Vojnomir
Encyclopedia
Vojnomir or Voynomir, was a Croatian duke of Pannonian Croatia
, who ruled over Slavonia
from c. 790 to c. 800 or from 791 to c. 810.
Vojnomir is also known as Wonomyrus Sclavus (declined as Wonomyro Sclavo, Uuonomyro Sclavo or Uuonomiro Sclavo), because of his Slavic origin.
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 Frankish sovereignty, convert to Christianity
and have his territory named as Pannonian Croatia
.
Some authors interpret Vojnomir as a military leader of frankish army, and Prince of Carniola
. One of the arguments is that Carniola was the land just between Friuli and Avaria.
and avarian kagan in the late 795 AD or in the year 796 AD, Friuli
an and Frankish troops were lead into Pannonia
by Eric of Friuli
and by his companion Vojnomir. This army was not seriously resisted by Avarians and many avarian forts were conquered. Vojnomir's leading position in this campaign is presumed as very possible with regard to the textual analysis of Annales regni Francorum .
authors from Austrian part of Austria-Hungary
are prone to support the Carniolian origin and Croatian
authors are prone to support Pannonian or Istrian origin.
, who ruled over Slavonia
from c. 790 to c. 800 or from 791 to c. 810. He is known for fighting the Avars
during their occupation of northern 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 Frankish sovereignty, convert to Christianity
and have his territory named as Pannonian Croatia
.. In a major victory against Avars in 796, he aided Charlemagne, and the Franks made themselves overlords over the Croatians of northern Dalmatia, Slavonia and Pannonia.
One year after the Siege of Trsat
, on Christmas Day in 800, the Pope Leo III
crowned Charlemagne as Imperator Romanorum ("Emperor of the Romans"
) in Saint Peter's Basilica
. Nicephorus I of the Byzantine Empire
and Charlemagne of the Holy Roman Empire settle their imperial boundaries in 803. Following these events, Littoral Croatian Duchy
peacefully accepted limited Frankish overlordship. Contrary to Littoral Croatia, a former Frankish ally of Pannonian Croatia after death of duke Vojnomir, led a resistance to Frankish domination under the leadership of Pannonian Croatian duke Ljudevit Posavski
.
.On the other side this hypothesis is not supported with additional historical proofs and it should not be seen as determined fact, but rather as a strong probability.
. But regarding the subordination of the Croat ancestors it was shown, that this is true only for Slavs in Dalmatia, while Pannonian Slavs could be subjected to Franks as soon as in the year 791.
Pannonian Croatia
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...
, who ruled over Slavonia
Slavonia
Slavonia is a geographical and historical region in eastern Croatia...
from c. 790 to c. 800 or from 791 to c. 810.
Vojnomir is also known as Wonomyrus Sclavus (declined as Wonomyro Sclavo, Uuonomyro Sclavo or Uuonomiro Sclavo), because of his Slavic origin.
Vojnomir is known for fighting the Avars
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...
during their occupation of 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 ...
. He launched a joint counterattack with the help of Frankish
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...
troops under King Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
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 Frankish sovereignty, convert to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and have his territory named as Pannonian Croatia
Pannonian Croatia
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...
.
Some authors interpret Vojnomir as a military leader of frankish army, and Prince of Carniola
Carniola
Carniola was a historical region that comprised parts of what is now Slovenia. As part of Austria-Hungary, the region was a crown land officially known as the Duchy of Carniola until 1918. In 1849, the region was subdivided into Upper Carniola, Lower Carniola, and Inner Carniola...
. One of the arguments is that Carniola was the land just between Friuli and Avaria.
Historical background: Vojnomir- the Warlord
During the phase of franko-avarian war between King CharlemagneCharlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
and avarian kagan in the late 795 AD or in the year 796 AD, Friuli
Friuli
Friuli is an area of northeastern Italy with its own particular cultural and historical identity. It comprises the major part of the autonomous region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, i.e. the province of Udine, Pordenone, Gorizia, excluding Trieste...
an and Frankish troops were lead into 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....
by Eric of Friuli
Eric of Friuli
Eric was the Duke of Friuli from 789 to his death. He was the eldest son of Gerold of Vinzgouw and by the marriage of his sister Hildegard the brother-in-law of Charlemagne....
and by his companion Vojnomir. This army was not seriously resisted by Avarians and many avarian forts were conquered. Vojnomir's leading position in this campaign is presumed as very possible with regard to the textual analysis of Annales regni Francorum .
Uncertainties about Vojnomir
Even his appropriate name is unclear. Instead of Vojnomir the original Wonomyro (Uuonomiro, Uuonomyro) could also be read as Zvonimir, just like the name of Croat king Demetrius Zvonimir has been corrupted in Svinimiro. There are three most reliable hypothesis about his origin: the Pannonian hypothesis, the career hypothesis and Carniolian hypothesis. At least two explanations could be read in the context of modern nationalistic mythology: Slovenian and GermanGermans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
authors from Austrian part of Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
are prone to support the Carniolian origin and Croatian
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...
authors are prone to support Pannonian or Istrian origin.
Vojnomir, Duke of Pannonian Croatia
According to pannonian hypothesis Vojnomir was a duke or prince of Pannonian CroatiaMedieval Croatian state
Medieval Croatia can refer to:* Principality of Pannonian Croatia - medieval duchy in existence between the 7th and 10th centuries A.D.* Principality of Littoral Croatia - medieval principality in existence between the 8th century and 925 A.D....
, who ruled over Slavonia
Slavonia
Slavonia is a geographical and historical region in eastern Croatia...
from c. 790 to c. 800 or from 791 to c. 810. He is known for fighting the Avars
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...
during their occupation of northern 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 ...
. He launched a joint counterattack with the help of Frankish
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...
troops under King Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
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 Frankish sovereignty, convert to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and have his territory named as Pannonian Croatia
Pannonian Croatia
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...
.. In a major victory against Avars in 796, he aided Charlemagne, and the Franks made themselves overlords over the Croatians of northern Dalmatia, Slavonia and Pannonia.
One year after the Siege of Trsat
Siege of Trsat
The Siege of Trsat was a battle fought over possession of the town of Trsat The city of Tarsatica, where the siege happened, was probably located at the present Old Town in Rijeka, not at Trsat itself, which is found on on a hill overlooking Rijeka on the other side of the Rječina River. Trsat was...
, on Christmas Day in 800, the Pope Leo III
Pope Leo III
Pope Saint Leo III was Pope from 795 to his death in 816. Protected by Charlemagne from his enemies in Rome, he subsequently strengthened Charlemagne's position by crowning him as Roman Emperor....
crowned Charlemagne as Imperator Romanorum ("Emperor of the Romans"
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
) in Saint Peter's Basilica
Old Saint Peter's Basilica
Old Saint Peter's Basilica was the building that stood, from the 4th to 16th centuries, on the spot where the Basilica of Saint Peter stands today in Rome. Construction of the Basilica, built over the historical site of the Circus of Nero, began during the reign of emperor Constantine I...
. Nicephorus I of the Byzantine Empire
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...
and Charlemagne of the Holy Roman Empire settle their imperial boundaries in 803. Following these events, Littoral Croatian Duchy
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...
peacefully accepted limited Frankish overlordship. Contrary to Littoral Croatia, a former Frankish ally of Pannonian Croatia after death of duke Vojnomir, led a resistance to Frankish domination under the leadership of Pannonian 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...
.
Vojnomir, Frankish military leader
Military hypothesis claims, that Vojnomir was only a Slav, making career inside the Frankish troops. From the only reliable contemporary source of Annales regni Francorum it is known, that Vojnomir was a military leader and at the same time his status of Duke or Prince is not mentioned at all. In the past most of the historians described Vojnomir as one of Slavic Dukes or Princes in the neighbourhood of Friuli. But it is hard to believe that a leader of foreign land could be accepted as a Frankish military leader by the Franks. He was probably only an exceptional Slavic individual, who made his career in the Frankish army, and perhaps he was only the friulian Slav. Vojnomir could also be a military leader from IstraIstra
Istra is a town and the administrative center of Istrinsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Istra River, west of Moscow, on the Moscow–Riga railway...
.On the other side this hypothesis is not supported with additional historical proofs and it should not be seen as determined fact, but rather as a strong probability.
Vojnomir, Prince of Carniola
Many authors interpret Vojnomir as Prince of Carniola. One of the arguments is that Carniola was the land just between Friuli and Avaria. Frankish troops passed Carniola, so this land is natural candidate for Vojnomir's homeland. Carniolians also hated their Avarian enemies. There are claims, that the ancestors of Croats were not the subjects of Franks at this time; Carniolians- the ancestors of Slovenes- on the other side were already obidient to Franks (from 791 AD) with their basic authonomy and the rule of their own domestic Princes retained until the rebell of LjudevitLjudevit 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...
. But regarding the subordination of the Croat ancestors it was shown, that this is true only for Slavs in Dalmatia, while Pannonian Slavs could be subjected to Franks as soon as in the year 791.
