Domagoj of Croatia
Domagoj († 876 ) was a Croatian Knez ( Prince ), and ruled from 864 until his death on the küstenländische Croatia ( Primorska Hrvatska).
Biography
About Domagojs origin, there are two theories.
One assumes that Domagoj originally prince of Narentaner (Croatian: Neretvani ) was, as later sources from the 15th and 16th centuries report ( Domoghoi prinze de Narentani ). The name suffix - goy indicates that it comes from the mouth of the Neretva, because the single name of this extension ( and Domagoj Berigoj ) were Neretva princes. The other theory is that he was a nobleman from Knin in the Dalmatian hinterland. It is certain that he was not a descendant of its predecessor Trpimir I, but most likely as a usurper came to power because he forced Trpimir sons Petar, Zdeslav and Muncimir to exile to Constantinople Opel.
During his ruling time piracy was the main source of his small state. The disturbed under the rule of Byzantium standing trading city of Venice.
The throne of chaos Venice tried to exploit to attack Croatia, but after a few skirmishes managed Domagoj to negotiate a peace. The Arabs attacked on to the coastal cities, including Dubrovnik, the ' successfully withstood a 15-month siege with the help of the fleet Byzantium.
In the years 869-871 Domagoj helped in a fleet composite with Dubrovnik and the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of Louis II in retaking Bari from the Arabs. Bari was taken on February 2, 871.
This took advantage of the Byzantine Empire to attack the Neretva. As yet, the Arabs attacked the Byzantine towns on the Croatian coast, Domagoj took the opportunity to push back the Byzantines and Venetians from the coast.
The fights and battles were so numerous and Domagoj so brutal in his methods against his opponents, that after his death the Venice Chronicles him as the worst princes of the Slavs designated ( Latin: pessimus Sclavorum dux ). Pope John VIII, however, calls him in his letter of the year 874/875 " glorious prince of the Slavs " ( Latin: dux gloriosus Sclavorum ). But he also urged him not to kill his enemies, but to forgive them and to punish with exile.
Domagoj died in 876 and was succeeded by his son Iljko. After an interruption was later Branimir, another member of the dynasty Domagojević, Prince of Croatia.