Travunia

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Travunia in the 9th century, according to De administrando imperio

Travunia (also Travunja) was a medieval land located near Trebinje in today's eastern Herzegovina (modern day Bosnia and Herzegovina), and southern Dalmatia (modern day Republic of Croatia).

Travunia, as well as Duklja and Zahumlje were collectively referred to as Red Croatia by De Regno Sclavorum from 753, found in the Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja from the late 12th century, while all three are referred to as Serbian lands, their people originating from White Serbia by De Administrando Imperio by the Byzantine Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitos from around 950. The core part of medieval Croatia was called "White Croatia" and located northwest, between Drniš, Knin and Sinj.

De Administrando Imperio[1] states:

"From the city of Decatera begins the domain of Terbounia and stretches along as far as Ragusa, and on the side of its mountain country it is neighbour to Serbia."

"Travunia (Terbounia) and Konavli are united. Its inhabitants originate from unchristened Serbs, who lived there since the archont that fled from unchristened Serbia to Emperor Heraclius and Serb archont Vlastimir

"The archonts of Travunia have always been subject to the archont of Serbia"

"Populated cities in Travunia and Konavli are: Travunia (ηε Τερβουνια), Vrm (το Ορμος), Risan (τα Ρισενα), Lukavete (το Λουκαβεται), Zetlivi (του Ζετλεβε)."

Travunia bordered Zahumlje to the west, the city of Ragusa or Dubrovnik to the southwest, Duklja to the south and Serbia to the north. Its coastline spanned from Dubrovnik to Boka Kotorska.

History

Travunia entered into confederations with the Serb princes of Raška early on. In the early 9th century, duke Vlastimir of Serbia married his daughter to duke Krajina, son of Beloje, the grand župan of Travunia.

The Serb prince Časlav Klonimirović of the House of Vlastimirović fully incorporated this area into his domain between 927 AD and 940. After the death of Caslav in 960, Travunia was contested between Byzantium and Bulgaria. By 968, it was part of the medieval Croatian state ruled by Petar Krešimir IV of Croatia. It came under the Serb princes of the House of Vojislavljević of Zeta by the middle of the 11th century and later to Serb princes of the House of Nemanjić of Raška.

The Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja, a document from the 12th century, also mentions Travunia.

People, Religion and Culture

See: Duklja#People.2C Religion and Culture

List of Rulers

• Beloje ca. 850
• Krajina
• Hvalimir
• Cucimir

See also

• History of Serbia
• Zahumlje
• History of Croatia
• History of Dalmatia