On the Baptism of the Serbs and Croats in the Time of Basil I (867–886)
On the Baptism of the Serbs and Croats in the Time of Basil I (867–886)

Summary/Abstract: Basil I had serious plans about the ecclesiastical policy towards the Slavs of Greece, and highly developed idea to bring the ecclesiastical organization of the Croats and Serbs under the control of Constantinople. In the case of Croatia — he had limited success — only between the end of 877 and first half of 879. In the case of Serbia he probably managed, since ca. 872/873 to dissolve the previous ecclesiastical organization of the Roman Church and to link the Serbs closer to Constantinople. The same conclusion is valid for Dioclea. The Croat and Serb conversion related to Basil I and presented in Constantine Porphyrogenitus’ treatise De administrando imperio and Vita Basilii, came as an outcome of fighting over ecclesiastical rights in the former praefectura Illyrici between Constantinople and Rome. It seems that Constantinople from that time was enforcing his ecclesiastical domination over Serbia and Dioclea.

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