Pannonian Croatia
Encyclopedia
Pannonian Croatia was a medieval duchy from the 7th to the 10th century located in the Pannonian Plain approximately between the rivers Drava
and Sava in today's Croatia
, but at times also considerably to the south of the Sava. Its capital was Sisak
. Eastern parts of principality extended to Syrmia region in present-day Serbia.
(284-305), Pannonia
was divided into 4 provinces, one of which was Pannonia Savia
(or simply Savia). Its capital was Siscia (Sisak
). Its northern border was constituted by the River Drava.
, at the time of the rule of Emperor Herakleios (610-640), Croats
arrived in Dalmatia, founded a duchy there and, shortly afterward, a part of them went to the north to Savia and founded another duchy there (Pannonian Croatia).
In the late 7th century or in the 8th century, Savia became vassalaged to/part of the Avar Empire
, as archaeological finds suggest. After the defeat of the Avar Empire by Frankish troops, a certain Croat Vojnomir was assigned Savia as a vassal of the Frankish margrave
of Friuli
. Savia failed to end Frankish domination during a rebellion under local Croatian Duke Ljudevit Posavski
in the early 9th century.
In 827
, the Bulgarians
invaded and conquered Savia and parts of territories to the north of Savia. In 829
they imposed a local Duke Ratimir
as the new ruler of Pannonian Croatia in their name, the Franks however claimed the territory, which in their view belonged (since 827) to the March of Carantania and thus under the rule of Count Ratbod, who had been head of the Avar March
and March of Carantania
since 828.
In 838
, Ratbod deposed Ratimir and subordinated Savia to the Frankish March of Carantania. Another known ruler of Savia was Braslav
, who ruled there in 880-898/900, still vassalaged to the Kingdom of East Francia.
In the 10th century, under Prince/King Tomislav
, Pannonian Croatia was united with Littoral Croatia to form the Kingdom of Croatia
.
Drava
Drava or Drave is a river in southern Central Europe, a tributary of the Danube. It sources in Toblach/Dobbiaco, Italy, and flows east through East Tirol and Carinthia in Austria, into Slovenia , and then southeast, passing through Croatia and forming most of the border between Croatia and...
and Sava in today's Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, but at times also considerably to the south of the Sava. Its capital was Sisak
Sisak
Sisak is a city in central Croatia. The city's population in 2011 was 33,049, with a total of 49,699 in the administrative region and it is also the administrative centre of the Sisak-Moslavina county...
. Eastern parts of principality extended to Syrmia region in present-day Serbia.
Prelude
As early as in under the Roman emperor DiocletianDiocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
(284-305), Pannonia
Pannonia
Pannonia was an ancient province of the Roman Empire bounded north and east by the Danube, coterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, and southward with Dalmatia and upper Moesia....
was divided into 4 provinces, one of which was Pannonia Savia
Pannonia Savia
The Pannonia Savia, also known as Savia and Pannonia Ripariensis, was an ancient Roman province. It was formed in the year 296, during the reign of emperor Diocletian. The capital of the province was Siscia . Pannonia Savia included parts of present-day Croatia, Slovenia, and Bosnia and...
(or simply Savia). Its capital was Siscia (Sisak
Sisak
Sisak is a city in central Croatia. The city's population in 2011 was 33,049, with a total of 49,699 in the administrative region and it is also the administrative centre of the Sisak-Moslavina county...
). Its northern border was constituted by the River Drava.
History
Slavs came to the territory of Savia in the late 6th century, as evidenced by many archeological finds. According to De administrando imperioDe Administrando Imperio
De Administrando Imperio is the Latin title of a Greek work written by the 10th-century Eastern Roman Emperor Constantine VII. The Greek title of the work is...
, at the time of the rule of Emperor Herakleios (610-640), Croats
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
arrived in Dalmatia, founded a duchy there and, shortly afterward, a part of them went to the north to Savia and founded another duchy there (Pannonian Croatia).
In the late 7th century or in the 8th century, Savia became vassalaged to/part of the Avar Empire
Eurasian Avars
The Eurasian Avars or Ancient Avars were a highly organized nomadic confederacy of mixed origins. They were ruled by a khagan, who was surrounded by a tight-knit entourage of nomad warriors, an organization characteristic of Turko-Mongol groups...
, as archaeological finds suggest. After the defeat of the Avar Empire by Frankish troops, a certain Croat Vojnomir was assigned Savia as a vassal of the Frankish margrave
Margrave
A margrave or margravine was a medieval hereditary nobleman with military responsibilities in a border province of a kingdom. Border provinces usually had more exposure to military incursions from the outside, compared to interior provinces, and thus a margrave usually had larger and more active...
of Friuli
March of Friuli
The March of Friuli was a Carolingian frontier march against the Slavs and Avars in the ninth and tenth centuries. It was a successor to the Lombard Duchy of Friuli....
. Savia failed to end Frankish domination during a rebellion under local Croatian Duke Ljudevit Posavski
Ljudevit Posavski
Ljudevit Posavski was a Croatian Duke of Pannonian Croatia from 810 to 823. The capital of his realm was in Sisak. As the ruler of the Pannonian Slavs, he led an unsuccessful resistance to Frankish domination. He held close ties with the Carantanian and Carniolan tribes and with the Serbian tribe...
in the early 9th century.
In 827
827
Year 827 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Beginning of the invasion of Sicily by the Aghlabid dynasty of Ifriqiya . The campaign in the island against Byzantium will take 51 years...
, the Bulgarians
Bulgarians
The Bulgarians are a South Slavic nation and ethnic group native to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. Emigration has resulted in immigrant communities in a number of other countries.-History and ethnogenesis:...
invaded and conquered Savia and parts of territories to the north of Savia. In 829
829
Year 829 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Egbert of Wessex conquers Mercia and is recognized as Bretwalda.* The Saracens ravage the coast of Dalmatia....
they imposed a local Duke Ratimir
Ratimir
Ratimir - is a Slavic origin given name meaning "defender of peace". Some people with the name are:* Ratimir of Pannonia, duke of the Pannonian Croats* Ratmir Kholmov, a Russian chess Grandmaster...
as the new ruler of Pannonian Croatia in their name, the Franks however claimed the territory, which in their view belonged (since 827) to the March of Carantania and thus under the rule of Count Ratbod, who had been head of the Avar March
Avar March
The Avar March was a frontier district established by Charlemagne against Avaria in the southeast of the Carolingian Empire.In the late 8th century, Charlemagne destroyed the Avar fortress called the Ring of the Avars and made the people tributary to him...
and March of Carantania
March of Carinthia
The March of Carinthia was a frontier district of the Carolingian Empire created in 889. Before it was a march, it had been a principality or duchy ruled by native-born Slavic princes at first independently and then under Bavarian and subsequently Frankish suzerainty...
since 828.
In 838
838
Year 838 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* The Byzantine emperor Theophilos is heavily defeated at the Battle of Anzen by the Abbasids...
, Ratbod deposed Ratimir and subordinated Savia to the Frankish March of Carantania. Another known ruler of Savia was Braslav
Braslav
Braslav can refer to:*Braslav of Pannonia, a Slavic prince in the 9th century*a Slavic lord from the late 9th century, after whom the town of Bratislava was named in the 10th century according to some theories; he could be identical with Braslav of Pannonia; see History of Bratislava*Brasłaŭ, a...
, who ruled there in 880-898/900, still vassalaged to the Kingdom of East Francia.
In the 10th century, under Prince/King Tomislav
Tomislav
King Tomislav was a ruler of Croatia in the Middle Ages. He reigned from 910 until 928, first as Duke of Dalmatian Croatia in 910–925, and then became first King of the Croatian Kingdom in 925–928....
, Pannonian Croatia was united with Littoral Croatia to form the Kingdom of Croatia
Kingdom of Croatia
Kingdom of Croatia can refer to:* Kingdom of Croatia * Kingdom of Croatia * Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia...
.
Rulers
- Vojnomir (c. 790 - c. 800 / 791 - c. 810)
- Ljudevit PosavskiLjudevit PosavskiLjudevit Posavski was a Croatian Duke of Pannonian Croatia from 810 to 823. The capital of his realm was in Sisak. As the ruler of the Pannonian Slavs, he led an unsuccessful resistance to Frankish domination. He held close ties with the Carantanian and Carniolan tribes and with the Serbian tribe...
(810 - 823) - RatimirRatimir of Pannonian CroatiaRatimir was a Croatian duke or prince , Bulgarian-imposed Duke of Pannonian Croatia from ca. 829 to 838. His name contents the word "rat", meaning "war", and "mir", meaning "peace"...
(829 - 838) - Braslav (880 - c. 887/900)
