Borna of Croatia

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Borna was a Prince (Slavic: Knez) of Dalmatia (Coastal Croatia) in 815–821 under the Frankish Empire. He was the son of his predecessor, Višeslav. He is also known as the King of the Guduscans.

[edit] Ruler of Dalmatia

In 819 Borna's nephew, Prince Liudevit TransSavian of Pannonia (TransSavian Croatia) raised a rebellion against the Franks, while Borna remained loyal to the Frankish Emperor and struck with his forces at his former traditional ally, bribed by Emperor Louis' offers of expansion of power. Borna moved with Liudevit's father-in-law, Dragomuž, from the southeast. The famous Battle of Kupa occurred at the river of Kupa. In the heat of Battle the Guduscans - an indigenous people of his realm - abandoned Borna and crossed to Liudevit's side. Borna would've been killed at the battlefield, if not for his elite bodyguards, while Dragomuž was killed on spot. Prince Liudevit used the momentum of Borna's weakness and invaded the Principality of Dalmatia in December the same year. Borna's forces suffered heavy losses at the Battle of Kupa, so Borna decided that the Dalmatians should fight relying on attrition and exhausting the Pannonians' troops. Harsh winter camed to the hills of Borna's realm, further disabling Liudevit's pillaging. Liudevit was eventually forced to retreat, while much of their food reserves were left behind and confiscated by Prince Borna. Borna reported his successes to the Frankish Emperor, stating that Liudevit lost over 3,000 soldiers and 300 horses in his campaign.

Prince Borna met with the Frankish Emperor in Aachen in January of 820, where they forged an alliance. The Emperor of the Franks prepared a massive invasion of Liudevit's lands and those of his allies. Although the total invasion of Liudevit's realm occurred, Borna died in the heat of battle in 821 after Liudevit and his supporters reatreated to the most fortified of their fortresses, hills and most unreachable swamps ad forests. He was succeeded by his nephew, Vladislav.

Liudevit TransSavian had no knowledge of Borna's death and at the beginning of 823, he went to Dalmatia in search of his uncle seeking help after he was dethroned and exiled by his Serb subjects. Borna's uncle, Liudemisl, received him instead, who had Liudevit tortured and killed. After a temporary reign by Liudemisl as a viceroy, the Dalmatian throne was passed on to Vladislav, Borna's nephew.