Ars Adriatica, No. 7, 2017.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.15291/ars.1371
The Diocese of Zadar as Part of the Province of Split (805-1154)
Mladen Ančić
orcid.org/0000-0002-6888-3626
; Department of History, University of Zadar
Abstract
The author discusses the impact of political relations on the definition of ecclesiastical jurisdiction areas and the status and development of the Zadar diocese from the 9th until the 12th century. The starting premise has been the fact that the territory of the Zadar diocese on the mainland was limited to the narrow strip of the city’s hinterland throughout the early medieval period. This situation can be inferred from the political and ecclesiastical situation in the broader Eastern Adriatic area during the 9th and early 10th centuries. The author emphasizes that the expansion of the jurisdiction area of Zadar’s bishop was initially obstructed by the organization of the Nin diocese, but also indicates the importance of the reform of ecclesiastical organization at the Church Councils of Split in 925 and 928. In this context, the article analyzes the circumstances that resulted in Zadar’s autonomy with regard to the Croatian ruler ever since the Treaty of Aachen in 812. This constellation led to the formation of a separate political entity, which the medieval sources call provintia Jadertina, with borders that coincided with those of the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of Zadar’s bishop. This situation has been compared to that of Split as fully incorporated in the territory of the Croatian rulers by the late 9th century, which turned out to be a crucial factor when defining the metropolitan see for the Croatian Kingdom. Integrating the city in the Croatian king’s system of governance and administration made it possible for the Archbishop of Split to extend his area of jurisdiction well into the hinterland. The similar position of Trogir resulted in the fact that, at the time when the Trogir diocese was established, the jurisdiction area of the new bishop likewise included a relatively broad hinterland area. The concluding remarks explain why the political changes in the second half of the 11th century could no longer change the long-established situation.
Keywords
Zadar; early Middle Ages; ecclesiastical organization; political organization
Hrčak ID:
191011
URI
Publication date:
20.12.2017.
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