, was originally positioned in the square facing north towards Hungary, removed in 1947 during Communist rule, and returned in 1990 with the establishment of Croatian independence.