Borna of Croatia
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| Borna | |
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| Duke of Croatia | |
.JPG) Duke Borna of Croatia - monument in Otočac |
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| Reign | 803–821 |
| Died | 821 |
| Predecessor | Višeslav of Croatia |
| Successor | Vladislav of Croatia |
Borna was the Knez of Littoral Croatia in 803–821 under the Frankish Empire. He was the son of his predecessor, Višeslav.
[edit] Ruler of Dalmatia
In 819 Duke Ljudevit Posavski of Pannonian Croatia raised a rebellion against the Franks, while Borna remained loyal to the Frankish Emperor Louis the Pious and struck with his forces at his former traditional ally, bribed by the Emperor's offers of expansion of power. Borna moved with Ljudevit's father-in-law, Dragomuž, from the southeast. The famous battle of Kupa occurred at the river of Kupa. In the heat of Battle the Guduscans - an indigenous people of his realm - abandoned Borna and crossed to Ljudevit's side. Borna would have been killed at the battlefield, if not for his elite bodyguards, while Dragomuž was killed on spot.
Ljudevit used the momentum of Borna's weakness and invaded Littoral Croatia in December of the same year. Borna's forces suffered heavy losses at the Battle of Kupa, so Borna decided that his forces should fight relying on attrition and exhausting of Ljudevit's troops. Harsh winter came to the hills of Borna's realm, further disabling Ljudevit's pillaging. Ljudevit was eventually forced to retreat, while much of their food reserves were left behind and confiscated by Borna. Borna reported his successes to the Frankish Emperor, stating that Ljudevit lost over 3,000 soldiers and 300 horses in his campaign.
Borna met with the Frankish Emperor in Aachen in January of 820, where they forged an alliance. The Emperor of the Franks prepared a massive invasion of Ljudevit's lands and those of his allies. Although the total invasion of Ljudevit's realm occurred, Borna died in the heat of battle in 821 after Ljudevit and his supporters retreated to the most fortified of their fortresses, hills and most unreachable swamps ad forests. He was succeeded by his nephew, Vladislav.
Ljudevit had no knowledge of Borna's death and at the beginning of 823, he went to Littoral Croatia in search of his uncle seeking help after he was dethroned and exiled. Borna's uncle, Ljudemisl, received him instead, who had Ljudevit tortured and killed. After a temporary reign by Ljudemisl as a viceroy, the throne of Littoral Croatia was passed on to Vladislav, Borna's nephew.
| Preceded by Višeslav |
Duke of Littoral Croatia 803–821 |
Succeeded by Vladislav |
[edit] References
- Trpimir Macan: History of Croatian people, Zagreb 1999
- Nada Klaić: History of the Croats in the Middle Ages, Zagreb 1990
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