Dragovit (died in 810;[1] Latin: Drogoviz; German: Dragowit; Polish: Drogowit) was a pagan ruler (prince or chief) of the Veleti (Latin: rex Wiltorum; "king of the Wiltzes"). It is thought that Dragovit began his rule c. 740.[2]

Because of their constant hatred and hostility toward the Franks,[3] in the late 8th century, Frankish king Charlemagne organised campaigns against the Veleti, and fellow Slavic tribe of the Linonen. With the aid of Frisian, Obodrite1, Saxon and Sorbian1 reinforcements, Charlemagne managed to cross the Elbe River, advancing toward the Havel River into Veleti territory. Outnumbered, Dragovit, in 789, was forced to pledge loyalty to the Franks and surrender hostages.[4] Among others, Dragovit was also forced to pay a tribute and accept the influence of Christian missionaries among his people.[5]

His capital was a fortification known as civitas Dragowiti (City of Dragovit). Its location is hypothesised to be either at Brandenburg an der Havel[6] or Demmin.[2]

Notes

References

  1. ^ Kazimierz Wachowski, Gerard Labuda: Słowiańszczyzna zachodnia. Poznań: Wydawnictwo Poznańskiego Towarzystwa Przyjaciól Nauk, 2000, p. 67. ISBN 9788370632717. (in Polish)
  2. ^ a b "Slawenfürsten" (in German).
  3. ^ Schenker, Alexander M. (1901). An Introduction to Slavic Philology (PDF). New Haven and London: Yale University Press. p. 46. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-12. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
  4. ^ Riché, Pierre (1993). The Carolingians: A Family Who Forged Europe. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 110. ISBN 0812213424.
  5. ^ Oman, Sir Charles William Chadwick (1901). Dark Ages, 476-918 (Fourth ed.). London: Rivingtons. p. 360.
  6. ^ "Dragowit: Fürst der Wilzen" (in German). Archived from the original on 2011-05-25. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
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