View source for Dragovit

{{short description|Pagan ruler of the Veleti}}
'''Dragovit''' ({{langx|la|Drogoviz}}; {{langx|de|Dragowit}}; {{langx|pl|Drogowit}}; died in 810;<ref name=wachowski67>Kazimierz Wachowski, Gerard Labuda: ''Słowiańszczyzna zachodnia''. Poznań: Wydawnictwo Poznańskiego Towarzystwa Przyjaciól Nauk, 2000, p. 67. ISBN 9788370632717. (in Polish)</ref>) was a [[Paganism|pagan]] ruler ([[prince]] or [[Tribal chief|chief]]) of the [[Veleti]] ({{langx|la|rex Wiltorum|link=no}}; "[[Monarch|king]] of the [[Veleti|Wiltzes]]"). It is thought that Dragovit began his rule {{circa|740}}.<ref name="Slawenfürsten">{{cite web |url=http://slawenburgen.npage.de/slawenfuersten.html |title=Slawenfürsten |language=de }}</ref>
Because of their constant hatred and hostility toward the [[Franks]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=Schenker |first1=Alexander M. |title=An Introduction to Slavic Philology |url=http://yalepress.yale.edu/yupbooks/pdf/0300058462.pdf |year=1901 |publisher=[[Yale University Press]] |location=New Haven and London |page=46 |access-date=2010-07-30 |archive-date=2012-02-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212225810/http://yalepress.yale.edu/yupbooks/pdf/0300058462.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> in the late 8th century, Frankish king [[Charlemagne]] organised campaigns against the Veleti, and fellow [[Slavs|Slavic]] tribe of the [[Linonen]]. With the aid of [[Frisians|Frisian]], [[Obodrites|Obodrite]],{{efn|Obodrites are also of Slavic stock}} [[Saxons|Saxon]] and [[Sorbs|Sorbian]]{{efn|Sorbs are also of Slavic stock}} reinforcements, Charlemagne managed to cross the [[Elbe|Elbe River]], advancing toward the [[Havel|Havel River]] into Veleti territory. Outnumbered, Dragovit, in 789, was forced to pledge loyalty to the Franks and surrender hostages.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Riché |first1=Pierre |title=The Carolingians: A Family Who Forged Europe |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tcjy7bCmFL0C |year=1993 |publisher=[[University of Pennsylvania Press]] |location=Philadelphia  |isbn= 0812213424|page=110 }}</ref> Among others, Dragovit was also forced to pay a tribute and accept the influence of Christian missionaries among his people.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Oman |first1= Sir Charles William Chadwick |title=Dark Ages, 476-918 |edition=Fourth |url=https://archive.org/details/darkages06omangoog |year=1901 |publisher=Rivingtons |location=London  |page=[https://archive.org/details/darkages06omangoog/page/n374 360] }}</ref>
His capital was a fortification known as ''civitas Dragowiti'' (City of Dragovit). Its location is hypothesised to be either at [[Brandenburg an der Havel]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.genealogie-mittelalter.de/heveller_fuersten/dragowit_fuerst_der_wilzen_798/dragowit_fuerst_der_wilzen.html |title=Dragowit: Fürst der Wilzen |language=de |access-date=2010-07-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525205243/http://www.genealogie-mittelalter.de/heveller_fuersten/dragowit_fuerst_der_wilzen_798/dragowit_fuerst_der_wilzen.html |archive-date=2011-05-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref> or [[Demmin]].<ref name="Slawenfürsten" />
== Explanatory notes ==
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==References==
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[[Category:8th-century Slavs]]
[[Category:9th-century Slavs]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:810 deaths]]
[[Category:Slavic warriors]]
[[Category:Princes of the Veleti]]