View source for Vojnomir

{{Short description|Military commander and Duke of the Slavs in Lower Pannonia}}
[[File:Blessing of Friulo-slavic Army by Paulinus II of Aquilea.PNG|thumb|Before the attack on the Avars, the Friulian-Slavic army receives a blessing from Paulinus II]]
'''Vojnomir''', '''Voynomir''' or '''Vonomir I''' was a [[Slavs|Slavic]] military commander in Frankish service, the duke of [[Slavs in Lower Pannonia]],<ref name=Speculum>{{cite book | last=Mediaeval Academy of America | page=230 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_BQbAAAAIAAJ&q=Croatian | title=Speculum | year=1945 | publisher=University of California }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enciklopedija.hr/natuknica.aspx?id=18255   |title=Erich|date=2019|last=Lučić|first=Josip|publisher=Encyclopedia LZMK}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://hbl.lzmk.hr/clanak.aspx?id=5731 |title=Erich|date=1998|last=Lučić|first=Josip|publisher=Croatian Biographical Lexicon}}</ref> who ruled from c. 790 to c. 800 or from 791 to c. 810<ref name="Mladjov">{{cite web
| last = Mladjov
| first = Ian
| title = Croatian Rulers
| url-status = dead
| url = http://sitemaker.umich.edu/mladjov/files/croatian_rulers.pdf
| access-date = 2007-10-05
| archive-date = 2016-03-03
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303165258/http://sitemaker.umich.edu/mladjov/files/croatian_rulers.pdf
}}</ref> over an area that corresponds to modern-day [[Slavonia]], [[Croatia]].
The [[Royal Frankish Annals]] makes mention of a ''Wonomyrus Sclavus'' (Vojnomir the Slav) active in 795.<ref name="Luthar2008">{{cite book|author=Oto Luthar|title=The Land Between: A History of Slovenia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G9tDboBJ70EC&pg=PA94|year=2008|publisher=Peter Lang|isbn=978-3-631-57011-1|pages=94–95}}</ref> [[Eric of Friuli]], sent Vojnomir with his army into [[Pannonia]], between the [[Danube]] and [[Tisza]], where they pillaged the Avars' dominions.<ref name="Luthar2008"/> According to [[Milko Kos]] they were not met with serious [[Avars (Caucasus)|Avar]] resistance, and they conquered many forts.<ref name="KM293">Kos Milko (1902): [https://archive.org/details/gradivozazgodovi01kosmuoft ''Gradivo za zgodovino Slovencev v srednjem veku''. Ljubljana, Leonova družba. Case 293, pg. 325-327.]</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=Too old|date=January 2016}} The next year the Avars were defeated and Frankish power was extended further east, to the central Danube.<ref name="Luthar2008"/> Vojnomir's leading position in the campaign has been presumed as very possible with regard to the textual analysis of ''[[Annales regni Francorum]]''.<ref name="SF">Šišić Ferdo (1902). ''Povijest Hrvata u vrijeme narodnih vladara''. Zagreb, Nakladni zavod matice Hrvatske. pp. 304-305</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=Too old|date=January 2016}}
His origin and social position are not mentioned in any contemporary medieval source.{{sfn|Štih|2001|pp=41-42}} His identity has been the subject of several hypotheses.{{sfn|Štih|2001|pp=41-42}}
==Hypotheses==
[[File:Growth of Frankish Power, 481-814 Edit.jpeg|thumb|right|240px|Map showing the growth of the Frankish power]]
Vojnomir remains an enigmatic historical personality. Even the correct reading of his name is unclear. Instead of Vojnomir the original ''Wonomyro'' (''Uuonomiro'', ''Uuonomyro'') could also be read as Zvonimir, just like the name of the Croatian king [[Demetrius Zvonimir of Croatia|Demetrius Zvonimir]] has been corrupted in ''Svinimiro''.<ref name="LN10">Nenad, Labus (2000): ''[http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/18780 Tko je ubio vojvodu Erika]''. From: Šanjek Franjo (ur): ''Radovi Zavoda za povijesne znanosti HAZU u Zadru''. Sv. 42. Page. 10.</ref> Some authors interpret Vojnomir as having been a Croatian duke, a military leader of the Frankish army, or the prince of [[Carniola]].<ref name="Vojnomir">for example W. Pohl, H. Krahwinkler, R. Bratož, F. Kos, M. Kos, B. Grafenauer. In: Štih, Peter (2001). ''Ozemlje Slovenije v zgodnjem srednjem veku: Osnovne poteze zgodovinskega razvoja od začetka 6. do konca 9. stoletja.'' Ljubljana, Filozofska fakulteta. Page 41-42; and in: Grafenauer Bogo: [http://nl.ijs.si:8080/fedora/get/sbl:4413/VIEW/  ''Vojnomir''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823082416/http://nl.ijs.si:8080/fedora/get/sbl:4413/VIEW/ |date=2011-08-23 }}</ref> There are three most reliable hypotheses about his origin: the "Pannonian hypothesis", the "Career hypothesis" and the "Carniolan hypothesis".{{sfn|Štih|2001|pp=41-42}}<ref>Voje, Ignacij(1994). ''Nemirni Balkan: Zgodovinski pregled od 6. Do 18. Stoletja''. Ljubljana, DZS. Page 47.</ref> At least two explanations could be read in the context of modern nationalistic mythology: [[Slovenes|Slovene]] and [[Germans|German]] authors from the Austrian part of [[Austria-Hungary]] are prone to support the Carniolan origin and [[Croats|Croatian]] authors are prone to support the Pannonian or the Istrian origin.<ref name="KM293"/><ref name="GB"/>{{Better source needed|reason=Too old; no access|date=January 2016}}
===Pannonian hypothesis===
According to the Pannonian hypothesis, Vojnomir was a ''knez'' (duke or prince) of the [[Slavs in Lower Pannonia]] from ca. 790 to 800 or from 791 to ca. 810.{{citation needed|date=January 2016}} He is believed to have fought the [[Pannonian Avars]] during their occupation of what is today northern [[Croatia]];<ref name="Vujnovich1974">{{cite book|author=Milos M. Vujnovich|title=Yugoslavs in Louisiana|url=https://archive.org/details/yugoslavsinlouis0000vujn|url-access=registration|year=1974|publisher=Pelican Publishing|isbn=978-1-4556-1455-4|pages=[https://archive.org/details/yugoslavsinlouis0000vujn/page/7 7]–}}</ref><ref name="Matheson2012">{{cite book|author=Lister M. Matheson|title=Icons of the Middle Ages: Rulers, Writers, Rebels, and Saints|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rETxD8KcnUIC&pg=PA162|year=2012|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-34080-2|pages=162–}}</ref><ref name="Heather2010">{{cite book|author=Peter Heather|title=Empires and Barbarians: The Fall of Rome and the Birth of Europe|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gbUlnaHlHS0C&pg=PA533|date=4 March 2010|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-975272-0|pages=533–}}</ref> according to Francis Dvornik, he launched a joint counterattack with the help of [[Franks|Frankish]] troops under King [[Charlemagne]] in 791, successfully driving the Avars out of Croatia.<ref name="Dvornik 1956">{{cite book  | last = Dvornik | first = Francis | author-link = Francis Dvornik | title = The Slavs  | url = https://archive.org/details/slavstheirearlyh0000dvor | url-access = registration | publisher = [[American Academy of Arts and Sciences]]  | year = 1956}} {{page needed|date=January 2016}}</ref><ref name="Riché 1993">{{cite book  | last = Riché  | first = Pierre  | title = The Carolingians: A Family Who Forged Europe | publisher = [[University of Pennsylvania Press]] | year = 1993  | isbn = 0-8122-1342-4}} {{page needed|date=January 2016}}</ref><ref name="Wiet 1975">{{cite book | last = Wiet| first = Gaston  | title = The Great Medieval Civilizations | publisher = [[Allen and Unwin]] | year = 1975 }} {{page needed|date=January 2016}}</ref> In return for the help of Charlemagne, Vojnomir was obliged to recognize the Frankish sovereignty and convert to [[Christianity]].<ref name="Dvornik 1956"/><ref name="Riché 1993"/><ref name="Wiet 1975"/>
On Christmas Day in 800, a year after the [[Siege of Trsat]], the [[Pope Leo III]] crowned Charlemagne as ''Imperator Romanorum'' ([[Holy Roman Empire|"Emperor of the Romans"]]) in [[Old Saint Peter's Basilica|Saint Peter's Basilica]].<ref name="Vjekoslav Klaić">{{cite book | last=Klaić | first=Vjekoslav | pages=63–64 | title=Povijest Hrvata: Knjiga Prva | publisher=Nakladni zavod Matice hrvatske | location=Zagreb | year=1985 | language=hr | isbn=9788640100519}}</ref> [[Nicephorus I]] of the [[Byzantine Empire]] and Charlemagne of the Holy Roman Empire settle their imperial boundaries in 803.<ref name="Vjekoslav Klaić"/> Following these events, known as the ''[[Pax Nicephori]]'', the [[Duchy of Croatia]] peacefully accepted limited Frankish overlordship.<ref name="Vjekoslav Klaić"/> Contrary to Croatia, after the death of duke Vojnomir,{{when|date=January 2016}} the former Frankish ally Lower Pannonia led a resistance to Frankish domination under the leadership of duke [[Ljudevit Posavski]].{{citation needed|date=January 2016}}
[[John Van Antwerp Fine Jr.|Fine Jr.]] claimed that Vojnomir was a Croatian duke who aided Charlemagne's major victory against the Pannonian Avars in 796, after which the Franks were made overlords "over the Croatians of northern Dalmatia, Slavonia and Pannonia".<ref name=JohnVanAntwerpFinep257>{{cite book | last=Fine | first=John Van Antwerp | page=78 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y0NBxG9Id58C&pg=78 | title=The early medieval Balkans: a critical survey from the sixth to the late twelfth century | year=1991 | publisher=[[University of Michigan Press]] | isbn=0-472-08149-7<!--9780472081493-->}}</ref>
===Career hypothesis===
The military hypothesis claims that Vojnomir was only a Slav making a career in the Frankish troops. He was not a ruler.<ref>{{cite book|title=Corpus testimoniorum vetustissimorum ad historiam slavicam pertinentium|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3N4TAQAAMAAJ|year=1995|publisher=Издательская фирма "Восточная лит-ра" РАН| isbn=9785020178090 |quote=По мнению В.Поля, Вономир не был самостоятельным правителем, а был лишь славянским выходцем на службе у франков: «славянскому „племенному князю" Эрик, вероятно, не дал бы так легко своих людей в подчинение, ...}}</ref> From the only reliable contemporary source, ''Annales regni Francorum'', it is known that Vojnomir was a military leader.<ref name="GB">Grafenauer Bogo: [http://nl.ijs.si:8080/fedora/get/sbl:4413/VIEW/ ''Vojnomir''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823082416/http://nl.ijs.si:8080/fedora/get/sbl:4413/VIEW/ |date=August 23, 2011 }}</ref> His status as a duke or a prince is not mentioned at all. In the past most of the historians described Vojnomir as one of Slavic dukes or princes in the neighbourhood of Friuli. However, according to [[Peter Štih]], it is hard to believe that a leader of a foreign land could be accepted as a Frankish military leader by the Franks; he was probably only an exceptional Slavic individual who made his career in the Frankish army and perhaps he was only a Friulian Slav.{{sfn|Štih|2001|pp=41-42}} According to [[Nenad Labus]], Vojnomir could also have been a military leader from [[Istria]].<ref name="LN10"/>
===Carniolan hypothesis===
Many authors interpret Vojnomir as the Prince of Carniola.<ref name="Vojnomir"/> One of the arguments is that Carniola was the land just between Friuli and Avaria. Frankish troops passed Carniola, so this land is natural candidate for Vojnomir's homeland.<ref>Kos Milko (1933). ''Zgodovina Slovencev od naselitve do reformacije''. Ljubljana, Jugoslovanska knjigarna. Str. 64.</ref> Carniolans also hated their Avarian enemies.<ref name="KM293"/>{{sfn|Štih|2001|pp=41-42}} There are claims that the ancestors of the Croats were not the subjects of the Franks at this time.<ref name="KM293"/> The Carniolans on the other side were already ruled by the Franks from 791 AD with their basic autonomy and the rule of their own domestic princes retained until the rebellion of [[Ljudevit (Lower Pannonia)|Ljudevit]].<ref name="KM293"/><ref name="GB"/> Regarding the subordination of the Croat ancestors it was proved only for the Slavs in Dalmatia, whereas the Pannonian Slavs could have been subjected to the Franks already in the year 791.<ref name="SF"/>
==See also==
*[[Višeslav]]
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
==Sources==
*{{cite book|first=Peter |last=Štih|title=Ozemlje Slovenije v zgodnjem srednjem veku: osnovne poteze zgodovinskega razvoja od začetka 6. do konca 9. stoletja|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JzGMAAAACAAJ|date=2001|publisher=Filozofska Fakulteta, Oddelek za Zgodovino|isbn=978-961-227-084-1}}
*{{cite book|author=Milko Kos|title=Istorija Slovenaca od doseljenja do petnaestog veka|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PWg6AQAAIAAJ|year=1960|publisher=Prosveta|quote=<!-- Ко је био и где је владао овај Војномир, не знамо пОуздано. Како је Ерика најближи пут у Панонију водио преко касније Крањске и Доње Штајер- ске, врло је вероватно да му се придружио један од тамо- шњих словеначких ... -->|trans-title=History of Slovenes from immigration to the fifteenth century}}
{{Dukes of Pannonia}}
{{Dukes of Croatia (dux Croatorum)}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Slavic warriors]]
[[Category:Dukes of Croatia]]
[[Category:8th-century dukes in Europe]]
[[Category:9th-century dukes in Europe]]
[[Category:Vlastimirović dynasty]]
[[Category:History of Slavonia]]
[[Category:Converts to Christianity from pagan religions]]
[[Category:8th-century Croatian people]]
[[Category:9th-century Croatian people]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]