The territory and the boundaries of tribal state of Knin in the Middle ages

Abstract

The author tries to establish the approximate territory and the boundaries of Knin trib+rl slate in the Middle ages. For Lhe complete solution of this problem we have to take into consideration a number of criteria because the written sources are quite meager. These criteria are: the old Greek territorial division, lhe information about the needs of the inhabitants of this certain region, the old Turkish and Venetian administrative division.
Tile author establishes that the natural boundaries and the Greek territorial division (territopy muinicipium Magnium) were crucial factors for the esta- blisbmenit of Knin tribal state on the territory of today’s township Drniš, Knin and Promina. The author stresses the point that the boundaries of the territory of Knin tribal state changed lin the past. So during the Nelipić’s reign the tribal state expanded north-south. The reasons for such expansion are not only to be found in the fact that these were the trading routes which led from the hinterlands to the Primorje (the costal pail) but the expansion was also the result of the colonization where Vlasi had an important role. During the reign of the kind Ludovik this terriotory might have encompassed Vrlika parish because Vjrti'ka went under the legal rule of Knin Stol.
The author' also discusses some points aibout Knin bishopry and concludes that it did not encompass the same territory as Krain tribal state. He stresses this because many authors (tor example Klaić, Brašnić, Fairlati, Bo.rn.man, Gunjača) talked about church boundaries as a main criterion for establishing the territory not only of Knin but also of other tribal stales. Thus it is stressed that, the church division was not the main criterion for the establishment of the boundaries especially for the bishopry of Lunidfrum. The author talks about 'the administrative organiizaitioin of the territory of Knin tribal state. According to the written documents from tvhe 14th. and the 15th century the sitate was divided into districts although there is not mention of any other administrative organization before that. The author supports the argument that the tribal state was divided inte four districts: Campus Petri, Oprominje, Unašice and the town ddserit of Kinin. Such administrative division also means the break with the past unified administrative area.