The Kings of the Slavs: The Image of a Ruler in the Latin Text of the Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja

Description

The Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja is considered to be among the most important and mysterious narrative sources discussing the Slavic presence on the Adriatic coast and its hinterland. It is also one of the most controversial. This detailed study examines the Latin version of the chronicle, and it explores the deeper meanings hidden behind the history of the contrived monarchy, acknowledging the tradition regarding the fate of its leading rulers. The work focuses on four representatives of the royal family, rulers during key periods in the narrative. Each of the kings presented a different pattern of rule, and each of them, in his own way, established new rules for the functioning of the Kingdom of the Slavs. The Kings of the Slavs. The Image of a Ruler in the Latin Text of The Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja Contents Acknowledgments 1 Preliminary Chapter 1 Introduction 2 What Is The Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja, and What Is It Not? 3 The Different Versions of the Text 4 Who Was the Priest of Duklja? 5 Topoi, Symbols, Structures, and the Way of Imaging in The Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja 6 The Image of a Ruler and the Concept of “the Beginning” in the Work by the Priest of Duklja 7 Studies on the Royal Authority: the Model of an Ideal Ruler 8 Connection between Regnum Sclavorum and Local Tradition 9 Regnum Sclavorum and Historiography 2 The Chronicle of the Priest of Dukjla: Texts, Variants, the Current State of Research 1 Manuscripts and Versions 2 The Title of the Work 3 The Time and Place of Writing The Chronicle 4 The Problem of the Authorship of Regnum Sclavorum 5 Regnum Sclavorum as a Forgery Made by Orbini 6 Summary 3 The Rulers of the Goths, and the Image of the Origins of the Kingdom of the Slavs 1 Introduction 2 The Kings of the Goths as Pagan Kings: the List of Gothic Rulers and Their Characteristics in the Narrative of Regnum Sclavorum 3 Totila and Ostroil: Two Chieftains of the Goths, and the Vision of the Conquest of Dalmatia 4 An Image of the Origins of the Kingdom of the Slavs in the Context of Origines Gentium Legends 5 Rules of the Goths and Ethnogenetic Legends of the Slavs 6 In Search of Historical Sources of “Gothomania” 7 The Narrative about the Goth Chieftains as an Element of Erudite History 8 The Croatian Version of The Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja about the Arrival of the Goths and Their Rulers 9 The Goths and Their Organization of Power in Historia Salonitana by Thomas the Archdeacon: the Meaning of the Words “Goths”, “Slavs”, “Croats” and the Way of Organizing Power 10 The Goths and Their Rulers in the Dalmatian Tradition 11 Summary 4 Svetopelek as an Example of a King-Legislator: Decisions of the Synod in Dalma and the New Foundations of Power 1 Introduction 2 Svetopelek or Budimir? The Synod in the Croatian Version of The Chronicle 3 Svetopelek or Svatopluk? The Tradition of Cyril and Methodius 4 The King and the Saint: Constantine’s Participation in the Christianization of the Kingdom of the Slavs 5 The Model of a King-Founder and the Origins of the Community during the Synod in Dalma 6 Space and Authority: the Centre and Boundaries in the Process ofCreating the Kingdom during the Synod in Dalma 7 The Emperor, the Pope and the King: Circumstances and Significance of Svetopelek’s Coronation 8 Summary 5 King Pavlimir Bello: the Founder of Ragusa and the Restorer of the Kingdom 1 Introduction 2 Prelude: the Conflict between King Radoslav and His Son. Comparative Analysis of the Latin and Croatian Variants of The Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja 3 The End of Časlav’s Rule: Interregnum 4 Tychomil’s Career: a Trace of the Lost Traditions of Raška Župans or a Literary Adaptation of the Biblical Topos? 5 The Narrative of Regnum Sclavorum and Other Medieval Sources about the Founding of Ragusa 6 Establishing Ragusa without the King: Constantine Porphyrogennetos, Thomas the Archdeacon, and Miletius 7 Return of King Bello: Regnum Sclavorum and Annales Ragusini 8 Pavlimir Bello as the Founder of Ragusa and as a Restorer of the Kingdom of Slavs 9 The Model Ruler: Pavlimir Bello as New Alexander 10 Summary 6 Vladimir as an Example of a Ruler-Martyr: Functions of the Model of a Holy Ruler in the Narrative of Regnum Sclavorum 1 Introduction 2 The Development of the Cult of St. Vladimir 3 Vladimir or Ashot? Byzantine Accounts of Vladimir and Their Interpretation 4 Elements of the Hagiographical Topics in the Legend of King Vladimir 5 Vladimir as an Example of a King-Martyr: the Context of the Peripheries 6 The Functions of the Legend of Vladimir in the Context of the Narrative of Regnum Sclavorum 7 Summary 7 Excursus: the Croatian Text of The Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja on the Death of King Zvonimir 1 Introduction 2 Zvonimir or Casimir? Sources of the Legend of the King’s Violent Death 3 King Zvonimir in the Croatian Version of The Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja 4 Zvonimir and Vladimir: the King-Martyrs in the Narrative of The Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja 5 Summary Conclusion Map Family Trees Bibliography 1 The Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja 2 Sources 3 References Index of Historical Figures and Geographical Names Index of Modern Authors