Domagoj of Croatia
| Domagoj | |
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Statue Archers of Duke Domagoj in Vid, Croatia
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| Duke of the Croats | |
| Reign | 864–876 |
| Predecessor | Trpimir I |
| Successor | Domagoj's unnamed son, then Zdeslav (878) |
| Died | 876 |
| Royal House | House of Domagojević |
| Religion | Christian |
Domagoj (Latin: Domagoi) (died 876) was a duke (Croatian: knez) of the Duchy of Croatia in 864–876 and the founder of the House of Domagojević. He usurped the Croatian throne after the death of Trpimir I and expelled his sons. He took a more active role in the Adriatic Sea than his predecessors, encouraged the use of force and waged many wars, specifically with the Arabs, Venice and the Kingdom of the East Franks. Domagoj's belligerence and the tolerance and support of piracy caused bad relations with the Pope, which was further worsened after Domagoj showed no mercy to his conspirators. Formally a Frankish vassal, he used to his advantage the Frankish succession crisis and started a successful revolt against Carloman of Bavaria. After his death in 876 Domagoj was succeeded by his son, who was in 878 deposed and expelled by Zdeslav.
Following the death of Duke Trpimir I in around 864, he was succeeded either by his son Zdeslav, who was shortly after deposed by Domagoj in a civil war, or directly by Domagoj. Domagoj became the Duke of the Duchy of Croatia and Trpimir's sons, Petar, Zdeslav and Muncimir, were forced into exile and fled to Constantinople.
After Domagoj's succession the situation on the Adriatic changed significantly. Venice began to express its aspirations in obtaining supremacy on the Adriatic and under Doge Pietro Tradonico Venice gained more independence from the Byzantine Empire. During Domagoj's reign piracy became a common practice, Venetian ships were often attacked in the eastern Adriatic Sea, which caused bad relations with Venice. As soon as Orso I Participazio was elected as the Doge of Venice, he broke the long lasting peace treaty signed with Duke Mislav and attacked Croatia, which was still occupied with fighting over Trpimir's inheritance. In 865 Domagoj was forced to make an unfavourable peace with the Venetian Republic, giving hostages to Venice as a guarantee for safe passage of Venetian ships in the Adriatic Sea.
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