engleski

Making something out of nothing? The Angevin organization of the Kingdom of Dalmatia and Croatia

After the Venetian siege of Zadar in 1345-46 the royal presence in the Kingdom of Croatia was growing. This was even more evident as preparations for the final clash with the Venetian proceeded. Decisive steps in the administrative organization of the Kingdom were made, however, only after the Peace of Zadar 1358. The paper gives a brief overview of administrative changes – from the royal point of view – with special emphasis on their impact on Croatian society and various social relations. The main thesis is that ruler did not abruptly intervene in the existing social formations – although several decades passed without proper royal authority – but through skilful reorganization and active military power shaped society in his favor, constantly seeking the possibility of creating a new social (sub)class to rely on. He seems to have paid special attention to local social circumstances, at least insofar as they did not oppose the dominant (royal) political and administrative practice. At the same time, such royal practices enabled the further formation of a composite kingdom, and – given the new corporate reality – encouraged the formation of a premodern nation(s) in the long run.

Middle Ages ; 14th century ; Angevins ; Kingodom of Croatia ; administration

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