Dragovit

Dragovit (Latin: Drogoviz) was a king (rex Wiltorum) of the Wiltzes (Veleti). It is thought that Dragovit began his rule c. 740.^[1]

Because of their constant hatred and hostility toward the Franks,^[2] 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.^[3] Among others, Dragovit was also forced to pay a tribute and accept the influence of Christian missionaries among his people.^[4]

His capital was a fortification known as civitas Dragowiti (City of Dragovit). Its location is hypothesised to be either at Brandenburg an der Havel^[5] or Demmin.^[1]

Notes

• ^1 Obodrites and Sorbs are also of Slavic stock.

References

1. "Slawenfürsten" (in German).
2. Schenker, Alexander M. (1901). An Introduction to Slavic Philology (PDF). New Haven and London: Yale University Press. p. 46.
3. Riché, Pierre (1993). The Carolingians: A Family Who Forged Europe. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 110.
4. Oman, Sir Charles William Chadwick (1901). Dark Ages, 476-918 (Fourth ed.). London: Rivingtons. p. 360.
5. "Dragowit: Fürst der Wilzen" (in German).