Post by MiG on Dec 12, 2008 2:13:19 GMT -5
Here, post the Croat Principalities/Dukedoms/Grand (Velike) Zupanije etc.
For starters, here are some rulers. The men who formed Croat lands and the Croat People over centuries.
Braslav of PannoniaBraslav or Bräslav was a Prince of Savia (Southern Pannonia, Transsavian Croatia) in 880-898/900 vassalaged to the Kingdom of East Francia. The territory he was responsible for was extended by the Franks to include the territory of the former Balaton Principality (frequently called just "Pannonia" by Frankish texts) in 896.
Braslav fought against his Slavic neighbour, the Great Moravian king Svatopluk I in the service of King Arnulf of East Francia. The alliance against Great Moravia expanded when the newly-arrived Hungarians joined the fight on the Frankish King's side. After Svatopluk's death in 894, the Hungarians turned against the Frankish King, so King Arnulf gave the Balaton Principality to Prince Braslav, seeking to save what could be saved from Hungarian pillages. Thereby, Braslav also became a ruler of the Carinthians living in present-day eastern-most Austria and around Ptuj. The fate of Pannonia could not be changed, as the Hungarians overran it in 900/901, thus ending Braslav's reign.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braslav_of_Pannonia
For starters, here are some rulers. The men who formed Croat lands and the Croat People over centuries.
Vojnomir
Vojnomir was a prince (knez) and later the king (kralj) of Slavonia from c. 790 to c. 800 or from 791 to c. 810.
Vojnomir is known for fighting the Avars during their occupation of Croatia. He launched a joint counterattack with the help of Frankish troops under King Charlemagne in 791. The offensive was successful and the Avars were driven out of Croatia. In return for the help of Charlemagne, Vojnomir was obliged to recognize French sovereignty, convert to Christianity and have his territory named as Pannonian Croatia.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vojnomir
Vojnomir was a prince (knez) and later the king (kralj) of Slavonia from c. 790 to c. 800 or from 791 to c. 810.
Vojnomir is known for fighting the Avars during their occupation of Croatia. He launched a joint counterattack with the help of Frankish troops under King Charlemagne in 791. The offensive was successful and the Avars were driven out of Croatia. In return for the help of Charlemagne, Vojnomir was obliged to recognize French sovereignty, convert to Christianity and have his territory named as Pannonian Croatia.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vojnomir
Ljudevit Posavski
Ljudevit Posavski (Trans-Savian) was a Slavic Prince of Pannonian Croatia from 810 to 823. The capital of his realm was in Sisak. As the ruler of the Pannonian Croats, he led an unsuccessful resistance to Frankish domination. In 822, after being forced to flee, he became a petty duke of a tribe of the Serbs. He held close ties with the Carantanian and Carniolan Slovenes and with the Serbian tribe of Timočani, named after the Timok river. He is often regarded as a national hero in Croatian and Slovenian history.
Rebellions against the Franks
In 818 Ljudevit sent his emissaries to Emperor Louis in Heristal. They described the horrors conducted by Cadolah and his men in Pannonia, but the King of Franks refused to make peace.
Ljudevit raised a rebellion against his Frankish rulers in 819 after he was seriously accused by the Frankish court. The Emperor Louis the Pious (814-840) sent Margrave Cadolah of Friuli (800-819) to quell the rebellion. The Frankish Frontier forces led by Cadolah have raided the land and tortured the population, most notably the children.
As the Pannonian Croats were amassing forces, so did the Franks led by Cadolah return in 819. But the Frankish forces were soon defeated; and Cadolah himself had to retreat back to his home Furlania, where soon he died of disease.
In July 819 on the Council in Ingelheim Ljudevit's emissaries offered truce conditions, but Emperor Louis refused; demanding more concessions to him. Ljudevit started to gather allies for his plight. His traditional ally was Prince Borna of Dalmatia -- originally duke Borna II of the Timočani; but the Frankish ruler had promised Borna that he would make him Prince of Pannonia if he helped the Franks to crush Ljudevit's rebellion; so Borna accepted. Ljudevit found assistance among the Karantanian and Carniolan Slavs who, as neighbours of the margravate of Friuli, were jeopardized the same as the Pannonians. The Slavs around the valley of Timok - Timočani also joined him, because they were jeoperdized by the neighbouring Bulgars.
The Franks sent a large army led by the new Margrave of Friuli, Balderic to meet Ljudevit in autumn, the same year while he was conscripting more Carantanian troops along the river of Drava. The Frankish forces had numerical advantage, so they pushed Ljudevit and his men from Carniola across the Drava. Ljudevit had to fall back to central parts of his realm. Balderic didn't push to chase Ljudevit, since he had to pacify the Slovenians. Prince Borna moved with Ljudevit's father-in-law Dragomuž and their forces from the south-west. At the heat of the Battle of Kupa, near the river Kupa, the Guduscans abandoned Borna and crossed to Ljudevit's side; while Dragomuž was killed. Borna escaped from the battlefield with the help of his bodyguards.
Ljudevit seized the opportunity and breached into Dalmatia in December. His forces raided Dalmatia. Borna was too weak, so the Dalmatian Croats defended themselves through sneaky tactics and used attrition as their best ally to exhaust the Pannonian forces. Harsh winter came to the hill areas, so Ljudevit was forced to return. According to Borna's reports to the Frankish Emperor, Ljudevit suffered heavy casualties: 3,000 soldiers, over 300 horses and lots of food.
The War continues
In January of 820, Borna made an alliance with the Frankish Emperor in Aachen. The plan was to crush Ljudevit's realm with a joint-attack from three sides. As soon as the winter retreated, massive Frankish armies were being amassed in Italia, East Francia, Bavaria, Saxony and Alemannia that were going to simultaneously invade Ljudevit's lands in the spring. The northern Frankish group moved from Bavaria across Pannonia to make an invasion across the river of Drava. Ljudevit's forces successfully stopped this Army at the river. The southern group moved across the Noric Alps, using the road from Aquileia to Ljubljana. Ljudevit was successful again, as he stopped them before crossing the Alps. The central group moved from Tyrol to Carniola. Ljudevit attempted to halt its advance three times, but every single time would the Franks win, using numerical advantage. When this Army reached the Drava, Ljudevit had to fall back to the heart of his realm.
The Franks have opened ways for the southern and northern Armies, so they launched a total invasion. Ljudevit concluded that all resistance would be futile, so he retreated to a stronghold that he built on top of hill that was heavily fortified; while his people took shelter in local forest and swamps. Ljudevit did not negotiate with the Franks. The Franks eventually retreated from his lands, with their ranks thinned by disease which the northern forces caught in the marshes of Drava. The Slovenes from Carantania and Carniola recognized the Friulian margrave Balderic as their ruler, while some remained loyal to Ljudevit. Prince Borna died in 821, and was succeeded by Ljudevit's nephew, Vladislav. Emperor Louis recognized as Prince of Dalmatia and Liburnia in February 821 on the Council of Aachen.
The Emperor discussed again about war plans against Ljudevit on that Council. The Franks decided to repeat the progress, and push towards Ljudevit from three sides again. Ljudevit saw that it was obvious that he couldn't fight the Franks on open field, so he began to consctruct massive fortifications. He was helped by the Venetian Patriarch Fortunat who sent him architects and masons from Italy.
During the last and final Frankish invasion of 822, the Patriarch from Grad, Fortunat, who was a supporter of Ljudevit fled to Zadar into exile with the Byzantines.
Flight to the Serbs
According to the Royal Frankish Annals, in 822, Ljudevit went from his seat in Sisak to the Serbs somewhere in western Bosnia who controlled a great part of Dalmatia (Roman province). Historians claim that the place Ljudevit fled to was Srb on the mouth of Una (in Lika, Croatia) but other historians dispute this as unfounded. Another array of historians reject the possibility that Ljudevit went to the Serbs at all - but to the actual city of Srb and the Lord whom he killed was a local nobleman - although this is an ongoing controversy. Ljudevit was welcomed at the local Serbian ruler's court, but he tricked him, killing him and then taking the power for himself. Some believe the Serbian ruler was an ally of the Franks and Ljudevit thought that he was about to betray him. Ljudevit soon sent an envoy to the Frankish court, claiming that he is ready to recognize the Frankish Emperor Louis the Pious as his supreme ruler.
Ljudevit's reign was not very well accepted amongst the Serbs, so he fled to Borna's uncle, Ljudemisl of Dalmatia. Ljudemisl had Ljudevit killed in 823.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ljudevit_Posavski
Ljudevit Posavski (Trans-Savian) was a Slavic Prince of Pannonian Croatia from 810 to 823. The capital of his realm was in Sisak. As the ruler of the Pannonian Croats, he led an unsuccessful resistance to Frankish domination. In 822, after being forced to flee, he became a petty duke of a tribe of the Serbs. He held close ties with the Carantanian and Carniolan Slovenes and with the Serbian tribe of Timočani, named after the Timok river. He is often regarded as a national hero in Croatian and Slovenian history.
Rebellions against the Franks
In 818 Ljudevit sent his emissaries to Emperor Louis in Heristal. They described the horrors conducted by Cadolah and his men in Pannonia, but the King of Franks refused to make peace.
Ljudevit raised a rebellion against his Frankish rulers in 819 after he was seriously accused by the Frankish court. The Emperor Louis the Pious (814-840) sent Margrave Cadolah of Friuli (800-819) to quell the rebellion. The Frankish Frontier forces led by Cadolah have raided the land and tortured the population, most notably the children.
As the Pannonian Croats were amassing forces, so did the Franks led by Cadolah return in 819. But the Frankish forces were soon defeated; and Cadolah himself had to retreat back to his home Furlania, where soon he died of disease.
In July 819 on the Council in Ingelheim Ljudevit's emissaries offered truce conditions, but Emperor Louis refused; demanding more concessions to him. Ljudevit started to gather allies for his plight. His traditional ally was Prince Borna of Dalmatia -- originally duke Borna II of the Timočani; but the Frankish ruler had promised Borna that he would make him Prince of Pannonia if he helped the Franks to crush Ljudevit's rebellion; so Borna accepted. Ljudevit found assistance among the Karantanian and Carniolan Slavs who, as neighbours of the margravate of Friuli, were jeopardized the same as the Pannonians. The Slavs around the valley of Timok - Timočani also joined him, because they were jeoperdized by the neighbouring Bulgars.
The Franks sent a large army led by the new Margrave of Friuli, Balderic to meet Ljudevit in autumn, the same year while he was conscripting more Carantanian troops along the river of Drava. The Frankish forces had numerical advantage, so they pushed Ljudevit and his men from Carniola across the Drava. Ljudevit had to fall back to central parts of his realm. Balderic didn't push to chase Ljudevit, since he had to pacify the Slovenians. Prince Borna moved with Ljudevit's father-in-law Dragomuž and their forces from the south-west. At the heat of the Battle of Kupa, near the river Kupa, the Guduscans abandoned Borna and crossed to Ljudevit's side; while Dragomuž was killed. Borna escaped from the battlefield with the help of his bodyguards.
Ljudevit seized the opportunity and breached into Dalmatia in December. His forces raided Dalmatia. Borna was too weak, so the Dalmatian Croats defended themselves through sneaky tactics and used attrition as their best ally to exhaust the Pannonian forces. Harsh winter came to the hill areas, so Ljudevit was forced to return. According to Borna's reports to the Frankish Emperor, Ljudevit suffered heavy casualties: 3,000 soldiers, over 300 horses and lots of food.
The War continues
In January of 820, Borna made an alliance with the Frankish Emperor in Aachen. The plan was to crush Ljudevit's realm with a joint-attack from three sides. As soon as the winter retreated, massive Frankish armies were being amassed in Italia, East Francia, Bavaria, Saxony and Alemannia that were going to simultaneously invade Ljudevit's lands in the spring. The northern Frankish group moved from Bavaria across Pannonia to make an invasion across the river of Drava. Ljudevit's forces successfully stopped this Army at the river. The southern group moved across the Noric Alps, using the road from Aquileia to Ljubljana. Ljudevit was successful again, as he stopped them before crossing the Alps. The central group moved from Tyrol to Carniola. Ljudevit attempted to halt its advance three times, but every single time would the Franks win, using numerical advantage. When this Army reached the Drava, Ljudevit had to fall back to the heart of his realm.
The Franks have opened ways for the southern and northern Armies, so they launched a total invasion. Ljudevit concluded that all resistance would be futile, so he retreated to a stronghold that he built on top of hill that was heavily fortified; while his people took shelter in local forest and swamps. Ljudevit did not negotiate with the Franks. The Franks eventually retreated from his lands, with their ranks thinned by disease which the northern forces caught in the marshes of Drava. The Slovenes from Carantania and Carniola recognized the Friulian margrave Balderic as their ruler, while some remained loyal to Ljudevit. Prince Borna died in 821, and was succeeded by Ljudevit's nephew, Vladislav. Emperor Louis recognized as Prince of Dalmatia and Liburnia in February 821 on the Council of Aachen.
The Emperor discussed again about war plans against Ljudevit on that Council. The Franks decided to repeat the progress, and push towards Ljudevit from three sides again. Ljudevit saw that it was obvious that he couldn't fight the Franks on open field, so he began to consctruct massive fortifications. He was helped by the Venetian Patriarch Fortunat who sent him architects and masons from Italy.
During the last and final Frankish invasion of 822, the Patriarch from Grad, Fortunat, who was a supporter of Ljudevit fled to Zadar into exile with the Byzantines.
Flight to the Serbs
According to the Royal Frankish Annals, in 822, Ljudevit went from his seat in Sisak to the Serbs somewhere in western Bosnia who controlled a great part of Dalmatia (Roman province). Historians claim that the place Ljudevit fled to was Srb on the mouth of Una (in Lika, Croatia) but other historians dispute this as unfounded. Another array of historians reject the possibility that Ljudevit went to the Serbs at all - but to the actual city of Srb and the Lord whom he killed was a local nobleman - although this is an ongoing controversy. Ljudevit was welcomed at the local Serbian ruler's court, but he tricked him, killing him and then taking the power for himself. Some believe the Serbian ruler was an ally of the Franks and Ljudevit thought that he was about to betray him. Ljudevit soon sent an envoy to the Frankish court, claiming that he is ready to recognize the Frankish Emperor Louis the Pious as his supreme ruler.
Ljudevit's reign was not very well accepted amongst the Serbs, so he fled to Borna's uncle, Ljudemisl of Dalmatia. Ljudemisl had Ljudevit killed in 823.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ljudevit_Posavski
Ratimir of Pannonia
Ratimir was a Croatian prince, Bulgarian- imposed Prince of Southern Pannonia in 829 - 838.
In 827, the Bulgarians under duke Mortag invaded and conquered the Principality of Southern Pannonia (Savia) and parts of territories to the north of Savia, that were a part of Frankish kingdom. In 829 they imposed a local Prince Ratimir as the new ruler of Pannonia in their name. Nine years later (838) after the Bulgarian conquest of Macedonia, the Danubian Count Ratbod, Head of the East March, deposed Prince Ratimir and restored Frankish rule in Pannonia.
After the attack of Ratbod Ratimir fled, and in Pannonian Croatia, in the name of the Franks, ruled Slav dukes Pribina and Kocelj from todays western Hungary (Blatonski Koštel).
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratimir_of_Pannonia
Ratimir was a Croatian prince, Bulgarian- imposed Prince of Southern Pannonia in 829 - 838.
In 827, the Bulgarians under duke Mortag invaded and conquered the Principality of Southern Pannonia (Savia) and parts of territories to the north of Savia, that were a part of Frankish kingdom. In 829 they imposed a local Prince Ratimir as the new ruler of Pannonia in their name. Nine years later (838) after the Bulgarian conquest of Macedonia, the Danubian Count Ratbod, Head of the East March, deposed Prince Ratimir and restored Frankish rule in Pannonia.
After the attack of Ratbod Ratimir fled, and in Pannonian Croatia, in the name of the Franks, ruled Slav dukes Pribina and Kocelj from todays western Hungary (Blatonski Koštel).
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratimir_of_Pannonia
Braslav of PannoniaBraslav or Bräslav was a Prince of Savia (Southern Pannonia, Transsavian Croatia) in 880-898/900 vassalaged to the Kingdom of East Francia. The territory he was responsible for was extended by the Franks to include the territory of the former Balaton Principality (frequently called just "Pannonia" by Frankish texts) in 896.
Braslav fought against his Slavic neighbour, the Great Moravian king Svatopluk I in the service of King Arnulf of East Francia. The alliance against Great Moravia expanded when the newly-arrived Hungarians joined the fight on the Frankish King's side. After Svatopluk's death in 894, the Hungarians turned against the Frankish King, so King Arnulf gave the Balaton Principality to Prince Braslav, seeking to save what could be saved from Hungarian pillages. Thereby, Braslav also became a ruler of the Carinthians living in present-day eastern-most Austria and around Ptuj. The fate of Pannonia could not be changed, as the Hungarians overran it in 900/901, thus ending Braslav's reign.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braslav_of_Pannonia
Borna of Croatia
Borna was a Prince (Croatian: Knez) of Littoral Croatia in 815–821 under the Frankish Empire. He was the son of his predecessor, Višeslav.
Ruler of Dalmatia
In 819 Borna's nephew, Prince Ljudevit Posavski of Pannonian Croatia raised a rebellion against the Franks, while Borna remained loyal to the Frankish Emperor and struck with his forces at his former traditional ally, bribed by Emperor Louis' offers of expansion of power. Borna moved with Liudevit's father-in-law, Dragomuž, from the southeast. The famous battle of Kupa occurred at the river of Kupa. In the heat of Battle the Guduscans - an indigenous people of his realm - abandoned Borna and crossed to Ljudevit's side. Borna would've been killed at the battlefield, if not for his elite bodyguards, while Dragomuž was killed on spot.
Prince Liudevit used the momentum of Borna's weakness and invaded the Littoral Croatia in December the same year. Borna's forces suffered heavy losses at the Battle of Kupa, so Borna decided that the his forces should fight relying on attrition and exhausting the Ljudevit' troops. Harsh winter camed to the hills of Borna's realm, further disabling Ljudevit's pillaging. Ljudevit was eventually forced to retreat, while much of their food reserves were left behind and confiscated by Prince Borna. Borna reported his successes to the Frankish Emperor, stating that Ljudevit lost over 3,000 soldiers and 300 horses in his campaign.
Prince Borna met with the Frankish Emperor in Aachen in January of 820, where they forged an alliance. The Emperor of the Franks prepared a massive invasion of Ljudevit's lands and those of his allies. Although the total invasion of Ljudevit's realm occurred, Borna died in the heat of battle in 821 after Ljudevit and his supporters reatreated to the most fortified of their fortresses, hills and most unreachable swamps ad forests. He was succeeded by his nephew, Vladislav.
Ljudevit had no knowledge of Borna's death and at the beginning of 823, he went to Littoral Croatia in search of his uncle seeking help after he was dethroned and exiled. Borna's uncle, Ljudemisl, received him instead, who had Ljudevit tortured and killed. After a temporary reign by Ljudemisl as a viceroy, the throne of Littoral Croatia was passed on to Vladislav, Borna's nephew.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borna_of_Croatia
Borna was a Prince (Croatian: Knez) of Littoral Croatia in 815–821 under the Frankish Empire. He was the son of his predecessor, Višeslav.
Ruler of Dalmatia
In 819 Borna's nephew, Prince Ljudevit Posavski of Pannonian Croatia raised a rebellion against the Franks, while Borna remained loyal to the Frankish Emperor and struck with his forces at his former traditional ally, bribed by Emperor Louis' offers of expansion of power. Borna moved with Liudevit's father-in-law, Dragomuž, from the southeast. The famous battle of Kupa occurred at the river of Kupa. In the heat of Battle the Guduscans - an indigenous people of his realm - abandoned Borna and crossed to Ljudevit's side. Borna would've been killed at the battlefield, if not for his elite bodyguards, while Dragomuž was killed on spot.
Prince Liudevit used the momentum of Borna's weakness and invaded the Littoral Croatia in December the same year. Borna's forces suffered heavy losses at the Battle of Kupa, so Borna decided that the his forces should fight relying on attrition and exhausting the Ljudevit' troops. Harsh winter camed to the hills of Borna's realm, further disabling Ljudevit's pillaging. Ljudevit was eventually forced to retreat, while much of their food reserves were left behind and confiscated by Prince Borna. Borna reported his successes to the Frankish Emperor, stating that Ljudevit lost over 3,000 soldiers and 300 horses in his campaign.
Prince Borna met with the Frankish Emperor in Aachen in January of 820, where they forged an alliance. The Emperor of the Franks prepared a massive invasion of Ljudevit's lands and those of his allies. Although the total invasion of Ljudevit's realm occurred, Borna died in the heat of battle in 821 after Ljudevit and his supporters reatreated to the most fortified of their fortresses, hills and most unreachable swamps ad forests. He was succeeded by his nephew, Vladislav.
Ljudevit had no knowledge of Borna's death and at the beginning of 823, he went to Littoral Croatia in search of his uncle seeking help after he was dethroned and exiled. Borna's uncle, Ljudemisl, received him instead, who had Ljudevit tortured and killed. After a temporary reign by Ljudemisl as a viceroy, the throne of Littoral Croatia was passed on to Vladislav, Borna's nephew.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borna_of_Croatia
Višeslav of Croatia
Višeslav was one of the first princes (Croatian knez) of Dalmatian Croatia. He ruled with the support of the Pope and Byzantium. The Croats warred against the Franks during his rule and avoided defeat until 803 - a year after his death.
Višeslav left behind a baptistry (in Croatian: Višeslavova krstionica), surviving to this day, which remains an important symbol of early Croatian history and the people's conversion to Christianity. The incription is in Latin, and mentions the name of a priest named John (Ivan) who baptized people during "the time of Prince Višeslav" in the honor of John the Baptist.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vi%C5%A1eslav_of_Croatia
Višeslav was one of the first princes (Croatian knez) of Dalmatian Croatia. He ruled with the support of the Pope and Byzantium. The Croats warred against the Franks during his rule and avoided defeat until 803 - a year after his death.
Višeslav left behind a baptistry (in Croatian: Višeslavova krstionica), surviving to this day, which remains an important symbol of early Croatian history and the people's conversion to Christianity. The incription is in Latin, and mentions the name of a priest named John (Ivan) who baptized people during "the time of Prince Višeslav" in the honor of John the Baptist.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vi%C5%A1eslav_of_Croatia