Duchy of Croatia

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Principality of Dalmatian Croatia
)
Duchy of Croatia
Kneževina Hrvatska (
Borna (first known Duke)
• 910–925
Tomislav (last Duke)
Historical eraMiddle Ages
• Established
7th century[1]
• Frankish vassalage
790s
• Papal recognition
7 June 879
c. 925a
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Byzantine Empire
Avar Khaganate
Kingdom of Croatia
Today part of
  1. ^ Tomislav is regarded as the first king due to being addressed as Rex (King) in a letter sent by Pope John X and the Councils of Split in 925 AD. Circumstances and the date of his coronation are unknown.[3]

The Duchy of Croatia (

Domagojević dynasties from 845 to 1091. Around 925, during the rule of Tomislav, Croatia became a kingdom
.

Nomenclature

"Dalmatian Croatia" (Dalmatinska Hrvatska) and "Littoral Croatia" (Primorska Hrvatska) are modern

Latin: regnum Croatorum) in 852.[5] Croatia was not yet a kingdom at the time and the term regnum is used in terms of a country in general.[6] In Byzantine sources the entity was usually called just "Croatia" (Greek: Χρωβατία).[7]

The first known duke,

inscription from Šopot near Benkovac.[11]

Geography

Within the area of the

Biaći and Nin.[2][15][16]

History

Background

Today's Fortress of Klis
Delegation of Croats and Serbs to Basil I, in the Madrid Skylitzes.

Most of Dalmatia in the 7th century was under the

counties (županija). According to De Administrando Imperio, the Croats in Pannonia were subject to the Franks for several years, ''as they had formerly been in their own country'', until they rebelled and defeated the Franks after a seven-year war,[20]
but it is not known on which specific war and time span this refers to.

From that point on, they were independent, and demanded to be baptised from the

Constantine Porphyrogenitus in De Administrando Imperio[20]

Although the Christianization of Croats began right after their arrival to Dalmatia, in the early 9th century a part of the Croats were still pagan.[21]

Frankish vassalage

The

Vladislav.[9]

Between East and West

Central Europe in Carolingian times
The Church of the Holy Cross in Nin
from the 9th century
Latin language reference to Duke Branimir

The Duchy of Croatia was located between two major powers of the Middle Ages: the

Eastern Roman Empire in the East which controlled the Dalmatian cities and islands and aimed to extend their rule over the entire former Roman province of Dalmatia, and the Franks in the West seeking to control the northern and northwestern lands.[25] The Byzantine influence on Croatia was also reflected on the creation of Croatian law and in trade with the Byzantine coastal cities.[26]

In the second quarter of the 9th century the Croats began developing a navy. Along with the Narentines, who were still

Latin: principe Muisclavo), who ruled from Klis near Split. The peace treaty was signed at a place named St. Martin. The Doge also attacked Narentine islands, but failed to defeat them and made peace with their leader, who is mentioned as count Drosaico by the chronicler John the Deacon. However, the peace treaty was short-lasting and next year the Venetians were defeated by the Narentines under count Diuditum.[28] Piracy continued in the Adriatic, as well as hostility towards Venice, which is seen from the contract between Emperor Lothair I and Doge Tradonico, in which the Doge committed himself to defend the cities in Italy and Istria from Slavic attacks.[29]

Duke Mislav was succeeded around 845 by

Croatians, who coexisted peacefully up to that time.[19][30][31]

In a Latin charter preserved in a rewrite from 1568, dated to 4 March 852 or, according to a newer research, about 840,

House of Trpimirović, a native Croat dynasty that ruled, with interruptions, from 845 until 1091 in Croatia.[34]

In 864 Duke

Theme of Dalmatia. After the death of Domagoj in 876 Zdeslav, who had close ties to Byzantium, returned from exile, usurped the throne from an unnamed son of Domagoj and restored peace with Venice in 878.[37]

Independent realm

Muncimir
's charter from 892. (transcript): divino munere Croatorum dux ("with God's help, Duke of the Croats").
Church of Holy Salvation, Cetina.

Duke Zdeslav's reign was short and ended in 879 when

Apostolic See. The Pope replied to his requests, praising his initiative and in 879 the Duchy under Branimir, now free of Frankish suzerainty, received papal recognition as a state.[36][39]

The second half of the 9th century marked a significant increase in papal influence in the

Southeastern Europe. Pope John VIII complained to Domagoj about the obstinacy of Patriarch Ignatius who denied his jurisdiction over Bulgaria and appointed a new archbishop. The Pope also requested from Dukes Zdeslav and Branimir assistance and protection for his legates who were crossing Croatia on their way to Bulgaria. Although the exact geographical extent of the Duchy is not known, these requests confirm geographical contiguity between Croatia and Bulgaria, which bordered probably somewhere in Bosnia.[39]

Braslav from the Duchy of Pannonia, endangering Croatia.[42]

Muncimir ruled until about 910 when he was succeeded by Tomislav, the last duke and the first king of Croatia. Venetian chronicler John the Deacon wrote that in 912 a Venetian ambassador, returning from Bulgaria, passed through Croatian territory before reaching the land of Zahumlje,[43] which suggests that Croatia at the time also bordered Bulgaria, then under the rule of Simeon I.[44] In Historia Salonitana, a chronicle from the 13th century written by Thomas the Archdeacon from Split, Tomislav was mentioned as Duke of Croatia in 914.[45] According to De Administrando Imperio, Croatia at the time had 100,000 infantrymen and 60,000 horsemen, 80 large ships and 100 smaller vessels,[19] but these numbers are viewed as a clear exaggeration and an overemphasis of the Croatian forces. Croatia also waged battles with the Magyars during the early 10th century.[42] According to the palaeographic analysis of the original manuscript of De Administrando Imperio, assumed number of inhabitants in medieval Croatia estimated between 440,000 and 880,000 people, and military numbers of Franks and Byzantines, the military force was most probably composed of 20,000-100,000 infantrymen, and 3,000-24,000 horsemen organized in 60 allagions.[46][47]

During the

Battle of the Bosnian Highlands.[48][49] In 927 Pope John X sent his legates to mediate a peace treaty between Croats and Bulgarians.[50]

During these years Croatia was elevated to the status of a kingdom. It is generally said that Duke Tomislav was crowned king in 925, but this is not certain since it is not known when and where was he crowned, or was he crowned at all. However, Tomislav was the first Croatian ruler whom the Papal chancellery honoured with the title king.[51] Tomislav is mentioned as a king in two preserved documents published in the Historia Salonitana and by the Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja, where Tomislav's rule was specified at 13 years. In a note preceding the text of the Council conclusions in Split in 925 it is written that Tomislav is the king "in the province of the Croats and in the Dalmatian regions" (in prouintia Croatorum et Dalmatiarum finibus Tamisclao rege). In the 12th canon of the Council conclusions in 925 the ruler of the Croats is called "king" (rex et proceres Chroatorum),[52] while in a letter sent by the Pope John X Tomislav is named "King of the Croats" (Tamisclao, regi Crouatorum).[53] Although there are no inscriptions of Tomislav to confirm the title, later inscriptions and charters confirm that his 10th century successors called themselves "kings".[50]

See also

Part of a series on the
History of Croatia
ILIYRICVM HODIERNVM, Quod Scriptores communiter SCLAVONIAM, Itali SCHIAVONIAM nuncupare solent, in Dalmatiam, Croatiam, Bosnam, et Slavoniam, from Atlas Van der Hagen
Early history
Middle Ages
Modernity
20th century
Contemporary Croatia
Timeline
flag Croatia portal

Notes

References

  1. ^ During the reign of Heraclius (r. 610–641). De Administrando Imperio chapter 30.
  2. ^ a b Neven Budak - Prva stoljeća Hrvatske, Zagreb, 1994., page 13 (in Croatian)
  3. ISBN 0472081497
    .
  4. ^ Goldstein, 1985, pp. 241–242
  5. ^ Ferdo Šišić: Povijest Hrvata u vrijeme narodnih vladara, p. 651
  6. ^ Ivo Goldstein: Hrvatski rani srednji vijek, Zagreb, 1995, p. 198
  7. ^ Ferdo Šišić: Pregled povijesti hrvatskoga naroda 600. - 1526. - prvi dio, p. 156
  8. ^ a b Annales regni Francorum DCCCXVIIII (year 819)
  9. ^ a b Annales regni Francorum DCCCXXI (year 821)
  10. ^ Codex Diplomaticus Regni Croatiæ, Dalamatiæ et Slavoniæ, Vol I, p. 4-8
  11. ^ a b c Florin Curta: Southeastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 500-1250, p. 139-140
  12. ^ Ivo Goldstein: Hrvatski rani srednji vijek, Zagreb, 1995, p. 31
  13. ^ Ivo Goldstein: Hrvatski rani srednji vijek, Zagreb, 1995, p. 148
  14. ^ Ivo Goldstein: Hrvatski rani srednji vijek, Zagreb, 1995, p. 153
  15. ISBN 953-214-197-9
  16. ^ Neven Budak - Prva stoljeća Hrvatske, Zagreb, 1994., page 20 (in Croatian)
  17. ^ John Van Antwerp Fine: The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century, 1991, p. 251
  18. ^ John Van Antwerp Fine: The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century, 1991, p. 34-35
  19. ^ a b c De Administrando Imperio, XXXI. Of the Croats and of the country they now dwell in
  20. ^ a b c De Administrando Imperio, XXX. Story of the province of Dalmatia
  21. ^ Ivo Goldstein: Hrvatski rani srednji vijek, Zagreb, 1995, p. 235
  22. ^ John Van Antwerp Fine: The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century, 1991, p. 51
  23. ^ a b John Van Antwerp Fine: The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century, 1991, p. 251-255
  24. ^ Florin Curta: Southeastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 500-1250, p. 135
  25. ^ Neven Budak - Prva stoljeća Hrvatske, Zagreb, 1994., page 51
  26. ^ Ivo Goldstein: Hrvatski rani srednji vijek, Zagreb, 1995, p. 212
  27. ^ John Van Antwerp Fine: The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century, 1991, p. 256
  28. ^ Iohannes Diaconus, Istoria Veneticorum, p. 124 (in Latin)
    "Sclaveniam bellicosis navibus expugnaturum adivit. Sed ubi ad locum qui vocatur sancti Martini curtis perveniret,
    pacem cum illorum principe Muisclavo nomine firmavit. Deinde pertransiens ad Narrantanas insulas cum Drosaico,
    Marianorum iudice, similiter fedus instituit, licet minime valeret et sic postmodum ad Veneciam reversus est.
    Ubi diu commorari eum minime licuit. Sed denuo preparavit exercitum adversum Diuditum Sclavum ubi plus
    quam centum Veneticis interfecti fuerunt et absque triumpho reversus est.    "
  29. ^ Neven Budak - Prva stoljeća Hrvatske, Zagreb, 1994., page 12
  30. ^ Nada Klaić, Povijest Hrvata u ranom srednjem vijeku, Zagreb 1975., p. 227-231
  31. ^ John Van Antwerp Fine: The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century, 1991, p. 52
  32. ISBN 953-163-164-6
  33. ^ Rudolf Horvat: Povijest Hrvatske I. (od najstarijeg doba do g. 1657.), 17. Mislav i Trpimir
  34. ^ Ivo Perić: A history of the Croats, 1998, p. 25
  35. ^ Liber pontificalis 108, LIX—LX (184 f.): „... "post dies aliquot navigantes (legati Romani), in Sclavorum deducti Domagoi manus pro dolor!
    inciderunt; bonis omnibus ac authentico, in quo subscriptiones omnium fuerant, denudati sunt ipsique capite plecterentur, nisi ab his, qui ex illis aufugerant, timeretur.    "
  36. ^ a b John Van Antwerp Fine: The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century, 1991, p. 261
  37. ^ Iohannes Diaconus, Istoria Veneticorum, p. 140 (in Latin)
    "His diebus Sedesclavus, Tibimiri ex progenie, imperiali fultus presidio Constantinopolim veniens, Scavorum ducatum arripuit filiosque Domogor exilio trusit."
  38. ^ Iohannes Diaconus, Istoria Veneticorum, p. 142 (in Latin) "His diebus quidam Sclavus, nomine Brenamir, interfecto Sedescavo, ipsius ducatum usurpavit."
  39. ^ a b Maddalena Betti: The Making of Christian Moravia (858-882), 2013, p. 130
  40. ^ Codex Diplomaticus Regni Croatiæ, Dalamatiæ et Slavoniæ, Vol I, p. 23
  41. ^ Gyula Kristó, Encyclopedia of the Early Hungarian History - 9-14th centuries
  42. ^ a b John Van Antwerp Fine: The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century, 1991, p. 262
  43. ^ Iohannes Diaconus, Istoria Veneticorum, p. 150 (in Latin)"Qui dum Chroatorum fines rediens transire vellet, a Michahele Sclavorum duce fraude deceptus,
    omnibusque bonis privatus atque Vulgarico regi, Simeoni nomine, exilii pena transmissus est.    "
  44. ^ Fine (Jr), John V. A. (2006). When Ethnicity Did Not Matter in the Balkans, p. 63
  45. ^ Thomas (Spalatensis, Archdeacon): Historia Salonitanorum Atque Spalatinorum Pontificum, p.61
  46. ^ Vedriš, Trpimir (2007). "Povodom novog tumačenja vijesti Konstantina VII. Porfirogeneta o snazi hrvatske vojske" [On the occasion of the new interpretation of Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus'report concerning the strength of the Croatian army]. Historijski zbornik (in Croatian). 60: 1–33. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  47. ISBN 978-953-340-061-7
    .
  48. ^ John Van Antwerp Fine: The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century, 1991, p. 264
  49. ^ De Administrando Imperio, XXXII. Of the Serbs and of the country they now dwell in
  50. ^ a b Florin Curta: Southeastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 500-1250, p. 196
  51. ^ Neven Budak - Prva stoljeća Hrvatske, Zagreb, 1994., p. 22
  52. ^ Codex Diplomaticus Regni Croatiæ, Dalamatiæ et Slavoniæ, Vol I, p. 32
  53. ^ Codex Diplomaticus Regni Croatiæ, Dalamatiæ et Slavoniæ, Vol I, p. 34

Further reading

External links

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