Demetrius Zvonimir of Croatia

Demetrius Zvonimir Of Croatia

Demetrius Zvonimir (Croatian: Dmitar Zvonimir, Latin: Demetrius Sunimirio, ? – 20 April 1089i) was King of Croatia from 8 October 1076 until his death. He also ruled as Ban of Slavonia (1064–1074), and was named Duke of Croatia in around 1075. His native name was Zvonimir, while the name Demetrius (Dmitar in Croatian) was adopted at his coronation.

He began as a Ban of Slavonia in the service of King Stephen I. Afterwards, he was appointed Duke of Croatia by his predecessor Peter Krešimir IV, who later declared him as his heir. In 1076, Dmitar Zvonimir succeeded to the Croatian throne. As a vassal of the Pope, his reign is characterized as relatively peaceful; with no extensive war campaigns but with development in the fields of economy and culture. He was the last native king who exerted any real power over the entire Croatian state, which he inherited at its height and ruled it from the city of Knin.