Carantania: Map & History
Carantania, also known as Carentania, was a Slavic principality that emerged in the second half of the 7th century, in the territory of present-day southern Austria and north-eastern Slovenia.
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Carantania, also known as Carentania, was a Slavic principality that emerged in the second half of the 7th century, in the territory of present-day southern Austria and north-eastern Slovenia. Since the middle of the 8th century, it was allied with Bavaria against the Avars, and consequently became a vassal state of the Frankish Empire. In the same time, Christianisation of Carantanian Slavs was initiated, mainly through missionary activities of the Archdiocese of Salzburg. By 828, internal autonomy of the principality was abolished, and the entire Carantanian territory was gradually integrated into the East Frankish administrative system, based on counties and marches. Carantania thus became the predecessor of the March of Carinthia, created within the Carolingian Empire by 889.
Modern Countries Once Part of Carantania
At its mapped extent, Carantania covered territory in 2 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Carantania's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Carantania in Depth
History
In the 4th century Chur became the seat of the first Christian bishopric north to the Alps. Despite a legend assigning its foundation to an alleged Briton king, St. Lucius, the first known bishop is one Asinio in AD 451.
In the aftermath of the Gothic War (535-554), the Byzantine Empire found itself unable to prevent the Germanic tribe of the Lombards from invading Italy and founding a kingdom there. The territory left behind by the Lombards in Pannonia was subsequently settled by Slavs (with the help of their Avar overlords) in the last decades of the 6th century.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Carantania (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Carantania: Key Facts
| Capital | Maria Saal |
|---|---|
| Founded | 658 CE |
| Dissolved | 828 CE |
Facts from Wikidata Q501754 (CC0).
Carantania Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 45,562 km² in 700 CE.
Carantania: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Carantania exist?
Carantania is dated to 661 CE – 749 CE, in the Early Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Carantania?
The capital of Carantania was Karnburg.
How large was Carantania at its peak?
At its peak in 700 AD Carantania covered about 45,562 km².
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