The ceremony was regarded as so extraordinary that it became a model for political theorists, who were looking for alternative forms of government. In the sixteenth century the French political theorist Bodin examined the investiture ceremony in detail in his Les six livres de la Republique (1576). Thomas Jefferson used this work when he wrote the American Declaration of Independence.

After the death of the ruling duke, council of noblemen and kosezi (members of lower landed nobility or freeholders) elected a new duke and in the presence of the people, granted him authority. This took place with a festive inauguration on the Duke's Stone, which stood in the fortified courtyard of Krn Castle. After the ceremony the duke and his escort crossed the field to the cathedral of Gospa Sveta (Maria Saal). Following the church ceremony and the blessing of the duke by the bishop, the company proceeded to the Ducal Throne - a two-seat stone throne standing not far from the church. The eastern seat is occupied by the duke who performs the first duties as the leader of his people from it, pronouncing judgements and rendering justice; he also bestows fiefs and privileges associated with the lands and properties. The western seat is occupied by the Count Palatine, the king's representative. His duty is supplementary; he resolves problems that were not concluded by the duke.

The investiture ceremony continued to be conducted in Slovenian language long after Carantania became part of the Habsburg empire. The ceremony of the Duke's Stone was last performed in 1414. After that it was conducted at the Ducal Throne till year 1615, still in Slovenian language. From then on it was continued till 1728 in the State House in Celovec (Klagenfurt), when institutio Sclavenica was incorporated into the Austrian Constitution.

The Duke's Stone is now held in the State Museum of Carinthia in Austria. The Ducal Throne remains in its original place, on the Field of Gospa Sveta.

The enthronement of Carantanian dukes was a sovereign act on the level of the nation and has no comparison. It is regarded by many as a milestone in development of Western democracy.

From:Ssavli, Bor and Tomazzicc, Veneti-First Builders of European Community (Vienna, 1996)