Porga of Croatia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Porga |
|
|---|---|
| Ruler of the Croats | |
| Reign | First half of the 7th century |
| Religion | Christianity |
Porga (also known as Porin) was an important early leader of the Croats. He ruled the Duchy of Croatia a long time ago, in the first half of the 7th century. During his time, many Croats became Christians through baptism. Porga became the leader, or archon, after his father. His father was the leader when the Croats bravely fought against a group called the Avars. This happened during the rule of the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius, who reigned from 610 to 641 AD.
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What's in a Name?
Historians have different ideas about where the name Porga comes from. Some early thinkers believed Porga might have been the son of one of the five brothers who led the White Croats from their original homeland. They thought the name was unusual and probably not from a Slavic language.
Other scholars have compared Porga's name to names like Purgas, a chief from the 13th century. Some even thought it could be a foreign way of writing a Slavic name like Borko. More recently, some experts have suggested the name might come from an old Iranian phrase meaning "rich in cattle."
Interestingly, one idea is that Porga's name might not have been a real person's name at all! Some historians think it could be linked to an ancient Slavic god of thunder, Perun. This is similar to how some old stories about early rulers were actually about gods.
Porga's Time in History
Stories from an Old Book
Much of what we know about Porga comes from an old book called De Administrando Imperio. This book was written by a Byzantine Emperor named Constantine VII in the 10th century.
According to this book, the Croats asked for Christian baptism from Rome during Porga's rule. Priests and bishops were sent to baptize them. The book also says that the Croats fought and drove out the Avars from their lands. This happened with the help of Emperor Heraclius. After defeating the Avars, the Croats settled in the land where they live today.
When Did Porga Rule?
Figuring out the exact dates for Porga's rule can be tricky. Historians believe that the Croats arrived in their new lands around 630 AD. This means the baptism of the Croats likely happened before 638 AD, when Emperor Heraclius was still on good terms with the Pope in Rome.
Some historians think that the baptism of the Croats might actually be connected to a later emperor, Constans II, who ruled from 641 to 668 AD. This would mean that Porga ruled a bit later than his father. It's clear that Porga was a leader during a very important time when the Croats were becoming Christians and settling in their new home in the 7th century.
See also
