Бранимир: Хорватияның алғашқы тәуелсізтігі мен дипломатиясы

Duke of Croatia from 879 to 892

Branimir (Branimiro) was a ruler of Duchy of Croatia who reigned as duke from 879 to c. 892. His country received papal recognition as a state from Pope John VIII on 7 June 879. During his reign, Croatia retained its sovereignty from both Carolingian and Byzantine rule and became de jure independent. His rule marks the first real peak of early medieval Croatia.

In 879, "certain Slav of the name Branimir" reportedly had weak Duke Zdeslav, a supporter of the Byzantine Empire, killed near Knin in a rebellion that he led, per John the Deacon's Chronicon Venetum et Gradense (early 11th century). In the Epistolae Ioannis VIII are preserved five papal letters sent between 879 and 882. Throughout his reign, Duke Branimir worked on increasing his independence. According to the map of his contemporary, Saxon King Alfred the Great (871–899), the territory of "Dalmatia" was between the Adriatic Sea, Danube, "desolate lands", Bulgars and Achaia.

At the time pope's commitment with Branimir is obvious intention to connect Croatian Church with the Holy See and Diocese of Rome, but also affirm old organization in the province of Dalmatia in which ancient Salona (then Split) was the metropolitan centre of Dalmatia. ]] However, the situation complicated until 887 during the time of pope Stephen V (information is found in few letters and preserved in Decretum Ivonis and Decretum Gratiani Collectio Britannica). The previous archbishop of Split, Marin, died and Theodosius was promoted to the position by Aquileian patriarch Walpert in 886, but did not abolish Diocese in Nin as wanted by the Holy See, however, eventually in 887–888 was confirmed as the archbishop of Split (with a pallium). Under the influence of Methodus' baptising missions in 882 who made a stop in Croatia on his way from Moravia to Constantinople, Branimir possibly also endorsed parallel usage of Latin and Slavic in liturgy.

His name Branimir (with recorded variations Branimiri, Branimiro, Branimerus, Branimirus, Brannimerus, Branimero, Breanimir) is an old Slavic name, and could be translated as "defender of peace", as the verb brani means to defend while word mir means peace in Slavic languages. Unlike his predecessor and successor (both Trpimirović), some historians suggest that Branimir might be a member of the House of Domagojević, particularly, one of Domagoj's sons, but there's no certainty.

Today, there are 6 known epigraphic inscriptions, mostly altar beams from old Croatian churches (from Muć, Nin, Ždrapanj, Šopot, Otres once located between Bribir and Ostrovica, and Lepuri), that bear the name of Duke Branimir. The presumable seventh is still not confirmed. They were rich in decorations and artifacts dated to the same time period, The date of 21 May is marked today as Croatian Diplomacy Day.