In the chapter Carniolan and Slavic language, Valvasor writes about the extent and spread of “Slavic” language, which is ”spoken from Venice in the west to Sweden in the north, Constantinople in the south and Moscow in the east”.

He identifies two scripts used by Slavs, Cyrillic and Glagolitic and  provides a table of both scripts, with examples of Slovenian words in Latin script illustrating each letter.

While the table is very clear and well executed, Valvasor is less clear on the origin of the Glagolitic script, ascribing it to St. Hieronimus.

He is much clearer when it comes to discussing the extent of its use. He tells us that it is firmly entrenched in Croatia and Dalmatia, that the Missals in Glagolitic script are printed in Rome and the language of the church offices is Slavic.

In Carniola (most of present day Slovenia), according to Valvasor, both the Glagolitic script and “Carniolan” or “Slavic” language are still used “in many places”. This may mean either the 17th century spoken Slovenian or Old Church Slavic, the language of the religious texts as translated by Constantine and his disciples, or probably both.


Valvasor further tells us, that the Glagolitic script is no longer as widespread as it used to be, since the “learned Lutheran preacher Primozz Trubar invented the writing of  Carniolan or Slavic language with Latin letters”(1551 A.D). He adds that Croats and Dalmatians are also increasingly using the Latin script.

Valuable information from Valvasor who is the main 17th century source for Slovenian territories, on matters which were generally of little concern to historians. A valuable insight into historical process which caused the appearance of Glagolitic script and later its decline.

Table of Cyrilic and Glagolitic Script
from Valvasor's In Praise of Dutchy of Carniola