Svetoslav Suronja

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Svetoslav Suronja was a King of Croatia in 997-1000. He was a member of Trpimirović dynasty. He reigned with the help of his Ban, Varda.

He was the oldest son of king Stjepan Držislav. His father had given him the title of Duke and designated Svetoslav as his successor. Svetoslav officially denied his brothers - Krešimir and Gojslav - the right to the throne. After a short time they rose rebellions against Svetoslav. Svetoslav Suronja invited the Neretvians to help him restore order in his realm. The Neretvians' pirateering tendencies greatly damaged the coastal Dalmatian Cities, so they chose to side with Svetoslav's brothers in the civil war.

After the Venetian Doge Pietro II Orseolo assured family links with the Byzantine ruling house, he launched a campaign in Dalmatia against the Croatian King in 1000, siding with the rebelling side. As a liberator he was either accepted or forcefully conuqered Kvarner and Zadar, then Trogir and Split; then finally Korčula and Lastovo. Soon even the Croatian Capital of Biograd was taken.

Svetoslav Suronja bowed in surrender to the Venetian Doge in Trogir personally. As an act of peace, Svetoslav gave his son, Stjepan as a hostage to be taken to the Venetian Republic. The Venetians replaced Svetoslav Suronja by his younger brother, Krešimir III. Svetoslav's descendants (Svetoslavić dynasty) continued to rule as Bans of Slavonia (Continental Croatia) throughout the 11th century.