Trpimir I of Croatia
Encyclopedia
Trpimir I was a duke (knez) of Croatia in 845–864, and the founder of the Croatia
n House of Trpimirović
. Although he was formally vassal
of the Frankish Emperor Lothair I
, Trpimir used Frankish-Byzantine conflicts to rule on his own.
Trpimir succeeded Croatia's Duke Mislav
in 845
and ascended the throne in Klis
, and expanded the early Roman
stronghold
into Klis Fortress
, the capital of his domain. Trpimir battled successfully against his neighbours, the Byzantine
coastal cities under the strategos
of Zadar
in 846–848. In 853
he repulsed an attack by an army of the Bulgaria
n Khan
Boris I and concluded a peace treaty with him, exchanging gifts.
On 4 March 852 Trpimir issued a charter in Biaći
(in loco Byaci dicitur) in the Latin
language, confirming Mislav
's donations to the Archbishopric in Split
. In this document, Trpimir named himself "by the mercy of God, Duke of Croats" and his realm as the "Realm of the Croats" (Regnum Chroatorum). Also, with his son Petar, he often undertook pilgrimages to Cividale, which was recorded in the Evangelistary of Cividale.
As a fervent Christian
, Trpimir brought the Benedictins
into Croatia, built a church and the first Benedictine monastery in Rižinice, between the towns of Klis and Solin, in 852
. In the insignia
on the monastery
, carved in stone, stands a text with the duke's name and title:
pro duce Trepime(ro...preces XPO submittati[s et inclinata habe]te cola treme[ntes].
The Saxon theologian
Gottschalk of Orbais was at Trpimir's court
between 846
and 848
, and his work De Trina deitate is an important source for Trpimir's reign. Trpimir was a proclaimed "rex Sclavorum" as a token
of admiration from Gottschalk, which is also a sign of his independent rule
.
and Muncimir
. According to a theory, he was successed by latter Zdeslav, who was later deposed by Domagoj.
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 ...
n House of Trpimirović
Trpimirovic dynasty
Trpimirović dynasty was a native Croat dynasty that ruled, with interruptions, from 845 until 1091 in Croatia and was named after Trpimir I, the first member and the founder...
. Although he was formally vassal
Vassal
A vassal or feudatory is a person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. The obligations often included military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain privileges, usually including the grant of land held...
of the Frankish Emperor Lothair I
Lothair I
Lothair I or Lothar I was the Emperor of the Romans , co-ruling with his father until 840, and the King of Bavaria , Italy and Middle Francia...
, Trpimir used Frankish-Byzantine conflicts to rule on his own.
Reign
Mislav of Croatia
Mislav was the Duke of Littoral Croatia in 835–845.Mislav succeeded Vladislav as the Duke of Littoral Croatia. He ruled from Klis in central Dalmatia, when he made Klis Fortress seat to his throne. Mislav was pious ruler. He built the Church of Saint George in Putalj . Today's Kaštel Sućurac...
in 845
845
Year 845 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* March 28 – Paris is sacked by Viking raiders, probably under Ragnar Lodbrok, who collect a huge ransom in exchange for leaving.* The Vikings also sack Hamburg and Melun.* November 22 – Count of Vannes,...
and ascended the throne in Klis
Klis
Klis is a village located around a mountain fortress bearing the same name. It is located in central Dalmatia, Croatia, located just northeast of Solin and Split near the eponymous mountain pass...
, and expanded the early Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
stronghold
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
into Klis Fortress
Klis Fortress
The Klis Fortress is a medieval fortress situated above a village bearing the same name, near the city of Split, in central Dalmatia, Croatia. From its origin as a small stronghold built by the ancient Illyrian tribe Dalmatae, becoming a royal castle that was the seat of many Croatian kings, to...
, the capital of his domain. Trpimir battled successfully against his neighbours, the Byzantine
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
coastal cities under the strategos
Strategos
Strategos, plural strategoi, is used in Greek to mean "general". In the Hellenistic and Byzantine Empires the term was also used to describe a military governor...
of Zadar
Zadar
Zadar is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. It is the centre of Zadar county and the wider northern Dalmatian region. Population of the city is 75,082 citizens...
in 846–848. In 853
853
Year 853 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Egypt :* May 22–May 23 – A Byzantine fleet sacks and destroys Damietta in Egypt.- Asia :...
he repulsed an attack by an army of the Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n Khan
Khan (title)
Khan is an originally Altaic and subsequently Central Asian title for a sovereign or military ruler, widely used by medieval nomadic Turko-Mongol tribes living to the north of China. 'Khan' is also seen as a title in the Xianbei confederation for their chief between 283 and 289...
Boris I and concluded a peace treaty with him, exchanging gifts.
On 4 March 852 Trpimir issued a charter in Biaći
Biaći
Biaći are a village in Croatia, 5 km northeast of Trogir, at the contact point between the Trogir part and the Lower Kaštela part of the Velo field. It was first mentioned in two old Croatian documents from AD 852 and AD 892. At the locality of Stombrate are the remains of an early Croatian church...
(in loco Byaci dicitur) in the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
language, confirming Mislav
Mislav of Croatia
Mislav was the Duke of Littoral Croatia in 835–845.Mislav succeeded Vladislav as the Duke of Littoral Croatia. He ruled from Klis in central Dalmatia, when he made Klis Fortress seat to his throne. Mislav was pious ruler. He built the Church of Saint George in Putalj . Today's Kaštel Sućurac...
's donations to the Archbishopric in Split
Split (city)
Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and...
. In this document, Trpimir named himself "by the mercy of God, Duke of Croats" and his realm as the "Realm of the Croats" (Regnum Chroatorum). Also, with his son Petar, he often undertook pilgrimages to Cividale, which was recorded in the Evangelistary of Cividale.
As a fervent Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
, Trpimir brought the Benedictins
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
into Croatia, built a church and the first Benedictine monastery in Rižinice, between the towns of Klis and Solin, in 852
852
Year 852 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Saint Swithun becomes Bishop of Winchester, England....
. In the insignia
Insignia
Insignia or insigne pl -nia or -nias : a symbol or token of personal power, status or office, or of an official body of government or jurisdiction...
on the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
, carved in stone, stands a text with the duke's name and title:
pro duce Trepime(ro...preces XPO submittati[s et inclinata habe]te cola treme[ntes].
The Saxon theologian
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
Gottschalk of Orbais was at Trpimir's court
Court
A court is a form of tribunal, often a governmental institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law...
between 846
846
Year 846 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Nominoe occupies Nantes and Rennes, he makes raids in Anjou and threatens Bayeux...
and 848
848
Year 848 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The Saracens destroy Leontini.* Charles the Bald, Louis the German and Lothar meet in Koblenz....
, and his work De Trina deitate is an important source for Trpimir's reign. Trpimir was a proclaimed "rex Sclavorum" as a token
Token
A token is an object of value, and may refer to:* In logic, computational linguistics, and information retrieval, a token is an instance of a type; see Type-token distinction...
of admiration from Gottschalk, which is also a sign of his independent rule
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
.
Descendants
The end of Trpimir's reign remains vaguely distinctive, just like the sequence of his successors. Allegedly, he had three sons; Peter, ZdeslavZdeslav of Croatia
Zdeslav was a Knez of Dalmatian Croatia in 864 and again in 878–879. He was from the House of Trpimirović.-Biography:Zdeslav was a son of Trpimir I. After his father death in 864, an uprising was raised by a powerful Croatian nobleman from Knin - Domagoj, and Zdeslav was exiled with his...
and Muncimir
Muncimir of Croatia
Muncimir was a knez of Dalmatian Croatia who reigned from 892 to 910. He was a member of the House of Trpimirović....
. According to a theory, he was successed by latter Zdeslav, who was later deposed by Domagoj.