Zdeslav, Duke of Croatia
Duke of Croatia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Zdeslav (Croatian pronunciation: [zdêslaʋ], Latin: Sedesclavus)[1] was Duke of Croatia from 878 until his death in 879. He was from the Trpimirović dynasty.[2]
| Zdeslav | |
|---|---|
| Duke of Croatia | |
| Reign | 878 – May 879 |
| Predecessor | Unnamed son of 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.[3] 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.[4][5] The peace, at least in the case of Croatia, would practically last until the end of 10th century.[5] He most probably acknowledged the supreme rule of Byzantine Emperor Basil I, and Dalmatia (theme) influence expanded further into land, but not much.[5]
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.[5] In early May 879, Zdeslav was killed by arrows near Knin in an uprising led by Branimir, a relative of Domagoj, possibly instigated by Pope John VIII fearing Byzantine power.[2] However, something like that would have happened anyway because both Byzantine and Carolingian powers diminished in the region.[5]
