Borna (duke)

Borna (died c. 821) was a Duke of Dalmatian Croatia, ruling from approximately 810 to 821. He is considered one of the first rulers of Croatia whose name is recorded with relative certainty in historical sources. Borna's rule took place during a period of Frankish overlordship under Emperor Charlemagne and later his successor, Louis the Pious.

Borna's territory encompassed a portion of Dalmatian Croatia, though the precise boundaries are debated among historians. Primary sources, notably the Royal Frankish Annals (Annales Regni Francorum), provide the principal contemporary accounts of his activities. These sources detail Borna's involvement in conflicts, particularly against the rebellious Duke Ljudevit Posavski of Pannonia.

Borna is portrayed as a loyal vassal of the Frankish Empire, assisting them in suppressing Ljudevit's uprising. He participated in several campaigns against Ljudevit, experiencing both successes and setbacks. Notably, in 819, Borna's forces were severely defeated by Ljudevit's army. However, Borna remained in power, maintaining his alliance with the Franks.

Following Borna's death around 821, he was succeeded as Duke of Dalmatian Croatia by his nephew, Vladislav. Borna's significance lies in his role in consolidating Croatian power within the Frankish sphere of influence and in providing some of the earliest documentary evidence of Croatian political organization in the early medieval period. His reign is a key period in the development of Croatian statehood.