The Investiture of the Duke of Carantania

The installation of the duke took place on a hill named Krnski grad (Karnburg), a few miles north of Celovec (Klagenfurt). There, not far from the church of St. Peter, in a meadow, is the Prince's Stone. The ceremony unfolds as follows:

The new duke arrives on the hill surrounded by nobles and knights and the Carantanian banner. With one hand he leads a black and white bull and with the other a horse of the same colours. He puts aside his precious vestments, the people dress him in a grey coat, and gird him with a red belt from which hangs a red hunting bag such as is suitable for the Master of the Hunts. He is given a hunting horn bound with red straps and they also put shoes wrapped with red thongs on his feet. He is then draped in a grey cloak and a grey Slovenian hat with a grey cord is placed on his head. A free peasant is sitting on the Prince's Stone. This office belongs to him by right of succession, hereditary in his family. The duke carries in his hand a staff and comes forward. Alongside him walk the Count Palatine (the king's representative) and other nobles.

The peasant sitting on the Prince's Stone asks in the Slovenian language: "Who is he that approaches?"

All the assembled answer: "He is the prince of the land." After this, he asks:"Is he an upright judge, is he seeking the well-being of the country, is he freeborn and deserving? Is he defender of the Christian faith?"

All answer: "He is and will be." The peasant then asks:"By what right can he displace me from this seat?"

The people reply: "He will present you sixty denarii and give you the two animals and the peasant clothes that he is decked with, and he will make your house free and without tribute."

Whereupon the peasant, after giving the duke a gentle stroke on his cheek, proffers him the seat. The new duke now steps on the Prince's Stone and, drawing his sword, turns in all directions in order to show that he will be a righteous judge to all.

The duke then takes a drink of cold water from the peasant hat so that the people, seeing this, will not crave for wine but will be content with what the native soil produces to sustain life. Finally they lift him onto the horse and conduct him around the Stone three times to indicate that he has now taken possession of the Land. At the same time all sing a hymn in Slovenian, praising God for having been given a new ruler in accordance with his will. (This last detail became part of the ceremony only after the introduction of Christianity)

After the ceremony of the Prince's Stone, the duke and the escort descend the hill of Krnski grad and cross the field to the cathedral of Gospa Sveta; there the bishop or another outstanding prelate celebrates the lithurgy and blesses the duke.