Mark an der Sann

Mark an der Sann
State of the Holy Roman Empire
before 980–1137/44
A map of the Mark an der Sann (red) within the Duchy of Carinthia (pale) at the beginning of the 11th century. The March's southern subdivision is Gau Sauna while the northern one is Gau Zistanesfeld.
Capital		Not specified
Government		March
Historical era		Medieval
•	Established	before 980
•	Last Margrave died	1137/44
Today part of		Slovenia

The Mark an der Sann (German for "March on the Savinja"; other designations and variations of the name include Sannmark, Sann-Grafschaft (or Markgrafschaft), (Mark)grafschaft Soune, Soun and Saunien, as well as simply Sanntal – Savinja valley) was a border march of the Holy Roman Empire. It was established in the second half of the 10th century to protect the Empire against its enemies to the east.

The territory included the catchment of the Savinja and extended to the Sava in the south and the Sutla in the east.

By 895 there was already a "Mark an der Sawe", although whether it included the entire Savinja valley is unclear.

The first recorded mention of the Savinja county (German: Sann-Grafschaft) is on 24 October 980, when Emperor Otto II granted count Willihalm the entirety of his royal possessions in "Rachwin's county" between the Dobritsch mountains north of Heilenstein/Polzela near Cilli, Stenitz southeast of Weitenstein near Lindeck and Wresen southwest of Weitenstein for his faithful service.

The march was subordinate to the Duchy of Bavaria until 1002, and then the Duchy of Carinthia.

During the second phase of colonisation the possessions of the Archbishopric of Salzburg, which already included Rann an der Save in Carolingian times, were confirmed by Emperors Otto II and Otto III.