Višeslav of Croatia

Višeslav was a duke (Latin: dux; Croatian: knez) who was believed to have ruled somewhere in or near Dalmatian Croatia in the first few decades of the 9th century.^[1]

Višeslav's name is known from an inscription left on the Baptismal font of Prince Višeslav, surviving to this day. The font is believed to be an important symbol of early Croatian history and the people's conversion to Christianity. The inscription is in Latin and mentions the name of a priest named John (Ivan) who baptized people during "the time of Duke Višeslav" in the honor of John the Baptist.^[2]

Historians have been making numerous attempts to date the reign of Višeslav, and to locate his domain geographically, and older Croatian historiography has a lot of claims about this, but there is no present-day consensus about where or when he ruled beyond a Slavic group Christianized by the Carolingians in the early 9th century.^[1]

During the siege of Trsat in the autumn of 799 between the defending forces under his leadership and the invading Frankish army of the Carolingian Empire, the Frankish commander Eric of Friuli was killed.^[3]^[4] Ultimately, his duchy did accept Frankish overlordship through the Pax Nicephori.^{[citation needed]}

References

^ ^a ^b "Višeslav (Vuissasclavus)". Croatian Encyclopedia. Miroslav Krleža Institute of Lexicography. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
^ Baricevic, Karl. "Royal Croatia". Retrieved 2009-08-15.
^ Gaži, Stephen (1973). A history of Croatia. Philosophical Library. ISBN 9780802221087.
^ Žic, Igor (2001). Kratka povijest grada Rijeke (in Croatian). Adamić. ISBN 9789536531318.