The Slovenian Territory as a Borderland in the Middle Ages

Abstract

The geographic location between the Adriatic Sea, the Alps, the Pannonian Plain and the Balkan Peninsula has made the territory of present-day Slovenia an important transitional area from prehistory onwards. This especially concerns a route between the Apennine Peninsula, and central and eastern or south-eastern Europe. This strategically important borderland has been at the crossroads of cultures, peoples, nations and languages. It witnessed incursions of the Goths, Huns and Langobards to Italy, collisions of Frankish, Avar and Byzantine interests, the settling of the Slavs and Hungarian raids to Italy. The German Kingdom, later Holy Roman Empire, established a defence system of border provinces at its south-eastern corner where feudal families, dynasts and kingdoms such as Přemysl Otakar II, the Habsburgs and the Counts of Cilli fought for territory, influence and access to the northern Adriatic area controlled by the Venetians. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the area was continuously attacked by the Ottomans. The article outlines some of these events and presents a selection of the extant pieces of arms and armour, of equestrian and horse gear that are kept in Slovenian museums, as well as some archaeological sites important for the problem.