Michael of Zahumlje

Michael of Zahumlje
Mihajlo Višević
Prince of Zahumlje ("dux Chulmorum")[1]
Reignfloruit c. 910 – 935[2]
FamilyVišević
FatherBusebutze[3]
ReligionChristian[4]

Michael of Zahumlje (reign usually dated c. 910–935),[2] also known as Michael Višević (Serbo-Croatian: Mihailo Višević, Serbian Cyrillic: Михаило Вишевић) or rarely as Michael Vuševukčić,[5][6] was a semi-independent, or independent Slavic ruler of Zahumlje,[7] in present-day central Herzegovina and southern Croatia, who flourished in the early part of the 10th century. Prince Michael of Zahumlje had a common boundary with the Serbia and probably with the Kingdom of Croatia, but was an ally of Bulgaria. He was nevertheless able to maintain independent rule throughout at least a majority of his reign.[8]

Michael came into territorial conflict with Petar of Serbia, who expand his power to the province of Narenta or Pagania, west from the Neretva River.[9][10] To eliminate the threat, Michael warned his ally, the Bulgarian Tsar Simeon I, about the alliance between Peter and Symeon's enemy, the Byzantine Empire.[10] Symeon attacked Serbia and captured Peter, who later died in prison.[11]

Michael was mentioned together with Tomislav of Croatia in Pope John X's letter of 925.[8] In that same year, he participated in the first council of Split,[8] which some historians have taken as evidence of Zahumlje being a vassal of Croatia. Regardless, Michael, with grand titles of the Byzantine court as anthypatos and patrician (patrikios), remained ruler of Zahumlje through the 940s, while maintaining good relations with the Pope.[12]

  1. ^ Rački, Odlomci iz državnoga práva hrvatskoga za narodne dynastie:, p. 15
  2. ^ a b Uzelac 2018, p. 236.
  3. ^ Moravcsik & Jenkins 1967, p. 160–161.
  4. ^ Vlasto 1970, p. 209.
  5. ^ Mihanovich, The Croatian nation in its struggle for freedom and independence: a symposium, p. 112
  6. ^ Dominik Mandić; Basilius S. Pandžić (1963). Dionis Lasić (ed.). Rasprave i prilozi iz stare Hrvatske povijesti [Discussions and articles on ancient Croatian history] (in Croatian). Hrvatski Povijesni Institut. p. 385. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  7. ^ Moravcsik & Jenkins 1967, p. 152–155. According to DAI, Michael himself was not of Serbian origin, but DAI described Zahumlje as being one of the Serbians countries in the 10th century.
  8. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Curta210 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Uzelac 2018, p. 238.
  10. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Fine149 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Moravcsik & Jenkins 1967, p. 156–159.
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference Fine1986-160 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).