Stephen Držislav (Croatian: Stjepan Držislav, Latin: Dircislauus, Dirscisclavus, Dirzisclavus, Dirzsci[s]clavus, Dirzislaus, Stefanus)[1][2] was King of Croatia from AD 969 until his death around 997.[3] He was a member of the Trpimirović dynasty.
Stephen Držislav
The pleter with inscription of Stephen Držislav, 10th century.
Stephen Držislav was a son of king Michael Krešimir II and Queen Helen of Zadar.[4] His church name Stephen (Stefani regis) is mentioned on the epitaph of the Helen's sarcophagus with date 976.[4][1] Helen acted as regent for the young king from 969 until her death on 8 October 976.
During Byzantine emperor Basil II's war against TsarSamuil of Bulgaria who in his conquest became neighbor of Croatia, Stephen Držislav actively allied with the Byzantines.[1][4] After Basil managed to defend every single Adriatic coastal city during Samuil's rampage towards Zadar in 986, the cities were returned to Croatian control. In an effort to compensate and award Držislav for his alliance, the Eastern Roman Emperor between 986 and 990 named Stephen Držislav Patriarch and an Exarch of Dalmatia, which gave him formal authority over the Theme of Dalmatia (but some historians believe not over the Dalmatian city-states).[1][4] According to Thomas the Archdeacon, Stephen Držislav received royal insignia and the titles as an act of recognition from the Byzantine Emperor,[4][5] becoming reges Dalmatie et Chroatie and his descendants having the same titles.[1]
Before the end of his reign, Stephen Držislav as dux magnus gave Svetoslav, his oldest son, the title of dux Hroatorum and Svetoslav became his co-ruler.[1][4] Stone panels from the altar of a 10th-century church in Knin, reveal the following inscription in Latin: CLV DUX HROATOR IN TE PUS D IRZISCLV DUCE MAGNU. In English, this means: Svetoslav, Duke of the Croats at the time of Drzislav the Great Duke (Latin: dux magnis).[1] The stone panels are kept at the Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments in Split.
In 996, VenetianDogePietro II Orseolo stopped paying tax for safe passage to the Croatian King after a century of peace, renewing old hostilities.[4] Stephen Držislav, together with the Neretvians, possibly fought the Venetian fleet led by Badorai Bragadin at Vis, but with little success.[4] Some historians argue that the Venetians attacked in that year because Držislav already died hence dating his death to 996 instead of 997.[1]
Držislav's rule was one of the longest of Kings in Croatia, spanning nearly three decades. In addition to Svetoslav, he had two other sons, Krešimir, and Gojslav, and all three of them were to hold the title of King of Croatia over the following decades.
Croatian checkerboard legendEdit
According to a legend and folk tradition, it is said that he was captured by the Venetians and played a chess match against Doge Pietro II Orseolo. He won all 3 matches and gained freedom, later incorporating the red checkerboard into the Croatian coat of arms.[7]
^Kukuljević-Sakcinski, Ivan, ed. (1874). Codex diplomaticus regni Croatiae, Dalmatiae et Slavoniae. Vol. 1. Društvo za jugoslavensku povjestnicu i starine. p. 230.
^Goldstein: Hrvatska povijest; Kolekcija knjiga POVIJEST Jutarnjeg lista, svezak 21
^Archdeacon, Thomas of Split (2006). History of the Bishops of Salona and Split – Historia Salonitanorum atque Spalatinorum pontificum (in Latin and English). Budapest: Central European University Press. pp. 60–61. ISBN9789637326592.
^marsela (2020-05-10). "Legende o hrvatskom grbu". Povijest.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2022-10-17.
stephen, držislav, croatia, stephen, držislav, croatian, stjepan, držislav, latin, dircislauus, dirscisclavus, dirzisclavus, dirzsci, clavus, dirzislaus, stefanus, king, croatia, from, until, death, around, member, trpimirović, dynasty, stephen, držislavthe, p. Stephen Drzislav Croatian Stjepan Drzislav Latin Dircislauus Dirscisclavus Dirzisclavus Dirzsci s clavus Dirzislaus Stefanus 1 2 was King of Croatia from AD 969 until his death around 997 3 He was a member of the Trpimirovic dynasty Stephen DrzislavThe pleter with inscription of Stephen Drzislav 10th century King of CroatiaReign969 997PredecessorMichael Kresimir IISuccessorSvetoslav SuronjaRegentHelen of Zadar 969 976 Diedc 997BurialChurch of St Stephen SolinIssueSvetoslavKresimir IIIGojslavDynastyTrpimirovicFatherMichael Kresimir IIMotherHelen of ZadarReligionChristianity Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early period 1 2 Rule 1 3 Croatian checkerboard legend 2 See also 3 ReferencesBiography EditEarly period Edit Stephen Drzislav was a son of king Michael Kresimir II and Queen Helen of Zadar 4 His church name Stephen Stefani regis is mentioned on the epitaph of the Helen s sarcophagus with date 976 4 1 Helen acted as regent for the young king from 969 until her death on 8 October 976 During Byzantine emperor Basil II s war against Tsar Samuil of Bulgaria who in his conquest became neighbor of Croatia Stephen Drzislav actively allied with the Byzantines 1 4 After Basil managed to defend every single Adriatic coastal city during Samuil s rampage towards Zadar in 986 the cities were returned to Croatian control In an effort to compensate and award Drzislav for his alliance the Eastern Roman Emperor between 986 and 990 named Stephen Drzislav Patriarch and an Exarch of Dalmatia which gave him formal authority over the Theme of Dalmatia but some historians believe not over the Dalmatian city states 1 4 According to Thomas the Archdeacon Stephen Drzislav received royal insignia and the titles as an act of recognition from the Byzantine Emperor 4 5 becoming reges Dalmatie et Chroatie and his descendants having the same titles 1 Rule Edit The 13th century work Historia Salonitana by Thomas the Archdeacon notes that Zachlumia or Chulmie was a part of the Kingdom of Croatia before and after Stephen Drzislav 6 During his rule Godemir was Ban of Croatia 1 Before the end of his reign Stephen Drzislav as dux magnus gave Svetoslav his oldest son the title of dux Hroatorum and Svetoslav became his co ruler 1 4 Stone panels from the altar of a 10th century church in Knin reveal the following inscription in Latin CLV DUX HROATOR IN TE PUS D IRZISCLV DUCE MAGNU In English this means Svetoslav Duke of the Croats at the time of Drzislav the Great Duke Latin dux magnis 1 The stone panels are kept at the Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments in Split In 996 Venetian Doge Pietro II Orseolo stopped paying tax for safe passage to the Croatian King after a century of peace renewing old hostilities 4 Stephen Drzislav together with the Neretvians possibly fought the Venetian fleet led by Badorai Bragadin at Vis but with little success 4 Some historians argue that the Venetians attacked in that year because Drzislav already died hence dating his death to 996 instead of 997 1 Drzislav s rule was one of the longest of Kings in Croatia spanning nearly three decades In addition to Svetoslav he had two other sons Kresimir and Gojslav and all three of them were to hold the title of King of Croatia over the following decades Croatian checkerboard legend Edit According to a legend and folk tradition it is said that he was captured by the Venetians and played a chess match against Doge Pietro II Orseolo He won all 3 matches and gained freedom later incorporating the red checkerboard into the Croatian coat of arms 7 See also EditHistory of Croatia List of rulers of CroatiaReferences Edit a b c d e f g h i Lucic Josip 1993 Drzislav Stjepan I Croatian Biographical Lexicon HBL in Croatian Miroslav Krleza Lexicographical Institute retrieved 12 October 2023 Kukuljevic Sakcinski Ivan ed 1874 Codex diplomaticus regni Croatiae Dalmatiae et Slavoniae Vol 1 Drustvo za jugoslavensku povjestnicu i starine p 230 Goldstein Hrvatska povijest Kolekcija knjiga POVIJEST Jutarnjeg lista svezak 21 a b c d e f g h Drzislav Stjepan Croatian Encyclopedia in Croatian Miroslav Krleza Institute of Lexicography 2021 Retrieved 12 October 2023 Thomas the Archdeacon Historia Salonitana caput 13 Archdeacon Thomas of Split 2006 History of the Bishops of Salona and Split Historia Salonitanorum atque Spalatinorum pontificum in Latin and English Budapest Central European University Press pp 60 61 ISBN 9789637326592 marsela 2020 05 10 Legende o hrvatskom grbu Povijest hr in Croatian Retrieved 2022 10 17 Stephen Drzislav of CroatiaTrpimirovic Dynasty Died 997Regnal titlesPreceded byMihajlo Kresimir II King of Croatia969 997 Succeeded bySvetoslav Suronja Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stephen Drzislav of Croatia amp oldid 1179983770, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
