Hrvatska Historija: Rani Srednji Vjek

Study Notes

Ethnogenesis of Croats: A continuous process of shaping and developing a nation.
Sources for Early Croatian History: Limited, with no authentic original sources from the period. Primarily rely on documents such as Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus's De Administrando Imperio, the Chronicle of the Baščanin, and History of Salona by Toma Arhiđakon.
626 AD: Constantinople was under siege, Avars and Slavs unsuccessfully attacked. Slavs intermixed with the previous inhabitants of the future Croatian territories. Marked the end of the Migration Period.
Avar Kaganate: Established in the late 6th century. Based in the Pannonian Basin. Spanning from the Eastern Alps to Southern Poland and Greece.
Legacy of Croatian Arrival: No definitive answer. Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus suggested that the Croats arrived by order of Emperor Heraclius, but this is now considered inaccurate. Other theories suggest origins from areas of White Croatia (parts of present-day Bavaria, Poland, and Bohemia), although the precise location remains debated.
Theories Regarding Croatian Origins: Walter Pohl argues that early Croats weren't an ethnicity but a social group, united after the disintegration of the Avar Khaganate.
Other theories: Proposed origins include a link to Iranian tribes in modern Afghanistan, an indigenous Slavic group, or a subset of the Avars.

Early stages of conversion: Began with the establishment of Frankish power in the region.
Process of Christianization (7th-9th centuries): Took place in two stages: First among elites, then later among the general population.
Key figures and locations: Ivan Ravenjaanin, a Split Archbishop, is noted for contributions. Early centers of Christianization include the area along the coast.
Three Key Directions: Roman, Frankish, and Byzantine.

Frankish Territories: Divisions of counties and duchies were created under Frankish administration.
Ljudevit and Borna Ljudevit was the governor of the Lower Pannonia. Borna, a Frankish ally, led an uprising against Ljudevit and was a crucial figure in early Croatian history. This encounter was instrumental in the recognition of Croatian independence.

Trpimirova Darovnica (852): One of the earliest documents mentioning the Croats by name.
Domagoj (864-876): A ruler who conflicted with Frankish powers and engaged in military skirmishes and dealings with the Byzantine Empire.
Branimir (879-892): Ruler who aimed at unification of Croatia and Dalmatia. Had numerous conflicts with neighbors, particularly the Byzantines.
Tomislav (910-928): A powerful ruler who solidified Croatian independence, secured boundaries, and had important relations with the Byzantine Empire and the Papacy. He's often considered the founder of the Croatian state.
Mihajlo Krešimir (949-969): A significant ruler during a period of consolidation and internal stability.
Stjepan Držislav (969-995): Consolidated power by unifying the Croatian state, and securing a crucial relationship with the Holy Roman Empire. He was the first Croatian King to secure recognition.
Petar Krešimir IV (1058-1074): A king who expanded Croatian territory and improved interactions with the papacy.
Dmitar Zvonimir (1075-1089): A later king who further consolidated the state and is known for a peace treaty made with the papacy.
Stjepan III (1089-1091): A short-lived ruler after Zvonimir.
Note: Many theories exist regarding the exact borders and details of events associated with these figures, therefore, several of these locations were subject to historical debate.

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