Carantania

(Karantanija), early feudal state of the Slovenes in the Mura River basin and upper reaches of the Drava River during the seventh to 11th centuries.

Carantania was formed as an independent state after the collapse of the state of Samo (658). In about the year 745, it came under the protection of the duke of Bavaria. Between 788 and 820, it was a vassal principality of the Frankish state. After 820, Carantania became part of the Frankish state. With the collapse of the latter, Carantania was incorporated into the East Frankish kingdom. In 976, Emperor Otto II created the duchy of Greater Carantania out of Carantania and a number of marches or feudal principalities where the Slavic population was predominant, including the Carantanian and Podravian. In the early 11th century, Greater Carantania broke up into a number of feudal possessions, including Carinthia, Carniola, and the Carinthian march (later called Styria).