Summary
Zdeslav (Croatian pronunciation: [zdêslaʋ], Latin: Sedesclavus) was a duke (Croatian: knez) in Croatia from 878 until his death in 879. He was from the Trpimirović dynasty.[1]
| Zdeslav | |
|---|---|
| Duke of Croatia | |
| Reign | 878–May 879 |
| Predecessor | unnamed son of Duke Domagoj |
| Successor | Branimir |
| Died | May 879 near Knin |
| Dynasty | Trpimirović |
| Father | Trpimir I |
| Religion | Christianity |
Biography edit
Zdeslav was the son of Trpimir I. After his father's death in 864, an uprising was launched by a powerful Croatian nobleman from Knin called Domagoj. Zdeslav was exiled along with his brothers Petar and Muncimir to Constantinople.[2] Domagoj died in 876, and was succeeded by his son. Zdeslav overthrew him in 878 with the help of the Byzantines, expelled Domagoj's sons and restored peace with Venice.[3][4] The peace, at least in the case of Croatia, would practically last until the end of 10th century.[4] He most probably acknowledged the supreme rule of Byzantine Emperor Basil I, and Dalmatia (theme) influence expanded further into land, but not much.[4]
In 879, Pope John VIII asked Duke Zdeslav for an armed escort and protection for his legate who was crossing Croatia on his way to Bulgaria, ruled by Boris I.[4] In early May 879, Zdeslav was killed by arrows near Knin in an uprising led by Branimir, a relative from Domagoj, possibly instigated by Pope John VIII fearing Byzantine power.[1] However, something like that would have happened anyway because both Byzantine and Carolingian powers diminished in the region.[4]
References edit
- ^ a b Hrvatski leksikon (1996-1997) (in Croatian)
- ^ Fine, John Van Antwerp (1991). The early medieval Balkans: a critical survey from the sixth to the late twelfth century. University of Michigan Press. p. 257. ISBN 978-0-472-08149-3.
- ^ Iohannes Diaconus: Istoria Veneticorum, p. 140 (in Latin)
- ^ a b c d e Goldstein, Ivo (1995). Hrvatski rani srednji vijek (in Croatian). Zagreb: Novi liber. p. 256, 259. ISBN 953-6045-02-8.
Further reading edit
- Klaić, Vjekoslav (1985). Povijest Hrvata: Knjiga Prva, Druga, Treća, Četvrta i Peta (in Croatian). Zagreb: Nakladni zavod Matice hrvatske. ISBN 978-86-401-0051-9.