Domitian of Carantania

Domitian of Carantania or Domitian of Carinthia (German: Domitian von Kärnten, Slovene: Domicijan Koroški; died c. 802), also known as Domislav and Tuitianus, was a Slavic nobleman in the principality of Carantania (present-day Carinthia, Austria) during the reign of Charlemagne. He is regarded as the legendary founder of the Millstatt Abbey church and was venerated as a Catholic Saint.

Tradition

Millstatt Abbey Church

Domitian statue, Millstatt lakeside

The hagiography of Domitian is documented in a parchment handwriting from the early 15th century; a transcript of earlier reports written in several phases between 1170 and 1306. According to it, he was the successor of the third Christian prince of Carantania, Valtunk,^[1][2] who ruled under the overlordship of Duke Tassilo III of Bavaria from 772.

However, in the contemporary Conversio Bagoariorum et Carantanorum, a Latin written work which deals with the history of Carantania, the princes Pribislav, Semika, Stojmir and Etgar are listed as are listed Valtunk's successors and Domitian's name is not mentioned.

The first part of the manuscript reads as follows:

According to this legend, Lake Millstatt in the 8th century AD was much larger than today and stretched up to the surrounding mountains. On Mt. Hochgosch - across from today’s Millstatt - was a Slavic fortification, where the pagan Carantanian prince Domitian had his residence. The prince had a son, who one day, despite his father's prohibition and severe weather, traveled by boat onto the lake. When the young man did not return until the following morning, and the prince discovered his capsized boat, he ordered his subjects to drain water from the lake until they find his son's corpse. He made a vow: "On the place, where they will find the body, I shall build a church and convert to Christianity." Domitian's men removed the whole hill to the west of the lake that separated it from the Lieser river. The water level fell until a few days later they found his dead son.

Domitian was then baptized and beside the tomb of his son built the first Christian church. After his conversion, he ordered to gather a thousand statues of pagan gods and goddesses and to throw them into the lake. Later a settlement arose around the church, which today is called Millstatt (Milštat); derived from the Latin term mille statuæ - "a thousand statues" which he had destroyed.^[4]

The etymology, however, has not been conclusively established. Milistat was first mentioned around 1070; linguists have derived the place name from "mill" (German: Mühle, Slovene: mlin), as there formerly were many mills around the lake.^[5] A more recent interpretation refers to the local brook once called Mils (today: Riegenbach or Leitenbach); its name being of Celtic origin, meaning "mountain stream".^[6] Likewise, the Slovene term Mela denotes water that brings meli, sand and gravel, to which also corresponds the newer German name Leitenbach.^[7] Another theory derives the name Milštat from the Slovene word milost (kraj milosti), i.e. "grace" ("a place of grace") in connection with the miraculous events at the site.^[8]

Research

In 1907, the cultural historian Robert Eisler in his essay The legend of the Saint Carantanian duke Domitian argued that Domitian was merely an invention by the Benedictine monks of Millstatt Abbey. Compiled in the 12th century, the legend served as a tool to shake off the yoke of the Vogts from the noble House of Gorizia, who derived the jurisdiction from their Aribonid ancestors as founders of the monastery. While through hundred years many historians agreed with him, later generations clarified that in the vita of Domitian, actually the Bavarian count palatine Aribo II (d. 1102) is mentioned as the founder of the Millstatt convent. Moreover, the feast day of Domiciani ducis on February 5 already appeared in a preserved liturgical calendar from about 1160; another entry Domicianus dux fundator huius ecclesiae is found in a 12th-century obituary.

Today, historians argue that the Domitian legend of the man and the emergence of the Millstatt church is possibly based on true events. It contains the basic historical message of the Carantanian prince; also a writer in her embroiled report on the origin of the town name Millstatt, as well as the consecration of the pagan temple for the Christian church by duke. Historical data that follow from the legend of this Carantanian duke: his stand, conversion to Christianity, foundation of Millstatt's church and its burial in it - they would briefly as follows:

"The fact is, that the Duke Domitian lived. Since he was baptized, he came to Millstatt’s locality and there encountered the worship of idols, which he destroyed. The cleaned pagan temple he gave to dedicate on the glory of All Saints. He lived virtuously; he was buried in the Millstatt’s church.^[9]

As a Slavic nobleman, he may have lived around 788, at the time when Charlemagne deposed his Bavarian overlord Tassilo III. He probably was baptized as a young man in Salzburg by Bishop Vergilius and returned to Carantania as a local ruler under Frankish suzerainty. Some historians believe that Domitian before his baptism was called Domislav.^[10]

Romanesque sarcophagus with relics of St. Domitian

Valvasor’s view of the Mülstatt in 1688.

Millstatt in year 1900.

Significant finding

In 1992 archaeologists at an excavation in Millstatt Abbey discovered a piece of an original plate with a part of inscription, which was once placed over his grave and was found in his resume. On this fragment exist the parts of these words: quescit, Domitianus, Karoli imp., paganita. Franz Glaser found, that these are the remains of the original panel. Archaeologist and historian Glaser ^[11] concluded therefore, that Domitian was not legendary, but the real historical person, who has now his "Sitz in Leben"^[12] and he ruled - according to the inscription - at the time of Charlemagne. ^[13]

The gravestone, which lay on the grave, bears a Latin inscription, which is known from his "Vita" (Life). The inscription would read, by the assay reconstruction of Carinthian archaeologist and historian Franz Glaser:

(Latin: † Hic quescit Domitianus dux qui Karoli imp temporibus paganitatem devicit et populum ad fidem convertit sl: Tukaj počiva vojvoda Domicijan, ki je v času cesarja Karla premagal poganstvo in privedel ljudstvo k veri. English: "Here rests Duke Domitian, who at the time of Emperor Charlemagne defeated paganism and converted people to faith." ^[14][15]

Veneration

Public veneration of Domitian and his wife Mary ^[16][17] began very early after his death and reached its height (peak) in the 15th century. On his grave should take place numerous and various miracles. There are reports about solemn processions and about a wearing of Domitian's relics. They're talking also about a thief, which came with his prey in this popular place of pilgrimage in Millstatt; but there he became paralyzed and he could no more leave the sanctuary. The people believed, that the Domitian’s intercession tames raging Lake Millstatt during the storms and that especially helps the sicks, which have fever.

Since 1405 is in Millstatt known Domitians fraternity, 1441 however relics of Domitian, his wife Mary and their sons were transferred to the sacristy of the monastery. Veneration of St. Domitian was particularly encouraged Order of St. George. In honor of protector of Carinthia the people set a marble monument. When in 1478 the Ottomans during the plundering in monastery damaged the tombstone, grave was restored using other, probably even older and intact tombstone. Today its remains were found in Domician's chapel of the monastery’s church in Millstatt. ^[18]

Veneration of the Holy Domitian as provincial patron saint of Carinthia inclined Jesuit Father Matthias Rieberer ^[19][20] that in 1761, decided to apply to Rome for official confirmation of the cult. It seems that he acted on his own hand beside jesuit leadership. In the negotiations involved the Inner Austrian bishops of diocese Salzburg, Gurk, Seckau, Lavant, Ljubljana and Gorica with proper application, as well as the imperial court and Maria Theresa, but not official representatives of the order. When the company failed, it actually had no effect on Domitijan’s veneration; its justification - in terms of canonical papal recognition - gives the fact that dates back to the times before Pope Alexander III (1159-1181), and that therefore any papal confirmation of fact, it is not necessary. ^[21]

Today, the center of cult found place in Domitian’s chapel of the monastery church in Millstatt. There can be seen the tomb and some relics.

Domitian still today has a special place in the life of Catholic Church in Carinthia. In his honor in Domitian’s chapel every year on 5 February perform the memorial prayer. On 25th Juni, 2007 was in honor of Saint Domitian 25. traditional "Srečanje treh dežel" ^[22] in Millstatt.^[23]

On the pedestal in the middle of the Lake Millstatt today stays 4,20 m high plastic of Friulian sculptor Giorgio Igne. Duke Domitian represents in the moment when he casts into the lake a pagan idol.

See also

• List of saints
• History of Slovenia
• History of Austria
• Duchy of Carinthia

References

Further reading

F

• Šavli, Jožko (1999), Slovenski svetniki, Bilje: Humar, ISBN 961-6097-03-2 .
• Glaser, Franz (1993), Domitianus dux. Eine historische Persönlichkeit zur Zeit Karls des Groβen., Millstatt: Symposium zur Geschichte von Millstatt und Kärnten .
• Nikolasch, Franz (1990), Domitian von Millstatt – eine Erfindung des 12. Jahrhundert?, Celovec: Carinthia I (180) .
• Dedek, Crescens Lajos (1899), Szentek élete, 1, Budapest, VII., Rottenbiller-U. 5/a.: Dr. Kiss János egyetemi tanár .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Domitian of Carantania.

En:

• Domitian of Kärnten
• The Ducal Coronation
• Reliquary of St. Domitian,Domitian-chest,Millstatt,Carinthia,Austria,Europe

Sl:

• Karantanski svetniki med zgodovinsko resnico in politično ideologijo (Saints of Carantania between historical thruth and political ideology)
• Miroslav Bertoncelj: Slovenskega svetnika so Avstrijci ponemčili (Slovenian saint Germans germanizated)
• Sveti Domicijan, vojvoda in svetnik - zavetnik Karantanije
• Romanje k sv. Domicijanu v Milštatu
• Viteški red svetega Jurija v Milštatu

De:

• Der heilige Domitian und die Entstehung von Millstatt
• Der Millstättersee und die Domitian-Legende. Von Josef Lorber, Seeboden-Graz, März 1912
• Domitian Pilgerweg Millstatt
• Der Sagenhafte Domitian
• Domitian von Millstatt
• Domitian Pilgerweg
• Der erfundene heilige Domitian. Der angebliche Gründer von Millstatt
• Wer war Domitian?