Uniqueness in the heart of Europe - The Historical records of Caranthania

Carantania - the Early Slovenian State

Early Historical Records of Carantania

Paolus Diaconus refers to the state of Carantania as 'provincia Sclaborum' (Sclabones was the name Romans gave to Slavs, the consonantal grouping sl being unknown in Latin). Another reference made in the same year had to do with the mission of St.Columban, who dreamt that the lands occupied by 'Veneti, also called Slavs' are not yet ready for the Christian faith. There are several more references of similar kind, including the rebellion by Sclavos (Sloveni) also called Vinedos (Veneti) against Avars. This is the time when the kingdom with the elected King Samo was founded, uniting the lands of present-day Slovenians, Austrians, Czechs and Slovaks.

The name Carantania was mentioned in the historical records around 670, but the name is much more ancient, as evidenced by present-day regions of Kranjska and Korosska (deriving from Gorotan or Korotan - mountain region)

The earliest known historical source recording the ceremony is the Conversio Bagoariorum et Carantanorum written circa 870. It describes with great precision the ongoing right of the Carantanians to elect their ruler. We read in this document that after the death of Duke Borut, the Carantanians asked for his son Gorazd (being held in Bavaria) who was then returned by the order of the Frankish king and made duke in 751. His cousin Hotimir was received in a similar manner in 752. Carantanians preserved the right to reject dukes proposed by the emperor, and did this at least three times in the 11^th century.The investiture of the Duke's Stone became well known in Europe at the time and was recorded in several historical sources in Latin and German languages.

The Duchy of Carantania, mentioned for the first time by the Langobard historian Paul Diakon in his records for the year 595 as Provincia Sclaborum.

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