The March of Pannonia or Eastern March ( la, marcha orientalis) was a
frontier march of the
Carolingian Empire
The Carolingian Empire (800–888) was a large Frankish-dominated empire in western and central Europe during the Early Middle Ages. It was ruled by the Carolingian dynasty, which had ruled as kings of the Franks since 751 and as kings of the L ...
, named after the former Roman province of ''
Pannonia
Pannonia (, ) was a province of the Roman Empire bounded on the north and east by the Danube, coterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, and southward with Dalmatia and upper Moesia. Pannonia was located in the territory that is now west ...
'' and carved out of the preceding and larger
Avar march.
It was referred to in some documents as ''terminum regni Baioariorum in Oriente'' or "the end of the kingdom of the Bavarians in the east", and from this is sometimes called the Bavarian Eastern March of the wider Bavarian eastern marches, a term used for any such territory, though today most commonly used to refer to the later
Margraviate of Austria
The Margraviate of Austria (german: Markgrafschaft Österreich) was a medieval frontier march, centered along the river Danube, between the river Enns and the Vienna Woods (''Wienerwald''), within the territory of modern Austrian provinces of ...
, established in 976 as a sort of late successor state.
It was erected in the mid-ninth century in the lands of the former
Avar Khaganate
The Pannonian Avars () were an alliance of several groups of Eurasian nomads of various origins. The peoples were also known as the Obri in chronicles of Rus, the Abaroi or Varchonitai ( el, Βαρχονίτες, Varchonítes), or Pseudo-Avars ...
against the threat of
Great Moravia
Great Moravia ( la, Regnum Marahensium; el, Μεγάλη Μοραβία, ''Meghálī Moravía''; cz, Velká Morava ; sk, Veľká Morava ; pl, Wielkie Morawy), or simply Moravia, was the first major state that was predominantly West Slavic to ...
and lasted only as long as the strength of that state. The East Frankish rulers appointed margraves (prefects) to govern the March.
History
Charlemagne
Charlemagne ( , ) or Charles the Great ( la, Carolus Magnus; german: Karl der Große; 2 April 747 – 28 January 814), a member of the Carolingian dynasty, was King of the Franks from 768, King of the Lombards from 774, and the first E ...
, temporarily allied with Khan
Krum
Krum ( bg, Крум, el, Κροῦμος/Kroumos), often referred to as Krum the Fearsome ( bg, Крум Страшни) was the Khan of Bulgaria from sometime between 796 and 803 until his death in 814. During his reign the Bulgarian territor ...
of
Bulgaria
Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedo ...
, from 791 onwards had launched several military campaigns against the
Avars and had established the
Avar March (''Avaria'') on the southeastern frontier of his realm, ruled by his brother-in-law Prefect
Gerold of Bavaria. When the Avar Khaganate finally collapsed in 804, Emperor Charlemagne re-arranged ''Avaria'' and split it into the following parts:
* The eastern part of the former Khaganate between the
Danube
The Danube ( ; ) is a river that was once a long-standing frontier of the Roman Empire and today connects 10 European countries, running through their territories or being a border. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast for , pa ...
and
Tisza
The Tisza, Tysa or Tisa, is one of the major rivers of Central and Eastern Europe. Once, it was called "the most Hungarian river" because it flowed entirely within the Kingdom of Hungary. Today, it crosses several national borders.
The Tisza be ...
Rivers was occupied by the Bulgars.
* The ''Avar March'' or subsequently the ''Pannoninan march'' was in turn differentiated within with the following regions:
** ''Lower Pannonia'', between the Drava and
Sava
The Sava (; , ; sr-cyr, Сава, hu, Száva) is a river in Central and Southeast Europe, a right-bank and the longest tributary of the Danube. It flows through Slovenia, Croatia and along its border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and finally t ...
rivers (present-day
Slavonia
Slavonia (; hr, Slavonija) is, with Dalmatia, Croatia proper, and Istria, one of the four historical regions of Croatia. Taking up the east of the country, it roughly corresponds with five Croatian counties: Brod-Posavina, Osijek-Bar ...
and western
Vojvodina
Vojvodina ( sr-Cyrl, Војводина}), officially the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, is an autonomous province that occupies the northernmost part of Serbia. It lies within the Pannonian Basin, bordered to the south by the national capital ...
). These regions were inhabited by the
Slavs of Lower Pannonia, and history records several semi-autonomous dukes, some seated at
Sisak
Sisak (; hu, Sziszek ; also known by other alternative names) is a city in central Croatia, spanning the confluence of the Kupa, Sava and Odra rivers, southeast of the Croatian capital Zagreb, and is usually considered to be where the Posavin ...
, as vassals of the Frankish
Dukes of Friuli
Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they are r ...
. Some were seated at
Mosapurc, and had connections to Slavs to the north, and the state of
Great Moravia
Great Moravia ( la, Regnum Marahensium; el, Μεγάλη Μοραβία, ''Meghálī Moravía''; cz, Velká Morava ; sk, Veľká Morava ; pl, Wielkie Morawy), or simply Moravia, was the first major state that was predominantly West Slavic to ...
. From 819 Lower Pannonia was the site of a rebellion led by Duke
Ljudevit Posavski
Ljudevit () or Liudewit ( la, Liudewitus), often also , was the Duke of the Slavs in Lower Pannonia from 810 to 823. The capital of his realm was in Sisak (today in Croatia). As the ruler of the Pannonian Slavs, he led a resistance to Frankish do ...
against the rule of Duke
Cadolah of Friuli and his successor
Baldric. King Louis the German had the Slavic
Duchy of Lower Pannonia established in 839, ruled by Moravian opponent Prince
Pribina with his residence at
Zalavár
Zalavár is a village in Hungary, located in Zala County. It is located around southwest of Lake Balaton.
Name
According to written sources the settlement was called 'Mosapurc' in the 9th century, "''Mosapurc regia civitate''". It was also kn ...
on
Lake Balaton
Lake Balaton () is a freshwater lake in the Transdanubian region of Hungary. It is the largest lake in Central Europe, and one of the region's foremost tourist destinations. The Zala River provides the largest inflow of water to the lake, and ...
.
** ''Upper Pannonia'', stretching from the
Enns River and the
Vienna Woods
The Vienna Woods (german: Wienerwald) are forested highlands that form the northeastern foothills of the Northern Limestone Alps in the states of Lower Austria and Vienna. The and range of hills is heavily wooded and a popular recreation area ...
in the north down to the
River in the south (today located in western
Hungary
Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Cr ...
and eastern
Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
).
In 817, Emperor
Louis the Pious
Louis the Pious (german: Ludwig der Fromme; french: Louis le Pieux; 16 April 778 – 20 June 840), also called the Fair, and the Debonaire, was King of the Franks and co-emperor with his father, Charlemagne, from 813. He was also King of Aqu ...
granted Bavaria with ''Avaria'' to his minor son
Louis the German
Louis the German (c. 806/810 – 28 August 876), also known as Louis II of Germany and Louis II of East Francia, was the first king of East Francia, and ruled from 843 to 876 AD. Grandson of emperor Charlemagne and the third son of Louis the P ...
, therefore expanding the Bavarian eastern march, from its first eastern marches the
Traungau
Upper Austria (german: Oberösterreich ; bar, Obaöstareich) is one of the nine states or of Austria. Its capital is Linz. Upper Austria borders Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as the other Austrian states of Lower Austria, Styria, ...
and
Carantania
Carantania, also known as Carentania ( sl, Karantanija, german: Karantanien, in Old Slavic '), was a Slavic principality that emerged in the second half of the 7th century, in the territory of present-day southern Austria and north-eastern ...
, over the Avarian march, thereafter sharing the name Pannonian march.
By resolution of an 828
Imperial Diet, Baldric of Friuli was deposed and the March of Pannonia was set apart as a frontier march against Moravia within the Frankish
''regnum'' of Bavaria. The Bavarian prefects had to face the rising threat by the Moravian ruler
Mojmir I, who pursued separatist policies in the Eastern March. This march, already called ''marcha orientalis'', corresponded at its core to a frontier along the
Danube
The Danube ( ; ) is a river that was once a long-standing frontier of the Roman Empire and today connects 10 European countries, running through their territories or being a border. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast for , pa ...
, from the Traungau and the former Slavic principality of
Carantania
Carantania, also known as Carentania ( sl, Karantanija, german: Karantanien, in Old Slavic '), was a Slavic principality that emerged in the second half of the 7th century, in the territory of present-day southern Austria and north-eastern ...
to
Szombathely and the
Rába River including the
Vienna basin. By the 843
Treaty of Verdun
The Treaty of Verdun (), agreed in , divided the Frankish Empire into three kingdoms among the surviving sons of the emperor Louis I, the son and successor of Charlemagne. The treaty was concluded following almost three years of civil war and ...
, the Pannonian march together with Bavaria became part of Louis' kingdom of
East Francia
East Francia (Medieval Latin: ) or the Kingdom of the East Franks () was a successor state of Charlemagne's empire ruled by the Carolingian dynasty until 911. It was created through the Treaty of Verdun (843) which divided the former empire int ...
. Meanwhile, the Moravian threat continued; in 854 Prefect Radbod was even accused of having forged an alliance with Mojmir's successor Prince
Rastislav and deposed.
Two years later, King Louis ceded the march directly to his son
Carloman of Bavaria, who had the fortifications of
Herzogenburg
Herzogenburg is a town in the district of Sankt Pölten-Land in the Austrian state of Lower Austria
Lower Austria (german: Niederösterreich; Austro-Bavarian: ''Niedaöstareich'', ''Niedaestareich'') is one of the nine states of Austria, located ...
and
Wilhelmsburg erected along the
Traisen River by the
Wilhelminer margraves
William
William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Engl ...
and
Engelschalk I Engelschalk I was the margrave (''comes terminalis'', "frontier count") of the March of Pannonia in the mid ninth century until his death on campaign against the Moravians in 871. In his day, the ''march orientalis'' corresponded to a front along t ...
. Likewise, the castle of
Tulln
Tulln an der Donau () is a historic town in the Austrian state of Lower Austria, the administrative seat of Tulln District. Because of its abundance of parks and gardens, Tulln is often referred to as ''Blumenstadt'' ("City of Flowers"), and "The C ...
on the Danube is documented in 859. In 871 William and Engelschalk died in battle against the Moravians, whereafter Carloman vested their rival
Aribo of Austria Aribo (or Arbo; – after 909) was margrave (''comes terminalis'', "frontier count") of the Carolingian March of Pannonia from 871 until his death. He is recognised as a progenitor of the Aribonid dynasty.
In his day, the Pannonian march, also c ...
with Upper Pannonia. When his father Louis died in 876, Carloman succeeded him as East Frankish king and gave Lower Pannonia to his son
Arnulf of Carinthia
Arnulf of Carinthia ( 850 – 8 December 899) was the duke of Carinthia who overthrew his uncle Emperor Charles the Fat to become the Carolingian king of East Francia from 887, the disputed king of Italy from 894 and the disputed emperor from ...
. From 882, the rule was enfeebled by the
Wilhelminer War Wilhelminer War was a minor war fought in the March of Pannonia (later Austria) from 882 to 884. It was initially a rebellion of the sons of the margraves William II and Engelschalk I, led by Engelschalk II, against the new margrave Aribo. Svato ...
of Margrave
Engelschalk II Engelschalk II was the margrave (''comes terminalis'', "frontier count") of the March of Pannonia in the late ninth century in opposition to Aribo. In his day, the ''march orientalis'' corresponded to a front along the Danube from the Traungau t ...
against the
Aribonids The Aribonids were a noble family of probably Bavarian origin who rose to preeminence in the Carolingian March of Pannonia and the later Margraviate of Austria (''marcha orientalis'') in the late ninth and early tenth centuries. The dynasty is name ...
, whereafter Prince
Svatopluk I of Moravia took the occasion to invade the Pannonian lands. In 893 Arnulf, East Frankish king since 887, installed Margrave
Luitpold.
By the 890s, the Pannonian march seems to have disappeared, along with the threat from Great Moravia, during the
Hungarian invasions of Europe
The Hungarian invasions of Europe ( hu, kalandozások, german: Ungarneinfälle) took place in the 9th and 10th centuries,
the period of transition in the history of Europe in the Early Middle Ages, when the territory of the former Carolingian E ...
. Upon the defeat of Margrave Luitpold at the 907
Battle of Pressburg, all East Frankish lands beyond the Enns river were lost.
Margraves
{{incomplete list, date=January 2016
*
Radbod, ''prefect'' or margrave of the Eastern March or Pannonia, 833–854
*
Carloman of Bavaria, from 856
**
William
William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Engl ...
, until 871, jointly with his brother
**
Engelschalk I Engelschalk I was the margrave (''comes terminalis'', "frontier count") of the March of Pannonia in the mid ninth century until his death on campaign against the Moravians in 871. In his day, the ''march orientalis'' corresponded to a front along t ...
, until 871
*
Aribo, 871–909
**
Engelschalk II Engelschalk II was the margrave (''comes terminalis'', "frontier count") of the March of Pannonia in the late ninth century in opposition to Aribo. In his day, the ''march orientalis'' corresponded to a front along the Danube from the Traungau t ...
, son of Engelschalk I, in opposition to Aribo until 893
**
Luitpold, 893–907
Sources
*
Reuter, Timothy. ''Germany in the Early Middle Ages 800–1056''. New York: Longman, 1991.
*Medieval Lands Project
Nobility of Austria
Carolingian marches
Pannonia
Pannonia (, ) was a province of the Roman Empire bounded on the north and east by the Danube, coterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, and southward with Dalmatia and upper Moesia. Pannonia was located in the territory that is now west ...
Medieval Austria
9th century in Hungary
9th century in Croatia
Medieval Slovakia
9th century in East Francia
De:Marcha orientalis