Domagoj of Croatia
Encyclopedia
Domagoj was a duke (knez) of Dalmatian Croatia
in 864–876. He is the founder of the House of Domagojević
.
Domagoj was a powerful Croatia
n nobelman, with lands around Knin
. Following the death of Trpimir I
in 864, he usurped the throne of Zdeslav
in a civil war. Domagoj became the Duke of Dalmatian Croatia, and Trpimir's sons, Petar, Zdeslav
and Muncimir
, were forced into exile. During Domagoj's reign piracy
was a common practice, which caused bad relations with the Venice
. In 865 Domagoj was forced to make an unfavourable peace with the Venetian Republic
, giving hostages to Venice as a guarantee for safe passage of Venetian ships in the Adriatic Sea
.
Domagoj helped the Franks
, as their vassal, to conquer Bari
from the Arabs in 871. In the meantime, the Venetians also renewed their attacks on Croats. In 874, Pope John VIII
intervened by begging Duke Domagoj as a Christian to restrain his Pirates.
After Domagoj's death, Venetian's chronicles named him The worst duke of Slavs . Pope John VIII
referred to Domagoj in letters as Famous duke .
, King of the Eastern Franks, Duke Domagoj decided to raise a rebellion and free Dalmatian Croatia from Frankish rule, although his death in 876 delayed his plans. The rebellion was continued by his unnamed son, who ruled as a Prince of Croatia with his brothers. The Croatian forces razed four Frankish Cities in Istria
in 876. Finally, the Croatian army was defeated by the Venetian navy. This war liberated the Croats from supreme Frankish rule with Byzantine
help from the Eastern Roman Emperor Basil I
. Two years later, in 878, Zdeslav
returned from Constantinople
and, with Byzantine help, deposed Domagoj's sons, thus finally restoring order to a Dalmatian Croatia, no longer under Frankish rule.
Littoral Croatian Duchy
Littoral Croatia or Dalmatian Croatia is a name for a region of what used to be a medieval Croatian principality which was established in the former Roman province of Dalmatia...
in 864–876. He is the founder of the House of Domagojević
House of Domagojević
Domagojević dynasty was a native Croat dynasty that ruled in Croatia, precisely in Dalmatia, probably from 864 until 892, with interruptions....
.
Domagoj was a powerful 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 ...
n nobelman, with lands around Knin
Knin
Knin is a historical town in the Šibenik-Knin county of Croatia, located near the source of the river Krka at , in the Dalmatian hinterland, on the railroad Zagreb–Split. Knin rose to prominence twice in history, as a one-time capital of both the Kingdom of Croatia and briefly of the...
. Following the death of Trpimir I
Trpimir I of Croatia
Trpimir I was a duke of Croatia in 845–864, and the founder of the Croatian House of Trpimirović. Although he was formally vassal of the Frankish Emperor Lothair I, Trpimir used Frankish-Byzantine conflicts to rule on his own.-Reign:...
in 864, he usurped the throne of Zdeslav
Zdeslav 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...
in a civil war. Domagoj became the Duke of Dalmatian Croatia, and Trpimir's sons, Petar, Zdeslav
Zdeslav 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....
, were forced into exile. During Domagoj's reign piracy
Piracy
Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence at sea. The term can include acts committed on land, in the air, or in other major bodies of water or on a shore. It does not normally include crimes committed against persons traveling on the same vessel as the perpetrator...
was a common practice, which caused bad relations with the Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
. In 865 Domagoj was forced to make an unfavourable peace with the Venetian Republic
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
, giving hostages to Venice as a guarantee for safe passage of Venetian ships in the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
.
Domagoj helped the Franks
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
, as their vassal, to conquer Bari
Bari
Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, in Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy after Naples, and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas...
from the Arabs in 871. In the meantime, the Venetians also renewed their attacks on Croats. In 874, Pope John VIII
Pope John VIII
Pope John VIII was pope from December 13, 872 to December 16, 882. He is often considered one of the ablest pontiffs of the ninth century and the last bright spot on the papacy until Leo IX two centuries later....
intervened by begging Duke Domagoj as a Christian to restrain his Pirates.
After Domagoj's death, Venetian's chronicles named him The worst duke of Slavs . Pope John VIII
Pope John VIII
Pope John VIII was pope from December 13, 872 to December 16, 882. He is often considered one of the ablest pontiffs of the ninth century and the last bright spot on the papacy until Leo IX two centuries later....
referred to Domagoj in letters as Famous duke .
Domagoj's sons
After the death of Louis the GermanLouis the German
Louis the German , also known as Louis II or Louis the Bavarian, was a grandson of Charlemagne and the third son of the succeeding Frankish Emperor Louis the Pious and his first wife, Ermengarde of Hesbaye.He received the appellation 'Germanicus' shortly after his death in recognition of the fact...
, King of the Eastern Franks, Duke Domagoj decided to raise a rebellion and free Dalmatian Croatia from Frankish rule, although his death in 876 delayed his plans. The rebellion was continued by his unnamed son, who ruled as a Prince of Croatia with his brothers. The Croatian forces razed four Frankish Cities in Istria
Istria
Istria , formerly Histria , is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner...
in 876. Finally, the Croatian army was defeated by the Venetian navy. This war liberated the Croats from supreme Frankish rule with 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...
help from the Eastern Roman Emperor Basil I
Basil I
Basil I, called the Macedonian was a Byzantine emperor of probable Armenian descent who reigned from 867 to 886. Born a simple peasant in the Byzantine theme of Macedonia, he rose in the imperial court, and usurped the imperial throne from Emperor Michael III...
. Two years later, in 878, Zdeslav
Zdeslav 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...
returned from Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
and, with Byzantine help, deposed Domagoj's sons, thus finally restoring order to a Dalmatian Croatia, no longer under Frankish rule.
Further reading
- Klaić V., Povijest Hrvata, Knjiga Prva, Zagreb 1982.
- John V.A. Fine, Jr., The Late Medieval Balkans, Ann Arbor, 1987.