Zdeslav of Croatia
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
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] He acknowledged the supreme rule of Byzantine Emperor Basil I.
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][5] In early May 879, Zdeslav was killed by arrows near Knin in an uprising led by Branimir, a relative from Domagoj, instigated by Pope John VIII fearing Byzantine power.[1]
References
- 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)
- Ivo Goldstein. Hrvatski rani srednji vijek, Zagreb, 1995, p. 229
- Draganović, Krunoslav (1991). Povijest Bosne i Hercegovine od najstarijih vremena do godine 1463. Hrvatsko kulturno društvo Napredak. p. 191.
Further reading
- 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.
Zdeslav of Croatia Died: 879 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Domagoj's unnamed son |
Duke of the Croats 878–879 |
Succeeded by Branimir |
| Duchy of Croatia |  | |
|---|---|---|
See also: Rulers of Slavs in Lower Pannonia | ||