Borna of Croatia

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Borna was a Duke (Croatian: Knez) of Littoral Croatia in 815–821 under the Frankish Empire. He was the son of his predecessor, Višeslav.

[edit] Ruler of Dalmatia

In 819 Borna's nephew, Duke Ljudevit Posavski of Pannonian 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 Ljudevit'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 Littoral Croatia in December the same year. Borna's forces suffered heavy losses at the Battle of Kupa, so Borna decided that the his forces should fight relying on attrition and exhausting the Ljudevit' troops. Harsh winter camed to the hills of Borna's realm, further disabling Ljudevit's pillaging. Ljudevit was eventually forced to retreat, while much of their food reserves were left behind and confiscated by Duke Borna. Borna reported his successes to the Frankish Emperor, stating that Ljudevit lost over 3,000 soldiers and 300 horses in his campaign.

Duke 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 Ljudevit's lands and those of his allies. Although the total invasion of Ljudevit's realm occurred, Borna died in the heat of battle in 821 after Ljudevit 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.

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